Whether you’re having a new website built, or adding pages to your existing web footprint, it’s a good idea to use an SEO content copywriter to write the page copy, title and description. But, what characteristics should you look for in an SEO content copywriter?

Ask yourself these questions:

Is the content writer capable of writing non SEO content?

I’ve noticed over the past few months that SEO content has become increasingly poor in terms of writing. Chance are, a good SEO content copywriter was, or still is, a good print copywriter too. I’ve made the expansion into SEO content, but have brought the principles and experience from the print world. This shows in my copy. It’s been my experience that many SEO writers have STARTED their careers writing SEO without fully mastering the English language and its use in marketing. So, chances are, if you find an SEO writer who’s gone from the print world to the online world, you’ll be in good hands.

Is the content writer experienced?

Experienced does not mean that a writer has written a few websites. It means they’ve written hundreds, if not thousands of pages of content on the web. This includes press releases, articles, blogs, case studies and web pages. Anyone can build a free website and call themselves a content writer, but without the portfolio and some high-ranking websites to back up their claims, they’re just another bad writer waiting to happen.

Is the content writer busy?

And by ‘busy’ I mean ‘too busy for you.’ part of the freelancer’s curse is that we find it hard to say no to new projects. I’m no exception. But there are different definitions of busy. If I can’t complete your project on time, on budget and deliver a professional final product, I’ll tell you. But if there’s a way to fit your project in - even if it takes some late nights and weekends to get the job done - I’m all yours. For some freelancers, ‘busy’ means one project a week. For others, it means one project a day. Talk to the content writer and get a feel for their pace. If they rush you off the phone, or send one-line email responses when you expected more, then start looking for another writer.

Is the content writer charging more than you can afford?

Granted, what you can afford is not always an indicator of what your project is worth on the open market. I’ve had people come to me thinking their content could be written for $5 a page. This is simply not the case. Have a realistic budget. Get some quotes from a few writers if you must in order to arrive at your budget amount. But don’t let the amount you can afford dictate your budget. You might get exactly what you pay for.

Finding a good SEO Content Copywriter can make the difference between an average website and a site that converts visitors into customers.

Jason Pedley is a professional SEO content copywriter based near Raleigh, North Carolina. Need SEO content that improves your online presence? Contact Jason Pedley today - mail@jasonpedley.com or (860) 886-3455.