What Is Copywriting & Do I Need It For My Business?
Your salon website might not seem like it needs copywriting, but if you’re trying to attract new customers and retain the ones you have, then it most certainly does! Good copywriting isn’t just about clever wordplay or making your site visually appealing – it’s about giving your potential clients what they need in order to take action. This article will explain how the services of a professional copywriter can make an immediate impact on your salon business.
Why do you need copywriting?
Search engines—Google in particular—will punish your website if you don’t have enough relevant and useful content. But I’m a hair stylist! Why would anyone care about my content? you might ask. Well, even if they aren’t reading it, Google will give preference to websites with good copy over those without. Think of it as an algorithm that rewards high-quality content with higher rankings in search results.
What does a copywriter do for your website and how long does it take?
A copywriter is someone who writes content, typically on a freelance basis. A copywriter could take an existing piece of content from your website and rewrite it in a way that feels like your words... but BETTER.
If you hire someone who has lots of experience, they can generally write it in 2-3 days. However, if you’re hiring someone who doesn’t have much experience, or if your project requires them to learn about your industry before they can complete it, then that timeline could stretch out considerably. A good rule of thumb: The more experienced your writer is at creating content like yours, the faster they will be able to deliver it.
Since this is one of the first things you need for your marketing, get started sooner rather than later.
Will SEO change with copywritten content?
SEO changes with everything. So does copywritten content make a difference in SEO? The simple answer is, Yes! Well written website content will have a positive impact on SEO. A website that’s heavy on pictures but light on well written text can actually hurt your SEO efforts because search engines try to find keyword-heavy content to optimize. If you want your website to rank at Google, start thinking about how you can improve your site by adding more text and creating an easier to navigate site plan.
How long should your copy be?
There are varying schools of thought on copy length. Always consult with an SEO specialist about your specific niche and content but here are some of my recommendations.
If your website is more like a portfolio, then you could probably get away with fewer words (at least 300 words) because people are reading to find out about you rather than going in search of specific information.
If your site content is more research based, educational or informative, around 2,500 words would be ideal.
When to hire a copywriter
If you’re in a service business—like hair stylists or massage therapists—it’s important to provide consumers with an experience, in person and online. If your hair salon website has spammy content that doesn’t accurately describe what you do, then consumers won’t trust it as much, and they might not give your business as much consideration.
Hiring a professional copywriter to create content can help you create more trustworthy, accurate and attractive online content. If your salon website includes reliable information and attractive visuals, consumers will be more likely to trust your business. In addition, if you provide a great experience in person, they will be much more likely to visit again... and tell all their friends too!
Where to find a good copywriter
A good place to start your search is by asking other business owners. Reach out to those who are in similar industries and may have worked with a writer before. But be careful! Not all writers know what they’re doing, so you’ll want to make sure that you hire someone with expertise in your niche. If you’re launching a salon or spa, then look for writers who specialize in beauty writing or hair stylist websites.
But if you are crunched for time, or do not want to deal with the hassle of vetting a copywriter, let me do this for you with my Website + Copywriting package.
How much will this cost me (and what do I get in return)?
On average, a decent copywriter will charge between $20 and $50 per 100 words—which is basically anywhere from $300 to $750 for a 1,500-word piece. For a 5-page website, copywriting services typically averages around $3,000 and will pay dividends in the long run.
Businesses that hire a copywriter see an increase in their search engine optimization (SEO), which means more people find your business online. In addition, you’ll be able to catch people’s attention with well-written web content. The average person skims over web content, and anything that isn’t interesting will be skipped entirely. However, compelling copy draws readers in and builds trust—which is essential when it comes to convincing them to visit your salon and purchase your services.
Final words on website copywriting
If you’re serious about growing your business, you can’t afford to overlook copywriting. The website is one of your most powerful marketing tools; it doesn’t make sense to have any less than great content on there. If you need help, and don’t have a skilled copywriter already, be sure to talk with someone who can provide you with top-notch content or reach out to me! I am here to help.