Small business owners searching for copywriters have to overcome one of two obstacles.

Obstacle number one: finding the right copywriter. 

This is tough. There are so many freaking options that it’s very possible to drown in a pool of overwhelm and mutter a frustrated “Fuck it, I’ll just do it myself.” And before you know it you’ve tumbled into one of the circles of business marketing hell known as DIYstopia and you’ve no idea how to escape.

All you wanted was someone who

• offers the copywriting and marketing support you need
• has a writing style doesn’t bore the tits off you
• is within your budget 
• gives off a vibe that fits with yours.

IS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK?

Evidently YES. 

And it gets worse, because there are some smug folks out there who’ve jumped the hurdle of finding a copywriter they like. (Yay them.) But face obstacle number two. 

Obstacle number two: finding the right available copywriter  

So you’ve found your unicorn of a copywriter (phew!) But you discover they’re not available right now. They tell you about ‘other clients’ and projects booked in ‘for the next few months.’ 

How dare they? They’ve snaked you all the way back down the board. But guess what? Your copy still needs writing, the deadline is looming, and you’re no closer to getting it done. 

Or so you think.

I’ve got some decent news for you. You found this article. And look! Here’s a ladder to get you back to where you need to be. 

Top-drawer folk are the people I surround myself with. And the directions I’m about to point you in will lead you to finding not just the best of the best but the right copywriter for your project.

4 places to look for your ideal freelance copywriter

Finding a freelance copywriter is a bit different from finding an agency copywriter. Mainly because if you work with an agency you won’t choose the copywriter that works on your project. In that situation, the agency will assign 

• whoever the agency owner or account manager thinks is the best fit 
• whichever writer has capacity and billable time available.

Writing as a freelance copywriter who mostly associates with other freelancers, here’s what you should do to find the best folk. 

1. Ask your business mates

If you really like Dave’s new website or you’ve been admiring Jennifer’s email campaigns, ask them if they worked with a copywriter. And if they did, ask if you can have the person’s details.

If  Dave or Jenn get cagey about you using the same person—which they might if you’re direct competitors—ask where they found the writer. It might have been at a business networking event. These events often attract copywriters and there’s a good chance you’ll meet a completely different one. So go to the next meetup. 

Or maybe Dave and Jenn got the word from another business owner? And perhaps that business person knows a couple of different writers. Now you have reliable leads from business buddies you know and trust. 

Once you’ve got a couple of names, it’s time to figure out if they’re the right content writer for you. 

2. Find freelancer networks and copywriter groups 

Copywriters tend to flock together. The collective noun for this is still up for debate. (I like a cluster of copywriters or a draft of copywriters.) How does this help you?  We copywriters love a list—also known as a directory. Our plan is to get on these lists so it’s easy for you to find and hire us. 

Here’s a handful of reputable directories. 

• The DMC Directory
• Copyblogger certified content marketers
• Being Freelance directory
• Flying Solo directory
• Procopywriters.

You might still be faced with a lot of options. But these lists of professionals won’t be as massive as the content mills. Why? Because often the cost, membership, or course requirements to join them weed out any writers who intend to do half-arse copy jobs. List owners want quality professionals in their directories. So, more often than not, that’s what you get.

Beyond the big directories

Paying for a listing isn’t an option for every copywriter. Nor is maintaining a paid directory always the main motivation for the site owner or freelance groups. As this is the case, smaller, niche clusters are emerging. 

For example, I’m part of the Female Copywriter’s Alliance—a female-only copywriting community that operates on Discord. It’s a space for us to get to know each other, share work, and sound out business challenges. Its primary purpose isn’t to refer work and match clients to writers for projects. But that does happen. 

Lots of other people I know are part of the Freelancer Magazine community, Freelance Jungle and #CopywritersUnite, where I think similar things happen. 

While you might not be able to access these smaller communities or contact their members directly, it’s worth being aware of them. Because their members may share your need for a copywriter in one of these networks. 

3. Ask the writer who turned you down

Finding out that your preferred copywriter is unavailable is frustrating. But don’t let your conversation with them end there. 

If you’ve exchanged emails or had a discovery call that went well, then that writer will be on your side. They’ll want to place you in the hands of another great copywriter. This works for them in two ways.

1. It keeps you sweet in the hope that you’ll remember them and swing a future copy project their way.
2. What goes around, comes around. By referring a client to another writer, they hope the same will happen for them. 

Make this work for you. Ask the copywriter who turned you down if they can recommend anyone else. Do they know someone who will be a good fit? If they do, can they introduce you, give you some names, or circulate your job in their networks. 

If you don’t ask, you don’t get.

4. Search on social media

Google is good for searching for most things. We know this. But the sponsored results for copywriters are always really big content farm platforms and the organic ones are usually no better.

Rely on Google for your lead options, and you miss out on finding cracking talent. So here’s my big thought when it comes to searching for a copywriter.

Give Google a break. Search on social media platforms instead.  

Start with LinkedIn. There are a couple of ways you can use it to connect with the right copywriter. 

You could search using the #opentowork hashtag and the keyword ‘copywriter’ along with your location. (If location will be a hiring factor.) Then go through the results.  

Alternatively, stalk some social media profiles. If you had a copywriter you liked but they weren‘t available, go through their connections. See who they’re engaging with. 

This isn’t a super-fast way to find someone, but it can return some useful names. 

Instagram is also a good shout. Search for ‘copywriter’ or ‘copywriter freelance’ to get results. 

Insta can offer you a welcome break from reading reams of websites or LI profiles, too. And the visual led grid can be helpful. Scanning the tiles can give you a good feel for the tone and style of a copy business. Click the ones that grab your attention. From there, you can check out their website.

When you’ve not got time to find a writer

Have them come to you. Whether you’re on a tight deadline, have a huge workload, or you simply can’t be arsed to do the legwork, turn the tables. 

Post your job in one (or all) of these places. 

LinkedIn 

It’s where most copywriters find their work these days. So whether you pay for a job ad or simply promote the gig as a post, people will find it. Plus, it might get picked up by folks who compile job listing emails for copywriters, so it’ll be shared even further and wider. 

Rachel’s List

I’ve never used this site, but I know people that do. For a small fee you can post your job. The Rachel’s List network can then pitch to you. Here’s how it works.

DMC Job Board

When I was a member of Kate Toon’s Copywriting School I would check this job board on the reg and always suggest people post their job here. It’s free for you to submit a gig and there are some fantastically talented writers in the DMC group.

XBiz job board (Adult industries only)

You know the massive adult industry publication, XBiz? Well, did you know they have a job board on xbiz.net where you can post your job for free? If you didn’t get, on it.

Finding a copywriter doesn’t have to be a ballache

Finding a copywriter who gets you and your business, and turns out the copy you need is a buzz. Clients often tell me that knowing their copy is in good hands is a weight lifted. Follow the leads in this article, and you’ll get that lighter-shoulders-feeling too. Besides getting top-notch copy, you’ll enjoy the added bonus of working with someone you like. 

So here’s the plan: find your copywriter. And once you have, make sure you follow these steps to book the copywriter you want.