WANTED:
Experienced copywriter to develop content for high-traffic
Web site. Candidates must have at least 5 years of experience in targeted SEM
and SEO strategies, with a specific focus on lead generation and conversion.
Content marketing and blogging background a plus. Pay is 0.03 per word, payable
via PayPal. For consideration, please send resume and link to portfolio.

I see some variation on this gig posting almost every day, and you probably do too. It makes me cringe. Or want to slap someone. Probably both.

Every business is out to make money, but being a cheap bastard when it comes to the marketing content your company presents to its customers is just beyond stupid. Can you get someone on board who will write for you at 0.03 per word? Yeah, sure. Absolutely.

The real question, however, is: Can you get an
established writer with all the experience and background you need, with a
proven portfolio of successful past engagements, who will write for you at 0.03
per word?

And the answer there is NO.

If your budget is tight enough that you are willing to pay only 0.03 per word for copy, you might want to think about the fact that you are probably going to end up paying much more than that for this copy over time, and that will suck. For you.

Initially, you might be surprised to find that none of the 0.03-per-word writers that respond to your posting actually have all of the expertise you asked for in your gig description. But if your budget is 0.03 per word, you’ll just have to choose from the pool of respondents you have, right?

So now you’re working with an inexperienced writer to develop copy for the make-or-break first impression that your customers get of your company. Wow, no pressure there.

OK, so the copy’s written, you roll it out on launch day, and. . .poor search results, sluggish conversion rates, and traffic stats are down around your ankles. FAIL.

So you post your gig again, and go through the same process. With the same results. Three or four more times. Oh my, you are silly, aren’t you?

Here’s the deal: When it comes to business-critical
things like making a GREAT first impression on potential customers, you’ve
gotta invest well.

Let’s say an average multi-page company site can run maybe 3,000 words, give or take a bit. Good writer or bad, that’s a big investment of time, considering research, page outlines, first/second/third drafts, etc.

And you wanna pay $90 for that. Huh.

And how many times are you willing to have to pay that same $90, only to end up with the same quality of writer you got in the first place? Hmmmmm . . .

You see, you can pay a realistic market rate ONE TIME for a really good, experienced writer who will generate the kind of copy that gets the results you need. . .or you can pay a WHOLE BUNCH of times for sub-standard copy that doesn’t do the trick.

Your choice.