10 Concerns You Should Have of Your IT Copywriter
Anyone who has attempted to advertise IT products or services before is aware that it is a specialized sector. Your consumers in the IT industry have extremely unique and specific needs, and you must meet those needs. To create appealing copy for your service, you need a copywriter that has a deep understanding of the IT industry and isn’t hesitant to label themselves a “IT Copywriter.”
So how do you know when you’ve discovered a competent IT copywriter? And, more crucially, how can you anticipate their behavior? The following ten guidelines will offer you a solid understanding of the attributes to seek for – the characteristics that define an IT copywriter.
1) IT experience
Perhaps the most advantageous characteristic of an IT copywriter is a good foundation in the IT industry. If a copywriter understands your domain, you will spend considerably less time describing the benefits of your product. Remember the last time you saw someone’s eyes glaze off while you extolled the virtues of your most recent technology? You do not wish for this to occur while briefing your copywriter. Moreover, you do not want this to occur when potential buyers read your material!
2) Technical writing knowledge
Experienced technical writers are adept at bridging knowledge gaps. This means that they must not only grasp the technology, but also be able to explain it to a layperson. A copywriter with experience in IT-related technical writing is likely to have domain expertise and the ability to get the ground running. They will be quick learners, therefore they will comprehend your product or service faster than most.
Obviously, not all technical writers are also IT copywriters. You must ensure that they are capable of writing compelling material, not just dry instruction manuals. Examine their samples and recommendations before making a decision.
The other key factor, especially if you’re looking for a website copywriter, is whether or not they have experience with online writing. Writing for an internet media differs drastically from writing for print. Readers have diverse needs and objectives, and reading environments vary greatly. Many technical writers have composed online assistance, so they should be able to accommodate these changes. Ask them to recommend a maximum page length or word count per page to be certain. The right response should discuss the trade-off between scrolling issues and the necessity for a high keyword density for search engine optimization. Ask them whether they like long or short sentences, hoping to hear “short.”
3) Additional Education
In general, IT goods and services are extremely complicated in and of themselves. In addition, the end-requirements user’s are extremely complicated and unique. This typically results in a steep learning curve for newcomers. Ask your IT copywriter about their tertiary education. It’s not required, and it’s not a guarantee of quality copy, but it’s generally a sign that the writer has been taught in the art of learning (i.e. researching, information filtering and modelling, knowledge retention, etc.).
The flip side of this coin is to be skeptical of technically qualified individuals. Don’t dismiss them out of hand (many technically skilled individuals have been excellent IT copywriters); nevertheless, keep in mind that technically trained individuals have a propensity to take many things for granted when communicating with laypeople. Your IT copywriter must comprehend the technology and its complexities, but also be able to relate to the concerns of non-technical customers.
4) Management Experience
Those with any amount of management experience have interacted with decision makers. They may have even made decisions themselves. In all forms of advertising, you must appeal to the decision maker. Your IT copywriter must develop a grasp of the average decision maker’s needs, influences, pressures, issues, and work environment (s). The more knowledge your IT copywriter brings to the table, the less time you will need to spend educating them.
5) Marketing Knowledge
Marketing experience is a significant plus. It imparts a broader comprehension of strategic marketing and the realities of working with a variety of tough individuals and evolving products and services. Look for an IT copywriter with corporate experience as a marketing manager or marketing coordinator, or someone who operates a copywriting business with a major emphasis on marketing.
6) Testimonials
Anyone can claim to be an IT copywriter, but few have client testimonials to back up their claims. Testimonials are an excellent approach to verify the claims of your IT copywriter. Request to examine several and thoroughly review them. Look beyond the company’s name and emblem. You must examine whether the clients’ remarks support the assertions made by the copywriter. And ensure that the testimonial is relevant to the type of job you are commissioning (or something with similar requirements).
7) IT Samples
The pudding is the proof. Always require prospective IT copywriters to submit samples of their work. As with testimonies, do not be misled by showy packaging, well-known brands, or recognizable logos. Read the text. Are they applicable to the project? Do they demonstrate a comprehensive comprehension of the topic? Do they communicate advantages, or merely features? Are they written in a manner that is both readable and compelling? And when you’ve read the words, double-check the copywriter’s contribution to the text. Not all content is composed from scratch. Some copywriters work in teams, while others focus only on editing. Ensure that you have a thorough idea of your IT copywriter’s skills and experience before hiring them.
8) Understand Benefits
Your customers are interested in what you can do FOR THEM, not what you can do FOR YOU. In other words, people are interested in the advantages of your product or service. How will it make their day simpler, more pleasurable, less stressful, more profitable, or safer? Identifying benefits is one of the most challenging aspects of any advertising endeavor. In reality, many individuals rely on their copywriter to identify the most persuasive benefits. Does your IT copywriter comprehend the advantages you are promoting?
9) Contributes value
A competent IT copywriter must have substantial professional experience. They should add value to your marketing campaign in ways that extend well beyond the written word. Strategy, techniques, visuals, connections, tales, corporate identity… Your IT copywriter must offer more than correct grammar and punctuation to the table. Expect them to offer comments rather than merely take notes and respond “Yes.”
10) In addition to the usual copywriter qualifications…
Obviously, your IT copywriter must meet all the standard copywriter criteria. Request a job agreement, a time estimate, a strategy, a resume, and SEO copywriting expertise (if search engine presence is important to you).
Conclusion
Copywriters have traditionally been viewed as minor cogs in the vast advertising machine. Consequently, the majority of copywriters rose through the ranks of generic advertising companies. However, more and more individuals are bypassing the agency and going directly to the copywriter. This strategy provides them with uniformity across all of their written materials, more persuasive and entertaining text, and faster service. This development means that copywriters are no longer restricted to advertising companies and can instead specialize. What is the result for you? Finding a strong IT copywriter with an IT background is still a difficult task, but it is becoming less difficult. Simply take the time to ask the appropriate questions.