From First Call to Final Draft: Inside My Copywriting Process
Hiring a copywriter is more than just getting someone who can put words on a page. It’s a partnership. When you know what to expect, the process is smoother for everyone.
You get the finished content in your inbox, but there’s a lot that happens behind the scenes. Great content is built step by step, turning your ideas into something that works for your business.
Here’s what you can expect after you book my copywriting services, from our first conversation to the final content.
Let’s walk through what happens after you reach out.
Whether you’ve worked with freelance copywriters before or you’re new to the process, I’m pulling back the curtain on my step-by-step process, designed to make the client experience as smooth and successful as possible.
Step 1: Inquiry, Contact, and Creative Intake
After you contact me, I’ll review your details and get back to you within one business day. If your project is a good fit, I’ll send a link to schedule a discovery call and a short HoneyBook questionnaire.
If you have a creative brief, great. Feel free to send it ahead of our call. If not, no problem. My questionnaire is designed to gather the right information, from your business goals to voice preferences and brand details, so you’re not left to figure it out on your own. The goal is clarity, not complexity.
You don’t need a marketing strategy or messaging framework to get started. My intake process helps us find a clear direction together.
Step 2: Discovery Call
After receiving your inquiry or contact form, I’ll invite you to schedule a short (20-30 minute) phone call or Zoom meeting. We’ll discuss what’s working, what’s not, and what you want your content to do.
I’ll ask about your goals, your audience, and your timeline. You can ask anything you’d like about my process. If we’re a fit, and there is space on my schedule, I’ll follow up with a customized proposal. If we’re not, I’ll try to point you in a better direction.
Step 3: Proposal, Contract, and First Invoice
After our call, I’ll send a custom proposal through HoneyBook. It covers scope, deliverables, timeline, price, and revision policy.
Once you approve the proposal, you’ll get the contract and the first invoice for the upfront deposit (usually 50%) in the same HoneyBook file. Everything is in one place—no random emails, printouts, or PDFs to keep track of.
Once you sign and pay the invoice, we’re ready to get started.
Step 4: Onboarding Questionnaire and Kickoff
Before I write a single word, I need to understand your brand voice, tone, and priorities. I’ll send a simple questionnaire that gets straight to the point.
If needed, we’ll schedule a quick kickoff call to review your answers and make sure we’re on the same page. I’ll also ask for any materials you'd like me to reference, such as past content, brand guidelines, analytics, or a mood board.
My goal is to get the right context so the writing sounds like you from the start.
Step 5: Research, Writing, Proofreading, and Editing
Now you can focus on your business while I handle the research and writing.
Once I’ve reviewed your intake materials, I'll get started. That might include:
Analyzing your current content to understand your tone, gaps, and strengths
Reviewing competitors to identify differentiation
Researching your target audience’s preferences and language
Conducting light SEO research, if applicable, for structure and phrasing
Studying industry-specific terminology, expectations, and trends
Reviewing brand and style guides (or building consistency if one doesn’t exist)
After research, I draft your content with clarity, structure, and the right style and tone. The writing is clean, conversational, and strategic.
Every section has a purpose. Every word counts.
Before you see the first draft, I edit thoroughly and check for tone, flow, and structure. What you get is already 90% finished.
Depending on the project, this might include reviewing your competitors, reading industry-specific materials, or drawing language directly from your audience’s vocabulary. Every word is chosen with intention.
Before sharing, I review the draft with fresh eyes, reading aloud and editing for clarity. The result: clean, clear, and conversational content.
Step 6: First Draft Delivery, Feedback, and Revisions
I’ll email you the first draft in a clean Google Doc.
I suggest that you read through it once before making edits. Take your time. Then add any notes or revisions. We can also hop on a quick call or work through comments if you prefer.
I offer up to two rounds of revisions, though most clients don’t need them. I welcome your feedback and want the final version to match your goals, voice, and target audience.
Step 7: Final Delivery, Invoice, and Offboarding
Once you approve everything, I’ll send your final files, formatted and organized. I’ll also send the final invoice. If you enjoyed working with me, a brief testimonial would mean a lot to my small business.
You’ll get a wrap-up email with next steps and how to stay in touch.
Step 8: Post-Project Check-In
Hiring a copywriter shouldn’t be a mystery. My process is smooth, respects your time, and is easy to follow, even if it’s your first time working with a freelance copywriter.
If you’re ready to start your next content project, let’s talk. I’m booking projects for September. Contact me today to secure your spot in my schedule.
You can also stay in touch with me through my email newsletter.
