Why hire a writing professional? Plumbers replace pipes, and roofers replace shingles. That's why.

Why hire a writing professional?

I get that question a lot.

What IS the point in hiring a writing professional when social media and drop-in, "insta-website" design programs make it so easy for business owners and non-profit entities to cut out the middleman and get the word out themselves? 

Better questions: Would a plumber replace the shingles on your roof? Would a roofer replace a leaky pipe?

Staying in one's lane is the key. Writers write. That's what they do.

​artwork by Michelle Haas

Benefits of Using a Writing Professional

1. Staying in a Professional Lane — A plumber fixes leaky pipes. A roofer replaces shingles. A professional writer can fill a communications void far better than a non-writer with no training. Just as one would have a medical doctor set a broken bone, one should hire a writer for a writing project. A writer writes. That's what they do.
2. Positive First Impressions — nothing has more weight than a customer's first impression. If that first impression includes a typo in the first paragraph on the landing page of the company website, the first impression (a poor one) could be the difference between a sale and a pass. Professionally generated communications provide a positive first impression and may also encourage the media/public to trust the source and look forward to future communications. 
3. Consistent Messaging — Professionally generated materials used in local news outlets, social media, and/or a website should present a consistent message and singular view of an organization’s brand. A writing professional may analyze existing materials to identify how a company is lacking in brand messaging and to offer solutions to patch those holes.
4. Proactive Approach — a professional can put the organization’s best foot forward in a positive, timely manner during a crisis and/or a time of celebration. The organization leads the dissemination of information via the professional, allowing for a proactive approach rather than a reactive approach. 
5. Time — time is money and far too precious. Allowing a professional writer to take on communications responsibilities frees up valuable time for a business owner or organization leader to do what he or she does best. 
6. Cost — freelance writers/editors are fairly reasonable, when you look at the big picture. They may be hired for one-time projects or periodical needs (such as monthly press releases and blog posts). Writers often don't require an on-site work space or expect medical insurance, and hourly rates vary so widely, there is a freelancer for every budget.

I've been writing for small businesses, large corporations, non-profit organizations, and private entities for a very, very long time. Over the years, I've seen just about every kind of client, but my favorite (with whom I am overly loyal, give my lowest rates, and continue to work with time and again) is the client who works as hard as I do at his or her own respective job and who recognizes my professionalism in my own writerly lane. Just as my client is an expert in his or her field, I am an expert in mine. 

Why hire a writing professional?

​Because you wouldn't hire a plumber to put shingles on your roof.

**as always, thanks for the artwork, Michelle Haas.

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