How to hire a freelance copywriter

How to hire a freelance copywriter, step by step

Here's a step-by-step freelance copywriter hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a freelance copywriter job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new freelance copywriter
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your freelance copywriter job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a freelance copywriter for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A freelance copywriter's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, freelance copywriters from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   Here's a comparison of freelance copywriter salaries for various roles:

   Type of Freelance Copywriter	Description	Hourly rate
   Freelance Copywriter	Writers and authors develop written content for advertisements, books, magazines, movie and television scripts, songs, blogs, and other online publications.	$22-50
   Content Writer	The job of content writers is to create the best possible written or visual content ranging from blog posts to press releases. They produce the content for various types of websites, including social networks, news aggregators, and e-commerce sites... Show more	$19-40
   Marketing Communications Writer	A marketing communications writer is primarily responsible for developing, creating, and editing content for different marketing purposes, such as social media, newsletters, advertisements, and other public communications projects. Most of the tasks are time-sensitive and require coordination with various marketing and communications teams to ensure accuracy and consistency... Show more	$20-54

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Web Content
   • Blog Posts
   • Copywriting
   • Creative Concepts
   • Brainstorm
   • Email Campaigns
   • Press Releases
   • Video Scripts
   • Web Copy
   • Product Copy
   • Product Description
   • Art Directors
   • Facebook
   • Instagram

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage proposal process from RFP (request for proposal) receipt to writing and editing various contributions to final RFP submission.
   • Provide copywriting services to clients using proven direct response marketing elements to optimize conversions.
   • Experience with brand development, copywriting, advertising, and integrate social media marketing communications.
   • Participate in brainstorming sessions to cultivate creative solutions to advertising opportunities with uniquely clever messages.
   • Provide career branding services, including resume, LinkedIn, and professional biography writing services.
   • Develop and administer the company's RFP database; greatly streamline the RFP process.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your freelance copywriter job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A freelance copywriter salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, freelance copywriters' average salary in tennessee is 42% less than in idaho.
   • Seniority. Entry-level freelance copywriters earn 56% less than senior-level freelance copywriters.
   • Certifications. A freelance copywriter with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a freelance copywriter's salary.

   Average freelance copywriter salary

   $69,978yearly

   $33.64 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level freelance copywriter salary

   $46,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

4. Writing a freelance copywriter job description

   A good freelance copywriter job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a freelance copywriter job description:

   Freelance copywriter job description example

   Our company is searching for an experienced Creative Copywriter to join our team! Our ideal candidate is someone who thinks like a marketer, has a good grasp of UX, and can write for target audiences on the fly. An enthusiastic personality with a fondness for puns is a bonus! If you have endless ideas, this is the role for you.
   
   The Creative Copywriter will work collaboratively with Marketing & Creative and will be responsible for creating branded copy across multiple channels. An understanding of trends and pop culture is a must. Familiarity with the wellness and beauty space is a plus. The ideal candidate will have 3-6 years of experience and is comfortable with juggling multiple projects at once.
   
   BenefitsMedical, Dental, Vision,Life Insurance 401k Plan Additional Opt-In Insurances Work/Life BalancePTO + Sick Time Pay
   
   QualificationsAbility to think on your feet, with clever writing that can be tailored to individual audiences Readiness & ability to work on various copy needs for different brand voices Exceptional command of the English language (grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc.) 3+ years of copywriting experience, or similarly situated experience Solid grasp of the digital marketing/e-commerce space Work collaboratively to meet deadlines Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously Comfortable also working independently and accepting ownership of your workload Willingness to take direction and constructive feedback Any sales & marketing background is a plus We welcome you to apply for this role regardless of “checking all the boxes” above. We are excited to hear what you can bring to the Integra Team!
   
   Required SkillsYour writing is clear, confident, and compelling You can adapt your style and tone to suit the audience You know how to deliver good work on a deadline You have good SEO, blogging, email marketing, and social media knowledge You understand what analytics matter with content You can work collaboratively and openly You can create content across all channels You are open to feedback and constructive criticism on your work You have excellent written skills in English
   
   Responsibilities You will create copy for digital ads, product pages, packaging, landing pages, websites, homepage banners, video scripts, and more.You will work closely with many teams to create marketing assets across multiple channels You will be responsible for editing and revising existing and incoming assets from various brands and voices, helping optimize them until they achieve their desired ROIs.You will create persuasive, conversion-focused marketing communications using established direct response selling techniques.Work with creative leads to build out messaging for upcoming campaigns.Follow a copy calendar for ongoing copy needs across various channels.
   
   Our team of innovators and visionaries is passionate about pushing the envelope and taking bold risks that inspire people to realize their beautiful potential. With our HQ in Los Angeles, Miami, and our two offices in Ohio, we're constantly raising the bar and evolving to create a more diverse and cultivating work environment.
   
   We develop our digital platforms and promote industry-leading products across online, mobile, social, and retail markets. Integra Beauty has created L'ange, Upness, and OFIR three leading consumer goods brands that are paving the way for unlimited brand incubation. Our team is at the forefront of emerging trends and we are looking for like-minded individuals to continue growing our company.
   #IBCORP2022

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right freelance copywriter for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your freelance copywriter job on Zippia to find and recruit freelance copywriter candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as problogger, media bistro, journalismjobs.com, content writing jobs.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting freelance copywriters requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new freelance copywriter

   Once you have selected a candidate for the freelance copywriter position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new freelance copywriter first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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