Lion writing

What is copywriting?

Copywriting involves writing persuasively in order to sell a product or service.  It is the writing used in advertising and marketing material such as brochures, newspaper/magazine advertisements, flyers, direct mail letters, websites etc.  

Do you register trademarks and patents?

No.  That is known as 'copyright' and it is different to the act of copywriting, which is writing persuasive wording in order to sell a product, service or idea.

I think I want some copywriting done, how does it work?

First of all it’s best to fill out the contact form and provide as many details as possible.  If you’re not sure what you want, that’s okay, perhaps we can work it out together.  Alterntively, send an email to info@lionwriting.com.au and attach your current marketing material (such as a brochure, newspaper advertisment, website address and so on) and we can assess it for you.  It might be perfectly fine just the way it is! 

How much do you charge for your writing services?

It depends on the nature of the writing service that you need. Once we know your needs, we can submit an accurate quote. 

Who will do the writing?

In most cases this will be the owner and manager of Lion Writing, Lucinda Lions.  However, Lucinda can refer you on to another equally qualified writer if she is unable to  complete your writing job in the timeframe that you require.  

Do you ask for a deposit?

Yes, we ask for a 30% deposit before any writing begins.

What happens if I’m not satisfied with what you’ve written?

No problems!  There is a 100% money back guarantee.

Do you make free revisions?

Yes we do make free revisions.  We always take a thorough ‘brief’ from you, so we are usually quite clear on what you want written and how you want it written, but minor revisions are a normal part of the process.  If there are major revisions required (resulting from a change of scope), this is charged separately, and on top of the original quote.

When can I expect my writing job to be completed?

This depends on the size and nature of the writing project.  Generally it is within 5 – 10 working days.  However, we work on large projects that continue for months, and mini projects that are completed in a couple of days.  We can give you a better indication of the time frame once we’re clear about your needs. 

I would like to refer Lion Writing on to a friend, do you want to know about this?

Absolutely!  We are incredibly grateful when our clients and acquaintances refer our services. If you refer our services we’d like to have the opportunity to thank you, so please tell us. 

How do I pay you?

The easiest way is by direct bank deposit. You will receive our banking details with your first invoice.

Do you offer a guarantee? 

Yes, we guarantee that you will be happy with the words we write for your website.  We take a thorough ‘client brief’ so that we know your requirements upfront.  It’s normal that your wording might require some minor revisions, and we will do these minor revisions for free.

Do you guarantee a boost in my sales?

Copywriting has the power to boost your sales, and while it generally does, your sales are dependent on your overall marketing and business strategy, not just your copywriting.  So the answer to this question is ‘no’.  If you are after specific marketing advice we can refer you on to a specialised marketing consultant.

I’m good at English, why can’t I just save money and write my own wording?

You can, and it will definitely save you money. But the question is:  will it make you money?  Writing and copywriting are two different animals.  The act of normal writing is simply about conveying a message, whereas copywriting is about writing a persuasive message that drives people to take action. 

Do you provide graphic design?

We focus only on the words, however, we can refer you on to a graphic designer if you need one.  If you are taking your brochure to a printing house, then they will generally offer graphic design at a small additional cost.  If you are placing your advertisement in a newspaper or magazine, again, they will generally offer graphic design at an additional cost.

What is website content?

The word ‘content’ refers to the wording on your website. 

I am getting a website designed but I want Lion Writing to write the content from scratch.   What is the process?

First of all, we’ll have a relaxed and friendly chat over the phone, or we’ll correspond via email to find out your needs.  If we can help you, we’ll find out more about your business and then provide you with a quote. 

Can you recommend certain website designers?

If you don’t have a website designer as yet, we can recommend a website designer for you based on your budget. 

What is article marketing?

Article marketing involves writing informative articles related to your client’s needs; and then submitting those articles to places where your clients will read them.  These places might include: your own website, someone else’s website, an article directory, magazines and/or newspapers. 

I am interested in article marketing, what is an author resource box?

An author resource box is the ‘bio’ at the end of your article.  The author resource box tells your client everything they need to know about your business.  You can fill this box with relevant information that provides your contact details and website address, and that promotes your products/services.  

With article marketing, do I mainly receive promotion via the author resource box, not the actual article? 

Yes, that’s right.

So what information should my article contain? 

Valuable and useful information that your customers need to know.  Provide information that solves their problems or makes their lives easier.  And give your article an enticing headline!  Here are some examples of occupations and related articles:

Real Estate Agent – How to sell your house in 14 days

Ironing Service – How to iron a shirt in less than 10 seconds

Accountant - 3 ways to recession proof your business

Beautician - Want pouty lips like Angelina Jolie?

With article marketing, can I advertise my products and services in the body of the article?

Not really.  Your article can lose credibility and the reader might stop reading. There are subtle ways of advertising your products and services in the body of the article, but if you don’t know how to do this, it’s best to just include useful information. 

If I give away free information to my clients will they still use my products and services?

Yes and No.  Your article will be around 300 words long, so it’s impossible to give every shred of information on a particular subject.  And even if you did, there will always be people who are too busy or not skilled enough to do the job themselves, in which case they will probably turn to the article writer.  Given that more businesses are using article marketing to boost their profile, if you’re not giving your clients free and useful information, then your competitor probably is.  This means if your client gets stuck they will turn to your competitor, not you.

If I hire Lion Writing to write my article (for article marketing purposes) whose details go in the author resource box?

Yours.  You are paying us to write the article, and once we write the article it belongs to you, not us.  We act as ghost writers, which means that we write the article and you get the credit for it!

Who is responsible for the accuracy of the information in the article?

You. We base our information on details you provide us, or research that relates to your industry.  We are generally not professionals in your industry, so as with any information you send to your clients, the article needs to be checked for accuracy.  The copyright for the article belongs to you, not Lion Writing.  For example, every word on this page is written by Lion writing (© Lion Writing 2009), so we are responsible for any errors.  However, if we wrote this information for another business, then the final wording belongs to them, and therefore they must take responsibility for any inaccuracies.

Can you give a practical example of how article marketing has worked?

Sure.  Lucinda Lions wrote an article called Using fear to build confidence.  Due to the uniqueness of this article it has been picked up by local business websites, national websites such as ninemsn, and even a European coaching institute in the UK!  This sort of national and international exposure would normally cost an arm and a leg.  But even if the article only appears on the Lion Writing website, that’s fine, because it is still helps to build Lucinda’s profile and strengthen her credibility.

Other than the web, are there other places to showcase my articles?

Yes!  Please go to the writing tips page for more information.

Can I use Article Marketing as my only form of marketing?

Article marketing works best when it’s used in conjunction with other marketing efforts.  For example, if you advertise in the newspaper, you can write in your advertisement, ‘Author of the article......”.   Or if you network, you can hand out your article along with your business card. 

If I want Lion Writing to write my article, what is the process?

It’s easy, send us an email via the contact form and we'll discuss your needs.  

How much does it cost to have an article written?

The great thing is that you can decide how much you want to pay upfront.  We charge $1 per word, so if you want to pay $50, then we write a 50 word article.  Most articles average between 200 – 600 words, but you can decide the word count, and we’ll write the article accordingly.  We will ask for a 30% deposit before beginning work on your article, and copyright for the article will be handed over when you make the final payment.