Questions for a health copywriter

Ask me anything!

I’ve tried to cover all the copywriting questions you may have, but if there’s anything I’ve missed, I’m just a click away.

About health copywriting

What is health copywriting?

In short, health copywriting is writing that makes money for healthcare brands. Copywriting is the process of writing marketing materials that persuades and motivates people to buy something, subscribe, click on a link, or make an appointment. 

Copywriters need to have a deep understanding of the language so they can manipulate and mold words. The structure has to make the reader feel heard, understood, and most importantly, wanting what you offer!  

Health copywriting encompasses sales pages, advertisements, website copy, email campaigns, product descriptions, and other marketing materials. 

A good health copywriter should showcase the benefits that your product or service offers, not just the features. Yes, a dietary supplement that includes ingredient X is fabulous, but what your audience really cares about is if it helps them feel better, live with less pain, or stave off hunger. Expert copywriting should make the reader think gimme gimme, and reach for their wallets!

Do I really need to invest in health copywriting?

ion.

Seriously though, it’s impossible to overstate the value a copywriter brings to your healthcare marketing. Don’t just take my word for it, let’s look at some numbers from the experts. I love stats! 

According to the Marketing giant HubSpot, “Email generates $38 for every $1 spent, which is an astounding 3,800% ROI”. You can’t argue, that’s an impressive return. 

Now over to legendary marketer, Neil Patel. “I’ve personally used case studies in my emails to increase my deal closing ratio by 70%. Overall, by testing 3 case studies here at NeilPatel.com, my sales grew by 185%”. Again, pretty impressive.  

I could go on. You can see that copywriting represents a sound investment. 

But, couldn’t you do it yourself? 

You could. I won’t stop you. But just consider the fact that 8 out of 10 people only read the headline of that article you poured blood, sweat, and tears into! Plus, 43% of readers admit they only “skim” blog posts. You’ve lost them and have no idea why they carried on a-scrollin.  

Clue. Effective writing that speaks to someone’s soul is a skill that takes years to develop. An accomplished writer ensures the content they craft engages your audience and leads them towards action. We are word wizards. 

Be honest. Do you know how to optimise a web page, or blog post so that your tasty words attract a hungry audience directly from organic traffic?  

A health copywriter is an expert. The truth of the matter is you probably won’t have the skill set to balance the goals and objectives of your business, with what your audience is crying out for.

Considering that time is our greatest commodity, you’ll also benefit from the hours you’ll save by hiring a health copywriter. Not to mention the frustration and stress. Think of the headspace you’ll have to focus on your realm of genius instead!

You need to stand out from the crowd while motivating and educating your audience through the sales funnel. And the best way to achieve that is with my unique skills.

 

Why should I choose you as my health copywriter?

Because, among many other reasons, my work exudes authority, I’m talented, a pleasure to work with, offer win-win solutions, and have my client’s enthusiastic recommendations. Check out my testimonials to read more words that make me blush.

Astrophysics worries me deeply. I’ve no clue how to fold bedding, and I’m ambivalent about many forms of folk music, but I write scroll-stopping copy that makes your readers incredibly, unequivocally excited about what it is you offer.  

You can read my about page to find out the intricate details of my professional background and skill set. Not to put too fine a point on it, but I’m a unicorn among writers. In addition to years in the freelance health writer trenches, I’ve real-world experience working in the healthcare industry from clinical trials, the NHS, Oxford University, and big pharma. Plus, I hold a BSc and an MSc in Public Health. 

My unique experience has furnished me with a deep understanding of the healthcare industry as a whole, the pain points of health brands, and what patients and clients crave. 

You don’t need any old copywriter. You need an expert health copywriter, and here I am.

What is SEO?

Search Engine Optimisation or SEO is a big old subject area. In simple terms, it’s how you improve both the technical side of your website and your content so it’s more visible in the search engine results. The more visible you are, the more likely your ideal customers are to see your business. 

There’s tons of things to consider if you’re working to boost your SEO and copywriting is a sizeable piece of the puzzle. My job, as an SEO copywriter,  is to skillfully weave SEO keyword terms into your reader-centric, persuasive copy. You can supply keywords, or you can hire me to do the work for you. These keywords let Google know what to rank you for and help the right people find your business.

If you’d like to learn more, and understand how I can help you, download the outstanding SEO guide I created. Scroll down the page to find the form. 

What is healthcare content strategy?

Healthcare copywriting strategy is, in short, the process of planning, creating and managing website content to boost that all important visitor engagement. It’s an important aspect of your health copy plan that can lead to the long-term success or failure of your brand. Content marketing can make or break your brand.

A well-planned medical content strategy strategy helps create a successful online presence that has better chances of achieving higher rankings in search engine results pages (SERPs). A good plan means you’ll know what type and how much content should go on each page so people find themselves staying there longer than they would otherwise – which leads directly into increased conversion rates! Sounds good right?

If you need help to create a solid medical copy strategy, I can help you. Contact me and lets chat.

Money

How much will freelance health copywriter services cost?

Health copywriting is an investment. It reflects on you, your brand, and your potential. Yes, there are much cheaper health copywriters out there, but you get what you pay for. In fact, I’m often the redeemer who’s hired to sort out the mess left behind by a bargain-basement writer. Paying for two health copywriters works out rather costly in both cash and wasted time.

Read my testimonials and portfolio, and you’ll see that I’m worth my fees. I’m not a student trying to earn extra pennies to get me through college. Nope. I’m a full-time career writer who reserves their bookings for people who value professionalism and need high-calibre results.

There won’t be any nasty surprises with my prices. Typically, I don’t charge an hourly fee. Rather, I quote for a package of work. No matter how long I spend finessing the words into a work of genius, the price doesn’t budge. That is, unless the original scope changes.

My blog packages start at $700 for four cheeky little 500 word posts. The more of me you need, the more cost-effective the investment. If you need interviews, in-depth research, or other bells and whistles, it’ll be a higher cost.

Now, onto copywriting. This is more tricky to price across the board as more brainpower and cunning go into the writing. Fewer words can take longer, as Mark Twain said, “If you want me to give you a two-hour presentation, I am ready today. If you want only a five-minute speech, it will take me two weeks to prepare.”

To give you an idea of the costs of my copywriting services, web copy starts at $500 per page and emails are roughly $150 each, depending on how many in the series, and the copy itself. 

Why does your copywriting cost so much?

I won’t lie. There are plenty of cheap copywriters out there. Since the 2020 effect, there are now more than ever. I’m a member of several groups where copywriters promote their services. And I’m often concerned!

If the advertising for someone’s copywriting services is poorly written, with terrible grammar, and lacks an understanding of English nuances, what do you think the rest of their copy will look like? Not to mention their ability to develop concepts for your brand.

Compared to the industry standards, my rates are at the lower end of average. Even though the work you’ll receive is exceptional. Yes, you can find an alternative health copywriter on UpWork for far less, but bear in mind if you pay bottom dollar, the copy will reflect that.

I know what $30 copy looks like as I’m frequently hired to sort it out and save the day. With me, I’ll write copy and you’ll pay once for the right content, reassured the work you’ll receive does exactly what you need it to do. Be that increase sales, sign-ups, or booked appointments. No question.

When do I need to pay?

As with most freelance writers, to begin work, I need an upfront payment of 50% of the project cost. The remaining 50% is due once I submit the completed work.  

If you want to ensure availability for regular copywriting, we can discuss a monthly retainer. In that case, there’s a 50% upfront payment, with the rest due within 7 days of the month’s end.

What payment methods do you accept?

Almost everything is possible! I can receive bank transfers from the UK, US, Canada, Australia, and most EU countries. I also have options for credit cards and PayPal with a 3.5% fee.

Why don't you charge by the hour?

I value transparency and simplicity. With project-based pricing, we both know where we stand. You won’t end up paying more if my perfectionism means a project takes a few more hours.

As an expert health copywriter, sometimes I can whip up some mouth-watering copy in less time than another copywriter would need. In this case, I don’t lose out, as you’re paying for my expertise and years of experience. 

Do you work on retainer?

Absolutely. Retainers are great for everyone. My workload differs every month, and I usually have more work than time, meaning that some clients miss out. 

For clients who understand their goals and needs, a health copywriting retainer gives them priority treatment and a lower per-project cost by pre-paying for my incredible work.

When you sign a retainer agreement with me, I reserve time especially for you, meaning your project is guaranteed. You can cancel at any time with a month’s notice, and it means you feature at the top of my work list. 

Plus, the mega bonus is you’ll have a writer at your disposal who’s intimately familiar with your business and ready to create magic for you.

Retainers are great for me, as it means I can plan and use my time efficiently. It also means I know exactly how much money I have to spend on dog treats.

If you’d be interested in locking a little bit of me into your monthly schedule, get in contact!

Can you write a free sample for me?

Nope. Free samples are for grocery stores and beauty counters. 

Any professional worth their salt doesn’t provide free samples. When you have an extensive portfolio typical of the type of work people can expect, samples are unnecessary. You can easily evaluate my experience, word wizardry, and reputation based on my portfolio and website. 

If a copywriter agrees to a free sample, do you think it will be representative of their work? Or will it be rushed and thrown together because it’s not paid work? You may see it as valuable as it could lead to paid work in the future, but will they? Would you expect a decorator to paint one room free of charge before they do the rest of the house? What about asking general practitioners for a free check-up to help you stay healthy? Nope, I didn’t think so!

Working with me

I’m in the United States/Canada/Russia, can you help me?

Absolutely! I have clients all over the world. As long as you need copywriting in English I can help you. No matter which spelling you prefer, I can help. This website uses British English, because as a Brit, so do I! But if you want me to avoid British colloquialisms (and spelling) in your neck of the woods, it’s no problem. Nifty eh.

You’ll also be happy to know that no matter where you are in the world, I have a method of accepting payments. It’s easy to hire me as your health copywriter.

What is the process for booking health copywriting services?

Yay! You’ve made an excellent decision. Making the decision to enlist my help to drive your business forward was the most difficult part. It’s all plain sailing from now on.

Although each project is different, there are some typical steps involved in most health copywriting projects. Here’s a quick whizz through:

  1. The first thing you need to do is send me an email and let me know which of my expert services you need. Alternatively, if you have no clue, still send me an email. We can have a strategy talk about what would be best for you and your business and then formulate a master plan.
  2. You’ll complete a new client questionnaire. Yes, I ask a lot of questions, and no, I won’t force you to answer them all. However, the more information you can give me about your aims, needs, wants, etc. The better prepared I am, and the more I can help you. After all, you want your beautiful new health copywriting to fit snugly and authentically into your brand voice and overall business direction.
  3. I’ll get my thinking cap on. Then, I’ll send you the project plan with an estimated start date, when you can expect to get your hands on my lovely words, your investment, and the next steps.
  4. Once you agree that the plan is a winner, you’ll receive a copy of our agreements that lays out the scope of work, and all the other nuts and bolts, so we both know where we stand and what to expect.
  5. I will need a 50% deposit to begin work on your health copywriting project.
  6. I’ll do my research, which may require input from you, depending on the project. The research could involve market analysis to see what your competitors are up to and how we can do it better. Or, I may need to talk to some of your clients and see precisely why they adore you. Then again, the research could involve hard-core critical analysis of published scientific papers. It’s all project dependent. But be assured, whatever research your project needs for optimal performance, I’m there.
  7. Here we are at my favourite part, the writing! There’s not much for you to do here. I’ll crack on, then send you the first draft to look over. 
  8. Usually, that’s my work done, as I always aim to hit the nail on the head the first time. But, should you need some tweaks, I’ll have the Tippex at the ready. I include one round of revisions with every project. You must let me know within seven days if you have some editing suggestions.
  9. I’ll edit and then send through the perfectly polished final results. You will confirm that you are delighted, and I will invoice you for the outstanding 50%.
  10. TaDaa! You can publish the project. Tick that healthcare marketing done box. Then, we celebrate.

How long will it take to complete my health copywriting?

How long is a piece of string? It’s a tough question to answer generally. How long your health copywriting project takes depends on a number of things:

  • What the project is
  • If interviews are needed
  • How much research is needed
  • How long the project is
  • Level of complexity
  • If I need information from you or someone else
  • My current workload
  • If you’ve paid a rush fee

Ordinarily, for a short ‘n’ simple blog I need 48-72 hours. Multi-page white papers that need extensive research and expert interviews may take a month or longer. 

It’s good for both of us to turn work around as efficiently as possible, so I’ll create your content quickly, but I refuse to compromise on quality or the details that make my work fabulous. Don’t worry, we’ll discuss a deadline before I begin work and I promise you, providing I have all the information I need from you, I won’t miss it. 

What if I need to change the brief or cancel?

When I quote for a health copywriting project, it’s based on the terms we’ve discussed. I get it though, sometimes life happens. The easiest thing is to let me know as soon as possible, and providing I haven’t already begun work, and the new scope isn’t too far departed from the original, then it should be fine, with no extra charges. 

If there’re tons of new changes, it’s much longer, or anything else that’s significant, we can reassess the impact on my time and your costs.  

If I’ve already got my health copywriter hat on and started on your project, then a kill fee of up to 50% may be charged.

Who owns the copyright?

Once your work is signed, sealed, delivered, it’s all yours. Well, providing payment has been received in full. The copyright is 100% yours.

Do you offer other creative services?

I’ve been working on my interpretive dance, but as a perfectionist, I’m not sure it’s ready for public consumption just yet.

Seriously though, I tend to stay in my zone of genius, which is of course health copywriting. I provide photos with my blog packages, and I’ve been known to turn my hand to the odd infographic or two. Heads up though, I have an extensive network of creative folks such as web designers, graphic designers, and marketers who I can connect you with.

I have urgent work, can you help?

Quite possibly! It depends what other work I have on, and precisely how urgent you mean. I cannot sacrifice quality for speed, so will still need enough time to produce my usual, excellent standard of work.

There may be a rush fee if I need to work outside normal hours to complete your project. Contact me and let’s discuss and see what we can arrange. 

What about confidentiality?

I write for CEOs of big old companies, doctors, high-profile internet personalities, authors, and many other types of people who need my expert help. Good for you Zia!

And?

The very nature of my work, often as a ghostwriter, means that I’m constantly surrounded by confidential information. I take the trust you place in me extremely seriously and would never compromise one of my precious clients. 

I frequently sign confidentiality agreements. Your information remains exactly that. Yours and no one else’s. If I author for you, then it’s your writing, no one will ever know. Lips sealed. (And keyboard).

Can you get me on page one of Google?

As copywriting questions go, this is the most popular one!

I’ve noticed a growing trend of copywriters promising to get you to page 1. But I won’t. No matter what someone says, they cannot honestly promise that their work will guarantee an enviable position in the search results. It doesn’t work that way.  

Getting to the coveted page 1 of Google relies on several factors, of which the copywriting on your website is just one. Yes, it’s extremely important to have well-written copy that includes relevant search terms, but the website’s structure and design are also key.

Did you find my website because you were using the search term “health copywriter”? I’ve worked on my SEO so it ranks highly for this term.

I won’t make any promises about ranking your copy, but I’ll write every piece of content with best SEO practices in mind. It raises your visibility and gives you the best chance of getting closer to the top-spot for the terms people are searching for. I’ve helped many a client get to the first page of Google, but I won’t make any false claims that I can guarantee it!

What kind of health businesses do you work with?

Over the years, I’ve worked with countless health businesses and professionals from brand-new baby start-ups to multinational pharma giants. I’ve worked with general practitioners and doctors who are starting up their own clinics, nurses who’ve started online cannabis businesses, nutritionists who wanted a blockbusting book under their belt, scientists, researchers, health coaches, clinics, hospitals, locum tenens agencies, the list goes on. 

I’ve had clients who needed a one-off advert for an arthritis supplement to those who need 10,000 words a month, for months on end. Clients who know exactly what they want, and those who need nurturing and guidance. 

No matter what health business or copywriting questions you have, and what you need, I can help you.

Are you a digital health journalist?

I am! In my work as a digital health journalist, I’ve been published in:

  • Medical News Today
  • Greatist
  • Business Insider
  • Insider
  • Net Doctor
  • Very Well Health
  • The Balance

I work as a health copywriter and digital health journalist. It’s a privilege to bring essential, easily assimilated health information to people so they can advocate for themselves, and understand more about this fascinating field.

So not only can I answer your copywriting questions, I can answer journalism ones too!

Psst… you can see my work in my healthcare copywriter portfolio