Staff augmentation is a business model where you can “borrow” talent from an external agency to support you on any project. This way of working is similar to hiring a freelancer, but the difference is that the staffing agency can help you define who is the best fit for your project, vet the candidates, and provide all of the contracts and hiring conditions to the person so you don’t have to worry about it.
Imagine you’re running a boutique marketing firm. You’ve got a talented team, a loyal client base, and business is better than ever. But then, out of a sudden, one of your key clients decides they want to launch a MEGA campaign. We’re talking multi-platform, multi-language, and aimed at various audiences. They want blogs, social media posts, website copy, email newsletters – basically, they want to go BIG.
Now, you’re thrilled, of course. But there’s a catch. Your team is already working flat out on existing projects, and the campaign needs a specific style of writing that none of your current team specializes in. What’s more, the campaign is going to run for six months, and the client wants to get started ASAP. Otherwise, they will consider switching to your competitor…
What are your options?
Hiring a full-time employee doesn’t make sense because it takes ages to find the right person, let alone an entire team. Plus, you don’t really need someone for the long haul – just for this particular campaign. And freelancers? Well, they can be hit-and-miss. You don’t want to take any chances on a project this important, as your reputation is on the line.
So what’s the game plan? That’s where staff augmentation comes into play. You can reach out to a copy staffing agency and let them know what you need – the type of writing, the duration of the project, and the tasks you need, and they will be able to help.
Typically, staff augmentation providers do all the heavy lifting, handling the contracts, the payment details, and everything else so that you can find an expert copywriter quickly. Do you know what the best part is? When the campaign’s done, there are no messy layoffs or unused manpower!
Even if you do have people who can write your copy, delegating some of the work to a copywriting outsourcing agency might still be a great idea. A 2022 survey published on Statista shows that 37% of marketers listed copywriting as one of the most often tasks outsourced by marketing professionals worldwide in 2022.
What are the main benefits of working with a copywriting staffing agency?
Access to Unique Talent: Staffing agencies like Copyriders specialize in identifying the best talent in the field. For example, if you are an e-commerce company looking to improve your product descriptions, you can rely on a third-party staffing agency to get someone with vast experience and proven results, such as obtaining high purchase conversion rates and millions of dollars generated in revenue. Aside from skills, a staffing agency might also be able to source talent from multiple countries, giving you access to writers who are native or bilingual in various languages and can localize the copy and content you are looking to create.
Scalability: The staffing model allows your business to scale its operations up or down based on project requirements. For instance, during a new product launch, a company may need additional copywriters to handle the increased workload. Once the project concludes, they can easily scale down the team without any penalty fees or additional costs. Instead of having to hire 5 writers and lay them off at the end of the project, you can simply “borrow” as many writers as you need during the project and pay on an hourly basis.
Saves Time: A copywriting staffing agency can handle all the paperwork involved with hiring, such as drafting contracts and outlining hiring conditions. This can greatly simplify the hiring and onboarding process. If you just say: I need a senior writer to be a part of my team by X date, you just sign a contract with the staffing agency, and they will take care of all of the backend paperwork so the person can start working with your right away.
Reduces Risks: If a hired copywriter doesn’t meet expectations, staffing agencies usually have policies in place to replace the writer promptly, ensuring minimal disruption. For example, a company that finds the assigned copywriter is not a good fit can request a replacement without going through the entire hiring process again.
What are some of the questions you should ask the staffing agency before you sign a contract?
Clearly, this may be a new engagement model for you. If this is the case, you will likely have lots of questions to make sure you have enough trust in your future partner to hire one or more copywriters. Thus, here’s a list of questions (short checklist) that could be helpful in making that decision:
1) What is your process for finding and vetting copywriters?
2) Can you provide some examples of successful placements you’ve made, particularly in our industry?
3) Do the copywriters in your roster have specialized areas of expertise?
4) How do you ensure the quality and consistency of the copywriters’ work?
5) How quickly can you find a suitable candidate for our needs?
6) What happens if a writer isn’t meeting our expectations?
7) How are your fees structured?
8) Do your copywriters have experience working remotely and using digital communication tools?
9) How do you handle confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements?
10) Can you provide references from other companies you’ve worked with?
11) What level of involvement does the agency have once a writer is placed?
12) Do your copywriters have the capacity to take on the volume of work we need?
13) How flexible are your copywriters with revisions and feedback?
14) Can the copywriters adapt to our brand voice and guidelines?
15) What is the process if we decide to hire a writer full-time after the contract period?
At the end of the day, all of these questions will guide you and give you a comprehensive roadmap, helping you navigate the intricacies of staffing agreements while ensuring you can get the people you need.
Providing clear requirements is the last step!
If you’re ready to move forward, the last step is usually providing either a job description or a high-level overview of the projects and the tasks that the copywriter you want to contract will perform.
Let’s take a look at an example of a job description:
Job Title: Bilingual Senior Copywriter (English/Spanish)
Company: Copyriders
Job Type: Contract (minimum 3 months)
Location: Remote
Rate: $120 USD/hr
About Copyriders:
At Copyriders, we excel in articulating compelling narratives for businesses, helping them communicate their message effectively and creatively. Our team consists of top-tier talent working collaboratively to shape and tell the stories of our clients. As we continue to expand our global footprint, we are now looking for a talented Bilingual Senior Copywriter to cater to our growing international clientele.
Job Description:
The Bilingual Senior Copywriter will be instrumental in developing and executing engaging, on-brand copy in both English and Spanish for our international clients across a variety of platforms. This role will demand impeccable bilingual writing skills, a creative approach, and an in-depth understanding of marketing and advertising trends.
Responsibilities:
- Conceptualize, write, and edit persuasive copy for various marketing channels in both English and Spanish, including websites, emails, social media, print ads, and more.
- Work closely with creative and strategic teams to develop compelling bilingual marketing campaigns.
- Review and proofread copy for clarity, grammar, syntax, and cultural relevancy in both languages.
- Collaborate with international clients to understand their needs and translate them into effective, culturally appropriate copy.
- Stay up-to-date with industry trends and cultural nuances to ensure the copy is current, engaging, and relevant to diverse audiences.
- Present ideas and final deliverables to internal and external teams, and adapt copy based on feedback.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Advertising, Communications, Journalism, or related field.
- Minimum 5 years of experience in copywriting, preferably in an agency setting.
- Native or near-native proficiency in both English and Spanish, with excellent writing, editing, and proofreading skills in both languages.
- Proven experience developing copy for a variety of media and platforms.
- Exceptional communication skills and the ability to work effectively with international clients.
- Strong understanding of cultural nuances and the ability to write copy that resonates with diverse audiences.
*Please note that this project has a minimum duration of 3 months, with a possibility of extension. The budget for this role is $120 USD/hr.
Once again, this is just an example of what information the agency will need to help out.
If you found this content helpful and you’re looking for a copywriter to join you on one of your projects, don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
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