Thanks for your feedback!

Believe me, I am more than glad that colleges are discussing SEO (and SEO copywriting.) Back in the day (and I am old guard) we had to figure it out as we went along. And I agree that there are too many internet marketing “experts” – although some folks certainly deserve the title.

I completely respect the fact that you were freelancing while you were in school. I did the same thing, and I remember the workload and pace. But something to consider: I am a better writer and strategist now than I was a year ago. And I am a much better writer than I was 20 years ago. I may have been technically proficient, but I hadn’t honed my craft. I hadn’t worked with many clients, and experienced the, uh, unique perspective clients can bring to the table.

Granted, I did learn back when it was all about print ads – you’re right there! But many of those “old school” direct response concepts and strategies work today. New twist, old idea.

That’s not to say that you aren’t good at what you do. But something to consider: Not every graduate freelanced while in school. Not ever graduate understands the writing-to- sell nuances. Most of them are still pretty green and need a lot of mentoring (which is OK – we were all green once.) There is no disrespect meant to college graduates – and there is nothing wrong with hiring a college graduate if the hire is appropriate for the job requirement. But if a client needs someone more experienced, chances are the recent graduate would not be able to help them as much.

Thanks again for your feedback.

“The last thing you want is to find out that their “experienced SEO copywriter” is someone fresh out of college ”

It’s funny that any industry I work in, there’s some amount of disdain for students just out of college. Your dad’s attitude might be funny to you, but it isn’t based at all in fact.

You can’t possibly have so much more “real” experience than half the writers on the internet. SEO hasn’t been around long enough for all of you to be claiming you’re one of the old guard. I get that writing is changing and there are fewer markets in the print world and all of a sudden, if you were a writer before the dot.com boom, you’re an expert on internet marketing.

Most of you “old guard” didn’t have a single college course related to online communications or marketing for the web, whereas my education was entirely about writing for the future, not for newspapers or print ads.

I don’t see what’s wrong with hiring someone right out of college (except that it’s not you), I was top of my class and I started freelancing while I was still in school; my clients have always received high-quality work. In some instances, I’ve replaced more experienced copywriters who couldn’t adapt to writing for the web.

Colleges are (slowly) recognizing the demand for our skill set and are teaching kids to write targeted and optimized copy right out the gate. You’d be better off hiring the recent graduates of these schools than half of the “experienced” writers out there.

Now I have to go find third base…

It’s vexing to know that small businesses really can’t afford services of people are really very good at SEO and copywriting, so they fall victim to poor quality marketing companies who sell out of the box solutions.

if i’m writing, i always do a classic trick. be a editor for myself, read and wipe, read n wipe until i feel this page is done.

your point for seo page writers that writes only for 30 minutes is shocked you, i feel the same way. do i too dumb ? or they lack of quality ?

i’m very sorry for my poor english. i have a lot to say, but i can;t find the right vocab and grammar. lol.

I am just floored every time I am contacted by firms or clients who want quality writing, but only want to pay $5 for a full blown sales page. Don’t they any respect for their customers? I am even more blown away how quickly they want it done – sorry, 30 minutes won’t work…why don’t you contact someone else.

Great post again Heather – I think every firm or business should read this before they start shopping for a firm to outsource their SEO copywriting to.