Scroll to top

What to look for in a technical copywriter


charlie - 16th April 2012 - 0 comments

A good copywriter can be tough to find these days, but if you deal with a complex subject searching for a good technical copywriter can sometimes feel like hunting for a needle in a haystack. Excellent writing skills combined with technical expertise is the perfect combination and a copywriter’s ability to write interesting, accurate and informative content is highly sought after.

Now this may well sound like the sort of copywriter you need to help grow your business, but how do you sort the wheat from the chaff? Here are five things to look for in a technical copywriter:

1.    Expert knowledge

For certain businesses, a jack of all trades copywriter or a beginner in the field is all you need, but when it comes to technical projects someone with an expertise or at least good knowledge of the subject is integral to their success. Many copywriters will have started off elsewhere, so look for someone with prior knowledge of the sector or someone who has a degree in the right area before judging their writing ability.

2.    Research and analysis skills

Your copywriter could know all there is to know about your business sector, but the ability to analyse data and research effectively is just as important. The ability to collect information from the client and other sources, collate them and then form them into a well-written and informative technical piece of copy is a must-have, and good technical copywriters should be able to turn the most advanced ideas into great content.

3.    Good communication

Being able to communicate a complex idea to a novice is often part of the job as a technical copywriter. If they can turn something for an expert into a readable piece for a customer then you know you’ve got the right person for the job. Someone who can ignore jargon and use analogies and other tricks to get your business’s point across is the perfect copywriter to take you and your company forward.

4.    What you see is what you get

A clear and concise writing style is one of the first things you should look for in a good technical copywriter. Long, wordy content will lose the reader after a while and rambling blogs or website copy is a waste of time for everyone involved. Short, simple sentences and succinct wording is the best way to get the most out of your copy, so a writer who does this while still producing interesting pieces is the perfect addition to your business.

5.    Marketing knowledge

Having the instinct of not only what the reader wants to read but what will receive a reaction from them is an excellent attribute to have as a copywriter, and this should be reflected in their work. Dry copy is hard to digest and will lose even the most ardent of readers, so taking a complicated subject and turning it into a must-read article that will be passed on by others is what you’re looking for.

Technical copywriters have some very specific skills and finding the perfect addition to your team can be hard, but use these five points as a reference and when you find them you’ll realise what a benefit they can be.

If you’d like to find out more about Snack Media’s technical copywriting services, please contact us for further information.

Related posts