By Joe Weigel, owner, Weigel Strategic Marketing

Years ago, a wise friend told me that the most affordable tax professional I would ever hire was the one I called before I tried to do my own taxes. I’ve since come to realize that the same may hold true with writers.

I’ve often seen companies in funeral service decide to tackle writing copy for a new website, crafting a news release, authoring a blog posts, or trying to handle other communication projects on their own. Sometimes, they choose to handle it because they’re confident they have the expertise to accomplish it, but usually, their reason is an effort to save money.

And, more often than not, they eventually realize that they can’t finish it on their own. Or, they do finish it and are not satisfied with the results, so they bring in a writer to create a new version. Either way, they would have saved time and trouble – and received a greater value from their investment – by working with a writer from the very beginning.

Let’s say that you write fairly well, what additional value can a writer bring to your project?  Experienced writers are less likely to make subtle mistakes that can inadvertently derail your messages. More importantly, they bring an objective viewpoint, so they’re better able to view you in the context of your marketplace and challenge internal assumptions that may not be entirely accurate.

What about costs? In most cases, whether you’re talking about printed materials or something like a website, what you’d pay a writer represents only a small percentage of the project’s overall cost. That small percentage can spell the difference between a piece that conveys your message effectively and one that simply frustrates or even embarrasses you and your firm.

This type of logic isn’t limited to those who put words to paper. It’s just as applicable to other professionals, from graphic designers to web programmers to architects and attorneys – even to the guy who fixes your car.

No matter the project, getting experts involved from the beginning helps you minimize missteps and maximize the value of what you want to accomplish. Beyond their specific services, part of what you’re buying is their expertise and advice.

Receiving that advice after you need it can be a little painful and embarrassing – and it’s invariably a lot more expensive.

Joe Weigel is the founder of Weigel Strategic Marketing, a marketing communications firm focused on the funeral profession that delivers expertise across three disciplines: public relations, branding, and communications. Visit weigelstrategicmarketing.webs.com to learn more. He also can be reached at weigelstrategicmarketing@gmail.com.

 

 

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