1. How experienced is the writer in creating the types of content that I need? Most professional B2B copywriters can cover a wide variety of content needs but may specialize in four or five content types, such as blogs, white papers and articles. If you aren't sure of the writer's ability to deliver on the type of content you need, and they don't have clips or portfolio pieces ready to show, consider working with the writer on a smaller piece first. This approach will allow you to see how they perform before expending significant portions of your budget.

2. How should I select a B2B copywriter to work with my business? Start by reviewing the writer's portfolio. Most copywriters will showcase a few pieces online, but don't be afraid to ask for additional links. Often, clients will not give permission for writers to place work they've completed on their business website, but will be ok with allowing the writer to privately share pieces with prospective clients. That means that the writer may have additional pieces to share if you ask.

3. Does the copywriter need experience in my industry? Unless you are tackling an incredibly complicated subject, such as a medical topic where specific jargon or language must be used, a professional B2B copywriter should have the research skills and writing expertise to take on any subject. Of course, writers who are experienced in an industry will come up to speed more quickly, but the most important thing a writer brings to the table is their ability to express thoughts and ideas. If you like what you see when you look at a writer's portfolio, odds are they will deliver on your content needs. Again, you can always start with a small piece before working your way up to high-budget items.

4. Do I need to provide research materials or is the copywriter proficient in researching topics? While you will need to provide background details on your topic to help the writer understand your brand's viewpoint, most professional B2B copywriters expect to do their own research and are quite skilled in doing so.

5. Who owns the finished content? Professional copywriters are "writers for hire". That means that they generally ghostwrite for the client. Once the content is finalized and payment is received, your company should own the content. This is important to clarify up front, as many brands repurpose content. For example, a long white paper can easily be broken down into several blogs and its message conveyed in a company ad. Unless you own the content, you may run into copyright infringements when you try to repurpose the content your writer has created.