Author: Cindy H @ Cindy Writes

Start-up life assessment (for new businesses)

Ready to stop guessing? Take our free startup assessment to identify your business stage and get a clear plan to focus on for the next 90 days.

Are you a new business owner, or are you about to start one? Then this guide is for you.

You’ll begin with a Start-up Life Assessment Quiz. Then, over the coming weeks, look out for posts that detail the steps you can take—from someone who has been there and done that the hard way.

The reason we start with this assessment is so you can figure out where you are right now and choose the right path for your journey. This guide is designed in three easy steps to help you understand your progress and identify your next moves.

You will:

  • Rate ten key start-up areas: like business concept and marketing foundations to assess your current setup.
  • Review the ratings: This helps you reflect on where you are, what you still need to do, and what might be a roadblock.

Create a Start-up Stage Snapshot: You will identify your business’s top strengths, areas for immediate development, your overall start-up stage, and your main focus for the next 90 days.

Tailored Next Steps by Stage

1️⃣ Idea Stage – Exploring & Validating

  • Clarify your concept: Identify your core offer, ideal customer, and problem you solve.
  • Market scan: Research competitors and audience needs.
  • Feasibility check: Assess resources, time, and budget.
  • Action priority: Create a lean business outline with must-have elements before investing heavily.

2️⃣ Pre-launch Stage – Setting the Foundation

  • Brand essentials: Lock in your name, visual identity, and key messaging.
  • Operations setup: Choose your systems (payments, booking, CRM, file storage).
  • Test audience: Start building interest lists or online communities.
  • Action priority: Soft test your offer with low-risk pilots, then refine before official launch.

3️⃣ Early Launch Stage – Getting Out There

  • Visibility plan: Implement consistent marketing (social, partnerships, email).
  • Feedback loop: Collect real-world feedback from first customers.
  • Operations review: Refine processes to reduce friction and save time.
  • Action priority: Focus on client delivery + credibility building (reviews, testimonials, case studies).

4️⃣ Growth Stage – Scaling & Streamlining

  • Data-driven decisions: Use sales, marketing, and operations metrics to guide moves.
  • Offer expansion: Add new products, services, or packages strategically.
  • System automation: Automate repeat tasks for efficiency.

Action priority: Focus on sustainable growth, consistent revenue, and freeing up your time.

Time Is Money: Create Your Weekly CEO Schedule (Without Burnout)

A practical, business-owner-friendly guide to creating a weekly schedule that reflects your actual priorities: so you can grow your business without frying your nervous system. Perfect for solopreneurs juggling too many hats.

A practical, business-owner-friendly guide to creating a weekly schedule that reflects your real priorities: so you can grow your business without frying your nervous system.
Perfect for solopreneurs juggling too many hats.

What’s Inside:

  • A warm, relatable guide (PDF) walking you through the Time Finder process
  • A printable PDF worksheet for pen-and-paper thinkers
  • A fully editable Word version of the worksheet
  • Prompts, encouragement, and permission to drop what doesn’t matter

You’ll learn how to:

  • Brain dump everything that’s cluttering your schedule
  • Group your business tasks into strategic zones
  • Spot hidden time pockets
  • Build a weekly rhythm that works for you
  • Protect your CEO time like it’s a paying client

Perfect for:

  • Solopreneurs
  • Side hustlers
  • Freelancers wearing all the hats
  • Creatives who need space to breathe
  • Anyone ready to realign their time with what truly matters

“This tool has helped me stop spiraling and finally make space for the work (and life) that matters.” – Cindy

Instant download — no subscriptions.

Buy once. Get lifetime access. Just $7.

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How to Know if You’re Ready for a Copywriter

Not sure if it’s the right time to hire a copywriter? Hiring too early—or too late—can cost you. This post breaks down the signs you’re ready (and the signs you’re not), what you’ll need before you hire, and how to make the most of your investment.

Because hiring one too early—or too late—can cost you.

Being a business owner and having a shoe string budget can leave you wondering “What should I spend my Operating Expenses budget on? This blog post will help guide you to decide when to part with some of that budget for your copywriting needs… and when to DIY it. 

This is for any business owner who doesn’t have inhouse copywriting services.

What a Copywriter Actually Does

What I do as a copywriter is take your ideas or draft copy and clean it up (or write the copy that aligns with your brief from the information you supplied in the booking form. If you have just given me an overview of what you want I will write the outline and then from there I will draft the first copy. Then I will go through it checking that the word is in line with the purpose of the copy, and spelling, grammar, punctuation (all of the copy edit type tasks). Then I will run it through software like ChatGPT or Grammarly. Then I will give it a final polish before emailing it to the client. 

You get one light revision included—for things like adjusting tone or tweaking a paragraph. A full rewrite because you changed your direction halfway through? That’s a new project.

Note: I don’t provide full branding strategies, graphic design, or complete marketing plans unless agreed beforehand. If you’re not sure your project fits, send me an email—we’ll figure it out.

Signs You’re Not Quite Ready Yet

You may not be ready to hire a copywriter if:

  • You are still in the pre-pre-planning stage and have note yet defined what you are going to be offering or even who you will be offering it to 
  • You haven’t quite settled on your brand voice or core message
  • Your are expecting a unicorn when your brief is: “just make it up for me”
  • Your website is still in draft or not quite sure what the purpose for your website is.

Mini prompt: “Before a copywriter can turn your message into magic, you need to actually have a message.”

You may not be ready for a copywriter but you may be ready for my other service Strategic Consultation Session. Basically you buy 1 hour of my time to get all of the tasks done that you need help with like choosing your business structure, setting up your New Zealand business number or just brainstorming with someone who has been there and done that. Basically you pay for one hour of time to get help with what you need help with the most.

Signs You Are Ready

You are ready to hire a copywriter when:

  • You know what you’re offering, and who it’s for
  • Your product/service is tangible and ready to sell
  • You already have copy but it isn’t quite working for you or you realised writing just isn’t your forte.
  • You are ready to invest because you know words sell.

Remember you do not have to have all of the copy details, just an open mind to collaborating with your copywriter.

What You’ll Need Before Hiring

Before you hire your copywriter you will need:

  • A basic brand voice or vibe, even if it is just in the draft stage (we can work together to clean this up)
  • The details of what you are selling (such as the features (and benefits if applicable), pricing and timelines)
  • A goal: what is the purpose of the copy? Are you wanting more clicks, more signups, more bookings?
  • A realistic timeline and budget.
  • Optional but helpful: brand tone guide, customer research, rough drafts or past copy attempts.

Still Unsure? Ask Yourself These Questions

  • Do I have something specific I want written?
  • Do I know who I’m trying to reach?
  • Can I give a copywriter enough raw material to work with?
  • Am I trying to save time or just avoid hard decisions?

If most of those were YES—then you’re ready.

Ready to book:

  1. Evaluate where you are and if you are ready to hire a copywriter. 
  2. Get all of your resources together to make your copywriters job easier. 
  3. Hire (or don’t) the copywriter: And if that copywriter is me—great!

Ways to work with me:

What’s Included in a Copywriting Project (And What’s Not)

If you’re thinking about hiring a copywriter — or specifically working with Cindy Writes — this article walks you through exactly what to expect. From how the booking process works, to what’s included in a standard copywriting package (and what isn’t), this clear, practical guide sets honest expectations for new clients. It also highlights what makes a project run smoothly and how you can get the most out of working together. Whether you’re a first-time business owner or simply outsourcing your words for the first time, this is a must-read before you book.

Helps set boundaries, clarify expectations, and gently educate first-time clients.

1. So You’ve Chosen Cindy Writes — What Happens Next?

You have decided to get help with your copy — and you’ve chosen Cindy Writes to bring your words to life. So what’s actually included in your project? And what’s not?

Let’s break it down.

2. What’s Usually Included in a Copywriting Package

There are two simple ways to get started working with Cindy Writes:

  • A quick 10-minute consultation to talk through your needs
  • The Booking Form (self-led consultation): Fill it out here

After your consult or form submission, you’ll receive a confirmation email that includes:

  • A Letter of Agreement outlining your chosen service and project scope
  • Your project timeline and expected delivery date
  • A pre-paid invoice, if you haven’t already purchased through the PayPal links on the website

Once payment is received, your project will be officially booked and slotted into either the Standard or Priority rotation, based on your selection.

The Writing Process:

Here’s how I turn your brief into clean, on-brand copy:

  1. Outline: Includes project purpose, tone, word count, and content structure
  2. Draft: I write the first full draft from scratch (no AI auto-generation — just me, writing for you)
  3. Polish: I correct grammar, spelling, and structure, then run it through editing tools
  4. Voice Check: I manually review the final draft to ensure it still sounds like you — not a robot
  5. Delivery: You receive a .docx file with Track Changes turned on so you can review, comment, or make small edits
  6. Final Revisions: You get one round of minor revisions included to adjust tone or tweak content
  7. Final Polish: Once your feedback is in, I polish it and send back the final version

You’ll also get:

  • Basic keyword suggestions at the bottom of the copy
  • Light formatting suggestions if applicable (especially for blog posts or product descriptions)

3. What’s Not Included (Unless Pre-arranged)

These items are not included in your copywriting project unless we’ve agreed ahead of time:

  • Graphic Design or Layout
    (Coming soon as part of our growing team — for now, you’ll receive clean text files only)
  • Full SEO Strategy or Audits
    I can include relevant keywords, but a full SEO package is a separate service.
  • Extensive Research or Referencing (e.g. APA)
    Need detailed research-based writing? I offer this service at a higher rate. Email me to get a custom estimate.
  • Unlimited Revisions
    Your project includes 1 round of light edits. Major rewrites due to changed direction will require a new booking.
  • Uploading to Websites or Platforms
    I’ll send your files by email or Google Doc — uploading to Shopify, WordPress, etc. is not included.
  • Ongoing Marketing or Social Campaigns
    I’m happy to write your initial copy, but ongoing social media support isn’t part of a single project unless pre-booked, email for and estimate.

4. What Makes a Project Go Smoothly?

Here’s how to make the most of your copywriting package:

  • Complete the Booking Form in full. This helps me understand your brand, tone, and goals right from the start.
  • Respond promptly to the draft. Quick feedback helps keep your project on track, especially during peak weeks.
  • Be open and collaborative. I treat every project like a creative partnership, not a transaction.

5. Ready to Get Started or Have Questions?

  • Want to see my services and pricing? Click here
  • Ready to book? Use the Buy Now links in the pricing table AND complete the Booking Form
  • Have a technical or research-heavy project? Email me at cindywritesnz@gmail.com for a custom quote
  • Prefer a quick chat first? Call or text 022 136 9150

Let me help you find the right words — so your business can speak for itself.

Cindy

ServiceExpress PriceStandard PriceWord Count (Max)Time Estimate (Max)
Bio or About Page$75$60400 words1.5–2 hrs
Blog Post (500–700 words)$100$80700 words2–3 hrs
Web Copy – Per Page$125$100500 words2.5–3 hrs
Full Website Copy (up to 5 pages)$500$4002,500 words10–12 hrs
Product Descriptions (set of 5)$100$80150 words each (max 750)2–2.5 hrs
Additional Product (ea.)$25$20150 words0.5 hr
Email Sequence (up to 4 emails)$180$1601,400 words (total)4 hrs
Blog Post Polish (edit/rewrite)$70$60700 words1.5–2 hrs
Website Review + Copy Suggestions$50$40700 words (written report)1 hr

Why Your Words Matter

Words are everywhere in your business — on your homepage, in your emails, in every caption. But are they doing their job? Discover why the words you choose can make or break connection, trust, and conversion.

Ever scroll past a post, email, or ad without even noticing it?
Chances are, you have — and so have your customers.

Not because they weren’t interested…
But because the words didn’t land.

In business, words are everywhere:
They tell your story, describe your offer, and connect you to the people you want to reach.

But do the actual words you choose really matter?
Can’t you just say what you mean and move on?

Well… not if you want people to listen.

What “Words” We’re Talking About

When we say “words,” we’re not just talking about spelling and grammar.
We’re talking copy — the language you use to represent your business, offer, or message.

That might be:

  • A homepage that introduces you
  • A caption that makes someone stop scrolling
  • A product description that turns a maybe into a yes

And depending on what you’re writing, your tone, style, and structure should shift.

Just like the same word can carry different meanings depending on how it’s used
(thank you, “fine” — are you okay or are you about to scream?),
your copy needs to match your message and audience.

The right words don’t just fill space —
they set the tone, guide perception, and invite action.

The Role Words Play in Connection & Conversion

Your words are doing one of three things:

  • Building connection (or losing it)
  • Creating clarity (or confusion)
  • Inviting action (or making people bounce)

For example:

Before:

“Welcome to our site. We offer high-quality solutions for all your needs.”
(What does that even mean?)

After:

“Need handmade gifts that hit the heart, not just the budget? You’re in the right place.”
(Feels like a real person is talking to you, right?)

Common Problems When Words Aren’t Working

  • DIY copy that rambles or hides your point
  • Overuse of jargon that makes you sound like a brochure
  • Templates that strip away your voice and make you blend in
  • Silence — not saying anything when it matters most

Why Getting It Right Matters (Especially for Small Biz & Creatives)

You don’t have millions in ad spend.
You have one chance to make a reader feel something.

Good copy builds trust, communicates value, and makes the sale —
sometimes in just a headline, a subject line, or a single sentence.

When your words work, everything feels easier:
Marketing, messaging, even money.

What Good Copy Feels Like

  • It sounds like you (not a robot).
  • It’s clear, engaging, and easy to follow.
  • It gently guides the reader — without shouting at them.

Good copy doesn’t scream.
It clicks.
It connects.
It converts.

Ready to Find the Right Words?

If you’re not sure where to start, here’s a gentle prompt:
What’s the one line on your site you’re secretly unsure about?

Not sure how to fix it?
That’s literally what I do.

👉 Work with me on your copywriting (link to your services page)