Every business needs freelance writers—wordsmiths that can sell your business with their skills. But if you haven’t needed to hire a writer until now, you’re probably wondering, “What should I expect?” and “How can I tell a good writer from a bad one?”
Dos: Finding and Hiring Freelance Writers
There are plenty of websites and services that are tuned for hiring writers and editors. Choose the right one for you, post your job listings, and let the applications roll in.
Once you’ve found some potential writers to hire, ensure their work is right for your business.
Research and Review the Writer’s Portfolio and Work History
Each freelance writer application should come with a resume and portfolio, which you may find on the writer’s personal website. Go over their samples to see what you can expect from them.
- What kind of content development do they typically do?
- Is it a good match for your business?
- Do they know how to communicate with your audience?
Clearly Communicate Your Project Goals and Requirements
As you work with your writer and even on your job listings, clarify what kind of content you need them to write. For example, you wouldn’t want to hire a technical writer if you’re looking for a more casual and friendly tone to connect with your readers. You also can’t expect a travel blogger to write clear and concise steps for specialized instruction manuals. Pick the right freelance writer for the right job.
Experience is important too. Freelancers with more prolific résumés and education are often the best candidates, but they’ll probably come with a higher price point. However, don’t be afraid to take a chance on a newer writer, especially if their portfolio matches the content you’re looking for.
Negotiate Payment and Deadlines Upfront
Despite the creative nature of the job, writers are still providing a billable service. Let them know how much you’re willing to pay for the project. Usually, this is determined by a per-word rate or a flat project fee. Do some research to determine a fair range for the content you need and include it in your job listings.
Let your writers know clearly when the work is due. If there isn’t an established deadline, there isn’t as much pressure for their work to be timely or tidy. Set an appropriate speed for the project somewhere between “right this instant” and “whenever it’s ready.” And make sure you plan for time to give feedback.
Offer Constructive Feedback and Collaborate with The Writer
Any writer can tell you they rewrote their best work several times before finishing it—editing is just part of the process. So don’t be afraid to let them know if the content needs changes. They may be the writers, but they’re not mind readers. Just be friendly and courteous when you ask for changes.
Sometimes what seems like a big problem can be as simple as adjusting tone or sentence structure, and experienced freelancers will know how to fix it.
Don’ts: Finding and Hiring Freelance Writers
For every good writer, there are bound to be a few bad apples. Here are some pointers to keep in mind as you weed out the ones that don’t suit your brand.
Avoid Sacrificing Quality for a Lower Price
When writers have a ton of experience on their résumé, you can expect them to charge more. But this is a good thing for both them and you! If you want quality work, expect to pay a quality rate. After all, you get what you pay for.
Don’t Be Afraid to Say No to a Writer If They Aren’t the Right Fit
Nobody likes to be rejected or to do the rejecting. That’s why vetting your writers is so important. But a clear “no” is necessary so both parties can move on. If a bad writer is stubborn, don’t waste your time or theirs. Instead, move on and find a replacement as soon as possible.
Don’t Forget to Get Everything in Writing
Hold on to everything from contracts and pay stubs to e-mails and maybe even chat histories. When you track correspondence with your writers, especially ones that work remotely, there’s a paper trail to fall back on in case things get sour.
Avoid Ignoring Red Flags or Warning Signs
Take note of the number of times you (or your editor) need to send the content back to the writer. If things are going smoothly, the back-and-forth should only happen a couple of times at most for a piece. If you need to send it back several more times than that, it could be a sign they don’t know how to follow instructions.
Another thing to look out for is the word limit. If you have a word limit on your by-the-word content and writers constantly go way over it, it might be a red flag that they’re more focused on nickel and diming you than on the actual quality of your content.
The Importance of Taking Time to Find and Hire Elite Freelance Writers
The more time you put into finding a quality writer, the more time (and money) you save in the long run. A good writer will get your content right on the first or second draft because they’re taking time on and pride in their work.
Benefits of a Successful Collaboration with Skills and Reliable Freelance Writers
A good writer is efficient and flexible, has expertise in their field, and can scale their work to your needs. And they’re out there, waiting for you to hire them! They’re ready to surprise you with how well they can sell your brand. And if you follow these tips, you’ll have a much easier time finding them.
Using Content Creation Services to Find the Best Freelance Writers
The best resource for written content is a content creation service like nDash. They are laser-focused on helping clients find and build entire teams of writers for a wide variety of content. Have top-notch freelancers at your fingertips, ready to write, edit, and publish content for your business. nDash takes all the guesswork out of the hiring process and gets you direct access to quality written content delivered when you need it.
About the Author:
Rachel Jones is the “Sherlock Holmes” of editors. Writing is her passion, and editing is her superpower. Along with her brilliant team of writers and editors at Reason & Watson, she makes it her business to understand your audience. She gets inside their head and surrounds herself with their questions, concerns, and context. The result? Carefully crafted content that hits home. Check out her profile here: Rachel Jones.
