Let’s set the scene. The content machine is hungry, and you need to feed it with a 1,500-word blog post with lots of SEO juice. Or you need a killer abandoned cart email sequence written by an e-commerce expert. Or your agency needs to update the About Us page, but nobody on staff has the time or desire to write it. So you turn to a writer to whip up the content you need. You expect well-written content, and you’ll get it. But a great freelance writer brings so much more value than words on a page.
Here are the top five unexpected benefits you stand to gain when you work with an experienced freelance writer, from broadening your network to getting better internal alignment among your coworkers.
1. Expand Your Network of Creative Professionals
If a freelance writer has ever worked for an agency or an in-house marketing team, they’ve likely collaborated with a wide variety of other creative and creative-adjacent professionals, including but not limited to:
- Copy editors
- Proofreaders
- Art directors
- Graphic designers
- Photographers
- Videographers
- Motion graphic designers
- Content marketing managers
- Social media managers
- Creative project managers
A freelance writer can be a secret weapon for finding other talented creatives. Ask your writer if they have any recommendations if you’re in the market for additional creative help.
2. Get Internal Alignment on Your Brand Messaging
Hiring a freelance writer is a great opportunity to get a gut check on internal stakeholder beliefs about your brand.
It’s a writer’s job to embody your brand’s voice in any piece of content they write. (That is, if you have an existing brand voice. You can always enlist the help of a writer or brand strategist to help develop or hone this.) In addition to knowing a brand’s voice, writers must also understand your main selling propositions (MSPs) and target audiences to craft the most compelling and accurate copy.
Any freelance writer worth their salt will ask you to provide this information upfront so they can do their job properly. If you have this intel packaged up and ready to go, great. However, suppose you’re still working through your MSPs and audiences. Then, starting a project with a freelance writer can help uncover any internal inconsistencies and get your team on the same page.
An objective third party with a fresh perspective—someone who’s not in the weeds with your content and messaging—will know the right questions to ask. This ensures your team is telling the same brand story and delighting your audiences in the most authentic way possible.
3. Empower Your Team to Do Their Best Work
Just like B2B selling, web development, or graphic design, writing is a skill. For example, you hire a freelance writer to write a case study, develop copy for a one-pager, or write metadata content for a web page. Doing so frees up the salesperson, web developer, and designer to focus on the tasks at hand.
When you ask someone who’s not a writer by trade to write copy, you’re burdening them with tasks that pull them away from their daily responsibilities. Free up your employees’ brain power—hire a freelance writer!
4. Discover New Tools & Resources
Every writer has a toolbox they reference when they start working with a new client or on a new project. Some tools are paid, but plenty are free.
Here are just a few examples of free tools and resources that a freelance writer can turn you on to:
- SEO: Ahrefs, SERP simulator
- Creative inspiration: Really Good Emails, AdAge
- Free stock images: Unsplash
- Text comparison tool: Diff Checker
- Content marketing resources: Orbit Media, Marketing Profs
Don’t be afraid to ask for tools and tips!
5. Uncover New Content Types
Dead-set on creating a 15-page white paper from scratch? Maybe a podcast is a better route for your audience. Want to churn out TikTok videos on a daily basis? Perhaps your audience would rather engage with sessions on LinkedIn Live.
Final Thoughts on Hiring a Freelance Writer
Great freelance writers keep up with industry trends regarding the types of content that work best depending on the audience, stage in the sales funnel, and other factors. They can be a great resource to help you determine the content types that make the most sense for your business needs. For more information about setting up an account and tapping into our freelance writer marketplace, contact our sales team today!
About the Author:
This post, 5 Unexpected Benefits of Hiring a Freelance Writer, is by nDash writer Dani Malloy. She’s a Chicago-based copywriter and content writer. Her specialties include covering content about shopper marketing, food service and restaurant marketing, higher education, e-commerce, and healthcare. Check out her profile here for more information: Dani Malloy – Copywriter.