It’s no mystery that businesses are increasingly reliant on high-quality content to engage their audience, drive traffic, and build brand authority. This has led to a rise in demand for skilled freelance copywriters who can deliver compelling content. When it comes to sourcing these professionals, LinkedIn and nDash are two popular platforms that come to mind, but choosing the right one can be tricky.
Interestingly, the demand for freelance copywriters is being influenced by the rise of AI-generated content. While AI tools like ChatGPT-4 are enhancing productivity, they haven’t fully replaced the need for human creativity and nuanced writing. In fact, 73% of B2B and B2C marketing managers have adopted generative AI tools. Yet many businesses still rely on skilled freelancers to ensure content authenticity and empathy, which AI often lacks.
Understanding LinkedIn’s Role in Professional Networking
There’s no debate about LinkedIn being a powerful tool among professionals. LinkedIn connects over 700 million professionals globally, offering access to a diverse range of talent, including copywriters. Its primary strength lies in its sheer size and the ability to network extensively.
But is it a good tool for finding freelance copywriters or content marketers?
It depends.
LinkedIn’s broad reach allows businesses to explore a wide pool of candidates but often requires sifting through numerous profiles, which can be time-consuming and inefficient. Moreover, the platform’s basic functions are free, but posting job ads incurs fees.
Tailored for Content Creation Needs
LinkedIn, with its vast network of professionals, offers advanced filters, such as title and industry, allowing businesses to find copywriters who meet their specific needs. However, LinkedIn’s broad focus can sometimes make it challenging to find highly specialized writers quickly.
In contrast, nDash offers a more curated environment with over 50,000 copywriters, specifically focusing on content creation. This platform caters to businesses looking for writers with specific expertise and ensures that the profiles you explore are relevant to your needs.
nDash’s approach is streamlined. It offers tools for advanced search, project management, and direct communication with writers, all within a professional setting designed for content creation. “Creating audience-focused content helps your prospects see you as an expert capable of helping them solve their problems,” explains Lilian Muliti about delivering highly specialized and tailored content.
Comparing Costs and Features
Businesses seeking a more hands-off approach may find nDash more appealing due to its focus on streamlined processes and pre-vetted writers. Those preferring a broader search with potential for networking might lean towards LinkedIn despite the potential for a more labor-intensive vetting process.
Audience Size and Diversity
While nDash has a massive pool of copywriters in the community, LinkedIn remains one of the largest networks in the world. LinkedIn’s massive user base is an advantage, but it also poses challenges.
The platform includes professionals from virtually every industry imaginable. That means filtering through countless profiles to find the right copywriter can be a daunting task. However, this diversity also means that LinkedIn can potentially offer access to copywriters with a vast array of specialties and experiences.
Advantage?
Depends on your needs.
A larger pool (LinkedIn) might contain irrelevant profiles, while a focused pool (nDash) ensures relevant expertise.
Costs
If you’re simply looking to post a quick public update and ask freelancers to comment or DM you, you can’t beat the cost (free). On top of that, if they’re in your LinkedIn Network, you can often ask your 2nd degree connections for their experience working with them.
However, the disadvantage is that you’ll then need to scan all those responses, read their portfolios, and go through the vetting process. Assuming you find someone you like, you’ll still need to go through all the administrative work related to onboarding, invoicing, and, possibly, end-of-year tax filing.
A job post on LinkedIn can help alleviate some of the workflows related to vetting and replying to applicants, but you’ll pay approximately $300 a month to access the features.
On the other hand, nDash costs $300 per year for its Pro tier, which provides advanced search and project management tools and a pool of pre-vetted writers. This makes nDash a better value if you anticipate shifting needs or want some writer redundancy.
Suppose you expect to need ongoing access to freelance copywriters or want to minimize administrative overhead. In that case, nDash offers a more cost-effective and efficient solution compared to LinkedIn’s job posting option.
Comparative Analysis: LinkedIn vs. nDash
As we examine the capabilities and features of LinkedIn and nDash, we must conduct a detailed comparison to understand which platform best suits your specific needs for hiring freelance copywriters. Let’s explore how each platform handles the complexities of connecting businesses with top-tier writing talent, considering various critical aspects such as ease of use, cost efficiency, and the quality of the freelancers.
Complexity
- LinkedIn: Finding qualified writers requires significant effort – crafting job posts, sifting through responses, and managing the onboarding process.
- nDash: Simplifies the process with a curated talent pool, streamlined communication tools, and project management features (on the Pro tier).
Vetting
- LinkedIn: Relies on self-reported information and requires manual screening of portfolios and references.
- nDash: Potentially has a higher vetting standard as membership might involve application processes or portfolio reviews.
Niche Specialization
- LinkedIn: Finding niche specialists can be challenging due to the general audience.
- nDash: There’s a higher concentration of writers specializing in specific industries or content types
Workflow and Project Management
Both platforms offer different levels of support for project management:
- LinkedIn: Primarily a networking and job posting site, it offers limited tools specifically for managing content creation projects.
- nDash: Provides integrated project management tools, making it easier to track progress, communicate with writers, and manage multiple projects efficiently.
Decision-Making Factors
When weighing the pros and cons of using LinkedIn versus nDash, businesses should consider several key factors to determine the best fit for their specific requirements and objectives:
- Budget: Evaluate the cost of using each platform, taking into account any additional fees or expenses associated with job posting and talent acquisition.
- Time: Assess the time and resources required to navigate each platform’s hiring process, including candidate screening, communication, and onboarding.
- Quality: Consider the level of quality assurance and vetting procedures offered by each platform to ensure that hired writers meet the desired standards and expectations.
- Specialization: Determine the importance of niche specialization and industry expertise in selecting a freelance copywriter and choosing a platform that aligns with your specific content needs and audience demographics.
- Workflow efficiency: Prioritize platforms that offer streamlined communication tools, project management features, and other workflow enhancements to optimize the hiring process and maximize productivity.
What does a neutral source like LinkedIn’s sister company, OpenAI, say?
Source: https://chat.openai.com/share/bd62da4c-8a2b-4877-bb95-b6af36e53783
So which one should you choose?
