Hiring a freelance writer is an essential step in any online business. Eventually, the traffic on your website grows to a point where you can’t handle everything by yourself. At this point, it makes sense to hire a freelance writer to help you out.
This article explores the processes and different paths involved with how you can hire a content writer.
Why hire a content writer?
Although we all might start with the best intentions, running a business and a blog side-by-side takes time and effort. Some people can manage it, and hats off to you if you’re one of them. Most, though, need a little help.
You might think of hiring a content writer as paying for support and assistance.
Depending on who you hire, the writer might look after various amounts of the content side of your online presence. Some specialise in social media, some in journalism, and others in SEO posts.
They might decide on a content plan and do all the research for you as you advance.
In short, the more content writers do, the more they’re likely to charge.
Can I get blog posts for free?
One way of getting free blog work on your site is to invite people to submit guest posts. You’ll be giving them a voice and boosting their portfolio and online presence in return for their writing.
Guest contributions are a great way to fill out the blanks, but they are rarely a long-term solution. This is because guest contributors will eventually either start making money for themselves or run out of time or enthusiasm.
You’ll then have to keep finding new guest contributors, which may become more hassle than it’s worth.
While guest contributors fall into the realm of content writers, hiring a professional is a better and more permanent solution.
When should I start looking for a freelance writer?
You should start considering hiring a freelance writer when that side of your business is getting too much for you.
- You’re running out of time to write.
- The flow of ideas for new content is starting to run dry (something that happens to the best of us and, at its extreme, is a form of writer’s block).
- You find blogging difficult or need help to keep up with the demands of your audience.
If you find yourself struggling with any of these aspects, it might be time to hire a professional.
You might not want to hire a freelancer if doing so will put your business in debt. As you’re growing and developing a new business, it often makes sense to minimise your financial investment in things you can do yourself.
In this case, I’d recommend waiting until your business has grown to a manageable level and is turning a decent profit. Cheaper content writers and AIs can be a valuable stepping stone, but they aren’t a long-term solution.
How to hire a freelance content writer
There are several different ways you can approach hiring a freelance writer.
- Job boards– the traditional way of hiring somebody for a job.
- Freelancer markets– Upwork is one of the best freelancer markets and is used by thousands of writers, including myself.
- Asking for recommendations from other website owners– if you are open to asking other website owners for advice on writers, go for it. Some might reply to you and suggest a particular writer for the job. Approaching it this way is a bit like a free screening process.
- Searching the internet for freelancer websites, such as this one, and contacting freelancers directly.
Before hiring a writer, consider your budget, how many articles you need, and the writer’s exact tasks. Having these clearly in your mind saves substantial amounts of time regarding negotiations.
You often want to hire more than one freelancer for your blog or website. Around two or three is usually a reasonable amount to get enough work done.
Finally, don’t be afraid to get sample pieces done to evaluate the quality of work you’ll get going forward. There’s usually a small fee, but you can see if the writer’s style matches your site.
Conclusion
As a content writer, I specialise in the automotive industry but regularly write for many others.
If you need content production regularly, long- or short-term, feel free to get in touch using the contact page on the menu above. Alternatively, fill in the form below, and I’ll get back to you when I can for a commitment-free, friendly chat!