We have all heard the term ‘Content is King’. It is a phrase commonly used among online marketers and freelance copywriters. When you are a business owner, it can be a real struggle trying to churn out content on a regular basis, let alone pieces that can reach your target audience effectively.
This is where freelance writers come in. Regardless of whether it will be on a temporary or an ongoing basis, these professionals can help to ease the burden associated with regular content production.
By having a copywriter on your team, you will be able to stay focused on your overall strategy. Furthermore, fresh blood can help to inject new and revolutionary ideas that will help shake up your company.
The process involved with finding and hiring a copywriter can at times be overwhelming. With a wide range of options to choose from, knowing where to begin is not always easy. However, with the following information, you will be better able to find your way to a great writer.
Employing a Writer
Before you go posting on job boards and interviewing copywriters, you will need to first set some clear objectives. This involves determining what sort of writers you want, what you want them to do, and what your timelines will be. Without figuring all these aspects out, it will become rather cumbersome trying to determine who the right person to hire is, let alone one who can produce content that your audience will respond to.
By having a clear idea of your goals and objectives when it comes to the sort of copywriting you want to have done, you will be able to save yourself from wasting a potential writer’s time, as well as yours. Your business deserves great content posted to your website beginning with the very first piece..
What to Look for in a Writer
The sort of writer you want must be able to deliver what you and your business needs. However, there are particular traits that every copywriter worth their salt should have:
Strong Portfolio
Every good writer ought to have a solid body of work, or at least several high-quality writing samples that they can present. By having such a portfolio, you will be able to tell a whole lot about them. For instance, their work will show if they have any real talent, if their style matches up with what you want, and whether or not they have the ability to change tone when necessary, as well as the expertise your business needs.
Such portfolios also offer an opportunity for you to check for issues of plagiarism. If the work they are showing you isn’t their own, then they are definitely not the writer for you. Some of the online tools one may use to check for plagiarism include Copyscape and Grammarly.
Time Zone
This aspect may not seem important to some, but consider this. If you require a quick response time from your writer, then their time zone will play a crucial role in that.
Remember, if your writer is somewhere in the world that is 12 hours behind you, getting a hold of them quickly can at times prove difficult.
How Responsive Are They?
One thing you should understand is that responsiveness in a copywriter is a mark of professionalism, which is a trait that you definitely want when hiring someone. This particular aspect becomes even more important when you are hiring someone to work for you remotely.
Needing to push them on a project status or to meet deadlines will be an unnecessary drain on your time, when you could be doing other things of greater importance.
Payment
There are so many things you will have to consider when it comes to hiring a writer. One of the most important considerations is the amount you expect to pay them. This decision will be largely based on their experience and breadth of knowledge. The most common kinds of payment structures include: per word, an hourly rate, per piece, or a single retainer fee.
Regardless of whichever payment method you opt for, it should be based on your expectations of the writer. This will also determine the cost of hiring a writer that best works for your business.
Where to Hire a Freelance Writer
There are several ways to find and hire a freelance writer, each with its own pros and cons. The path you decide to take will largely depend on the kind of work you want done and the sort of relationship you want to establish with your freelance writer.
They include the following:
Word of Mouth
Inquiring from people you know and trust is always the best place to start. You can reach out to colleagues, former school mates, family and friends, or people in your network to hear what ideas they can give you. You never know, one of them might just point you in the right direction.
Relevant Blogs
In case you are following various writing blogs and other online media outlets relevant to your field, then you could perhaps try finding a writer from one of them who already works on projects that are aligned with your business.
If you come across a writer who grabs your attention, get their social media handles and other contact details. From there, reach out to them and see if you can get together on a project.
Social Media Platforms
Searching for writers on social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn can also come in handy. You just need to follow the right people, like the right pages, and join the appropriate groups. Doing so will expose you to a host of talented writers that you can choose from.
Job Boards
Using job boards to find writers also comes highly recommended. They allow you to write personalized instructions regarding the kind of work you want done. This helps to simplify the interview process, since only writers who can do the job will apply.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, there is a whole process involved when it comes to finding writers. You can’t just wake up one morning and pick anyone. You have to know what you want written and take the time to find the best writer for the job.
