Most SEO experts will tell you that a blog on your company’s website is a great way to increase your ranking and visibility. It’s a way to focus on specific topics that your potential customers or clients may be interested in. But writing takes time, and you might have much of it. And writing well is hard work.
If you love writing, find it relaxing, and like to create your own content, this article is probably not for you. But if you struggle with it, read on! Hiring a writer can be a great way to keep content flowing to your website while cutting down on the stress.
What To Look For
Of course, you should know what to look for before hiring anyone. There are several things to consider. Some are easy to check out, while others are less obvious.
Quality writing is essential. A writer should be able to express thoughts in a clear, logical format that will hold the readers’ interest. They should also be able to self-edit their work That can include using automated tools, but they also need to re-read their writing and make sure it has good grammar, syntax, and logic.
Don’t be afraid to ask for samples of previous work. This will give you a feel for their style and the “correctness” of their writing.
Someone who writes for you should also understand – or be able to quickly learn – about your industry or niche. The more specialized you are, the more important this becomes. Some topics may be easy to write about based on common human experience or online resources from official sources. But others are far more complicated and call for a writer who is at least somewhat versed in the subject.
Here’s another place where samples of previous work come in handy. If you are in a specialized niche, it’s usually best to look for a writer who’s written on that topic before. That will let you evaluate their knowledge while you check out their writing skill.
If your blog is more about opinion, then you likely want someone who shares the opinions you want to express. Sure, some writers are gifted enough to be able to “fake” a point of view. But it can be difficult for them to be able to represent your belief system unless you work hand-in-hand with them.
Punctuality is another important factor. Good writing (and redaction) takes time, but you also want to publish according to your schedule. That schedule is going to vary from site to site, but you want to be sure to get your material out on time. Don’t forget to add some time so you can look over the article yourself, make any needed edits, and format it for publication on your site!
Finally, you want someone who can follow instructions. You may have strict guidelines for how long the article needs to be or what digital format it has to be sent. You may have it sent to yourself or prefer someone else receive it. Or the writer should always “CC” it to someone. Sure, it might take a little time for the writer to get the system down, but they should be able to learn it (as long as you’re clear and consistent, too!)
What You Should Expect To Do
Hiring a writer doesn’t solve all your problems. You still have to tell them what to write about, make sure they did it well, and get it published to your site!
You could outsource some of that work to a project manager or SEO agency (like us!). Or maybe you have someone on staff that can do it. However, it usually falls outside the domain of a writer to take those steps.
Topics normally come from your keyword research, but we’ve found it best not to simply give a topic to a writer without more information.
When we hire writers – for ourselves or for clients – we’ve found it works better if we give them an outline. We provide a provisional title and topic, links to a few sample articles from other sites, and a basic structure of the subtopics we want covered. This helps make sure everyone is on the same page and avoids wasted time.
Our best experiences have been with writers who have the confidence to come back to us and say they thought there should be an additional section, or that perhaps two sections should be folded into one. There might not be as much information out there as we first though. That interaction can take some confidence between you and the writer, but hopefully it develops over time.
You should also be prepared to read the articles as they come in and provide feedback to the writer. Of course, if it’s truly a horrible piece, you might decide they just aren’t the person for you. Sometimes, though, the writing could be good but not quite match your normal style. Most good writers will try to make adjustments or edits. They’ll also be willing to go back and add, remove, or shuffle sections. Of course, you should both agree ahead of time on the editing process and how many revisions you can ask for.
Where To Find Them
Writers are easy to find and many are grateful if they can work with someone on an ongoing basis.
Websites such as Freelancer.com, Fiverr.com, and Upwork can help you find good writers, although you may have to wade through some who are, umm, less-qualified. Try Craigslist, too.
Colleges or trade schools are another place to try. Students are often looking for a few extra bucks. They’re also used to writing. You could check with the English department, or try a department whose subject relates to your blog. For instance, if your site is on medicine, you could ask around the pre-med school for how you can advertise. If you write on plumbing, a trade school might be able to suggest someone.
Another, often neglected, source is people you’ve worked with who’ve moved on to other phases of life or other careers. For instance, a stay-at-home mom who worked as a paralegal in the past could be willing to take on some articles. A retired HVAC tech might like to contribute by doing some writing,
How Much It Costs
Prices for written content vary a good bit. You can get a 1000-word article for around $30 if it’s on a general topic. The more specialized you get, though, the more you can expect to pay. And of course, writers with a larger portfolio tend to charge more. We’ve seen prices of several hundred dollars for freelancers – and some do deserve it.
Some writers charge by word while others charge a flat rate for an article in a rough range of words. We prefer those who charge a flat rate – it saves from an artificial inflation of the length of the article. That means less editing and less arguing later on.
It can be tempting to hire writers online from other countries where the cost of living is lower. That often means they charge less. And we’ve found many great writers this way. However, you also have to be careful that they are fluent in English (or whatever language you need the article in). Remember, too, that English can vary in different countries. Idioms and cultural references that work in one country may not work as well in others, too.
Conclusion
Adding blog content to your website can generate traffic, but you may not have time to create that content yourself. Getting a freelancer or agency to handle this can be a huge help. Be sure to vet them carefully for ability and knowledge. Don’t forget you still have to guide them on the topic and ideas you want in the article. And when you find a good writer, do what you can to hold on to them! You’ll both appreciate the consistent work they can produce.