Boost Your Content Production: Hire Freelance Writers

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Businesses and marketers face immense pressure on their internal resources. The ever-increasing demand to create engaging content that connects with their audience at all stages of the buying process, tight budgets, and limited staffing in times of economic uncertainty only add to the challenge and while AI can help, it cannot replace human creativity and expertise. In this article, we'll explore the benefits of filling the gap with freelance writers. We'll also outline best practices for hiring, selecting, and managing them effectively for maximum productivity.

In the past, companies had to rely on hiring full-time employees, incurring a host of expenses, such as salaries, benefits, and overhead. Another option was to rely on an agency that would charge a premium for the services. It is now possible to tap into a global pool of talent and hire freelancers on an ad hoc basis, allowing employers to meet the demand and save money and resources.

The cost savings of working directly with freelance content writers compared to agencies for instance can vary based on several factors such as the level of experience of the writer, the scope of the project, and the industry niche. However, according to a survey conducted by ClearVoice in 2019, businesses can save an average of 30-40% by working directly with freelancers instead of hiring an agency for their content needs. The survey found that 75% of respondents believed that freelance writers offer the same or better quality of work compared to agencies. And the savings are even greater when compared to hiring full-time employees.

Among the cost-benefit saving, hiring freelance writers can help marketers meet the following goals or achieve greater ROI by:

Increasing Agility

Marketing and content leaders can make their departments more agile by adding freelance writers to their teams and increasing their ability to produce higher volumes of content more quickly.

Reducing Costs

They can access a variety of skilled specialists by hiring freelance writers on a project basis, which is more cost-effective than hiring a full-time writer.

Scaling Up and Down the Service

They can also benefit from the flexibility they need by scaling up or down the service to meet the changing requirements of their department or organization.

The rise of freelance work has increased resourcing flexibility for B2B companies looking for cost-effective and flexible ways to get work done. Many talented and experienced writers from various backgrounds have joined the freelance revolution to offer their services. In fact, according to Zippia, “82% of freelancers in the United States are freelance writers.”

There are several types of writers with specialized expertise in various aspects of writing. Here are some of the most commonly hired types of writers:

Content Writers

Content writers typically have knowledge of search engine optimization (SEO) and can write various content ranging from blogs to e-books and white papers.

Copywriters

Copywriters understand consumer behaviors and can write sentences, slogans, and paragraphs to sell or explain a product or service.

Technical Writers

Technical writers are detail-oriented and can simplify complex information. They can prepare supporting technical content, instruction manuals, and how-to guides.

Editors

Use editors and journalists with vertical expertise to review, simplify, and optimize your content.

Ghostwriters

Ghostwriters can create content for websites or for individuals in the voice of the person or brand. Published content will not have a byline or bear another person's signature.

The emergence of freelance platforms, such as Upwork and Fiverr, has greatly facilitated the promotion and access to this pool of talented writers. Companies can now hire writers on demand. With the rise of the gig economy, finding freelancers with the right skills and experience for the job is easier than ever.

At SoftwareReviews, our seasoned advisors can guide and equip you with the tools you need to start increasing your content creation capabilities and manage your team of writers for maximum productivity.

Hiring Freelance Writers

Hiring freelance writers can be simple if you know how to do it and have the right tools to help you save time.

Steps to follow include:

• Open an account on a freelance platform. Use the free version or pick the plan that fits best your needs.
• Post a job; see the Freelance Job Description Template attached to this article for guidance. Allow freelancers to apply for the job. You can also look at freelancer profiles that fit your requirements and send them an invite to apply for the job.
• Make a preselection and interview the candidates; see the Freelance Job Interview Questions provided with this article. Hire one or more people on a project basis.
• Establish clear payment terms. Agree on payment terms, including payment schedule and invoicing procedures, to avoid misunderstandings and disputes.

Managing Freelancer Relationships

Freelance writers are part of your extended team. It is therefore essential to maintain open communication with them, to ensure the projects they are working on stay on track and any issues are dealt with in a timely manner. Establishing a strong working relationship with freelance writers can lead to a long-term partnership and better results.

Include the following from briefing to close of assignment:

• Define project scope; see the Project Scope Template for more information. Ensure the expectations are understood and that deadlines to complete the project are clear.
• Establish guidelines. Provide brand tone of voice and guidelines to ensure the content produced is consistent with the company's branding.
• Review the work done and provide tools, like the provided Writer Checklist. Review and give feedback on the content produced so that improvements can be made in a timely manner. Try to limit the number of revisions to two.

To determine if hiring freelance writers is right for you, first analyze your content needs. If you need to produce a large volume of high-quality content and don't have the in-house capacity or expertise to do so, hiring freelance writers may be a viable option. You should also consider the cost. Hiring freelance writers is often more cost-effective compared to hiring in-house staff or an agency. However, it is important to consider the cost of finding and managing freelancers.

Deliverables

• Freelance Job Description
• Freelance Interview Questions
• Freelance Project Scope
• Writer Checklist