How to Find the Ideal Freelance Writer for Your Business
Are you trying to find the ideal freelance writer for your business?
Perhaps you have used freelance writers in the past, only to be disappointed with the results.
Or maybe this is the first time you have ever needed to use a freelance writer, and you want to get it right the first time.
This article will teach you what to look for in a freelance writer and where to find the best options for your business.
We will cover the following:
The definition of a freelance writer.
The essential traits of a creative writer.
Where to post freelance writer jobs.
Other things to consider in your search.
What is a Freelance Writer?
Firstly, let's quickly discuss what a freelance writer is. Most freelance writers work independently, assisting companies with their copy requirements without being contracted to the company.
Each freelance writer will set their rates and working hours, which offers them more freedom over their schedule and workload than a contracted writer.
Freelance writing jobs often require fewer hours than full-time, so a freelance writer tends to work with more than one client at a time.
The Essential Traits of a Creative Writer
When it comes to finding the perfect freelance writer for your business, there are a few key traits you need to look out for:
Communication.
Questions.
Blogging.
Adhere to guidelines.
Writing skills.
Writing samples.
Search engine optimization.
They communicate quickly and effectively.
First of all, communication is a non-negotiable for any writer you consider working with. Chances are, a freelance writer will work with your brand on a remote basis, so you won't have eyes on what they are doing each day.
Until you have worked together for a long time and you have built a level of trust, a freelance writer should always strive to keep you updated with projects, highlighting any possible issues, delays, or problems as soon as possible.
Issues arising are sometimes out of our control, but strong communication is always possible.
When I start working with a new client, I like to provide consistent updates before switching to a weekly report of everything I have worked on that week to continue highlighting my value to their business and keeping them informed on where larger projects are up to.
They ask questions.
If a freelance writer agrees with everything you say without adding queries or checking things, you should see this as a red flag.
While you certainly want to work with a freelance writer who is on the same page as you regarding content creation and ideas, you don't want someone who just agrees with everything you say.
As an expert in writing, they should bring more to the table than just nodding along!
I like to ask plenty of questions of my clients to understand their brand and requirements in greater detail. This technique has helped me write content that my clients loved the first time rather than having plenty of rounds of amends, which neither party wants to go through.
They have their own blog.
When picking the perfect freelance writer, you want someone who knows content writing like the back of their hand. You want to see that they have a true passion for writing and have possibly produced a blog post or two on topics related to your brand.
They stick to the word count.
This point might not seem that important, but sticking to a word count is essential for several reasons.
For starters, some writers ask to be paid per word and may try to overcharge you if they exceed the agreed word count, which is not okay.
Secondly, sticking to word count shows you that the writer has listened and stuck to the brief you provided, which makes them more trustworthy for any future work you have.
They have excellent writing skills.
This aspect should go without saying, but it is worth mentioning that any writer you work with should have a fantastic way with words.
Not only should their content seem engaging and insightful, but it should also match your needs and brand tone of voice.
For example, a freelance writer might be an incredible writer of email copy for beauty companies. Still, that skill set doesn't always translate to jobs where a client needs landing page copy for an automotive website.
That's not to say that freelance writers can't write for more than one niche! I always like to do a 200-300 word free sample for potential clients to establish whether my writing will suit their requirements.
They can provide writing samples.
Any freelance writer worth their fee will have relevant writing samples available on demand, and most will share them as part of their job proposal.
Even for writers with less experience, if they genuinely want the position you are promoting, they will find writing samples to share with you, so you can establish whether or not they are the right choice for you.
Anyone offering writing services as a full-time career must have writing samples to share, or this is a major red flag.
They offer search engine optimization support.
Finally, the best freelance writers will be well-versed in search engine optimization, especially for copywriting.
This skill set isn't required if you are looking for a ghostwriter for fiction or non-fiction books, but if you need content for your blog to attract more visitors to your website, then SEO skills are a must.
I like to share my SEO success stories with potential clients, as I have helped a dozen brands rank as the #1 search result for several of their pages. Rather than just telling a company I can do SEO writing, I let my results speak for themselves.
Where to Post Freelance Writer Jobs to Attract the Best Applicants
I talked more about where to post freelance writer jobs in my recent blog article, How to Attract the Perfect Freelance Writer in the UK to Your Project, so I'll only briefly touch on these websites here:
LinkedIn: LinkedIn is a great place to search for specific freelance writers in your area and gain a great understanding of their background and experience.
Upwork: Upwork is specifically set up to put businesses in conversation with writers and is easy for both parties to use.
Fiverr: Fiverr gives you access to many different writers, so if you need website content, press releases, or other niche content, this is a great choice.
Indeed: Indeed.com is slightly trickier to use for sourcing freelance work, but as one of the world's largest job boards, it is worth listing your job here.
Freelancer: Freelancer used to be the number one place for freelance writers, but the recent increase in bot accounts has pushed some potential clients away.
Other Things to Consider
Is a freelance copywriter the right option for you?
Before investing money in a freelance writer, it is essential to ask yourself if that is the right choice. If you know you have several projects requiring plenty of content, a contract writer or even a full-time employee could be a better option than posting copywriting jobs.
Do you need a technical writer with unique skills?
What type of writer you choose will depend entirely on the writing jobs you need fulfilling. Freelance copywriters are multifaceted, but you will need a unique set of skills for more specific jobs.
For example, for journalism jobs, you might be better suited to choosing a writer with a journalism background. Or for medical writing, you need a medical writer with a health background.
How many freelance writers do you need for your work?
If you have a large content marketing project that you must undertake, it might be the case that you need more than one writer to help you achieve your goals.
Sit down and identify what skills and hours you require for your project and how that might get split across multiple writers.
Final Thoughts on Freelance Writing Work
Now you have all the information you need to find the best freelance writer for your business.
If you want to work with someone who meets the criteria listed in this article, don't be afraid to get in touch! I'd love to chat with you about how I can take your brand to the next level! You can check out one of my recent case studies here.
Frequently Asked Questions About Freelance Writers
What does a freelance writer do?
Most freelance writers work independently, assisting companies with their copy requirements without being contracted to the company. Freelance writing jobs often require fewer hours than full-time, so a freelance writer tends to work with more than one client at a time.
How much should you pay freelance writers?
How much you pay for a freelance writer depends entirely on your budget. The more you are willing to pay, the higher quality of writers you are likely to attract.
Do freelance writers get paid well?
A freelance writer's pay will depend entirely on how much work they have and what rate they charge. Some successful freelance writers tend to make more than enough money to do the job full-time, whereas others use it as a side hustle for some additional money.
What makes a successful freelance writer?
Communication.
Questions.
Blogging.
Adhere to guidelines.
Writing skills.
Writing samples.
Search engine optimization.
Is freelance writing different from technical writing?
Freelance writing is the term used for all types of freelance writing, including technical freelance writing. Technical writing refers to writers specifically trained or experienced in writing about technical subjects.
