How to Attract the Perfect Freelance Writer in the UK to Your Project
Are you searching for the perfect freelance writer to take your brand's content to the next level?
Finding the perfect freelance writer for your business can be incredibly frustrating. You need someone who is flexible, organized, creative and understands your brand inside and out.
Creating quality written content is difficult, and finding the perfect writer can take a lot of time.
Fortunately for you, I've done many of the hard yards, so you don't have to. This article will teach you how to attract the perfect freelancer writer to your project, saving you time and effort.
When does Seeking Freelance Writers Make Sense for Your Business?
When you need to create informative and engaging articles for your audience
One of the main reasons you are likely seeking the help of a freelance writer is when you want to start creating quality written content for your audience.
You need a writer who has time to implement detailed research to create engaging, insightful, factually correct content.
The right freelancer will offer your audience a fantastic reading experience, keeping them engaged and loyal to your brand and more likely to share your content with potential new clients.
When you have too much on your plate
Secondly, you might have plenty of writing and good research skills, but you simply have too much other essential work on your plate.
Even with all the tools at your disposal, sometimes there isn't time to create quality written content, which is where a freelance writer can come in and save the day.
A dedicated lead writer can focus all of their attention on creating content and allow you to focus on other pressing matters.
When you have regular blog writing tasks
Another reason you may need the support of a freelancer writer is that you plan to create plenty of regular blog content.
You may be able to write some of the content yourself but to keep your project on schedule, you may need to temporarily invoke another writer's help.
Rather than hiring a new staff member and jumping through all the hoops that entail, a freelance writer is a great option as a stop-gap solution.
When you want to improve your SEO ranking
Finally, entrusting your content with a Search Engine Optimization specialist is a great choice if you are interested in gaining more organic traffic for your website, through highly optimised SEO content.
Freelance SEO writers are well-versed in the requirements necessary for ranking highly on Google and can help improve your ranking and outperform your competitors.
Where to Promote Your Freelance Writing Jobs
The first place to go to promote a freelancing opportunity is LinkedIn. While LinkedIn is certainly set up more for full-time contractual roles, freelance writers in the UK use the website regularly for new job opportunities.
One benefit of using LinkedIn is checking a candidate's profile to understand better whether they would be a good fit for your business.
Indeed
A second option available to you is Indeed. Like LinkedIn, Indeed focuses mainly on full-time opportunities, but there is also a market for freelance writers.
Indeed allows you to set your own screening questions, so you can narrow down your application numbers before spending time reading through portfolios and CVs.
Fiverr
Now we move to websites specifically set up for seeking freelance writers and other freelance services.
You've probably seen adverts for Fiverr on mainstream media channels, and it is one of the most popular platforms for writers and clients.
Fiverr offers you access to various writers, from beginners to experts. You can create a job posting that only allows UK writers to apply if necessary and set out your criteria of what you expect, what you will pay and other important aspects of the role.
Upwork
If you aren't a fan of Fiverr, another freelance alternative that has gained plenty of popularity in recent years is Upwork. This platform is well structured for freelance writer jobs, promotes better rates for writers and clients with long-term relationships, and offers all of the same benefits as Fiverr.
For more experienced writers, I would suggest choosing Upwork over Fiverr.
Freelancer
If you are specifically seeking writers and not other freelance jobs, you might be tempted to try Freelancer. While Freelancer is set up specifically as a freelance writer pool, it does have a problem with bot accounts, which has deterred some better writers from using this platform.
What to Look For When Hiring a Freelance Writer
What do Their Customer Reviews Say?
When you hit "search freelance writer", one of the first things you should be looking at is their client testimonials and customer reviews.
Those reviews should appear on their profile if they use a channel like Upwork or Fiverr. If you have found a writer through LinkedIn, Indeed, or Google Search, you can check their Google Business Profile or website for customer reviews.
Nothing says a writer is worth their fee more than reviews from previous customers!
Are they willing to do a test article?
Another tell-tale sign of whether a freelance writer is worth investing time and money into is whether or not they are willing to undertake a test article.
That doesn't mean you should ask them to work for free or write an extensive piece of work for little pay, but any writer who is confident in their abilities and has your best interests at heart will be willing to undertake an initial test to make sure your writing styles match up.
If a writer wants to get paid quickly upfront or wants a big contract setup before seeing their work, take this as a red flag, and continue your search.
Where are they based?
If you are specifically seeking writers in the United Kingdom, then it is essential for you to know where each candidate is based!
When you create a job proposal on Fiverr or Upwork, you can ensure you only receive UK applicants, which is a handy tool. On Indeed and LinkedIn, you can specify it in your job outline, but that won't stop some people from abroad applying.
Ensure you ask for a person's nationality and location during the application if it is important to you that they are based in the UK.
What is their native language?
Another factor to consider alongside location is the writer's native language. This is essential if you are looking for a writer who specialises in British English, and someone who can achieve your brand’s writing style.
Someone based in the UK may not necessarily be a master of the British English language, and on the flip side, someone based abroad may be a native English speaker and could add plenty of value to your business.
What experience do they have in your field?
Another essential aspect to consider is whether they have published written content related to your industry before.
While not essential for all brands, some more complicated and complex industries require a unique skillset and knowledge base. For example, if you need someone to produce medical articles, it would be handy if they had some form of medical background or even a doctorate.
Or suppose you are writing practical legal content. In that case, contract legal writers should be preferred, as they understand the inner workings of the law and will write informative and engaging articles on the subject.
What online writing tools do they use?
Finally, consider what online writing tools they offer as part of their proposal.
For example, for my clients, I promise that every article gets run through:
Copyscape: Ensures there is no plagiarism in the content.
Grammarly Pro: To ensure there are no spelling or grammatical errors.
Ahrefs: To identify keywords that potential customers are searching for that should be included in the article.
SurferSEO: To write Google-friendly content that ranks highly.
Hemmingway: To ensure the article is easy to read and digest.
Google Sheets and Docs: To let clients stay updated in real-time with where projects are up to.
Final Thoughts on Hiring a Freelance Writer in the UK
As you can see, finding the perfect freelance writer for your work can be tricky but not impossible!
Setting up applications on job boards is hugely time-consuming, and more often than not, you will be inundated with candidates that do not meet your criteria.
If you want to learn more about me and how I use my decade of writing and marketing manager experience to help brands like yours reach their true potential, please don't hesitate to get in touch!
Keep an eye on this blog as I attempt to write posts and blog articles that will help you take your business to new heights.
Frequently Asked Questions About Freelance Writers in the UK
How much do freelance writers charge in the UK?
The rate freelancers charge for their services will vary, depending on their experience, expertise, and desire to work with your brand.
What tools do freelance writers use?
Copyscape
Grammarly Pro
Ahrefs
SEMRush
SurferSEO
Hemmingway
Google Sheets and Docs
Asana, Trello, Monday
How do I find a freelance writer?
Popular freelance writing websites include:
Fiverr
Upwork
Freelancer
Indeed
LinkedIn
