You’ve been personally writing every post for your blog the last couple of years, but are finally ready to pay someone else to do the heavy lifting – sound familiar? This is a point that most bloggers eventually reach, yet few understand what it looks like to successfully hire the right person for the job.
Finding the Best Content Writer for the Job
The decision regarding hiring a content writer for your blog generally comes down to the fact that you no longer have the time to write. In other words, the opportunity cost of writing is much higher than it should be and you can spend your time much more efficiently elsewhere. Then you have to ask yourself the question, can you afford to pay a writer? You’ll generally be paying the writer by the word or hour, and prices fluctuate rather significantly depending on the writer’s skillset and experience.
Once you determine that hiring a writer is more cost-effective for your business, it’s time to put on your talent search hat and find the perfect person for the job. Here are a few tips and suggestions:
Ask for Samples
It all comes down to writing quality. Anyone can wow you with claims, but you need to know that the individual can, in fact, produce good content for your blog. Start by asking for a few samples from their portfolio. If they’re unable to provide samples because of privacy contingencies with past clients, ask them to come up with a couple custom samples. You can even pay them for the effort.
Carefully Review References
If the writing looks good, you’ll want to make sure that the individual is who they say they are. Writing may be the most important quality, but you also need to know more about reliability, honesty, turnaround times, etc. You can find out most of this information by speaking with past clients or references. Always ask for at least three references and try your best to follow up with each of them.
Require Training
If you’re searching for writers online, you’re inevitably going to run across a mixture of people. And because writing is a universal skill that can be monetized remotely, many writers will be sourced internationally. While there’s nothing wrong with this, it’s important that you take careful steps to ensure the writer has a firm grasp of the English language. Knowing a few words of English and being able to write compelling blog posts in English are two different things.
If you find an international writer that you’re interested in, consider having the writer go through a TOEFL prep course to verify that they have a firm grip on written English.
Develop a Meticulous Contract
It’s important that you protect yourself when hiring a writer. This is why it’s suggested that you take the time to come up with a meticulous contract that has your best interests in mind. The contract should clearly state that the individual is a contractor, not an employee. It should also include the agreed upon rate, payment contingencies, information regarding ownership of the content, applicable non-compete clauses, and anything else that’s relevant.
Make the Right Hire
Hiring the wrong writer can be detrimental to your blog. Not only will it directly impact quality and voice, but it could alienate some of the readers you’ve worked so hard to attain. That’s why we suggest taking a painstaking approach to the process. Once you find the right individual, all of your hard work will pay off.
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