How to Hire Best Freelance Content Writer to Scale Your Content Marketing

Whether it's digital marketing, search engine optimization, email marketing, blogging or website creation; content plays a crucial role in generating traffic, engaging with customers and boosting conversions. In other words, content is the king in order to increase brand equity and reputation.

With the shift in digital technology, the demand for freelance content writers has increased. As the success of a brand depends on the type of content produced. So, companies are keen on hiring freelance content writers who could write good content for them.

A freelance content writer is a self-employed individual who writes creative and engaging content for clients. They help clients to craft their online content which further saves their time and provide value to the audience.

A content writer not only knows the art of content writing well, but can also set the tone, garner attention, understand the subject matter and, most importantly, layout all the information in a sequential and presentable manner.

But the question remains how to hire the right freelancer for content writing? It is not that difficult anymore since the gig economy is booming. In this article, we will guide you on how to find the best freelance content writer for your startup.

How to Hire the Right Freelance Content Writer

• Write Definite Job Description
• Market Your Job Requirements
• Connect With Bloggers Network
• Ask For Portfolios and Work Samples
• Give Out a Test Assignment
• Telephonic/ Face-to-Face Interview

Write Definite Job Description

Give out a strong and definite job description. You may wonder where this piece of the puzzle fits in. In all truth, your job starts from here. Sending out a detailed, highly specific job description not only does the initial filtering but also ensures you meet the right freelancers.

You may want to let the writer know your work requirement, your purpose, his or her workload as well as the audience he or she will be writing for. For example, one’s approach towards writing for business blogs will be quite different from writing for your social media handles. Know that these things matter to a writer. By sharing your precise needs, you are increasing your chances of finding a writer well-equipped to handle the job and produce great results.

Ultimate Guide to Write a Perfect Job Description

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Market Your Job Requirements

The right candidate can approach you only if you are discoverable. If your business is a startup, it might not yet be recognizable just by the firm’s name. Make your presence known to all and work on your accessibility. Besides posting for the job openings on your official website, post it on the top job-seeking websites as well as freelancers marketplace. A few of the top freelancer marketplace in India is freelancer.com, Upwork and Fiverr.

Posting a job ad is not enough. You can include a section of benefits that you can offer:

• Freedom to write evergreen content that will stand the test of time, particularly if your business doesn't have an established blog.
• Insights into how well their writings do.
• Opportunity to network with other writers.
• Input into content strategy.

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Connect With Bloggers Network

It is a known fact that one can find some of the best freelance writers on bloggers’ networks. Blogging Networks act as a middleman between brands and bloggers. Some of the best Bloggers networks are Acron Activate, Bloglovin, Aspire, BlogHer, BlogMeetsBrand, Clever, IZEA, SocialFabric, TheSway, and TapInfluence.

A good idea would be to throng these networks and go through the posted works. You can always approach a blogger directly and request them to write for you if his or her work is best according to you. It might cost you more, but it will be worth it. Look out for a strong profile that you want for your organization.

You can also connect with freelance content writers via these:

Social Media: Nowadays everyone uses social media which makes it a great place to market our business. You can even post your job description on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram where you can use your industry-specific hashtags which is a good way to find a successful content writer.

Referrals: It is another best way to get a good content writer. You can ask your close friends, business associates or co-workers who work with content writers. If someone in your circle knows then they will be able to guide you and refer a qualified writer. Referral or word of mouth is the best way to get a qualified content writer because you hear about them from someone who has already work with them.

Agencies: One of the easiest ways to get content writers is through a Content Agency. They have a team of freelance content writers who will write the content based on your requirement. Some agencies will do everything from content creation, writing, editing to publishing, and providing a relevant image to the content.

Learn How to choose the right content writing agency?

Learn how to choose the best and top notch content writing agency to get an outstanding and rich content.

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Ask For Portfolios and Work Samples

The first step would be to go through the candidate’s writing portfolio and work samples. Does he or she already have any previous experience that matches your need? Does the writing style suits your requirement? Has the writer got a basic knowledge of the subject you intent him or her to write on? Does his or her writing skills match your standards? Do their previous experiences add value to the kind of work you are seeking them for? Passionate writers often have their blogs with all their skills on full display. Does your candidate has his or her blog or in the past has contributed as a guest blogger? These minor details usually serve as the candidate’s plus points and help build a strong job profile.

Give Out a Test Assignment

The second step would be to give out a test assignment though this does not play the part of the ‘nail on the coffin’, a sample test assignment sure serves as the final call to pronounce your judgment. Give out an original topic, relevant to the content you expect your job prospect to later work on and allow him or her a period of 1 to 2 days wherein he or she gets to display their writing skills by completing the assignment.

Telephonic/ Face-to-Face Interview

Every writer has a unique writing style that would help you to decide which one is relevant for you. Do not base your judgment entirely upon the facets of grammar, but take a closer look at the mood, presentation, and suitability of the created content. Interview a test sample, this criteria may almost seem optional. Conducting an interview, though, has its own merits. Many companies, these days, prefer interviewing potential candidates over the phone or via Skype. By conducting an interview, one can decide if the candidate seems passionate enough to do the job with a sense of responsibility, besides acknowledging their personality and desire to give their best. Some questions which you should ask during the interview are:

• What type of content do you like to write?
• What is your work schedule?
• How many articles can you write per day?
• What ideas do you have for content for my business?
• How do you craft SEO-friendly content?
• What are your prices?

Just like any other job, you need to see the freelance content writer you choose is the right fit for your needs and can produce the quality work you want.

Conclusion

With all this information, you are set to find the perfect freelance content writer for your startup.

FAQs

What does a freelance job mean?

A freelance job means to work independently rather than for a company. Freelancing is a type of job where you're self-employed. You are your own boss. You can say 'yes' or 'no' to any project.

What is a freelance content writer?

A freelance content writer is a self-employed individual who writes creative and engaging content for clients. They help clients to craft their online content which further saves their time and provide value to the audience.

What is a freelance digital marketer?

A freelance digital marketer is a professional with multiple ranges of skills from content and copywriting to social media, search engine optimization, ad creation, building websites, strategy building and design.

How to start a freelance digital marketing business?

You can start a freelance digital marketing business by following these steps:

Step 1: Manage your expectations.

Step 2: Identify your talents and skillsets.

Step 3: Find a niche.

Step 4: Develop a personal brand.

Step 5: Look for clients.

Step 6: Figure out how much to charge.