I love Guest Post week and how it shows what high-quality guest blogging is all about.
This guest post is from a writer I admire and respect. And I like her – I really, really like her.
We found we are kindred souls. In fact, we’re convinced we’re twins, separated at birth.
Please welcome my friend and professional writer, Sharon Hurley Hall.
Sharon shares ideas for finding the best professionals for online writing. She should know as she is at the top of the list.
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How to Hire an Online Freelance Writer
By Sharon Hurley Hall
Like it or not, the content on your website or blog and your digital publications are an important part of how your business appears to the world.
That’s why, if you’re not creating content yourself, it’s important to find the right online freelance writer to tell your story.
- But how do you determine the qualities that writer should have?
- What do you look for?
You might have a better idea after reading these tips.
Paying the Price for Professional Writing
Let’s get one thing out of the way early on – the question of price.
For many businesses it’s all about the bottom line, but the truth is that you get what you pay for.
In many cases, trying to buy writing cheap will give you content that you will struggle to give away – and it won’t do your image any good.
You will get a much better service if you pay the going rate for professional writing services.
What’s the going rate, you ask?
While this can vary considerably, this guide from Writers.ca is a good starting point.
How to Research an Online Freelance Writer
So how do you find the right freelance writer for your needs?
As with any service provider you look for samples of their work and check out their work history.
- Going to Google is a good start, followed by the writer’s own website
- Most online freelance writers have bylined posts or articles they can point you to
- Or perhaps they have a great online writing portfolio
It pays to spend some time researching your writer and finding out if the writer can provide the services you want.
Most writers specialize (except for a few anomalies like myself) and you will get a better service that way.
When you have a tricky medical issue, you go to a specialist – do the same with the writer you plan to hire. The person who delivers a high converting sales page may not be the right person to write the copy for your about page.
Check the writer’s ~
- resume and qualifications
- work samples
- testimonials and recommendations
Input vs. Output
Online writing, like any kind of business writing, is a collaborative affair.
The better your input, the better the writer’s output.
Your freelance writer will expect you to supply a clear brief stating:
- the type of writing you want
- the medium it is for
- the business goals you want to achieve
- examples of what you like; and
- material/items you want to include.
This information will help the writer to provide a better service.
You will also have to provide:
- an upfront deposit so she doesn’t end up out of pocket
- contact details so the writer can reach you with queries
- clear communication throughout the process
- the right to make minor tweaks once the draft is completed
- final payment in a timely manner
In return for that you will get:
- a professional writing service
- an assessment of what you need (rather than what you might think you need) and an estimate of how much it will cost and how long it will take
- timely provision of work at selected milestones
- a set of revisions – but not unlimited (expect to pay more if the parameters of the job change significantly)
- a good working relationship
Writing – The 3Rs
Clients get a better service from writers when they give them time to do the job properly.
The writing process usually consists of the 3Rs – research, writing and revision.
And your writer needs to strike a balance between meeting your deadline and meeting your brief.
So plan your online writing needs along with the rest of your business planning to give the writer adequate time on the project and communicate at specified intervals to keep things on track.
Once you have found a writer to work with your business can benefit from more than just writing.
Your writer will be able to recommend other writing professionals to deliver other parts of your content strategy and may even be able to help you manage the process.
It’s yet another good reason to hire a professional online freelance writer.
NOTE: I will be in San Diego from November 7th through November 20th. Part of that time will be spent walking 60 miles for the 3-Day Walk for the Cure.
I will respond to Comments as soon as I can. Walk on! And thank you.
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Sharon Hurley Hall has 25 years of experience writing professionally – as a journalist, an academic writer, a blogger, a ghost writer and an online copy writer.
She is the author of a Kindle ebook titled Getting Started in Blogging and has been running Get Paid To Write Online since 2005 to help other writers improve and build sustainable and successful writing careers.
I am a freelance writer who agrees with your idea. Input equals output.
In one case, when you give enough details about what you need, the writer gets the right picture and is able to construct an ideal story/article based on your (and his/her) ideas.
On another case, the provision of many stifling instructions and guidelines limits the creativity of the writer. Sorry.
The ideal client relationship recognizes the writer’s professional competence, while the writer recognizes and delivers the client’s needs. If it works right, then neither side should find it too restrictive, Christiano.
Sharon: Thank you so much for another great post. I appreciate your expertise and insight. 🙂
Always happy to guest post here, Cathy, and thanks for your kind words at the start of the post.
Just telling it like it is, Sharon. 😉
Great post Sharon! It’s so important that potential clients not try to determine “average rates” for professional writers by what they see in online marketplaces. What many don’t understand is that those are often low-end gigs, and most professional ones aren’t publicly advertised. You have to do some real research — both researching writers with the specialty you need and researching the real value professional writing can provide.
Perhaps a better approach would be to find out what other companies are paying for professional writing, Jenn. 🙂
Cathy, have to agree, she’s terrific. 🙂
Straight forward and practical advice from fellow Caribbean writer Sharon, as always.
That she is, Sandra. I am blessed to have Sharon contribute to my blog. Thanks for stopping by, Sandra. 🙂