10 Tips To Choose The Best Content Writer For Your Business Blog
In today’s constantly connected and competitive world of business, it’s imperative for any successful company to have a solid blog.
Marketers and content writers need to be able to provide informative, engaging, and interesting articles, and they must be able to do it consistently on a regular basis.
This can be overwhelming for any professional, and it’s often necessary and convenient for a business to outsource the work.
Finding the best writers who will get the job done right can also be a confusing process.
When it comes to articles that will actually gain new visitors and repeat customers, many companies have no idea where to even begin.
Review the following tips before hiring your next content writer.
The classified section of the newspaper is no longer the best place to look. And each listed specification will help you narrow down the search and enhance your blog content.
1. Look for Originality and Honesty
Never hire a writer who plagiarizes others' work, or who does not properly reference their research.
This is essential when hiring a new content writer. The minute your site gets pegged as spam or stolen content your reputation will be ruined. And it will be difficult to maintain any decent SEO results moving forward.
It can be beneficial to ask candidates to write a sample blog in the beginning. Provide them with a prompt and run their work through a plagiarism check. This will give you a better idea of their style and voice, as well as if they can produce truly unique material.
There are many software programs available on the Internet, all of which can be used to check for duplication of content online.
2. Check if They Write on a Daily Basis
Practice makes perfect, especially with writers. The person you hire must be able to provide quality work on a consistent basis, and the only way to achieve this is if they truly work at writing every day.
Even if your business blog does not post daily, and chooses to post weekly, your writers should be able to provide drafts, research, and other material to prove they know how to hone their craft.
A content writer who spends at least a few hours per day writing educational and entertaining material for a few different clients will most likely be able to do the same for you.
These writers are used to catering to various types of businesses and are usually able to respond better to challenges.
3. Charge a Realistic and Fair Rate
You may need to do some research, but understanding what a writer’s work is worth is imperative.
Review their most recent work and ask candidates to provide you with links to their best and most reputable content. Even a writer who has only two clients may be the best choice, as long as their work speaks for itself and engages conversation among readers.
You want to identify what an average rate per hour, or per word, maybe and understand that blog writing is different from academic essays and Twitter feeds.
Know what you are looking for, nail down your budget and identify the amount you are willing to pay for the experienced writer that you hire.
4. Availability
Before you hire any freelance writer or outsource your content creation, make sure your new writer is reliable.
Ask about vacations or upcoming time off, and let them know how long of a contract you will need them to agree upon. This can be something often left for later, which can ruin the consistency of your blog and provide a communication breakdown.
Make sure the writer you hire can commit on a level that satisfies your needs and note if they are constantly available for contact.
Outsourcing can be scary since you are unable to keep tabs on your hires. This means you need someone who is always responsible and organized enough to keep you in the loop of their schedule and deadlines.
5. Well-Researched and Up to Date
Extensive research is part of the job for any professional writer, and this is something you want to go through with any possible writer.
Make sure your content writers take this phase of the process seriously and be sure that they know how to perform proper research in ample amounts of time.
The worst mistake your business blog can make (other than plagiarizing) is publishing outdated or incorrect information. Some writing is a matter of opinion and perspective, and other forms require factual statistics and information.
You never want your business blog to be flagged as low quality; you need it to gain authority to truly result in a growing audience.
6. Use Freelance Platforms to Find a Writer
Freelancercareers.com:
This freelance writer’s network offers access to thousands of individuals who can accomplish any content or copywriting task. And their freelancers are noted pros that will charge appropriate rates and meet all deadlines.
Help.Plagtracker.com:
Plagtracker is more than just a plagiarism checker, it’s also a community full of highly qualified writers and professionals. Their affordable rates and writers can help with any aspect of the writing process and cover a wide range of topics.
AskPetersen.com:
This site and source is a great place to find tips on writing and professionals, as well as reviews for professional writing services. Use their rating system as a starting research point and gain access to reputable sources to look for writers.
Upwork.com:
Upwork is a professional community that includes writers, graphic designers, website creators and more. Secure payment plans are offered and the platform offers an easy and safe way to connect with the perfect writer for your specific need.
TextBroker.com:
No matter what type of blog or online content you need created, Textbroker authors can provide unique material that will capture your users’ attention. Users can choose from thousands of qualified professional writers.
7. Enthusiastic and Flexible
You do not want to hire a close-minded person or someone who is too proud of their work.
The writers you hire should be confident, but they should also know your company and the mission of the business. They may have personal feelings or opinions that work, and sometimes they need to be able to leave their own thoughts at the door.
You want to build a relationship of mutual respect, and one of clear communication. Your new hire needs to communicate well and in a timely fashion. You hired them for their writing skills, but you know your business and can maintain control of its image.
Look for knowledgeable professionals that can provide you with the style and voice that match your needs. During the interview process ask them questions and watch to see if they have some for you. Conversation from the beginning is a good sign.
8. Relevant Past Experience
You don’t have to hire a seasoned professional writer of over 20 years.
However, you do need to hire someone who has relevant writing experience. An academic professor of English literature may be a fantastic writer. But they may not necessarily understand writing for the web, or how to structure their articles with the necessary elements of successful online content.
You need your writers to have an understanding of marketing language, specifically for the web, as well as a deep comprehension of search engine optimization writing (SEO). Social media marketing methods are a learned process, so do not hire a writer simply because they have a good college and/or degree.
Look for someone who has worked in marketing, print advertising or blog writing, even if its print or radio, as well as for writers who are familiar with the concept of building an online community and audience.
9. Error-less and Consistent Writing
We all make mistakes, and it’s easy to miss a small typo here and there.
However a true professional freelancer should be able to avoid this at all costs. Don’t let them fool you. They are the pro writers, so it’s okay to expect them to work at a high level of expertise.
There are plenty of options for editing and proofreading assistance, and apart from an accidental double space, you want to hire a writer you don’t have to double check. You aren’t paying someone so you can be their editor, you want to hire someone who can take care of their job and do it with focused detail.
10. Use of Social Media
Never hire a writer who does not spend at least a small amount of time on major social networking sites (like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest). These places are where the important elements of content go viral, and where the most relevant trends are created and shared.
Make sure you hire a socially savvy writer. They don’t have to have a million personal followers, but they do need to be a part of the social media world to fully understand your target audience and what marketing needs should be met.
You first want to focus on what writer fits your specific business needs. Then consider your budget, necessary time commitment and ideas. Seek out writers who meet your basic needs, and then begin to narrow it down by who connects with you and your company’s vision.
Review examples of all possible candidates' past work, their resumes and cover letters, as well as the value of their writing. Review their standard of grammar and spelling, and their basic understanding of online writing elements (such as bullet points, lists and short but sweet sentences).
Check to see if their work improves conversation rates and if it’s in line with your own perspectives.
During the project, you also want to continually communicate with your writer and monitor their published work to be sure it’s doing the job. The right fit is out there, and once you find the best writer for your needs they will be worth hanging on to.
So take the time and invest in your prospective hires, and use these 10 tips as a constant checklist.
Good luck and happy hunting!
Guest contribution by: Robert Morris
