Many businesses struggle with content creation. It can be difficult to produce new, original material on a regular basis, and it’s often more time-consuming than most can afford. This is where hiring a professional writer can be an invaluable asset.
Here are a few examples of what a writer can do:
- Create content for your website, blog, and social media accounts (this can be general information about your business, product, and services, or more specific posts on a particular topic or industry)
- Create marketing materials such as brochures, flyers, fact sheets and product catalogues
- Develop copy for your advertising campaigns
- Develop articles for use in other media, such as newspapers, magazines and online publications
- Create speeches and presentations for special occasions, such as company meetings and trade shows
- Draft and edit corporate communications such as proposals and press releases
But what qualities should you look for in a writer? And how exactly do you go about hiring a writer? We’ll answer these questions and more in this post.
Why finding a good writer is important
There are many writers out there, but you can distinguish between good and mediocre ones by their level of skill and productivity.
A good writer can effectively do the following things:
- Help you communicate your message and articulate your brand values
- Create compelling content that will resonate with your target audience
- Generate leads and increase sales with strong copy
- Contribute to your website's SEO ranking
- Build a strong online presence
Choosing the right person for your business can also ensure efficiency as they should be able to submit quality, on-brand writing on schedule. However, this also hinges on the person assigning the tasks providing specific instructions on the content and deadline of the deliverables.
Decide the scope of work of your writer
As mentioned above, a writer can take on a whole host of responsibilities—some of which may not be required by your business at present or in the near future. Take a look at your company roadmap and consider what you want this writer to do.
What should the writer produce? A website content audit, blog posts, a white paper?
How often do they need to produce content? Twice a month, once a week, daily?
Once you know what you need, it will be much easier to find the right person for the job. Deciding on their scope of work allows you to relay expectations and discover any sticking points. For example, a copywriter with extensive experience in email marketing content may not be the best pick for writing blog articles.
You can then begin crafting a job description that will help attract the best candidates. List the specific skills and experience you're looking for, as well as the tone and style you envision for your content.
The more detailed your brief is, the more likely you are to get the candidates you want.
Where to find long-term writers to hire
When compiling a list of potential candidates, there are several channels you can use to find writers with the right qualifications:
- Word-of-mouth — Utilise your personal network of family, friends, and acquaintances
- Gig platforms — Find freelance writers on Freelancer, Upwork and Fiverr
- Online job portals — Indeed, Glassdoor, and LinkedIn
- LinkedIn — Headhunt and connect with good writers here
- Meet-ups and networking events in your area — This is a great avenue for supporting local writers, and you can informally interview them on the spot.
- Reaching out to article writers — Read an article online and think it’s great? You could always contact the writer personally to ask if they’re open to writing for your business.
Friendly PSA: A good writer doesn’t have to be a person. Hypotenuse AI is an AI writer that can generate fluent content for product descriptions, blog articles, and marketing copy with just a few keyword inputs.
You can provide your brand details, target audience, and even adjust the tone to tailor the output to your brand needs. The AI is highly efficient and takes feedback well, so you can be sure it’ll deliver quality content on schedule too.
How to contact and interview potential writers
Your mode of contact will differ depending on the platform and whether it’s initiated via inbound or outbound recruiting.
For outbound recruiting (where the company contacts the writer), you can reach out to potential candidates with a job description to inquire if they are interested. As for inbound recruiting (where the writer contacts the company), you can proceed with the next steps.
Ask them a few questions to get a rough gauge of their skills and experience. You could also request for writing samples. This is where careful evaluation is needed to find someone who has the right expertise and knowledge to achieve your business goals.
If you're happy with what you see (and read), set up a date and time for an interview.
What to look for in a writer during the interview
During the interview, your goal is to see if the writer is a good fit for your company.
Take the time to ask the candidates about their writing process and work approach. Get them to share experiences on past projects as well—this can give you a sense of how they operate in a team setting.
Aside from writing abilities, you'll also want to get a sense of their personality and values. After all, you’ll be working closely with this person for a long period of time!
Here are a few key qualities to assess any potential candidates:
- Experience: A writer with experience in your industry will be able to better understand your business and convey your message in a way that resonates with your target audience.
- Passion: A writer who is passionate about their work will be more invested in producing high-quality content that engages and informs your readers.
- Skill: A writer with strong writing skills will be able to produce well-written content that is engaging, accurate, and on-brand.
- Commitment: Choose a writer who is available to start when needed, and decide whether their commitment to your company will be short-term, long-term, or ad hoc.
- Reliability: The writer should be able to uphold good communication and deliver content according to the set time and budget.
- Values: Find a writer whose values are aligned with the company’s. This may be the most important factor as it could determine how well the project proceeds and how satisfied you'll be with the final product.
Be prepared to also answer some questions about your business and what you're looking for in a writer. This will help the writer get a better idea of the tasks involved and whether they have the relevant skills to fulfil them.
How much does it cost?
The cost of hiring a writer can vary depending on their level of experience, skillset, and the country they’re based in. Writers may also charge more for certain forms of content that require specialized knowledge or technical skills.
Generally, writing rates can range anywhere between $0.05-1 per word. Writers may also choose to charge per project (flat rate), per hour, or per page. Don’t be afraid to ask for a quote—seasoned writers generally have a good idea of the range they are comfortable with!
You can always try to negotiate, especially if you have a long-term agreement to continually engage the writer. However, it’s important not to lowball—good writers don’t come easy.
Make a decision about who to hire
After the interview process, review each candidate’s qualifications, skill level as well as other evaluation points to decide which writer is the best fit for your business.
If you’re torn between options, you could always ask shortlisted candidates to produce a paid sample for your business. From there, the final decision should be more clearcut.
Conclusion
A professional writer can be a huge asset for your business as high-quality content helps to bring in new customers and boost your SEO.
By following these steps, you'll be able to find and hire the perfect writer for your business—someone who not only possesses the required skills, but also understands your brand and content goals.
Researching and finding the one may seem difficult, but it will all be worth it!
For a start, you could hire a skilled, efficient and reliable long-term writer for your business at Hypotenuse AI.
