It’s no secret that having a strong online presence is essential when it comes to maximizing your company’s chances of success. But, this involves more than simply having a stellar website and social media.
Having high-quality content will not only help you drive traffic to your pages but also provide your audience with useful information that can establish you as an authority in your industry. When looking to outsource this role, though, not every entrepreneur knows how to go about it.
Not sure where to start? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.
Let’s take a look at everything you need to know about how to find the best content writers.
1. Their Skill Level
As you may expect, one of the most important characteristics to look for is a high level of skill when it comes to copywriting. This means that they should be able to present error-free content that also matches the tone of voice you’re looking for.
Fortunately, it’s easy to separate an unskilled writer from someone who’s clearly been working in their profession for years. This will easily allow you to weed out unprofessional writers who may end up being more of a liability than an asset.
2. Their Expertise Regarding Your Product/Service
Interestingly, being a good writer isn’t enough on its own— they’ll also need to have a strong understanding of the product or service that your company offers.
This means that they’ll also need to be knowledgable of the nuances associated with your industry, the key features they should focus on, etc.
Otherwise, you run the risk of improperly representing what your business is able to provide to its audience.
3. Enthusiastic vs Disinterested
So, they’re a skilled writer who has plenty of experience in writing about relevant products and services. But, are they able to do so in an interesting and engaging way?
However professional their writing may be, dry content isn’t likely to get you any of the results you’re after. In some cases, it can even be offputting toward potential customers since your brand may sound unsure of itself.
Additionally, someone who’s not enthusiastic about writing for your company is unlikely to learn all that they can about what you have to offer. The end result is lackluster content.
You’ll need to take the same approach a hiring manager would in a conventional business setting when looking for your content writers.
4. Their Turnaround Time
While it’s imperative that you hire someone who can provide great content for your company’s website, you won’t be able to reap the benefits if they aren’t able to meet the deadlines that you set for them.
While the average turnaround time will depend on the length and depth of the project, you should only hire a writer who’s able to accommodate your needs. So, be sure to inquire about this when deciding who to work with.
5. Their Rate
Your budget will ultimately decide how much you’re willing to spend on hiring a content writer. But, this doesn’t mean that you should ignore what they charge simply because it falls within the range you can allocate toward their services.
A writer who charges on the lower end of the spectrum often does so due to their lack of skill. So, it’s not unlikely that you’ll get subpar results if you intentionally seek a writer with cheaper rates than normal.
In general, you’ll find that most experienced copywriters charge between $50 and $100/hour. But, keep in mind that some only work on a per-project basis.
6. Do You Resonate With Them?
Establishing a seamless level of communication with your writer is crucial to getting the results you’re after. Since it’s not typical for their first draft to be the product that you accept, you’ll often find yourself asking them to edit/rework certain sections of their writing.
This makes it important to work with someone who’s accessible, open to feedback, and who communicates thoroughly on their own. It also helps if they have a personality that meshes well with yours, as it will make the communication far more natural.
7. Their Portfolio of Past Work
No matter what your content writer may promise, they need to be able to prove it before you take them seriously. Fortunately, this is easily accomplished by viewing a portfolio for their past work.
You should be looking for two attributes here:
- Project quality
- Project volume
To elaborate on the second point, a writer who’s able to showcase only a small number of projects may not have the overall level of experience that you’re looking for.
A writer who has a large number of projects also has a greater chance of having familiarity with your product or service.
8. Their Past Reviews
Any professional writers showcase not only the clients they’ve worked for in the past but also what these clients have had to say about them.
If choosing the ideal writer is imperative for your project, it may be worth reaching out to these individuals and inquiring whether or not they were fully satisfied with the writer’s work.
If you choose to go this route, it’s also important for you to ask if they would hire the same writer in the future. This will help you get a thorough understanding of the work you can expect from them.
Finding the Best Content Writers Can Seem Difficult
But it doesn’t have to be.
With the above information about what to look for in the best content writers, in mind, you’ll be well on your way toward choosing a professional who will help grow your company.
Want to learn more about how we can help? Feel free to get in touch with us today to see what we can do.
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