When starting a new website, the tenet you will hear most often repeated is that content is king. When users visit your website or your social media presences, they expect to find content that is interesting, meaningful to them and updated daily. Fresh content, whether the product of blogging, article writing, press releases or simply having a social media presence, is one of the most important factors for your online marketing approach. Should your content slow down or cease to exist, it could have a detrimental effect on your business’s online presence. However, fresh content is not easy to keep up with. As a business owner, writing is a time-consuming task especially considering the myriad of other tasks that keep you occupied. Whether it’s hustling to and from meetings or recruiting team members, your days are busy enough as it is. So how do you keep your online presences continually stocked with fresh content and still stay faithful to your other responsibilities as a business owner? It begins with knowing how to find and hire good content writers. Here are 8 ways you can do this.
Search your own ranks – Chances are that you may have already employed the person who not only has the ability to write quality articles but already has an intimate knowledge of your business and its operations. This employee could be best suited for writing articles and press releases that help others in getting to know your business. So take the time to ask around to find out if anyone is interested in being the voice of your company. The potential writer must also have the time to take on these additional duties. You may be surprised to discover that the writer you need is closer than expected.
Hire a Freelancer – While hiring a freelancer seems like it would be a time-consuming and frustrating process, the internet makes finding a quality freelancer an unbelievably simple task. There are a number of sites that simplify the process making it easy for you to hire writers online. Sites such as writers per hour, Freelancer, Constant Content and Upwork have thousands of freelancers at your disposal. Chances are that there are many freelancers whose capabilities line up with your particular needs.
Invest in adaptability – While it’s important to find a writer who can fulfill your current needs, you must also keep in mind that needs tend to change. Content marketing is an ever-changing field. Hiring a writer who excels at one thing is great for the present. But is your content creator willing to learn and venture outside of his or her comfort zone? If your content creator cannot adapt, chances are that you and your company could find yourself outgrowing him or her and soon you will find yourself once more at square one. Find a good content creator, but spend a little extra time searching for one who isn’t afraid to grow.
Petition the public – If searching for freelancers isn’t your thing, you can also try to put the word out that your business is looking to hire some writers. Announcing it on your blog or through social media is a good way of getting your announcement before as many eyes as possible. Your employees can help in this venture as well. Be sure to mention in the announcement exactly the type of content writer you are searching for and how prospective persons can contact you.
Make sure and vet your writers – All these methods should yield a sizeable pool of writers from which to choose. The next task is to find out which writers can best perform the task that you ask of them. You can use a search engine to find their social media profiles as well as a sampling of the work they have already done. You can also ask directly for samples of their work to see if their writing ability is on par with your expectations. You can also ask the prospective writers for their resumes and a list of their previously published writing.
Scour your LinkedIn Network – There are lots of good writers on LinkedIn waiting to be discovered. Many of them are already in your own network. Start with the people you know and trust in order to avoid writers who stuff unwanted links into your articles. You can search LinkedIn for terms such as “writer”, “copywriter” and “content marketer” to find writers who already produce the kind of content you need. You can also join groups on LinkedIn that are frequented by writers and employers alike. While there, be sure to ask for advice from other employers who have conquered the same issues that you are wrestling with.
Test prospective writers – During your search, you will probably get bombarded by samples. While it’s good to peruse them to get an idea of your prospective writer’s talents and weaknesses, your best assessment of their abilities may only come when you test them yourself. Good-looking samples cannot possibly tell the story. Additionally, you don’t know what it took for their samples to look as good as they do. Before hiring your writer, test them with a sample article to get a better view of their aptitude.
Search for a unique voice – Make sure that the person you are going to hire has a unique voice and writes with a fresh perspective. Keep in mind that the motive behind finding a writer for your brand is to stand out among so many other brands vying for attention. Your business requires a voice and perspective that will rise above the din and cast a light on your operations. Don’t settle for the ordinary.
For a business, having a good web presence is no longer an option. Yet, finding the best writer isn’t the easiest of tasks. However, the search need not burden you with headaches and unnecessary delays. There are many methods by which you can find the best writer for your business. Finding a capable writer is a rewarding experience that will allow your business to grow and blossom.
