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6 things you need to know before hiring a writer for your blog

Read Time 20 mins | Written by: Wendy Woodhead

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Has your dream of posting fresh blog content each week that propels your site through the rankings started to feel more like a nightmare? Then it’s time to think about hiring a writer for your blog.

But while you might have realised it’s time to hand over the reins to a professional, you might also be wondering what that process entails. After all, the reputation of your company is at stake so you want to ensure you make the right decision. With that in mind, we look at why you might want to hire writers to produce your blog posts, 6 things to consider before hiring a writer for your blog and how and where to find writers.

Table of contents

  1. Why hire writers for your blog?
  2. 6 things to consider when hiring a writer for your blog
  3. How to hire writers for your blog
  4. Where to find writers for your blog
  5. Get started today

Why hire writers for your blog?

Hiring writers for your blog can have several benefits, including:

  1. Increased productivity: Writing quality content takes time and effort. Hiring writers for your blog can help you to scale your content creation efforts, produce more content and publish it more frequently.

  2. Diversified content: By hiring writers with different writing styles, tones and areas of expertise, you can diversify your blog content and appeal to a wider audience. This can help you to attract more readers and increase engagement.

  3. Improved quality: Professional writers can bring a fresh perspective to your blog and provide high-quality content that is well-researched and engaging. They can help you to elevate the quality of your blog and establish your brand as an authority in your niche.

  4. Time savings: Outsourcing your blog content can save you time and allow you to focus on other important aspects of your business, such as marketing and strategy. This can help you to grow your blog and business more efficiently.

  5. Consistency: Hiring writers can help you to maintain a consistent publishing schedule, which is important for building an audience and establishing credibility. By consistently publishing high-quality content, you can attract and retain readers and build a loyal following.

Collectively, these benefits can ultimately help you to grow your blog and achieve your business goals.

Read More: 8 reasons why corporate blogging is so important for your business

6 things to consider when hiring a writer for your blog

Before you jump right in, here are 6 things to consider before hiring a writer for your blog that will help guide you through the process:

1. What ‘the best writer for your blog’ means to you

6-things-you-need-to-know-before-hiring-a-writer-for-your-blog-Copify-blog-2-740x492-1We all want the best writer for our blog, but what does that mean to you?

Spend some time jotting down the must-haves and the desirables from your new blog writer. Should they have specific experience in a particular industry or knowledge about your niche, or are you happy to have a writer who is simply an excellent communicator?

It’s a good idea to bear in mind that if your business is in the more technical sector then someone with experience in that field might not necessarily be the best at blogging. That’s because good bloggers have a more fluid and conversational style of writing, which is very distinct from technical writing:

“Unlike technical writing, which is more straightforward and rigid, blog writing requires writers to talk about technical subjects in a way that’s enjoyable to read and easy to understand. Though researchers will still want the juicy facts and specific information from your posts, they’re coming to your blog expecting an explanation – not just looking for answers.”

2. Your brand and tone of voice

For a writer to do an excellent job on your blog, they need to be able to embody your brand. If you don’t have a firm grasp of this yourself, how will you be able to share it with your copywriter?

Knowing your brand’s values, its tone of voice and goals, as well as your core audience and what motivates them is the first step to finding a blogger who can carry out your blog writing to the best of their ability. This knowledge of your brand and audience should underpin everything from your brief to your house style guide.

Interviewing potential candidates over the phone or in person is a great way to find out if they’re a match, as is getting them to submit an initial sample. As this article about questions to ask your blogger points out:

“Great freelance writers can adapt their tone based on the company for which they’re writing. If you’ve written a content style guide, you already know the exact tone for which you’re striving. See if they mention words that match those you’ve placed in your style guide — objective, humorous, balanced, lighthearted, etc.”

3. How much of a commitment you’re looking for

Before you start advertising or approaching bloggers, you need to know what you’re looking for in terms of commitment. Fundamentally, how often do you want to blog and how much research do you expect from your blogger? According to HubSpot:

“Smaller businesses have found comfort and success posting one to four times a week, while larger companies can push out daily and, sometimes, multiple daily posts.”

Of course, regularity is the key to success, but remember that your blogger is a human too and will need a break and holidays. How will you accommodate for this downtime? Will you expect them to work double in the lead-up or outsource to a content agency? Will they have to provide images, handle publishing and your blog’s promotion via social media such as Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Medium?

4. Is in-house, freelance or agency best for you?

6-things-you-need-to-know-before-hiring-a-writer-for-your-blog-Copify-blog-1-740x493-2There are pros and cons to all three main avenues of content creation, so you will have to determine which makes the best practical and economic sense for you.

For instance, if you want the writer to fully embody your brand and you have a need for lots of marketing and content creation on a weekly basis, you may wish to employ an in-house member of staff. But this has implications in terms of employer responsibilities such as holidays, payroll and recruitment.

Or maybe you want to find a freelancer? This is often the route many businesses consider first, and if you find a good candidate you will be able to deal directly with them to ensure your content is consistent and that your needs are met. However, finding and vetting freelancers will be your responsibility and you’ll also be responsible for chasing up overdue posts and agreeing the contract. If your freelancer lets you down, who will you turn to?

Finally, content agencies represent a good middle ground. There’s no need to vet the writers because the agency will already have done this for you. Agencies can also offer end-to-end services such as keyword analysis, proofreading, publishing and social media promotion. Consistency can be an issue if you’re looking for a ‘single voice’ in your posts, but if you brief the agency well with your guidelines this shouldn’t be an issue.

5. Make sure you’re covered

At the start of a new business relationship, no one likes to think about if things go wrong, but in the case of working with a freelancer, it’s an important consideration. You may want to grant your blogger free rein, but what will you do if they publish something libellous or in contravention of advertising standards? What about if their content falls foul of plagiarism or copyright laws?

Not all freelancers carry public indemnity insurance, so ensure you check for this, ask for evidence and write into the contract who is responsible for the content. If you’d rather be on the safe side, use a reputable content agency instead.

6. What is your brief?

6-things-you-need-to-know-before-hiring-a-writer-for-your-blog-Copify-blog-4-740x492-2Now, down to the nitty-gritty. When all the above is taken care of, what will you ask your blogger to write? Even if you want them to use their own research skills, they’ll need some kind of parameters to work within.

Word count, topic area, layout, keyword usage/density and tone of voice are just some of the things you’ll need to brief your blogger on. If you’re not sure where to start, our comprehensive copywriting brief template can help.

How to hire writers for your blog

Hiring writers for your blog can be a great way to scale your content creation and reach a larger audience. Here are some steps you can take to hire writers for your blog:

  1. Define your requirements: Before you start looking for writers, you need to determine what type of content you need, the tone and style you want and the level of expertise required. This will help you identify the right candidates and set clear expectations.

  2. Create a job posting: Write a detailed job posting that outlines your requirements and what you are looking for in a writer. Be specific about the type of content you need, the length of the articles, the frequency of submissions and any other relevant details. You can post the job on your blog or on freelance platforms such as Upwork or Freelancer.

  3. Review applications: Once you start receiving applications, review them carefully to identify candidates that meet your requirements. Look for writing samples, relevant experience and any other qualifications that are important to you. You may want to conduct a short interview with promising candidates to assess their communication skills and fit.

  4. Set up a trial period: Before you commit to a long-term contract, set up a trial period to test the writer's skills and compatibility with your blog. Ask them to write a sample article or two and evaluate their work. Provide feedback and make sure that they can incorporate your suggestions.

  5. Negotiate rates and terms: Once you have found a writer that you are happy with, negotiate rates and terms that work for both of you. Be clear about payment schedules, deadlines, and any other expectations you have.

  6. Manage the relationship: Once you have hired a writer, it is important to establish clear communication channels and manage the relationship effectively. Provide regular feedback, set deadlines and be responsive to any questions or concerns they may have. This will help you build a productive and long-lasting partnership.

Remember, hiring writers can be a great way to scale your blog, but it takes time and effort to find the right candidates. Be patient and persistent and you will eventually find writers that can help you take your blog to the next level.

Where to find writers for your blog

Some ways to find writers include:

  1. Advertise: You may place an ad on an online recruitment platform or in the press, such as newspapers or industry publications, to attract writers to your blog. This can be an effective way to reach a wide audience and get a lot of applications. Be sure to include clear details about the job and requirements, such as the type of content you need, the length of articles and the payment rate.

  2. Use social media: Social media platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook can be great places to find writers for your blog. You can post a job listing and ask your followers to share it with their networks. You can also search for writers on these platforms using relevant hashtags or keywords.

  3. Get referrals: If you know other bloggers or writers who have worked with good writers in the past, ask them for referrals. They may be able to recommend someone who would be a good fit for your blog.

  4. Search online: You can do a Google search or use portfolio sites like Contently or Clippings.me to find writers who have experience writing in your niche. Look for writers who have a strong portfolio of work and have written for reputable publications.

  5. Use a content agency: A content agency can help you find writers for your blog and manage the content creation process. They have a team of writers with different specialties and can match you with a writer who has experience writing in your niche. They can also handle the editing, formatting, and publishing of your blog content. 

Remember to be clear about your requirements and expectations when looking for writers for your blog. This will help you attract the right candidates and build a productive working relationship.

Get started with Copify today

Hiring a writer for your blog can be one of the best things you do for the success of your website and online presence.

✏️If you’re ready to get started, speak to us at Copify about our blogging subscription service with optional SEO strategy.


Main image credit: Chris Liverani

Internal image credits: Glenn Carstens-Peters, KOBU Agency, Felipe Furtado

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Wendy Woodhead

Wendy is the Account Director at Copify and a qualified copywriter and proofreader. She has spent six years copy editing and copywriting for B2B and B2C clients and has experience in freelance and in-house arts marketing and digital content creation. Wendy likes to write about language and literature, digital marketing, history, current affairs, and arts and culture. In her spare time she enjoys yoga, reading and writing fiction.