How To Hire an Online Content Writer

Today's topic is how you should, and should not, go about hiring an online content writer. This has been fuelled by an 8 hour writing shift followed by a last minute proposal from a client I don't know.

This client wants me to write NATURALLY using RESEARCHED content derived from their keyword account - and I got mad. I've never met this person before, yet they have assumed that using capital letters is necessary because I'm clearly unable to follow instructions written normally. I've never met this person before, yet they have just given me the login details for their keyword app. I've never met this person before, but they went on to tell me that they needed it done overnight.

And I got mad.

I have four clients today who went in the book last Friday. I got through them all but that's beside the point... they waited in line until I was ready to take them. This dude was the equivalent of Karen, in her yoga pants and pumps, skipping to the front of the line and waving a brochure in my face, trying to claim I owed her something.

So to save my sanity and probably your brand, let's talk acceptable and unacceptable. How do you hire an online content writer? How do you get someone to write your blog for you - without annoying them to the point that they leave you? Good writers are hard to find. Follow my advice and don't lose yours.

1 - How to Find an Online Content Writer?

There are a ton of ways to find a good writer. First; you can browse through Blogging sites, find someone like me, and follow their links to whichever secure site they use. They might not even mind if you dropped an email to enquire about availability as long as you are nice about it. A genuine, working writer will get back to you before a couple of days have passed.

You can also try sites like People Per Hour (my personal favourite), Upwork, or iWriter. All of which will put you in touch with an online content writer. I have come across people who liked to use them and people who hate them. If you hate them go down the email route. Most of us even link in our social media accounts so you can find us

Pro Tip: Don't ignore the writers professional social media accounts and track down their personal... it's a sure way to get blocked.

2 - How Do You Create a Content Brief?

This is so much easier than people think it is. When you have found the writer, be as specific as you can about what you want them to write. If you send me a message asking for "something about social media" then that's exactly what you will get. It may or may not have any relevance to your sector of industry.

Give me a headline (or at least an idea for one), give me subheadings and links, give me a note of your competitor sites. I need all the details you can give me so that I know exactly what to write. The best of the best in terms of clients come to me with a fully planned piece, headings included. They are the easiest for me and always ensure the client gets what they came for.

Yes - you can go back and forth with your writer. No - your writer won't like it. We don't mind doing a few edits but we don't want to rewrite five times. The faster we both get through the job, the faster we both get what we want.

Pro Tip: It is much quicker to fix a typo as you upload than it is to wait two days for me to fix it...

3 - How Do You Pay A Writer?

This is the easiest bit. Most of us have online wallets (like Paypal). I'm sure we wouldn't say no to cheques, cash, or even vouchers if they're useful enough. We just want to pay the light bill. We're not fussy.

Pro Tip: Most writers are freelance, which means you can keep us on retainer for a small fee every month in exchange for a few blogs on arranged days.

The Bonus Round

Q) What type of writing can I hire someone to do for me?

A) Any and all. We may say no for moral reasons. Personally I will not write anything academic. Partially because it's a different form of writing to online content and partially because you should sit your own exams.

Q) Are there different types of writers?

A) Yes. The ones you find online are online content or web copy writers, there are authors, freelancers that specialise in different areas, and a myriad of other types of writer. If you need someone to write content for you, you need an online content writer A.K.A. an online business copywriter.

Q) Why would my business need online content?

A) SEO (search engine optimisation) drives traffic towards your site or online shop. It does this by highlighting keywords and putting you in touch with local searchers. It will only do this if your site is current, up-to-date, and the search engines deem it to contain relevant information. Creating online content is how you get your business noticed in the global marketplace. Without it, you miss out on the younger generation of online consumers.

Q) Can I write it myself and get a writer to edit it?

A) Of course you can and this is incredibly helpful. Writer's in the know will still charge you their full hourly rate for this. Why? Because too many people have come to us and said  "I just need this edited", only for us to have had to rewrite the entire thing four times. 

Q) Can all writers edit?

A) No, and definitely not in the same way that an SEO writer can. The styles and content that is needed to make your site stand out is not the same type of writing that a novel uses, or that you would find in a script. However, if you are a writer with those skills already, you will find online content is much easier to learn. I don't have a course about it but I do have a book. You can have a peak at it over on Amazon by following this link.