Tired of stressing about your content? Maybe it’s time to hire a writer.
What to know and expect when working with a freelance writer.
Q: What’s your biggest struggle when it comes to writing for your business? (Let me know in the comments section at the end of this post.)
We live in a content-driven society. It’s a necessary part of doing business. And yet, creating content for your business can be overwhelming, like trying to feed a hungry beast that’s never satiated. From blog posts to emails, podcasts, social media posts and lead magnets to case studies, thought leadership articles and website updates, the job is never done.
A freelance writer can be an essential resource in your business toolkit lifting the burden of content creation off your shoulders.
If you’ve never worked with a writer before, you may wonder how to go about hiring a writer. Here are a few things you should know.
Note: Obviously, I can’t speak for every writer. Like other industries, we all have different approaches, different personalities and different backgrounds and skill sets. In general, this is what you should know.
Writing is a professional craft.
Just as lawyers specialize in legal advice, accountants in accounting advice, and physicians in medical advice, professional writers are specially trained in their craft.
Professional writers hone their skills and expertise over time. Throughout our careers, many of us spend thousands of dollars investing in our craft, continuing to grow our body of knowledge and enhancing our skills through classes, coaches, books, conferences and more.
So naturally, just like any other occupation, we expect to be paid for our efforts. (It fascinates me how writing is one of the few industries where some people think “exposure” is payment enough.) You may wonder how our billing practices work. This varies. Some writers prefer to be paid by the hour. Others by the word. And others by the project. Many writers also work on retainer, producing a certain amount of projects each month for an agreed-upon fee.
While some writers are general practitioners, others specialize in specific niches like healthcare, finance, B2B technology, B2C, startups, biotech, etc. A writer will tell you if they feel they aren’t a good match for the type of work you’re seeking to hire out and can often refer you to others in their network who would jump on the opportunity to work with you and your business.
Pro tip. Writers are more than happy to provide clips of their past work to give you an idea of how they write. Just ask! (FYI - Due to the number of scams out there, most writers are leery of businesses that ask for free samples. If you want to test run a writer with your content, you should pay them for their time.)
Copywriting is not the same as content writing.
This is a huge area of confusion for people, which is understandable. Here’s the key difference.
Copywriting is when a writer creates content meant to sell or persuade. Think advertising, promotional emails, mailers and social media posts.
A content writer creates content meant to build relationships with readers by informing, inspiring or entertaining them. Think case studies, white papers, social media posts, blog posts, thought leadership articles, lead magnets and books.
Pro tip. There’s a time and place for both kinds of writing in your marketing strategy and most writers can do both. If your resources are limited, choose to focus more on content writing to build relationships with your audience. Beating an audience over the head with a constant stream of promotional material will turn people away.
Freelance writers are not employees.
This is a big one, especially due to IRS regulations. A freelance writer can be on your team as a contractor but should not be treated like an employee. If you want your writer to be in a weekly meeting, make sure it’s about creating content and understand that you will be billed for their time.
Pro tip. If you hire a writer on retainer, ask if a weekly or monthly meeting can be included as part of the retainer. This is a great way to plan the week or month’s content together without wasting a lot of time going back and forth on email. Just don’t expect them to be on-call 24/7 or in your employee Slack channels, etc.
Writers are curious.
Just because a writer hasn’t written in your industry before, don’t assume they can’t. If they’ve thrown their hat into the ring, assume they’re interested in learning yours.
Writers tend to be curious by nature and approach life with a growth mindset. Many of us are accustomed to flexing our creative muscles on a variety of topics and industries. Writers who are interested in expanding into a new-to-them territory are often adept at quickly getting a lay of the land.
Pro tip: When considering a writer, ask yourself questions like: Do I like their style of writing? Do they seem curious, energized and engaged when discussing my content needs? Will they be easy to work with?
A good writer listens.
When it comes to content, find a writer who will take the time to listen to you and understand your brand voice/personality, your audience and your business goals. A skilled marketing writer knows how to deliberately craft content that differentiates you from your competition and engages and informs your audience.
Pro tip: Word-of-mouth referrals can be helpful as you begin the vetting process. Many writers offer free discovery calls, which is a good way to determine if your personalities mesh. The writer will most likely want to learn what you’re hoping to achieve with your content, your project deadlines, and your budget parameters.
Writers love information—but we can’t read your mind.
While most any writer is creative enough to craft words out of thin air, you probably won’t be happy with the results! Provide background materials, resources and examples of content you like as well as your business’s content style guide if you have one. Also, be available to answer questions as the writer begins working on your content.
Pro tip: Many writers like to conduct some sort of onboarding process to learn your business, your brand voice and your audience. It’s a good idea to know who your audience is and what your business goals are before partnering with a writer. A business coach can be an excellent resource if you find yourself in this position.
Revisions are normal.
The first draft is rarely the last draft. Don’t expect perfection out of the gate. Writing is a collaborative process. That’s why most writers build in a set of revisions in their contracts.
Pro tip: Together, discuss how you’d like to manage revisions. My clients will often track their changes in a Word or Google document. For more complex changes, we go over them together on the phone.
Writing is a valuable investment.
What makes partnering with a writer worth the investment for your business, especially if you already consider yourself a strong writer? Besides saving you an immense amount of time leaving you free to focus on other aspects of your business, a content writer can ensure that you’re delivering well-written, clear copy to your audience.
When you hire a skilled writer, you’re not only getting a wordsmith, you’re getting experience and intellectual capital. We’re creative problem solvers who live and breathe content and storytelling. We can often provide fresh ideas and insights for your content that you may not have considered.
Pro tip. When seeking a writer, decide if you want an order taker or a creative partner. There’s room for both types of writing in this world although AI is starting to edge out one of them. (I’ll let you guess which one.)
An order taker is a writer who writes whatever you tell them to write.
A creative writing partner is a writer who not only collaborates with you on the writing but is also invested in understanding you and your business. They’ll bring fresh ideas and strategic thinking to the table and will be focused on helping you achieve your business goals. (P.S. If you’re seeking a content strategist to help you build your content marketing plan, understand that this requires a different skillset than general content implementation.)
What’s your biggest struggle when creating content for your business?
Have more questions about how to find and partner with a content writer for your business?
Or, are you a writer who would like to add to this conversation?
Share in the comments below!
Ready to partner with a skilled, strategic writer?
I partner with health and wellness entrepreneurs, coaches and executives to position them as industry thought leaders by creating strategic content plans and compelling marketing collateral. I deliver a variety of strategic writing services ranging from website content, executive bios, articles, newsletters, ebooks, and white papers. With more than 25 years of experience working in whole-person healthcare, non-profit, B2B SaaS and magazine writing, I understand the critical role communication and storytelling play in creating meaningful, engaging content that supports business goals.
In addition to my client work, I’m an award-winning writer. My work has appeared in numerous publications, including KC Parent, Vibrant Life, Pregnancy & Newborn, Parents, and Woman’s Day.
I’m passionate about sharing information that helps people of all backgrounds achieve greater personal well-being, which can have positive ripple effects creating healthier families and stronger communities.
Described by clients as a word-whisperer, I geek out on storytelling techniques and transforming lifeless business word jumbles into irresistible, captivating content that’s easy to understand.
Schedule a Discovery Call and see if we’re the right fit!