How to Hire Freelance Writers

Sat, 04 Oct 2008 12:16:44 EST

The large number of websites out there today has created a correspondingly huge need for writers who can deliver original, high-quality web content on a regular basis.

An industry that was virtually non-existent only a few short years ago, web content writing is now one of the most popular ways to make money on the Internet. Check out any of the popular online classifieds or outsourcing websites and you will see literally hundreds of ads for looking for freelance writers or freelance writers offering their services. A search through the popular search engines with the words "freelance writer" will call up even more companies- Iwebcontent.com being one of them-that offer a team of writers who can do the job for you.

The question is: how do you find a writer or group of writers who can not only deliver what you need when you need it, but can also deliver high quality content? Here are some tips to help you do that.

Try to develop a long-term working relationship. Working with a writer for the long-term has a number of advantages over hiring a new writer for every single job. For one thing, you will get to know the extent of his or her capabilities and pinpoint any strengths or weaknesses. On the writer's side, he or she will get to know exactly how your company works and the quality or pace of work that you require. Without having to go through the trouble of breaking in new writers all the time, your projects will proceed more smoothly.

Look at several samples from the writer you are considering. Again this will give you an idea of what your writer is capable of, and you will be in a better position to judge how good he or she is. Some articles are heavily edited by the client and it can be hard to tell the writer's work from the editor's.

Check your writer's work history. Ask for references or a list of previous clients and if possible how long the writer has worked with each of them. This is a good way to weed out the flaky writers from the dependable ones. Someone who only lasts for a project or two probably would not be a good choice.

Try the writer out first. If you are not quite sure how well a particular writer will perform under pressure, give him or her a small project to begin with-paid for, of course. If he or she can deliver on time at the level of quality that you expect, that's just one more factor in their favor.

It can be a challenge to find a good writer that you can depend on consistently and the process of building a mutually beneficial working relationship can take a long time. A writer who can meet all your requirements, is easy to work with, and gets the job done time after time is a tremendously valuable asset to have. If you can find someone like that, he or she is a keeper!

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How to Hire Freelance Writers