What Area Unit Some Tips For Hiring A Good Freelance Writer?

As a freelance writer, here are some of the issues I regularly encounter during the 'hiring' process:

1. Freelance writers are not your employees. They are a business you are working with. Your relationship is B2B. Treat them as such.

2. Freelance writers are not hobby writers. They don't write for the thrill of it. They're writing for their livelihood. Pay them a liveable rate.

3. If you want quality, hire a professional freelance writer. If you would like keyword-stuffed junk, head over to a content mill like Elance and pick up useless content at $5 an article or something.

4. Following on from point 3, either have a clear idea of what you need the writer for or pay them for the time they spend consulting you on your needs.

5. Freelance writers get the same amount of hours in the day as everyone else. Except they don't get paid for browsing the web at work. They have to manage their entire livelihood themselves. Every minute they lose from their work routine is cash out of their pocket. Don't waste their time unless you're paying.

6. Don't ask for them to 'prove' they can write with an 'unpaid writing trial.' Would you ask any other business to prove they can do what they say for free? No. So don't ask writers too. Offer cash for the trial or settle for their portfolio items as proof of capability.

7. By all means, negotiate rates. But if they're asking $0.20 a word and you're offering $0.05 a word, stop wasting each other's time. (But ask if they know any other writer's they can refer you to. Most are happy to help. I know I am.)

8. Clarify expectations before you start working together. Want them to come up with ideas? Say it. Got ideas in mind? Say it. Want them to help promote it? Say it. Want it ghostwritten? Say it. Don't expect them to read your mind!

9. Uncertain of what you want? Ask them for recommendations. We know the business. We can help. But you have to admit you don't know before we can help.

So, now that's clarified, my best tip to actually finding a writer: Find content similar to what you want to be produced and reach out to the authors.

If that is unattainable, post on employment board like ProBlogger's.

• Clarify what you want and who would be best suited.

• Have a way of filtering out any applicant that didn't read your listing. (Certain subject line or keywords that have to be mentioned in the body of the email.)

• Remember to include contact information. A website helps too if it's relevant.

If you are looking strictly for filler content, you are most likely not willing to pay a good rate. In which case, head to a bidding content mill (again, like Elance) and list what you need there.

Hope this helps. If you need any more help in the process, just message me. I'm happy to assist, each business deserves to search out the correct voice to represent them.