Hiring a Freelance Writer

Identifying your company’s professional writing requirements is only the first step. If you’re hiring a freelance writer for the first time, you might not know exactly what to expect or to look for. Here are some tips to hiring a writer who will produce the kind of copy you need to increase your business productivity.

What the Project Entails

Know what you want the copywriter to do. Is it one big project or a number of smaller documents? Most freelancers can roll with the punches – they expect minor changes as they go along. But if they spend time writing copy or doing a lot of research you end up not using, the project can easily go south for all parties involved. Stick to a timeline as much as possible. Be clear about deadlines.

Match Project with Skill Set

Don’t hire someone with detailed experience in drafting white papers to write your interior design blog.

Requesting Samples

You’ve read through the resumes and writing samples. You’ve short-listed the copywriters that have caught your attention. But after examining the samples submitted, you’re still not sure. If your project is technical or requires a unique angle and you want a writing sample specific to the assignment at hand, be prepared to pay.

Not an Employee

A freelance writer is not an employee. You have every right to ask how much time a freelancer can commit to your project. But to stipulate, for example, that they can’t take on other clients while they’re contracted by you, is blurring the lines between contractor and employee.

Communicates Effectively

You want to hire a freelancer who doesn’t just write well, but also communicates effectively. The person may be a contractor, but you need them to be able to work as part of a team, with everyone involved in the project.

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