This article has been contributed by Scott Stevens.

No matter what business you’re in, content is king. If you’re lucky, you have the time and ability to create quality content yourself. But the reality is, most businesses don’t have this luxury and outsource to freelancer writers instead.

But finding suitable freelance writers can be challenging and time-consuming.

Anyone with a laptop and an internet connection can become a writer nowadays which makes it even more challenging to identify the best talent out there.

We explore the top things that you should look out for when outsourcing freelance writers.

1. Determine Your Goals

Before you jump into the talent pool to pull out a suitably experienced writer, stop and think about what your business needs. There are different types of writers; some specialize in content and others in iGaming articles, while others are really good at writing reviews. Some are large content writing services that have multiple writers, others are solo freelance writers that have specific specializations.

Deciding what your business needs will help you establish the type of writer you should hire. The best course of action is to sit down and write out your requirements. Make sure that your goals are specific, measurable, relevant, realistic, and time bound.

Any experienced writer will ask you for this information. They will want to know what your expectations are in terms of word count and deadlines. Having a clear idea of your goals will also help you measure the results once you start posting content online.

2. Decide on a Timeframe

Once you’ve determined your goals, plot a timeframe or content calendar, and determine how many writers you need to meet those deadlines. Be logical and don’t expect one writer to take on the entire project and do the work of five writers.

Even if you have a superstar on your hands, it’s unlikely that you’ll get the best quality work if they are submitted to unrealistic deadline pressures. Plan your timeline so that you’re giving your website visitors quality content regularly.

To put it into perspective, if you only need one blog post per day, the best thing would be to hire three writers and assign them 2 to 3 blog posts each per week. In this way, not only do you get a fresh perspective for each topic, but you get the best quality work from each writer.

3. Establish a Budget

Of course, no writer will work for free, or for peanuts for that matter. You need to establish a budget to pay your freelancers fairly while getting value for your money. The amount you can afford should be balanced based on your needs and your available finances. If your resources are limited, consider decreasing the amount of content you require over a specific period.

It’s much better to have better quality content than to have many poorly written articles. Don’t see this as an expense but rather as an investment. If presented correctly, it will bring visitors and buyers to your website. Remember that as you grow, so will your available budget; you can always increase your content creation as and when your funds allow.

Many marketers will warn you to stay away from content mills, as usually, the quality of writing from these platforms isn’t the best. However, if you’re just starting, have a minimal budget, and the content you require is not too technical or research-intensive, you can take a chance on these platforms.

4. Create a Marketing Plan

Before you hire a freelance writer, you need to have a marketing plan to figure out what kind of content you want to create.

Part of this includes researching who your target audience is and their demographics. It would also include information on who your competitors are. Once you have this data on hand, you need to decide what kind of topics you want the writer to focus on.

Both you and the freelancer need to understand how the writing fits into the rest of your business. Without a clear understanding of what you hope to achieve with the content created, you’re more likely just filling space on your website that is of no use to your target audience or your goals.

5. Choose the Correct Type of Writer

Freelancers tend to specialize in specific topics or genres. They are also skilled in various writing types; some write blog articles for informational purposes, while others know how to write a piece that will sell your product. Choosing the correct kind of writer will ensure that you get the result you’ve established in your marketing strategy.

a. Content Writer

Content writers create articles, blogs, and stories for websites. They are skilled in writing data-oriented and well-researched articles. They take any data that they find and change it into a concise and straightforward piece that is easy for the average person to read.

They are usually familiar with concepts such as keyword research and SEO. A content writer will want to know whether the content you require should be educational, inspirational, or entertaining.

b. Copywriter

Copywriters have a different skill set to a content writer. Their work focuses on getting people to take immediate action. They specialize in content for websites, landing pages, adverts, press releases, emails, etc.

They will help your business get conversions using copy and will help you to increase sales on your product. It will be useful for your copywriter to know who your target audiences are. If you have information about your buyer’s persona, they will formulate their article to speak to your potential client when they write.

c. Content Strategist

If you’re looking for someone to help you map out your entire strategy and content calendar, you need a specialized content strategist/marketer. They are experts on how to research industries, trends, and audiences. They will come up with innovative ideas that will resonate with your target audience.

Although their strengths lie in taking the process from concept to publishing, many do have the skills to write the articles themselves. If you already have a marketing plan mapped out, you’re most likely only looking for a writer.

However, if you’re at a loss and don’t have a strategy regarding what kind of content you need, you will be better off looking for an experienced content strategist.

They will help you research ideas and create a plan on how to execute them. It might not be an ideal option if you’re on a tight budget as many strategists will manage your project but will want to hire writers to create the actual content.

6. Start the Search

Once you’ve figured out your goals, what type of content you are looking for, and the kind of writer you need, you can begin searching for the ideal candidate. There are several platforms that you can visit to commence with your search. The best place to start looking is on social media; take a look at various Facebook pages advertising writing services or on LinkedIn.

You can also try platforms such as The Content Panel, Guru.com, Fiverr, and UpWork. You can find experienced writers’ profiles and their portfolios with examples of their work on many of these sites. Some of these will also allow you to post your project and receive applications from interested writers directly if they find your listing appealing.

An added benefit of the paid project sites is that there is usually some form of protection for both the freelancer and the employer. Another less formal option is to ask other business owners that you know for any recommendations they may have for freelancers they have used in the past.

7. Write an Appealing Advert

If you’re looking for a premium freelance writer, you need to make sure that what you’re offering is not only lucrative but that it’s appealing to their motivations. Not all writers are just after the money; many take pride in their work and take on projects that resonate with their interests and knowledge.

Ensure that your advert states the kind of topics or niche that the writer will be expected to cover. The more information you put in the listing, the better your chances of matching the correct writer to your needs. It’s especially important to explain the type of content you expect the writer to create and any other services that you require.

Formulate the advert in such a way that it’s engaging and appealing, and will make the writer want to work with you and your company. Depending on which platform you use to place your advert, make sure that you don’t forget to provide instructions to potential writers on how to apply for the position.

8. Qualify Your Content Writer

It’s not enough to pick a writer from a list; you’ll need to determine whether or not they meet your needs and expectations. Create a series of questions to determine if they have the knowledge and skills to create the content you require. Another option is to allow them to present a short test article to showcase their talents.

Many employers will pay a nominal fee for test articles to attract more qualified applicants. You can also allow freelance writers to send through any previous work they might have done within the same niche.

Below are some of the more common questions that you can ask a content writer during an interview.

• What do you think makes good web content?
• Explain how you pick a topic for a blog post.
• How much do you know about SEO and creating SEO friendly content?
• What other steps do you follow to create content for a blog post?
• How do you establish the target audience of a website?
• What’s unique about your writing skills and style?
• Which content management systems are you familiar with?
• Are you able to measure the performance of your content?
• What knowledge and expertise make you a good fit for this project?
• Why do you want to write for our company?

It’s a good idea to check out your potential freelance writer on any social profiles they share with you. One of the most important ones is LinkedIn, which focuses on people’s work experience and portfolio.

Many freelancers will have recommendations and past clients listed on their profiles. In this way, you can see how long they’ve been writing for and what kind of industries they know.

9. Create a Contract

Hiring any freelancer without signing a contract is not recommended. Protect yourself and the writer with a clear and concise agreement. Ensure that it explains the project details, including instructions of what is expected from each party and the project completion date.

Even though the contract should come from, you should keep an open mind if the writer wants to include some clauses to protect themselves. This document is a way to avoid any potential disagreements for both parties.

Ensure that part of the contract consists of payment terms and usage rights between you and the freelancer. Besides the contract, you should consider attaching an NDA (non-disclosure agreement). This is especially important for businesses that deal with intellectual property or confidential information.

10. Establish the Channels of Communication

To avoid any confusion or delays, make sure that both the team responsible for the project and your freelance writer have the correct contact information for each other. Furthermore, check that each person knows what they are responsible for and that your writers know who they need to report to with any questions or help with instructions.

It might seem arbitrary, but it can save frustration and unnecessary delays if the command chain is established before the project begins. Set a team meeting to introduce all the members and point out who the key people are.

Clarify who holds the position of editor, graphic designer, project manager, and technical support. By applying an onboarding process, you will help the new writer learn faster and assimilate into your company with less fuss.

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About the author: Scott Stevens is the CEO and founder of The Content Panel. He’s a serial entrepreneur, a copywriting nerd, and loves tinkering with neural networks in his spare time.