How and Where to Find Amazing Freelance Writers
Writers are everywhere, so finding one should be a breeze, right? If only it were as simple as it sounds!
Virtually every business these days needs to create a crazy amount of text. Between website copy, newsletters, and blog posts, there’s simply a ton of writing to be done! And with consumers lapping up content like it’s going out of style, you want yours to be the stuff they come back to.
No matter what project you’re working on, chances are a great freelance writer can help. But with anyone and everyone claiming to be a great writer, it’s hard to know where to find the really good ones.
In this post, we’ll tell you exactly how and where to find the best freelance writers! Let’s go!
What to look out for
When you start the search for writers, the options can seem overwhelming. And even great writers aren’t all made the same. You need to find the ones that best suit your business. Here are the key factors you need to look at when selecting the best writers.
Experience: As is the case when hiring for most positions, experience is gold. Always ask to see relevant samples so you can verify the quality of their work. Newer writers might not have a ton of samples to offer, so you could even ask them to create one.
Reviews: Social proof is often the best way to tell if a writer is really as good as they say they are. Search for them on various platforms (see below) and see how others have rated their work.
Style: A writer might be amazing on paper (excuse the pun!), but if their style doesn’t jive with the voice you’re trying to create, they might not be the best fit. However, bear in mind that many writers can adapt their tone to suit your needs. Look through their entire portfolio and you might find something that relates to your business. If you’re unsure, ask them to submit a short test piece or get them to complete a paid trial project.
Price: Budget will be at the forefront of any hiring decision. Decide whether you want to hear about rate per word, article, or hour. Per word or article are more difficult to gauge for the freelancer, but easier for you to keep tabs on.
As you’re going through the hiring process, make sure you’re following best practices for attracting and retaining top talent. The last thing you want is to find the right person for the job and have them reject your offer.
Where to find the best writers
So now you know all about what to look out for. But where exactly do you find these talented individuals? Well, there is a sea of options to explore. Our advice is to try a couple from the list below and go from there.
Popular freelancer job boards: Contrary to what some may think, you can find a ton of great gig workers on platforms like Fiverr, Upwork, and Freelancer. There are also dedicated boards for writers, such as ProBlogger and Paid to Blog Jobs. Bear in mind that you’ll also find some poor writers on job boards too, so vet candidates carefully.
Other talent sites: There are also a plethora of other talent agencies/job sites that could connect you with the right people. Sites like AngelList and LinkedIn are particularly good options if you’re looking to fill long-term or even full-time positions.
Writing agencies: If you’d rather not have to deal with writers themselves, you can let an agency be the middle-man. You may pay a bit of a premium, but you can typically be certain of high quality deliverables. Prose and Scripted are just a couple of the options out there.
Referrals: As someone in business, you no doubt have a network of people you can reach out to. Find out if anyone’s had a great experience with a writer in the past and get their deets.
Professional writing groups: You might also find the cream of the crop in professional writing groups like the Freelance Writers Den. This particular group is coached by established writer, Carol Tice. Writers from “The Den” come with her highly regarded stamp of approval.
Social media: Many freelancers take to social media sites, especially LinkedIn and Facebook to promote their talents. A simple search could find you exactly who you’ve been looking for. In fact, the same goes for a Google search, especially if you’re looking for a niche writer.
Other content: Have you come across some content you love? Many articles and newsletters include author bios, often with links to their portfolio or website. If you find awesome copy on a website, try contacting the owner to find out who wrote it.
The way you approach finding a freelance writer will depend largely on your needs and budget. However, if you know how and where to find the right ones, you’ll be able to ensure your money is well spent!
Do you have any tips for finding top writers? Let us know in the comments box below!
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