Find the perfect writer for your online content!

So now that you are ready to get your blog or website going, you realize that is not going to be the hardest part. You need content. While you might be able to contribute a good portion of the content yourself, writing might not be your thing or you just do not have the time for it. 

This is when you decide to hire a writer, a freelancer that will write content for you at an agreed upon fee. There are a couple of things you need to take into consideration before you get started. First of all is your budget. How much are you willing to pay? Keep in mind, like anything else, the higher quality you look for, the more you will have to pay.

The second thing you want to do is narrow down what you want your writer to write about. What kind of style are you looking for – formal or informal? Does the writer need to have specific knowledge in a particular area? For example, with some categories like marketing, finance, and economy, you might need someone with some knowledge or experience in such areas. If not, you will likely need someone with excellent research skills. 

This is where freelance services come in handy. These are websites that connect freelancers with employers. A few of the most popular and well established are oDesk, Elance, and Guru. These sites are useful resources for tracking down good writers and where thousands of freelance writers are registered. As mentioned earlier, prices vary and depend on the experience of the writer and quality they are capable of providing.

The process is relatively quick and easy. To start the process of hiring freelance writers, you usually sign up to a freelance site by registering, creating a profile, and providing payment method details. Some of these sites, like oDesk and Elance, ask you to take a “readiness test” before you get started, which is simply a few questions to make sure you understand the basics of how the site works. Once you have completed registration, you are ready to search for writers who meet your criteria.

Before you hire, on most freelance sites, you can request that potential writers send you samples of their writing first to ensure that you are getting what you pay for and that they meet your standards. Most writers have ratings and completed skills tests. Eventually, as an employer, you will build a good (or bad) reputation, which in turn will help in attracting suitable candidates. In some cases, you may find a writer that fulfills all your requirements and work with them on an ongoing basis!