Outsource Writing Services With A Plan: The Ultimate Guide To Finding The Best Content Writers

As the saying goes, content is king.  And it will always be that way.

For years, people predicted that video would render written content obsolete.  But the truth of the matter is that text-based content is more important than ever these days.  Writers are needed more than ever—who else is going to come up with those blog posts?

Yes, the ways we consume content will continue to evolve as our attention spans get shorter.  But it is quite difficult to imagine the digital world without written content.

The written word is still by far the most widespread and popular form of content marketing.  A recent survey indicates that 98% of marketers prefer to use written content as part of their marketing strategy.  However, creating good content can be difficult.

To attract and retain your target audiences, you need to create and share relevant content that they care about.  In fact, your customers expect you to provide value through relevant and useful content that will answer their questions and solve their pain points.

Every business needs a content writer.  Do you have one?

But why outsource writing services?

According to a study by the Content Marketing Institute, 84% of business-to-business (B2B) marketers choose to outsource their content creation.  For business-to-consumer (B2C) marketers, 55% of those who took the survey say they outsource content marketing activities.

Why are so many businesses turning to outsourcing to solve their problems?

By outsourcing your content writing to freelancers or agencies, you will be able to:

• Save time.  If you’ve ever ended up frustrated at how difficult writing is, then it’s time to have someone else do it for you.  When you outsource writing services, you can focus on the other aspects of running your business.
• Cut costs.  US-based writers will ask more than what you might be willing to pay for.  By outsourcing, you can get quality articles written for as low as $3 for every 500 words.
• Find a specialist.  If you operate a niche business, you’ll need a writer who’s familiar with your niche.  With the number of freelance writers on the internet, it’s easy to find the writer your business needs.

Content writers will help you scale your business

Content marketing works, and the numbers prove it:

• Content marketing costs 62% less than traditional marketing.  It’s also more effective because it can generate three times as many leads.
• 60% of marketers create at least one piece of content daily.  One case study, a one-month-old blog, showed a 272% increase in website traffic despite not having a marketing budget—all because they were creating effective content.
• 78% of consumers believe that businesses producing custom content are interested in building good relationships.  “Custom content” is content written specifically for an existing audience.  It nurtures the relationship the blog already established with readers.

Writers are the backbone of your marketing success.  A single writer can produce everything you need in your content marketing plan.  However, if you have a lot of content that needs to be written, you may have to hire multiple writers and have them perform different tasks.

Content planning and curation

Content managers are responsible for developing content plans that align with the business’s long-term and short-term marketing targets.

Specifically, they:

• Collaborate with web and graphic designers to ensure that site content, design, and layout are on-brand
• Edit and proofread written content
• Make sure content is optimized for SEO
• Manage content distribution on social media channels

Aside from managing a team of content creators, content managers also produce content themselves.

Content writing

Each writer has a different writing style.  Often, this is why businesses outsource writing services to a team instead of an individual.

Julia Spence, one of the Top 30 Content Marketers for 2016, described it this way: “Ask 10 different content writers what they do during the day, and you’ll most likely get 10 different answers.”

Depending on their skill, writers can produce content for website landing pages, blog posts, academic research, white papers, legal documents, and video and podcast scripts.

When looking for a writer, it’s important to understand your business needs.  Not all writers are capable of producing good video scripts or are qualified to prepare legal documents.  You can always train them, but it’s still in your best interest to hire a writer who already has experience producing the kind of output you need.

Nonetheless, there are specific requirements all writers should satisfy before you hire them.

Spotting a good content writer

In reality, content writing is more than just writing. When looking to outsource writing services, make sure that the person you hire has the following:

• Respect for deadlines.  There are hundreds of excellent writers on the internet.  Don’t settle for someone who doesn’t know how to submit articles on time.
• A solid grasp of grammar and style.  It’s impossible to write a perfect first draft; proofreading is always necessary.  However, you don’t want to hire a writer whose writing needs extensive editing.  Otherwise, you may have to hire another person to proofread your writer’s work.
• Excellent research skills.  If you’re in a highly specialized field like medicine or finance, it’s not realistic to expect a writer to be as well-versed as you are in the subject.  Hire a writer that can research, understand, dissect, and then write about your business.
• Creativity.  Sometimes, fitting keywords into an article can be challenging.  You’ll want a writer who can find a way to make it work.  They should also be able to write in the style your brand needs.  For instance, if you want humorous blog posts, make sure you hire a writer with a good sense of humor.
• SEO and HTML knowledge.  While SEO knowledge can and should be taught, it’s always an advantage to have a writer who is already familiar with SEO rules and basic HTML formatting.

These are just basic requirements.  Some writers have other marketable skills, such as graphic design, coding, and/or social media management.  These writers may charge a little more than others, but if you can use these skills to grow your business, then they’re definitely worth the investment.

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Where to outsource writing services

Here’s a tip: outsourcing to a different country is the most cost-efficient approach to hiring a writer.  For one thing, US-based writers charge as much as $49,000 annually.  That can be a lot for a small-to-medium-scale business.  Did you know that a content writer from the Philippines will only cost you around $5,700 a year?

But why the Philippines?  Of the countries known for producing virtual workers, the Philippines is the best destination to outsource writing services due to its 96.3% literacy rate and 63.73% English-speaking population.

Compared to Indians and Malaysians (their main competitors), Filipinos have better working relationships with American employers because their culture is highly Westernized—the average Filipino probably spends more time watching Netflix than you do.

Filipinos also pride themselves on being honest, hardworking, and compassionate, making them excellent employees.

Where to find content writers

1. From your own network

One way to find a content writer is to ask around.  If you have friends who run their own businesses or blogs, ask them for a recommendation.  This is convenient because you’ll have immediate access to the writer’s contact details and sample works—plus an objective description of how good of an employee they are.

And even if the recommended writer is unable to work for you, they will likely have a couple of fellow writers they can vouch for.

2. From Onlinejobs.ph

Onlinejobs.ph is one of the best sites to outsource writing services.  It is an online job board exclusive to Filipino job-seekers.  You can browse resumes, post job ads, or even get Onlinejobs.ph to find you a writer.

Unlike other platforms, Onlinejobs.ph doesn’t take cuts from employee salaries.  You’ll only need to pay a subscription of $69 a month, which you can cancel anytime.  It’s almost like a one-time fee since you’ll likely find a writer in less than a month.

Note: The OnlineJobs.ph link above is an affiliate link.  This means that if you make a purchase through that link I will get a small percentage of your $69.  It is the same price whether you use my link or go directly to onlinejobs.ph.

Hopefully, we have provided some awesome value to you on this website.  Your purchases through these links are what keeps Awesome Outsourcing funded, but you’re not at all required to use them.  I can tell you that I have personally tried all the options out there, and I continue to use Onlinejob.ph for all my outsourcing.  They are simply the best in the field and light years ahead of other outsourcing services/options in the Philippines.

Also, using our link is by far the best way to say “Thanks!” for all of the free training, and ensure Awesome Outsourcing stays 100% free and up-to-date.  Without your purchases through these links, Awesome Outsourcing may not be able to continue (seriously). I’m so grateful for all of your support, should you decide to buy through my affiliate link.  However, if for some reason you are not comfortable with this you can always go directly to Onlinejobs.ph.

Thank you!  You’re what makes Awesome Outsourcing possible.

How to outsource writing services

Here’s our step-by-step guide to recruiting a content writer—and getting them to enjoy their stay with you.

1. Post a job ad

Create an account with Onlinejobs.ph, pay for the subscription, then compose a detailed job ad.

Make sure it has the following details:

• Job title – the title of the position.
• Salary (or salary range) – the maximum amount a job applicant can make for the position.  This is often negotiable.
• Work hours – the number of hours expected for the position; can be part-time (4 hrs/day), full-time (8 hrs/day), or freelance.  Include what time you need them to work (e.g., 9 AM to 5 PM EST time)
• Job description – a short and clear explanation of what the position is about.
• Responsibilities – a list of tasks expected of the employee.
• Skills and qualifications – minimum skills (writing, graphic design, Microsoft Office proficiency, etc.) and qualifications (college graduate, 4 years of project management experience, etc.) required for the position.
• Requirements – documents you’ll want from each candidate (e.g., resume and/or curriculum vitae, sample works, a set of questions you want them to answer, etc.)
• Sample works – a writing portfolio or a list of published works that showcase their writing abilities.
• Benefits, if any – specify benefits included, if any (paid sick leave, paid vacation leave, benefits, etc.)

We also recommend that you include an instruction like “Put GINGER in the subject line of your cover letter.”  This is a simple test that will show you who read and didn’t read your job ad.

2. Screen Job Applicants

You’ll likely have a full inbox within a day of posting your job ad, but it’s easier if you follow our GINGER suggestion.  Simply disregard the emails without GINGER in the subject line.  After that, go through the cover letters, and make sure to review their sample works.

Make a shortlist of about 3-5 applicants that you want to interview.

Additionally, you may want to give them a paid writing test.  Ask them to produce an article using a keyword you’ll provide, and have them use your blog’s writing style.  This will let you see who works best under pressure and whose writing style fits best with your brand.

We also recommend that you ask for professional references, so you can get an objective report of what the applicant is like as an employee.

Finally, schedule an interview with your chosen applicants.

3. Train them for SEO

Now that you have a writer, make sure you set aside a few days for training unless they can prove that they have extensive knowledge of SEO.  While Filipinos are highly-skilled writers and fast learners, there is very little SEO training available in their country.  It’s in your best interest to ensure that they are up to speed with SEO basics and updated on the latest techniques.

4. Be clear about what you want

Some business owners will say, “Write an 800-word article about internet marketing.” and then leave it at that.  Remember, vague instructions will result in poorly-written articles.

Here’s an example of a detailed article request:

5. Be realistic.

The most important thing to remember when employing writers is not to burn them out.  Writing is a very tiring task in itself, and it comes with a lot of researching, editing, and SEO optimization.  Don’t expect your writer to produce three 1,500-word articles a day.  Otherwise, you may have to hire a new writer every month because they keep on leaving.

Agree on a realistic number of articles.  That way, they can pace themselves accordingly, and you can hold them accountable for their performance.

Content writing for business growth and success

Now that you’re on your way to hiring a content writer, what comes next?

Well, some business websites have a “Press” or “Media” landing page; it’s where they post articles about their successful ventures.  You may want to consider having one, too.

In the meantime, keep visiting Awesome Outsourcing for more outsourcing tips, tricks, and guides.  Think we missed an important tip for outsourcing content writing?  Share in the comments below!

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