Every business relies on good written communication, from the marketing copy that attracts a customer to the instructions for putting together a product—which is why it’s important to have an excellent writer. For many small businesses, hiring a freelance writer can save you time and money while ensuring you get high-quality written content.
Continue reading to find out how to hire a freelance writer—from finding and selecting the right one for your business to how much to pay them—as well as why hiring one can be a good option.
Step 1: Determine the Type of Freelancer Writer Needed
Freelance writers are usually excellent communicators with strong interests in specific fields or styles of writing. Some have practical experience in a technical field. Others are generalists who are good at researching and adapting to the style needed by the format and the company.
To determine the type of freelance writer you need, consider the content they will be working on. Here are a few of the most common types of content freelancers write.
Companies may need a freelance blog and SEO writer to reach new audiences, increase organic traffic, and keep them ahead of the competition. These writers make sure content for your blogs and web pages is search engine optimized and includes target keywords to reach your desired audience.
Freelance writers can be better than in-house writers, as they bring fresh ideas and different perspectives to the table. If your project is focused on a specific area, look for a freelance writer with knowledge and experience in that field.
Your website content needs to be regularly updated with fresh, relevant content for your clients and customers, something a freelance writer can provide quickly and effectively. Using a freelance writer for this type of project gives you access to different creative perspectives vs using someone in-house. Although experience and one’s specialty can help in writing website content, it isn’t as essential a requirement as with other types of writing.
Depending on your industry, you may engage freelance writers for articles. If you run a publication, you may seek freelance writers for articles to fill space. Specialty, in this case, does matter. You want someone with expertise in the subject matter of the article you need written. Writers in the field will be able to create unique, well-sourced, informative articles that resonate with your target audience.
A white paper is an authoritative report or guide that informs and persuades readers using facts and well-sourced arguments. Companies often outsource white papers to freelance writers because they can provide more specialized knowledge of the subject matter.
Specialty matters when writing a white paper, both for the experience of crafting a well-written white paper and in the subject matter. When looking for the right freelance writer for your white paper needs, seek out someone with experience in writing white papers first, then focus on the subject matter.
Marketing copy is writing designed to promote a product or service and may include sales letters, brochures, press releases, and ads. Companies often hire a B2B freelance writer for expertise in these types of persuasive writing, especially those in a particular industry.
Technical writing focuses on complex topics and requires precise language to convey information. This type of writing includes creating user manuals, operating instructions, product specifications, medical texts, and engineering reports. Freelance writers must have experience in this type of writing for them to be successful for your needs.
Educational materials come in many forms and include textbooks, online courses, worksheets, lesson plans, and interactive activities. While prior experience writing educational content is important, it isn’t as crucial as a writer’s prior experience with the subject matter, so make sure you’re looking for a writer who meets your subject matter requirements before moving forward.
Companies often seek freelance writers for fiction when they want to create imaginative, narrative stories that capture the reader’s attention. Not all freelance writers can effectively write fiction, so you’ll want to hire a freelance creative writer with experience in this type of writing. These writers will be able to create vivid, engaging characters with compelling plots that can serve your reader’s needs.
Specialized writing comes in many forms and may include long-form, grants, speeches, policy documents, and regulatory materials. This type of writing is unique, so you’ll want to seek out a freelance writer with specific experience in the type of specialized writing you’re looking for.
Step 2: Find Freelance Writer Candidates
Finding a freelance writer is similar to finding an employee. The only difference is that a freelance writer is a 1099 contractor who may be paid by the hour or by project. Since freelance writers are niche specialists, knowing where to find them will determine your success. Here are the most common ways.
Job Boards
In addition to the best job posting sites where you can find both freelance workers and employees, consider looking at gig-based job apps or websites to hire freelancers. Both of which may be a better place to help you find freelancers. Many allow you to post jobs for vetted freelancers to bid on. Some even provide an escrow account and dispute resolution process for extra protection when hiring.
Below are our top recommendations:
- Upwork: One of the largest freelance databases where you can post jobs for free and has built-in tracking tools. Read our Upwork review for more.
- Freelancer.com: A popular freelance job board that allows you to post free job ads and contests. To learn more, check out our Freelancer.com review.
- Fiverr: A gig job board that specializes in quick, inexpensive projects. Find out if it’s right for you with our Fiverr review.
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Social Media
Sites like LinkedIn and Facebook can be good places to find freelance writers. Although LinkedIn is more geared toward salaried professionals, you can still find freelance writers and post your job on its job board for free. Plus, you can add skills assessments that are required at the time of application that can help you see if the freelancer has the skills you are looking for. Learn more about how to post a job on LinkedIn in our guide.
Facebook is geared toward friends and family and no longer has its Facebook Jobs board; however, you can still find freelancers on the platform. Start by looking for writing groups where you can interact with writers and post about your open positions. You can also post a link to your job on your personal or business profile. Visit our how to post a job on Facebook feature to learn other ways to attract freelancers.
Although LinkedIn and Facebook are the most popular social media sites for finding freelance writers, there are other avenues. You can showcase your company and open positions on Instagram and TikTok, Additionally, there are Slack groups you can join that are dedicated to freelance writers where you can ask for writer recommendations or post jobs directly.
Professional Writing Organizations
There are professional writing organizations where you can find almost any type of writer. Some are general writer’s organizations and others are specialized by industry or profession. A search for writer’s associations will bring up thousands of opportunities. Below are a few we’ve highlighted:
- American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA): Allows you to search through their database of members to find a writer that fits your project.
- Authors Guild: Offers a Writers Market where you can search for members of the guild using categories for the type of project you need.
- American Medical Writers Association: This association caters to medical writers and has a freelance directory.
- Association of Writers & Writing Programs (AWP): Allows you to post jobs for free on their job list, where thousands of writers can view your open positions.
- Poets & Writers: Print and online magazine where you can post a job for free to reach an applicant pool of educated and serious writers.
Referrals & Recommendations
Ask your employees, friends, and even other writers to recommend a writer who may be perfect for the role. This works much the same as employee referrals—although it likely doesn’t come with a monetary bonus for hire.
Just because a professional writer may recommend another writer, doesn’t mean you should hire without research. Be sure to get a resume and review samples of the individual’s work.
Step 3: Select the Right Freelance Writer
When you have your candidates, you’re ready for the contracting process. It’s not unlike hiring a regular employee, but remember that the emphasis is on their skill and ability to meet a deadline as well as professionalism when contacting others in the process of completing the work. Take the following actions to help you select the best freelance writer for your needs.
- Evaluate experience: In the case of freelance writing, experience often means more than education. The exception is for highly technical writing or when hiring someone fresh out of school. Some writers do not have journalism or creative writing degrees. As with many types of work, most freelance writers develop their skills through actual writing, year after year.
- Tailor the interview: Questions to ask during a freelance writer interview include what industries they specialize in, whether they have experience in the specific type of writing you need, and what writing they do most—and enjoy most. Also, ask about their research experience and capabilities, and whether they can or have interviewed experts when researching an article, if that’s important for the work you need done.
- Request samples: These may be already written, or you may want to have the author provide a sample of the kind of writing you are looking for, especially if you plan to keep them for regular work or have a highly technical piece. Keep these tests small if you’re not accepting something they’ve already written. Also, be aware that some writers may be prohibited from disclosing some of their other clients or the work they’ve done for those clients.
- Contact references: Unless you are hiring for regular work, references may come in the form of published articles rather than contacts. However, with contacts, give priority to editors or those who hired the candidate for similar work.
Step 4: Decide on Compensation
Many factors go into determining rates for freelance writers. It is a good idea to ask the freelancer what their rate is during the interview stage. This will ensure you are both in the same ballpark. You can also put a compensation range on your job postings—and we recommend that you do. That way, the freelancer knows upfront what is expected in terms of pay.
If you are paying your freelancer by the hour, the rate will depend on the skill and expertise of the freelancer. The average hourly pay for non-specialized writers, or those just starting out, is about $25 to $35. Highly skilled freelancers, on the other hand, would earn much more, likely in the range of $40 to $65 per hour. If you need a writer with specialized experience, unique knowledge, or many years of freelance writing experience, expect to pay well above these averages.
Freelance writers, however, do not always work by the hour. More often, you may pay by the project, article, or word. There is no set price per word, but an average rate is generally considered to be around 20 cents per word (at a range between $0.01 and $0.50). The more technical or involved the project, the more you should expect to pay. For those writers that work by the project, you will pay them one set amount for the total project.
Why Hire Freelance Writers
Freelance writers can work by project, for the long term, or be held in reserve for specific needs. They offer many advantages over a full-time writing employee or handing writing assignments to existing employees.
- Infrequent needs: Hiring a freelance writer for occasional projects can be cheaper than hiring a part-time employee and may result in a higher-quality product than simply assigning it to someone in the office. You may pay more per hour or piece, but you’re only paying them when you need content created, not all the time like with a regular employee. Don’t worry about having to provide full-time work for a writer—freelance writers generally work with multiple clients, and many believe having a diverse portfolio of clients results in better job security (and more interesting work).
- Save on taxes: Freelancers are contract workers, meaning you don’t need to worry about taxes, benefits, or Social Security.
- Not enough work for an employee; too much time to DIY: When you hire a freelancer, you set the assignment, standards, and deadlines, and let them do the work. However, you should provide time for questions and provide in-house materials if needed.
- You don’t have the skills to do it yourself: Freelance writers have skills and experience with the written word as well as a natural disposition for grammar and storytelling.
- Easy to hire remote workers: Freelance writing is a no-brainer for remote work. Usually, all they need is a computer and the internet.
Hire Freelance Writer Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
It can vary wildly, as many factors go into the cost of hiring a freelance writer. First, you should determine whether to pay hourly or by project. You will incur that cost depending on the freelancer’s rate and your budget. Additionally, freelance job boards will typically charge you a percentage of the hourly/project rate (5% is average).
Most professional writers are wary of writing for exposure—meaning getting their name published with a piece in lieu of payment. Generally, only beginners or someone truly dedicated to your project (such as for a charity) are willing to write for bylines only. Pay your writers as you would any employee.
Freelance writers can be paid in a number of ways—direct deposit, paper check, PayPal, wire transfer, and more. Depending on the payment services you provide, you can ask the freelancer how they would like to be paid. The only thing you do not want to do is put a freelancer on your regular payroll, as that may then classify them as an employee.
Bottom Line
Partnering with a freelance writer, whether by project or for regular assignments, is a cost-effective way to make sure you get high-quality content. Freelance writers are a different kind of worker, and your contracting process should take that into consideration. When considering how to hire a freelance writer, think about experience over education, look at samples over references, and be sure you have a contract that specifies rights and deadlines as well as projects and pay rates.
Companies today use social media to help sell their products and services in almost every industry. With a strong social media presence, you can engage your customer base and even find potential employees.
Using a freelance writer for your social media content will help you produce fresh and relevant content for your audience. Make sure you choose someone experienced in social media—preferably someone experienced in your industry, as they can help shape your brand and purpose to create content that best reflects your message.