Have you started a new blog full of hope and expectation, only to find that keeping up with it is a nightmare? Perhaps it's time to look into recruiting a freelance copywriter for hire to do the work for you. Realising you need help from a pro is a big step, but to find the best writer you will need to do some work. Simply asking "Who can write my website for me?" is only the beginning. After all, it's the reputation of your brand that's at stake so you need to make the right decisions.

To help you with this, here are 5 important steps to find the best writer for your blog.

1. Identify important brand characteristics like tone of voice

If a writer is going to get the best out of your blog, they need to be able to create on-brand content. If you haven't developed a firm grasp of it, how will you be able to get your copywriter to understand it?
You need to identify things like:
  • Your brand's values
  • Its goals and the way it communicates with customers
  • Who your core audience is and what motivates them
Only by developing a strong understanding of these things can you ensure the copywriter you hire does their best work. You will also find that knowing your own brand and audience helps in other areas of business. Use this brand identity to craft briefs for your writer. Consider creating a house style guide.
You may find it helpful to interview candidates over the phone or in person. These interactions give you a real feel for the copywriter to help you decide whether they are a good fit. If you want a rough guide on what questions to ask, consider this article. As it points out:
Any skilled freelance copywriter can "adapt their tone" to fit the brand they are writing for. With your content style guide already prepared, you can look out for key words in their answers.

2. What does 'find the best writer' mean for your blog

Everyone wants the perfect writer for their blog. But the definition of 'perfect' is not the same for everyone.
Take some time to note down the essentials and desirables for your prospective blog writer. Do you need them to have specific experience of a particular industry? Perhaps they need to have expert knowledge of your niche? Or is the excellent communication the only important characteristic?
If your business operates in a technical sector, you may feel you need to find a writer with specialist knowledge for your blog. However, a person with that kind of expertise may not be the best at blogging. That's because blog writers can write in a more engaging, conversational tone that technical writing lacks.
Technical writing is straight-to-the-point and rigid. This is not always the most interesting or engaging copy to read. The researcher will want facts and statistics to back up the information in your posts, but they also need an explanation. Mere facts are not enough for the average reader.

3. Do you need an in-house writer, a freelancer or an agency?

Every arrangement has its pros and cons. It will be down to you to weigh them up and establish which makes the most practical and economic sense.
For instance, you may have a large amount of regular content and marketing needs. To have a writer who is fully committed to embodying your brand, an in-house employee would be the most effective. But this means paying a salary, offering holiday time, pension, payroll, etc.
Many business opt for a freelancer instead. This is frequently the first option people look at. If you find a good freelancer to partner with, you can deal with them directly. This ensures the content they create is consistent and you feel satisfied with their service. The challenge is sourcing a good freelancer within your budget and vetting them. In some cases, you will also have to chase up overdue posts. And if your freelancer lets you down, where do you turn?
A content agency like Copify can be a good middle ground (incidentally, I work through Copify and you can place a direct order here). The writers don't need to be vetted because the agency will have done that. Some agencies can also offer additional services, such as:
  • Keyword analysis
  • Proofreading
  • SEO
  • Publishing
  • Social media promotion
One downside is that, with different copywriters producing your content, there may be issues with consistency. For this reason, it's important to provide a detailed brief based on your guidelines.

4. Determine the level of commitment you need

Before you start putting the feelers out for copywriters, identify the level of commitment you need from them. The core question is the number of posts you want per week and the amount of research they will require.
This guide from HubSpot suggests that smaller businesses find success blogging from one to four times per week. Larger companies, on the other hand, post daily - sometimes even multiple posts per day.
The key to success is regularity, but don't forget that writers are human beings. They need breaks and they need holidays. It's up to you to create a strategy to accommodate this downtime. You could have them work double in the lead-up to their break or you could use the services of a content agency to fill the gap.

5. Create your brief

This is the real nuts-and-bolts of the process. When you've worked out all the previous steps, you need to establish what you will ask your blogger to write. Even if you are willing to pay them to research independently, they need a strong guide to know what to work with.
Your brief should highlight things like:
  • Target word count
  • General topic
  • Preferred layout
  • Keywords/keyphrases
  • Tone of voice
This would form the basis of a rough brief - you can make it as detailed as you wish. If you are struggling to get started, the ProCopywriters Alliance offers brief templates on its resources page.

Ready to find the best writer for your blog?

Recruiting a writer to handle your blog content can be one of the best moves to make your website a success. If you're ready to get started, why not make an enquiry with me and get the ball rolling? I can bring experience and writing expertise to the table with advanced research skills. This makes me versatile and effective.
I'd love to work with you directly, or you can hire me through Copify. This way, you'll enjoy the flexibility of working with a freelancer alongside the safeguards of the content agency.
I look forward to hearing from you!