One of our local employers was on the front page of the Monadnock Ledger last week regarding a $400,000 settlement with OSHA for worker safety violations. Ouch! They not only have to pay the fines, but they also must take corrective actions & improve the safety of their workplaces for all of their employees. They have agreed to get a full time safety &...
How to Chose a Freelance Writer
Submitted by TWP on Sun 11/21/10 8:23 am
Recently I talked to a company owner about hiring TWP for his writing project, and he asked, "Don't you want to work with me?" I certainly did; but I wanted to make sure that my services fit his needs. How can you tell if a freelance writer is the right fit for you?
First, look at the writer's portfolio. Every writer should have an online portfolio but feel free to request additional samples. If you don't like a writer's style in other projects, it's unlikely that it will change to something you do like during your project.
Second, ask if the writer has worked in your field or a similar field. At this point in my career, I've written for every sort of business from organic farming to process control simulation and from local retail to international sales. My specialty is marketing for technical and industrial companies. But the cross-over of knowledge is invaluable; for example, from real estate to construction and from B2C to B2B. So don't automatically dismiss a freelance writer who lacks experience in your exact product or service. Just make sure the writer understands your general field.
Third, make sure the writer has a process. Will you receive a proposal or confirmation email? How will the writer get background material? How involved will you be? How many reviews will you be allowed? How open is the writer to criticism? How will you judge when the project is finished?
Fourth, ask around. If a writer has a reputation for on-time delivery, understanding a customer's needs, capturing a customer's marketing message, flexibility and honesty, you'll hear about it. Some freelancers are actually looking for connections to full-time jobs. That's great for the company who ultimately hires them but not for you, left with your project half-finished. Make sure the writer you work with is dedicated to freelancing.
Why do people hire a freelance writer? That's a subject for my next post. In the meantime, let me know if this post was helpful in your search for the right freelance marketing writer.