At a Loss for Words? Get to Hiring a Writer

So you launched that killer web site or blog for your business and woke up this morning in a cold sweat. Where are you going to find all the great copy needed to populate that site? After a couple of days of begging for volunteers or trying your hand at it yourself you come to the only sane conclusion anyone trying to run a successful business can: it’s time to get busy hiring a writer.

Basic Considerations

The greatest mistake made in choosing web content writers is forgetting to answer the most basic question. Can this person write? Obviously, a firm grasp of the English language is a beginning point but good writing goes far beyond a large vocabulary and good grammar. As in any other medium, content writing is about telling a story. The writer you hire must be able to present information about your company or organization that communicates both who you are and what you do. Trust me – it’s an art form.

Another factor is the writer’s ability to do research in a timely and comprehensive manner. The key to an effective internet presence is fresh and reliable content. Fair writers fill space, good writers write interesting content, but great writers create a constant flow or return traffic to your site. Content writers who consistently introduce relevant information, quality links to external sources, and difficult to find information make all the difference in a dead-end site and a must-read site.

A final basic consideration that is often overlooked is evaluation. Fine restaurants often call staff meetings where everyone on the wait-staff tastes new creations and evaluates their place on the menu. Someone needs to read the content going out on your site! Periodic spot checks should be made of articles submitted for good grammar, spelling, and accuracy.

How to Pay?

Determining the most effective way to determine compensation for the work done can often be daunting. The most familiar method of compensation (pay-per-hour) is undoubtedly the least cost and quality effective. Because it is impossible to know how much time a freelance writer actually spent on a project this method only leads to frustration. Unless you enjoy conflict avoid this method. With that aside, two methods of payment remain that make sense both on your side and that of the writer.

Per Word – This is a good method but your need to beware of its inherent problems. A writer can charge anywhere from $.01 to over a dollar per word. That means a 500 word article could range from $5.00 to $500.00. And the high end price doesn’t mean you get an article 500 times better than the low range writer. Generally speaking, somewhere in the mid-range of prices quoted is the best place to start in finding a good writer.

Per Page – Many find this is the most satisfying arrangement for both business and writer. Both sides know how much money is involved up-front. Be sure and include in your per-page agreement a provision for the writer to make needed revisions at no extra charge.

Remembering these basics should help your already great site remain that way.