How to Avoid Problems When Outsourcing Content Writing
Outsourcing content writing is a great way to lighten your workload and get quick access to quality content to fill your content marketing strategy. Unfortunately, there are several problems that can come with outsourcing content creation.
If you don't know who you're outsourcing to you can end up with poorly written copy, plagiarism, and other issues.
In this blog post, we'll talk about how to overcome those issues and find reliable freelancers to work with.
What is Content Outsourcing
When you're outsourcing content writing, you're paying a company or a freelancer to create written content for your website, blog, etc.
This content includes:
Articles
Newsletters
Page copy
You can also outsource video content and graphics creation.
This is especially helpful for smaller businesses that don't have the time or manpower to create all their content by themselves. It's also a great option for marketing agencies that want to outsource some of their projects without the cost and effort involved in hiring a new team member.
When outsourcing content creation, you'll provide the company or freelancer with information like:
Word count
Main keywords
Topic
And more
Once the content is delivered, you can either use it immediately or ask for changes.
Finding a Good Content Writing Service
While sending out work to other people can seem risky at first, there are several easy steps you can take to avoid poorly written copy finding its way into your content marketing campaign.
If You want quality content marketing, pay for it
Websites like Fiverr are famous for offering professional freelancers for $5. This is misleading to say the least.
The reality is that you get what you pay for. A professional freelancer isn’t going to write 1000 words of optimized content for $3-$5. You won’t even get 500 words for that price!
These services are either being offered by beginners who are trying to get noticed on the platform, or by sellers who can’t deliver quality content.
To put it in perspective, Written With Design charges 6-7 cents per word, and that’s still really low when it comes to professional copywriting.
Honestly, the best advice I can give you is to avoid companies and freelancers who sell services for dirt cheap.
By hiring someone who knows their worth, you and your content strategy can usually escape all of the issues we’ve talked about in this blog post.
Avoid lazy content writers
Lazy writers don’t always deliver bad copy. In fact, they can deliver quality work as long as there isn’t too much research involved.
The problem comes when you need a web page or blog post that requires specific, accurate information.
This is especially important if you work in an industry like the medical field (no one wants to get sued).
The easiest way to avoid a lazy freelance writer is to contact them and schedule a meeting. This can be either in person or via zoom.
During the meeting, give the writer a clear description of what you need and the amount of research that the project will require. Give them a solid deadline and then ask if they are still interested in working on the project.
On a freelancing platform, this won't really be an option due to TOS regulations. Instead, you can contact the seller within the platform and have this same conversation via text.
Avoid fake content marketing professionals
As someone who uses freelancing platforms like Fiverr and Legiit (my personal favorite), I want to tell you that it’s easy for content writers to fake being professionals.
Some people think that, because they can edit an image on their phone or write a few paragraphs, they can make an easy buck offering their services online. It’s only after people start ordering from them that they realize that content creation takes more effort than they thought.
These content writers end up delivering bad work and can have a bad attitude when you aren’t satisfied with what they created.
Thankfully, there are three easy ways to avoid fake professionals:
Look at their reviews
Ask for a sample of their previous work
Check to see if they have a website or online portfolio
If someone has a lot of bad reviews it’s an instant red flag. If they can’t provide any examples, that’s also a red flag. Even if someone is a beginner they should be able to create a small sample to help clients see their writing style. The same goes for graphic designers, website designers, and any other type of freelancer you can think of. Just make sure you ask for a sample of PREVIOUS work. Don’t ask freelancers to write a free “test project”, it makes you look sketchy.
You should also check for a website. Now I need to point out that sites like Fiverr don’t let their freelancers add a link to their websites, but they can link their social media accounts. Go to their social media account and check for a link to their website portfolio.
If the website looks good and the samples look good, you probably found someone who's worth hiring when outsourcing blog writing and other projects. If there is no website or the website looks like a five-year-old designed it, proceed with caution. Professionals always have some kind of website to show to potential clients.
If you are looking for content writing services on a freelancing platform like Fiverr, Upwork, or Legiit (my personal favorite) be aware that there are a lot of beginners. As someone who was a beginner at one point, I can tell you that there are some great freelancers out there waiting to be discovered. Sadly there are many beginner freelancers out there that just can’t deliver.
Give clear directions
I can personally testify that there are few things as frustrating as a client who gives poor directions. I once had someone use my services on Legiit.com who only gave me the name of their company and that they were a news organization.
No target audience, no USP (Unique Selling Point), nothing! Thankfully, the project turned out okay, but the buyer could have easily ended up paying for content with incorrect information or that didn’t appeal to their target audience.
By providing all the necessary information you’ll avoid revisions, frustration, and wasted money.
Communicate
This goes hand in hand with giving good directions. Make sure the freelancer or company you’re working with knows they can reach out to you with questions or to clarify project details. This is especially important when working on a large project like a new website.
Every time I create a website for a client I make sure to give them weekly updates. This is a good rule of thumb to use for all large projects and ensures you get what you paid for.
Ask for revisions
If you’ve outsourced a project to someone and it isn’t quite what you wanted, ask for a revision. This usually doesn’t cost you any extra and saves you from having to redo everything yourself.
When you ask for the revision, make a clear list of everything that you want to be changed. You can also provide examples and references for the freelancer or company to look at so they get a better idea of what you want.
Conclusion
Use these tips and your outsourcing experience will improve significantly.
If you really want to make sure that you get quality, SEO-optimized content, contact me. Written With Design has helped companies in a wide variety of industries create beautiful websites and next-level content.
Frequently Asked Questions About Outsourcing
If you still have questions about outsourcing content writing I've gathered some questions and answered them down below. If you're ready to buy content that includes search engine optimization, go ahead and contact me.
Why you should outsource content writing?
You should outsource content writing because it's an easy way to get high-quality content without using up all your free time. An outsourced content writer is also cheaper than a professional marketing agency.
A good content writer will be able to manage content creation, add internal and external links, and help you get more organic traffic.
What does it mean to outsource content?
Content outsourcing means that a company or individual hires someone to write high-quality content for them. During the content outsourcing process, you'll need to provide the company or freelance writers with a basic keyword, desired word count, and any necessary industry knowledge.
Once the content is delivered you can use it to boost organic traffic.
Which company is best for content writing?
Written With Design is the best company for content writing. Written With Design is a smaller copywriting and web design company that you can use when outsourcing content marketing. Small content writing agencies are the best place to get original content and customized service.
Am I biased? Probably. But hey, all my customers say WWD is amazing, so I do have proof.
What are the key problems with outsourcing content?
The main problems that you will face when outsourcing your content creation include cost, lazy work, and the struggle to find an experienced freelance content writer. Freelance platforms have made it easy for anyone to become a copywriter, no matter how terrible their writing is. You usually don't have to worry about that when you hire a professional marketing or content agency, but then you'll have to start worrying about your budget.
Should you outsource content creation?
Yes. If you are trying to run a successful business and create effective content and marketing material, outsourcing is a good idea. This will lighten your workload. Make sure you take into account your budget and the amount of content you need before hiring a company or freelancer to do the work for you. You also need to check reviews left by past clients to make sure you're hiring someone who's skilled and experienced.
How do you outsource content writing?
Here are five steps for outsourcing content writing:
Find a site that hosts freelance writers
Look at the freelancer's reviews
Ask to see past work
Give clear instructions
Hire the freelancer
When you outsource your content writing it will save you a lot of time. If you're a marketing agency, it can also help you take on more work without hiring more employees.
Where can I outsource content writing?
Here are five places to outsource writing projects to a freelance writer:
There are also AI writing tools that can help you write content faster if you still want to do it yourself. Just remember that robots aren't always original, SEO optimized, or correct in the information they put in your content.
How does outsourcing affect quality?
Outsourcing will improve the quality of your own content if you hire a reliable company or freelancer. If you hire a freelance writer who is inexperienced or lazy, the quality will suffer. It's important to look at past work and customer reviews to make sure you're hiring the right person.