10 Questions You Should Ask When Hiring a Freelance Writer
Most businesses and also a lot of solo entrepreneurs hire freelance writers at some point. Whether it's copywriting, blog posts, articles, technical manuals, or emails, there is a lot of writing that needs to be done and not always enough time to write. Enter the freelance writer.
Freelance writers are people whose expertise is writing. They can be generalists or specialists in a variety of different topics or genres. I personally specialize in health writing, mental and physical, and my clients often hire me because I have such a strong background in health, science, and writing for this focus area. Other writers are more generalists and write about anything and everything. They may do a lot of research for there writing, but are not necessarily experts in any one area.
Before hiring a writer, however, there are several questions you should ask of yourself and the writers you interview before making your final decision. You'll want to find a writer who fits with you and understands your vision.
Here is a list of questions that I recommend asking yourself and writers before hiring.
What style of writing am I looking for?
If you're new to hiring freelance writers, you should know that there are many different styles of writing, even in the same genre. Some writer's styles may resonate with you and others may not. Your audience may also require a certain style as well, so always consider you audience, their tastes, and the type of language that they can relate to. For example, I'm more of a journalistic writer, so my writing is very honest and I try to keep a feeling of being very raw, real, and open in my writing. I've gotten a lot of great comments on my style and most people like it; however, I understand that it's not for everyone. When shopping for a writer, ask for some of their writing samples to see if you like their style.
What are the qualifications of this writer?
This is an important question to ask the writers that you are interviewing. If you are looking for a fitness writer and the writer you are interviewing doesn't have any fitness experience or knowledge, they might not be the best choice. An exception would be if that writer is a very skilled and experienced generalist, who excels at doing research on various topics and can do it quickly. The best approach is to seek out an expert or specialist. They can write the most quickly about your topic and also will understand your audience the best. Are degrees necessary? It depends. If you want someone to write fashion or beauty, a degree is not usually required. If you need someone to write your health or medical book, then you might seek out someone who has a strong background in both writing and in health or science. Part of the reason for why my clients enjoy working with me is that I have a background in health and psychology, which means that I can write about medical, health, fitness, mental health, etc. well because I know the terminology and understand the audience.
What will it cost?
I strongly suggest that you take this one into consideration. Most people will gravitate towards trying to save money and hire the cheapest writer. However, you need to consider the level of quality that you will get from hiring a cheap writer. Cheap writers are usually overworked, overbooked, over-stressed, and will not be able to focus as intensively on your piece. Hire a writer who is too expensive and you will waste all of your budget. The sweet spot is to hire someone who is a mix of skill and value. Most professional writers charge between 10 cents and $1 per word.
How quickly does the writer work?
If you have a deadline, you will want to check with the writer to see how quickly they can work on your project. You will want to confirm this as early in the process as possible so that you both know what you will be working with. Be prepared to pay extra for rush projects.
How much writing do I need?
Before talking to the writer you should have a general ideas of what you need accomplished. Writing rates are not one sized fits all, and the writer will need to know how much work will be required before giving you a quote. This means you need to ask yourself how many pages, how many words, what kind of a project it will be (for example, an eBook has less pages than a full length book)?
Does the writer's personality fit with mine and does he or she understand my vision?
You will want to have chemistry with your writer and must be able to communicate well with each other. Select a writer that you respect and whom you connect with on a personal and professional level. This will minimize any potential conflicts.
What kinds of reviews do they have?
Good, established writers will have good reviews online. Don't hire anyone who does not have good reviews or who does not have reviews in general. Do a quick internet search and also ask the writer for links to their social profiles as well as other freelance writing sites where you can see reviews and comments on the writer. You can also search for their other blogs and see what people are saying in the comments. Be reasonable, however. Just because there is one or two nasty comments doesn't necessarily mean anything. Writers are business owners and there are always customers who no matter how hard you try, you just can't make them happy. But, if the writer has overall good reviews, then they are most likely professional and are high quality writers.
What are the contract terms?
Get everything in writing. Most writers will ask for a contract to protect both of you. Oftentimes, the writer will ask for half the payment upfront. This is fair. It minimizes both of your risks and also gives the writer incentive to complete your project. Also, be sure you read the terms. Many conflicts can be avoided by reading the contract terms in detail. If you agree to no refunds for a down payment and the writer spends time working on your project only for you to ask them for a refund, that is not only inconsiderate - it is also a violation of a contract that you agreed to. Also, be sure the terms are fair to you and negotiate if you don't like the terms. Most writers are willing to discuss a contract revision before signing if your terms are fair for both parties.
How does the writer communicate with clients remotely?
This is a good question to ask because every writer works differently and you will want to establish what their preferred mode of communication to make sure that you both stay in touch throughout the project. You will also need to determine whether their communication methods work for you. I, for instance, work by email and text for the most part. That is the best way for me to communicate and I prefer it because we can communicate asynchronously. That means that I can reply when I can and my clients can reply when they can. I rarely talk to my clients on the phone as I've found this to be unproductive and it just isn't my style....I guess because writing is my natural form of communication of course :) But, if you are someone who needs to talk on the phone every day with your writer, it would be best to select someone who meets that need for you. There is no right or wrong with this one...only what you prefer and how your writer works best.
Am I prepared to pay?
Writing is not easy. It takes a lot of time and effort. If you hire a writer, please please pay them. I've written many pieces and had the client disappear after I sent them the work. This is beyond disrespectful. Writers value their time and also pay their own bills from their writing projects. Working on your project means turning down other projects. So please use common sense and be prepared to pay your writer before you hire them. If you don't have funds, you're not ready to hire. If you have a contract and do not pay, you can also find yourself in court or in danger of copyright infringement if you use a piece the writer creates and you didn't pay for.
