Hiring The Outsourcing Services Of Copy And Content Writing Experts

Copywriters that you find in the phone book generally charge high hourly rates and that may suit you if you have a very specific task that you want to be just perfect. There are however many hundreds of talented writers and recent graduates overseas who make their living writing content from contracts they have won online. These skilled outsourcing service providers bid for writing projects based on what you want to pay.
Also, unless you are a large corporation that requires a constant feed of copy or content for your various marketing and PR functions, engaging a writer on a per project basis makes much more sense for two main reasons:
Financial: Work is completed for a set fee, no extras involved as with full-time staff
Expertise: No single writer is an expert in all things. When content and copy writing is outsourced on a project by project basis you have the opportunity to find someone who is both a competent writer and has firsthand knowledge in the subject matter. Content pieces, particularly, will be more believable and have that extra edge that may be missing from a piece written by someone who did a quick chunk of research but has no real affinity with the subject. In fact, even large corporations may be better off using outsourcing services, rather than hiring a writer, for this reason.
Finding a Freelance Writer
As with Graphic Designers, freelance writers can be found online through many avenues. Many freelance writers are now using freelance sites to find work and advertise their outsourcing services. Projects listed include copy and content writing for:
Newsletters
Advertising
Brochures
Catalogues
Blogs
Web sites
Information packs
Booklets
Articles
Other marketing and promotional materials
Planning Your Writing Project
When it comes to specifying your outsourcing service requirements, no writer is a mind reader so you need to ensure you have a specific idea of what you are waiting for your project. Clarity is the key and includes outlining:
Specific angles you want highlighted
Style of writing you think will suit you and your client’s best.
Limits of your content- what do you want to focus on and how broadly.
Length
Language type- do you want it to be formal, informal, fun?
Target audience
Writing up draft specifications for your project before you begin to advertise is important.
Your specs do not have to be perfect, but they should be comprehensive enough that you get responses from qualified outsourcing service providers that know enough to ask you clarifying questions.
Payment
It is also important, as part of the planning process, to consider what and how you will pay for the writing.
Flat fee: based on a minimum word count of the finished project (rather than any drafts that are done prior to your final acceptance.) This type of pay usually works well for both parties
Rate per word: professional freelance writers can prefer this. The majority of magazine and newspaper manuscripts are paid for with rate per word. In your specifications you would include a word count range for the finished project, (a minimum and maximum amount of words) and an agreed rate per word: $0.40 per word, for example. The rate depends on the type of content or copy you require and how long it will take the writer to complete. Magazine articles, newsletters and print materials for example often demand a higher rate than SEO articles as they take longer to write.
Regardless of which payment type you select keep in mind you generally get what you pay for. Offering a rate of $0.10 per word or more will be more likely to attract writers who take their craft seriously.
Paying a fair rate for your outsourcing services is one factor that will influence the quality of your final piece, but time is also another important factor. Even the best writers (perhaps especially the best writers) need time to write. A rushed piece is never a good piece, so do not expect top quality if you need a job done at the last minute.
Plan your writing projects with plenty of time to spare- keeping in mind the process of selecting a writer and discussing specifications and allow your writer space to do their thing. Even a short piece takes time to craft well. For many outsourcing services, advertising two weeks before a project of a thousand words is due is a good guide for thinking about time-lines for writing projects. This also allows time for rewrites if you need anything adjusted.