Running a blog for your business can be a powerful marketing tool. But it can also be a time-consuming and challenging endeavour. That's where outsourcing can come in handy and make the process much easier. Imagine being able to focus on running your business while someone else writes blog posts for you. Outsourcing blog posts could be one of the time-savers you've been looking for. It takes the burden off you so that, you can focus on your core business operations.
Start By Defining Your Content Strategy
A strong content strategy is essential for engaging effectively with the audience and achieving specific business objectives. If you understand what you are after, you will have the best outcomes. If you don't know what you are looking for, simply outsourcing blog posts won't give you much benefits. SEO and content marketing is quite simple once you understand it. But it is something that needs your attention strategically, even if you outsource your blog posts.
Identify And Understand Your Target Audience
This involves more than just knowing basic demographic information. It requires a deep dive into the interests, behaviours, and preferences of the people you want to reach. Keyword research is an important process, and writing with SEO in mind is also important. This is because websites with low authority scores just won't be able to rank with high difficulty keywords.
Set Up Proper Content Goals
Once you know who your audience is, the next step is to define what your content aims to achieve. Common content goals include lead generation, brand awareness etc. We can only measure if we know what to measure. For SEO focuse articles, keyword ranking and clicks through the keywords are all viable measurements.
Look for the Right Content Writers
After defining your content strategy, next step is to find writers to start outsourcing blog posts. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you hire the best people for your business:
The goal is to explore different sourcing platforms. The content agencies/individual services are a little different. Then you can assess potential writers based on their expertise and previous work. Here’s a list of places to look for writers.
Freelancing Platforms
Freelance platforms like Upwork and Fiverr are popular choices for finding and hiring content writers. These platforms offer a vast pool of talent from around the world. Besides Upwork and Fiverr, other platforms like Freelancer, Guru, and PeoplePerHour also provide access to a wide range of writing professionals. Each platform has its unique features and may suit different hiring needs.
Content Agencies and Writing Services
For those looking for a more hands-off approach or needing large volumes of content, content agencies and professional writing services can be a great option. These services typically manage the entire content creation process, from writer selection to editing and proofreading.
Content agencies offer end-to-end solutions. They are ideal for businesses that require consistent, high-quality content.
Writing services provide comprehensive content solutions. But keep in mind that, they might operate on a smaller scale. Generally, writing services offer more customized services.
Finding a service or writer who knows your business, your target audience, and your content goals is crucial when you outsource blog posts. You should look into your candidates, read reviews, and compare prices to get the best deal for your small business.
Determine The Budget, Criteria, And Deadlines For Your Project
To ensure that content writing projects are successful and meet your objectives, it's crucial to consider multiple factors when determining the budget, criteria, and deadlines. Here’s a structured approach to setting these elements effectively.
Criteria
Start by defining the scope of the project by considering the following factors:
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the type of content needed (e.g., blogs, white papers, web offer page),
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the depth of research required,
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and the level of expertise needed.
Complex topics or those requiring expert insights may cost more.
Set expectations for the quality of the content. This includes language tone, style, adherence to brand guidelines, and SEO requirements.
Budget
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Research what other professionals are charging for similar projects. This can be done through freelance platforms, industry surveys, or by asking peers.
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Don’t forget to factor in potential additional costs such as revisions, editing, and any overheads.
Deadline
Develop a realistic timeline for the project. Break down the project into phases like research, drafting, editing, and final review.
Announce That You Are Ready To Hire
Make a detailed job posting that lists the requirements for your blog post, the audience you want to reach, and your brand's style. Post this listing on popular freelance platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, and ProBlogger Jobs.
Guidelines on Posting Jobs on Freelancing Platforms
| Platform | Guide |
|---|---|
| Upwork | How to post job on Upwork |
| PeoplePerHour | Posting a Project on PeoplePerHour |
| Guru.com | How to post a job on Guru |
Evaluate Writers
It's crucial to assess the suitability of writers for a specific project. Ensure that they can meet the project's objectives and maintain the quality of content required.
Find A Writer Who Matches Your Criteria
Every platform provides plenty of options to filter and find out some writer who can deliver just the content you need. For example, on Fiverr you can filter the results by
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Service Options - Search for freelancers with a particular tone or type of content.
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Delivery Time - Helpful for finding freelancers who can deliver the work within a target timeframe.
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Budget - Choose a freelancer who offers to do the work at an affordable rate.
Here are some tailored questions and considerations:
| Questions | Focuses On |
|---|---|
| Can you provide writing samples? | writer’s experience with the content types, whether their writing style aligns with your tone |
| How do you conduct research for a new topic or industry? | writer's research skills |
| Can you describe your process for managing writing projects in as much detail as possible? | How revisions or feedback are handled |
| What writing tools and content management systems do you work with? | the writer’s alignment with your project's workflow |
By asking these targeted questions, you can evaluate a writer's expertise, adaptability, and compatibility with your project's requirements.
Tips on Finding the Right Writer
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Take the time to look over the portfolios and writing bios.
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Find writers who have worked in your field before and whose style fits with your brand. Check out their writing examples to see how good and useful their work is.
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Ask potential writers to submit ideas related to your industry. This will help you judge how smart and creative they are. The finest writers will provide new perspectives and display a thorough mastery of your industry.
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Assign paid trial projects to top candidates: Once you have a short list of candidates, offer them paid trial tasks. Ensure they can follow directions, meet goals, and adapt based on feedback before committing long-term.
Ensure Smooth Progress During The Project
Follow these best practices to make sure that outsourcing blog posts goes smoothly.
- Establish editorial standards and brand voice:
Tell your writers about the rules and guidelines for your brand. This will enable them to develop material that complements your existing blog entries and resonates with your target audience. Create notes on how your writers should create, edit, and make your blog posts great.
- Create a content calendar with due dates:
Write down the ideas, goal keywords, and due dates for each blog post on a content calendar. This will help your writers stay on track and ensure that your blog always has new posts.
- Set up efficient communication channels:
Pick the communication method that works best for you and your workers, such as email, Slack, discord or project management tools like Asana or Trello. Regular check-ins will help you know how things are going.
- Use collaboration tools for reviews and revisions:
When outsourcing blog posts, Streamline the editing process using collaboration tools like Google Docs or Microsoft Word's track changes feature. This way, you can give feedback and ask for changes without sending and receiving emails with files. This makes sure that the process of outsourcing writing goes smoothly.
Evaluate Your Performance Through Metrics
Track key performance metrics (KPIs) like traffic, engagement, and conversions to ensure the success of your outsourced blog content. Use this data to find the best themes and writers and then make decisions about your content plan based on that data.
| Metric | Definition | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic | Number of visitors to your blog post | Measures the reach and visibility of your content. |
| Engagement | Likes, comments, shares, and time on page | Indicates how well your content resonates with readers. |
| Conversions | Number of readers who take a desired action, such as subscribing or making a purchase | Shows the effectiveness of your content in achieving business goals. |
Things You Should Know Before Outsourcing
Outsourcing blog post writing has its advantages and disadvantages. These are some potential drawbacks to consider:
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Finding the right writers can be time-consuming.
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Outsourcing blog posts can be expensive, especially if you need high-quality, specialized content.
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Writers may not perfectly match your brand voice and style.
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You'll need to provide direction and edit the content to ensure it meets your standards.
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You have less control over the writing process.
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Quality can be inconsistent if you don't work with reliable writers.
EdytAI can be your best SEO partner
Don't let content creation hold your small business back. Embrace outsourcing as a way to scale your content marketing efforts. Build brand authority, and ultimately drive more leads and sales. Explore to find reputable freelance platforms, agencies, or content marketplaces. Take the first step towards a thriving, content-rich online presence for your small business.
At pions, we are offering various ways to help you jumpstart blogging. Do not hesitate to reach out to us.