When you initially start blogging, it’s relatively easier; you have plenty of ideas, and your motivation is through the roof. However, a few months down the line, you start running out of ideas, and the spark begins to fade away. This is a sign that you need to look elsewhere and outsource your blog.
Outsourcing is a great way to increase your pool of ideas and bring a different approach to writing content.
Most businesses outsource blog writing to keep their content relative, fresh, and varied. Suffice to say, outsourcing has opened the gates to professionally written, SEO-optimized content for businesses of all sizes to establish their online presence.
Contents
Why Outsource Your Blog
There are several benefits to outsourcing. Primarily, it gives you a chance to focus on the core functions of the business and minimize the costs of hiring and training new employees. In addition to this, outsourcing also gives you flexibility for your changing staffing requirements.
If you outsource your blogs, you will more likely pay for output. So, this means you can save up the cost of hiring a permanent writer, training them, and paying a fixed salary no matter the quantity or quality of the created content.
In addition to this, writers working for service providers are experienced, have been trained and have access to sufficient tools to create engaging content that will fit your business’s specific needs and help it grow. For example, if you want to rank higher on SERP, a professional writer will know exactly what to do.
As mentioned earlier, in terms of options, the talent pool is humongous. From creative social media posts to SEO-optimized long-form blogs and technical whitepapers, hiring a content writing service with relevant credentials should set you on your way.
How Can You Outsource Your Blog?
There are many different platforms to explore and choose blog writers from. However, before you get into it, make sure you know what you need.
Freelancers are an option, but there are drawbacks to working with individuals. Firstly, there is no quality assurance of their work, unless you decide to invest time doing that. Secondly, some freelancers are notorious for mismanaging time, over-committing and under-delivering. That is not to say that you can’t find great freelancers, but you need to do your homework and make sure you get the best bang for the buck.
Your 2nd and more scalable option is going with a writing company. It will certainly help if you hire a company with an established online reputation. Working with a company protects you from dealing with individuals, instead what you get is a more streamlined and organized way of working. What that means is that the content quality and management, from editing to publishing, are taken care of for you like clockwork.
To learn more about our blog management services and packages, click here.
The Do’s of Outsourcing Blog Writing
1. Run a Background Check before Hiring
It is always a good idea to review the portfolio, online reviews and experience of the company you want to work with. Many agencies may claim expertise across all niches; however, you should check their reviews to get a grasp of their work experience.
Most services with great portfolios won’t work for less money. So, if you’re looking for results, find a balance between cost and quality.
2. Ask for a Test Draft
To get an idea of the writer’s working style, experience, and tone, you can ask them to submit a test blog. This will give you a better idea of where the writer might need your help and how much freedom can be given to them.
Many writers will happily submit a free trial blog, while others might not be so willing. This is a great way to find passionate service providers who want your business.
3. Outline Your Requirements
You should always outline clear objectives and directions for writers to follow. Are there any specific skills you’re looking for? It is a good idea to paint a clear picture before starting out. The better they understand the project needs, the better will be the quality of the content.
Instead of just handing them a topic, tell them why you’re creating it, what your target audience is and what the ultimate goal for a particular piece of content is.
This will ensure that your investment in the writing company’s services gives you the results you expect from the get-go. A good start will mean sustained long term results.
4. Create an Efficient Content Strategy
You can’t be clear and open about the needs and wants of your content if you don’t have a content strategy in place. Having an efficient content strategy will ensure that your content marketing efforts are not going to waste.
However, if you don’t have the tools and experience in this regard, our writers can help. Make sure you either have a strategy or communicate to potential writers that you’ll need them to create one.
5. Optimize Content for SEO
SEO is an essential tool for gaining traction and ranking higher on the search engine results pages. So, it will be a good idea to outsource your blog to someone who knows the latest SEO best practices.
Most writers have some working knowledge of SEO. However, if your main goal is to get traffic via organic searches, you need to look for someone who has relevant expertise.
Additionally, it will be good to get accustomed to the latest SEO trends yourself to ensure your content checks all the boxes.
If you’re looking for of SEO-related services, click here!
6. Create Outlines, Guides, and Templates Where Necessary
If you don’t have an outline, template, or a guide for the writer, you’ll get stuck between the constant back and forth that will unnecessarily take up all the time, especially at the start. So, it’s a good idea to either create an outline or send the writer samples of what you like.
When working with writing companies, you can avoid this step. You can expect a blog writing service to have enough experience and subject matter expertise to understand what works best in your space. However, having some guidelines early on can only help.
7. Make Communication Easier
It is important to create an open and easy line of communication with the writers. Utilize free online tools, such as Google Docs and Slack to communicate your needs quickly and easily. These tools are extremely easy to use and can benefit both parties.
It is pertinent to mention, some service providers may have their own communication tool, which might work best for everyone. Don’t be averse to change if it’s useful.
8. Find Opportunities to Collaborate
We understand that the reasons you’ve outsourcing your blog is so that you don’t spend more time on it. But that doesn’t mean that you assign the necessary work and then ghost the writers.
Check in on them every now and then. See how they’re doing and listen to their ideas. They might have relevant questions or might want you opinion on something.
Take 5-10 minutes every week to check in on your team and show some involvement. This will help you keep track of all the work that’s been completed and motivate your team to do better.
9. Be Flexible and Welcome New Ideas
Although you might have efficient strategies and outlines in place, many writers might have ideas that improve on your well-laid-out plans.
Listen to them and trust their judgment within reason. They are also likely more experienced in blog writing than you. So, accept their suggestions and apply them where you see fit.
Don’ts of Outsourcing Your Blog
1. Prepare to Act as an Editor
Most, if you’re hiring a content writing company with the mindset that you’ll need to edit the work that’s provided to you – you’re doing something wrong. It’s great to add to the content delivered to you where you feel like it, but to expect that you’ll edit every blog means that you should look elsewhere.
It’s best you go for blog writing services that offer ready-to-publish blogs, which basically means that not only do the write the blog posts, but also have a team of editors to make sure it’s good to go.
2. Focus on Budget Alone
While you might have put a certain budget aside for your blog, don’t be too fickle about it. You can find cheap writers a dime dozen, but they don’t deliver on quality. So, follow all the do’s and be willing to pay a little bit extra for higher quality content.
Most professional writing services will charge higher, but you can expect free revisions and timely delivery on top of quality content from them.
3. Neglect Follow-Ups
It’s a good idea to follow up with the writers from time to time. Even if you don’t have time, drop in once in awhile to say hello.
On the other hand, don’t get too clingy and give your writers some space. Perhaps a weekly follow up for a big project would be best.
4. Continue Working When it’s NOT Working Out
What happens when it’s not working out with the contractor you chose? Don’t continue working with them just because you’ve briefed them on everything and they’re familiar with your company. You should be ready to draw a hard line and move on if things don’t improve.
5. Undervalue the Work and Efforts of Freelance Writers
Of course, professional writers know what they’re doing, and they have relevant experience to prove that. So, it’s best to avoid giving feedback that undermines their work. Content is subjective so be open-minded about someone else’s interpretation.
Try to be constructive and strike a dialog. Have a clear objective and avoid making last-minute changes, and communicate when necessary. It’s helpful if you give credit and appreciate them when you like their work.
Concluding Thoughts
We hope these do’s and don’ts will help you outsource your blogs more efficiently and effectively.
With millions of blog posts published every day, it takes some doing to get people’s attention and get eyes on your page. Makes perfect sense to outsource the whole thing to professionals who know what they’re doing and have a business interest in getting you results.
