Hiring a content writer seems pretty easy, right? You put an ad out there or consult a hiring service. You go through work samples and resumes, and then make your selection. After you hire the right person, you’ll never have to worry about your content again. In fact, hiring a content writer will ensure years of awesome content you never even have to proof read.

Unfortunately, this isn’t the case. We’ve heard all the horror stories – from important deadlines not met to work farmed out overseas to writing so terrible you can’t believe the person you hired wrote those writing samples you were so excited about. It happens all too often.

If you’re thinking of hiring a content writer, there are some simple do’s and don’ts to keep in mind throughout the process. Here are a few to think about:

Don’t Assume the Samples Are For Real

Many people hiring a content writer ask the writer to pen a paragraph as a ‘sample’ without offering compensation. This immediately breaks the trust bond between you and your worker. Look over any past writing samples they send you – and always ask for samples –but also consider contacting references rather than asking for a personalized sample. Reputable, seasoned contractors are not going to do any work for free.

Cheaper is Not Always Better

If you’re thinking of paying $1 an hour, you can’t always rely on high quality content resulting. Rather than paying hourly or by word count/page, you might consider striking up a deal with your copywriter. For long-term work, he or she might be willing to take $5-20 an article depending on the length and complexity. Consider what makes sense for you financially, and then be upfront about what you expect and what you can afford.

You’re Hiring a Content Writer, Not Buying Software

Automated article spinning software exists, but if you’re looking to give users an authentic experience and avoid search engine penalties, make sure your content writers create unique content every time they write for you. During the interview process, ask upfront if your potential writer is using automated software or farming article writing overseas. It happens more often than you think.

Lead Liaison’s content marketing system is tied directly into our marketing automation dashboard. We work with real, experienced writers. Rather than hiring a content writer on your own, let us provide you with the quality content you’re looking for right away. Let’s talk about how our writers can benefit your business!

The demand for intriguing and informative content is constantly rising and it is challenging for most businesses to consistently fill their website, blogs, newsletters, social media networks, and other lead nurturing campaigns with new and exciting content. They need to generate multiple pieces of content per day and every piece must be relevant, informative, and original.

Challenge of Content Creation

Thanks to the current Panda update from Google, content has to be more than just compelling words in an article. Search engine rankings now take into consideration images, videos, and the amount of responses you receive on social media sites. To keep up with the demand of visitors and search-bots, content must come in a variety of different mediums, be interesting enough to inspire Facebook users to “like” and “share” the information with others, educational enough to brand your business as an industry leader, and unique enough to pass copyscape. This is a tall order and incredibly challenging for most businesses.

Here are four effective ways to face the challenge of content creation:

1.      Hire a Content Specialist

There are many different ways to hire someone specifically to handle your content creation. There are online freelance writers who will work from home on a per-basis assignment. You can hire a social media strategist or community manager as a part-time or full-time employee. You can also re-assign existing personnel in your marketing department to focus solely on writing content.

2.      Invest in Marketing Automation

Most professional marketing automation experts will include high-quality content creation in their extensive list of services. A marketing automation company can provide your business with a complete online marketing strategy. It strategically guides leads throughout their entire buying process. Marketing automation software generates leads, captures leads, profiles leads, nurtures leads, and then converts them into customers. Please click here to learn more about how marketing automation can benefit your business.

3.      Reference the Competition

You are not the only one facing the challenge of content creation. All of your competitors are scrambling to post enough content to attract and retain online followers. Check out what other leaders in your industry are posting and see if you can improve on their articles.

4.      Offline Research

Not every great content idea will come from the internet. Newspapers, magazines, and television are all great resources for content creation. You can also ask friends and family that suit your target demographic what type of content they would appreciate.

Content is a necessity of doing business online. If you are facing the challenge of content creation, start by either hiring a content specialist or by investing in marketing automation. If you prefer to face the challenge on your own, you can research content ideas by reviewing your competitor’s content, offline sources like newspapers and television, and by asking people you know personally. Better yet, use Lead Liaison’s content creation solution to help automate your content creation needs.