Hi, I just listed an ad in the 'content creation' forum to hire someone to write 5 articles on "alternatives to ebay" My question is, how do I find the 'right' writer? There are a lot of writers on there looking for a quick buck and they don't have the skills to do quality work. I'm willing to pay, so that's not going to be a problem. However, I'm very picky how the writer can relate to the readers... personalize the article and give some interesting facts... and even make it fun and appealing to read. Find the right writer isn't an easy chore, for sure. Thanks in advance!
I made the mistake of not asking for samples before hand last time. I was in rush, now i know for next time.
Hi, Thanks for the reply. I just wanted to add that asking for samples isn't fool proof either. A writer sent me samples and it looked extremely good. However, when the writer sent me finished product, it wasn't anything like the samples. I think some writers lie about where "their" samples come from.
Well, it is not always that writers lie about samples. You should request a sample from same niche or topic. Some writers outperform in a particular niche and in other niche, they may perform just average even if they attempt their best. I'd advise you to choose niche writers . Also, discussing things in PM can give you a fair idea about writer's knowledge, the writing style, and few other things like professionalism. It is good to discuss the outlines of supposed topic in order to analyze what they're capable of.
Can I just say that I love that the first response to your ad is someone who says "me very much interested in your project"? As a writer, I'm usually looking for buyers who will give me as many details as possible. For example, your ad says "quality and appeal" but here you wrote about personalization and making the article fun to read. Those are details that should go in your ad or, at the very least, in your communications with your potential writers. Not only will this help the writers find samples that are appropriate for the niche and tone that you are looking for, but they will know how to respond to your ad. Plus, if nothing else, the longer and more specific your ad, the more likely you are to weed out the people who don't want to do much work. If they don't want to put effort into their articles, they probably won't want to read the detailed ads either
Agreed! Buyer must give all details and propose all expectations/specifications clearly. If buyer gives clear specifications and writer is confident of exact requirement, chances are higher for a quality output.
Yes, I had received some PMs from applicants who didn't take the time to spell right or use proper punctuation. One person wrote in a message: "hay dude im ur guy i speak vary welll native english an i have awesim gramer skilz if u need sampls i can gethose 4u to u wat is ur msn or aim how much u payin for articls ill have em done in notime here is sample i do good work" http://www.informativepost.com/2008/01/03/Two-different-Religions-Jesus-and-Mohammad-131.htm Needless to say, I deleted the post in a mili-second.
Hi Sandman, You're already halfway there. I think one of the best ways to identify who can write an engaging, quality piece is to see their written communication. If their responses to you are canned and robotic, chances are their work will be the same-- leaving you with articles that your visitors won't want to read. If they can't engage with YOU personally, they probably won't be able to engage with an audience. Ask them questions for which they can't give canned answers. Ask for something specific in the ad that will help you separate the wheat from the chaff-- that is, the writers who can follow directions from those who cannot. Readable writing is difficult to do-- and most writers (especially the amateur writers here) can't do it. The sad truth is, most Internet writers are... well... bad. Writing isn't only an ability that can be learned... it's also a talent. So finding quality writers who can actually write (rather than spew out research in under-chewed chunks) is always going to be difficult. So look at samples. Ask questions. Require potential writers to engage with you. Be specific with your requirements. And (perhaps most of all) be ready to pay more for good writing. Good luck to you! -Karen
Hi MrSandMan, I'm a copywriter, and I also hire freelance copywriters to jumpstart certain projects. On the side of when I'm hiring someone, here's what I look for: 1. A personalized message. It's not crucial, but I like to see they've taken the time to write a message that specifically responds to my project needs. Reading this also gives the first clue to their writing ability and personality. 2. Did they automatically attach samples? I get a lot of people who don't even attach writing samples or link when responding to my Help Wanted ad. That can be an indication that they aren't very experienced... every 'real' freelancer knows that you're going nowhere unless you show some kind of sample of what you can do. 3. Review the work and look for: a) how much 'fixing' you would have had to do if they'd written this for you. b) are there any 'odd' thoughts. c) do they get to the point without fluff. d) is the piece fairly keyword-savvy (note: not all articles were intended for SEO though). 4. Is the personality of their request to work for you pleasant. I've received emails from some really snippy sounding people. One in particular was an EXCELLENT writer. But her tone was so sharp, I knew she'd be more trouble than she was worth.
Hi SandMan, A suggestion for finding a writer can be to offer a test assignment. Sort of like dating someone before you marry them. lol I have had clients ask me to write several articles (paying me for them...) before assigning me the regular gig. I think that is a fair deal. They get a chance to see what I would do with their project, I see what their project is like & compensated for my time. You can also ask to see writing samples that are related to your topic. So if your topic is a entrepreneur topic, then you'd like to see business or even home business topics. To be fair, if you like the writer's style sometimes they can write about the different topic even if they don't have experience....it depends on what it is..... Good luck! Abby