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Where Are the Best Places and Methods for Hiriing a Team of Writers?

by JB Jiles Banned
14 replies
6 months into building websites and I know my strengths are not in the creation of content. With that being said, I have a question for those who have had success in hiring writers, mainly for blog posts, landing pages, ebooks and email messages. My initial thought process is to find college students, but I think specialization is actually required for the sort of writing I want done, so I'd like people who are experienced in writing for Internet sales. I want the writing to sell and to be used to gain access onto other people's websites for the purpose of siphoning off their targeted traffic and for other ways of maximizing each and every piece of content written. So the primary objective above everything else is finding the best quality writing.

For those who have successfully built a team of writers, any thoughts on where and how you found the very good writers for your team, what costs are typical, how to keep a team, and any other tips?
#hiriing #methods #places #team #writers
  • Profile picture of the author NicoleBeckett
    Originally Posted by JB Jiles View Post

    For those who have successfully built a team of writers, any thoughts on where and how you found the very good writers for your team, what costs are typical, how to keep a team, and any other tips?
    I had a very good place to look (albeit an uncommon one) - my newsroom. All of the people who work on my team are people that I've worked with at various TV stations. That way, I know them and trust them, AND I know they have the skills to write what I need. Obviously, you probably can't go that route :p

    Are you looking for full-time workers, or just good writers to handle things on a project-by-project basis? If it's the latter, take a spin through the Warriors for Hire section. Yes, you'll find alot of people in there whose claims are better than their writing. However, it's a great place to find potentials. Then, you can talk to each one. I would suggest asking as many questions as you can before you hire anyone - like what kind of credentials do they have? What kind of turnaround time can you expect? That way, you'll get to know them - even if it's only through email.

    Also, be sure to take a look at their work. Good writers won't hand over work they've done for clients (it's a copyright/ethical issue), but they will have something for you to look at.

    As far as costs go, consider yourself to be "renting" their expertise. If you've got a writer with a great background and great skills, you're going to need to pay them more than a couple bucks. For stuff that I use my team for, I give them a percentage of the money I make on the orders. I figure that's the fair way to do it - I handle (and find!) the clients and handle the proofreading, and they handle the researching/writing.

    As far as keeping a team together and happy, the big thing is communication. As long as all of you can stay on the same page (sorry for the pun! ), you'll be fine.
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  • Profile picture of the author myob
    I have been hiring graduate students from local universities for most of my writing requirements. The ones who are working on their advanced degrees are the most successful in writing in-depth, specialized articles. I pay them quite well hourly for not just writing, but also for their time spent in researching within their specialties.
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    • Profile picture of the author JB Jiles
      Banned
      Originally Posted by myob View Post

      I have been hiring graduate students from local universities for most of my writing requirements. The ones who are working on their advanced degrees are the most successful in writing in-depth, specialized articles. I pay them quite well hourly for not just writing, but also for their time spent in researching within their specialties.
      Thank you! Would it be too much to ask if you revealed a ballpark figure of what you typically pay your writers. $30 per hour? More? Less?

      I would ideally prefer to be able to pick up the work face to face. That's just my thought at the outset. That would seem perfect for me and I do have close access to university students, so I have a good launching pad.

      Thanks for the tip on hiring graduate students. I had not thought of that.
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      • Profile picture of the author myob
        Originally Posted by JB Jiles View Post

        Thank you! Would it be too much to ask if you revealed a ballpark figure of what you typically pay your writers. $30 per hour? More? Less?
        Because of the very specialised and technical nature of these articles, I pay them $50/hr for their expertise. As mentioned, just "writing for the internet" or even SEO can actually be a competitive disadvantage relative to demonstrating a thorough understanding of a niche topic.
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  • Profile picture of the author Guru_Marketing
    Originally Posted by JB Jiles View Post

    6 months into building websites and I know my strengths are not in the creation of content. With that being said, I have a question for those who have had success in hiring writers, mainly for blog posts, landing pages, ebooks and email messages. My initial thought process is to find college students, but I think specialization is actually required for the sort of writing I want done, so I'd like people who are experienced in writing for Internet sales. I want the writing to sell and to be used to gain access onto other people's websites for the purpose of siphoning off their targeted traffic and for other ways of maximizing each and every piece of content written. So the primary objective above everything else is finding the best quality writing.

    For those who have successfully built a team of writers, any thoughts on where and how you found the very good writers for your team, what costs are typical, how to keep a team, and any other tips?
    Guru.com is a best place to start.
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    • Profile picture of the author JB Jiles
      Banned
      Originally Posted by Guru_Marketing View Post

      Guru.com is a best place to start.
      Thank you for the suggestion, but I don't want to do that. At least that is my mindset now. I don't want to deal with people where the only access I have to them is the Internet. It unnerves me.

      It may turn out that I cannot accomplish my objective other than by dealing with people over the Internet, but I have it firmly implanted in my head right now that I want to deal with people where I can meet them face to face if need be. Plus, I think face to face interaction is a better way of developing long term relationships than by relying on the Internet as the sole means of communication.

      And, if I hire someone to write something, I want to make sure as I possibly can that that person is doing the writing. I don't want to deal with people who outsource the writing I just hired them to do.
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      • Profile picture of the author Guru_Marketing
        Originally Posted by JB Jiles View Post

        Thank you for the suggestion, but I don't want to do that. At least that is my mindset now. I don't want to deal with people where the only access I have to them is the Internet. It unnerves me.

        It may turn out that I cannot accomplish my objective other than by dealing with people over the Internet, but I have it firmly implanted in my head right now that I want to deal with people where I can meet them face to face if need be. Plus, I think face to face interaction is a better way of developing long term relationships than by relying on the Internet as the sole means of communication.

        And, if I hire someone to write something, I want to make sure as I possibly can that that person is doing the writing. I don't want to deal with people who outsource the writing I just hired them to do.
        I understand your concerns JB. The great thing about hiring people on the Internet is that you pay ONLY FOR RESULTS. You can give them small "test tasks" to see how they perform.

        Many companies today take advantage of the Global Economy, hiring workers abroad for $2-3 dollars an hour. And these are smart, talented English-speaking individuals.

        You are right, you'll have a better connection when you meet them in person, but you are going to take a LOT MORE time out of your life. Good workers do not need "management," they can manage themselves.
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  • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
    Banned
    Originally Posted by JB Jiles View Post

    My initial thought process is to find college students
    I think this a very good way of finding suitable people. The fact that they may know less about "writing for the internet" can be more of an advantage than a disadvantage, really: after all, a lot of what many people "know" about writing for the internet is pretty mistaken and misguided, anyway.

    I know 2 or 3 very successful people here who source all or most of their content this way.

    It's also how I originally started, myself (as a writer, I mean - not as a marketer).
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    • Profile picture of the author JB Jiles
      Banned
      Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

      I think this a very good way of finding suitable people. The fact that they may know less about "writing for the internet" can be more of an advantage than a disadvantage, really: after all, a lot of what many people "know" about writing for the internet is pretty mistaken and misguided, anyway.

      I know 2 or 3 very successful people here who source all or most of their content this way.

      It's also how I originally started, myself (as a writer, I mean - not as a marketer).
      My thinking was that someone who understands that I want a landing page to pre-sell whatever offers I may be promoting would be a good thing. Also, a writer who understands what needs to go into a good email message series also would be beneficial. The reason I say that is because I don't have these talents, so I actually need someone to guide me into what I want and need in my content. Keywords and content written for search engines are not what I am after. I'm after content that is going to effectively sell readers and the kind of thing I can take beyond my own email messages and websites to reach as wide of an audience as possible. So that is why I thought someone who is savvy to these aspects of marketing on the Internet would be helpful.
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      • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
        Banned
        Originally Posted by JB Jiles View Post

        So that is why I thought someone who is savvy to these aspects of marketing on the Internet would be helpful.
        Yes ... I see the logic.

        I suspect that finding what you want and need online, reliably, is going to be expensive. Successful, experienced, autoresponder series writers, for example, tend to be more in the "copywriting" (rather than in the "content-writing") sort of price-bracket. Just an observation ...
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        • Profile picture of the author JB Jiles
          Banned
          Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

          Yes ... I see the logic.

          I suspect that finding what you want and need online, reliably, is going to be expensive. Successful, experienced, autoresponder series writers, for example, tend to be more in the "copywriting" (rather than in the "content-writing") sort of price-bracket. Just an observation ...
          Thanks for the observation. Expensive is a relative term. I'm thinking around $1000 for a good email series of 10-15 messages. I don't know. I'll find out.
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          • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
            Banned
            Originally Posted by JB Jiles View Post

            Thanks for the observation. Expensive is a relative term. I'm thinking around $1000 for a good email series of 10-15 messages. I don't know. I'll find out.
            I was thinking about $80/$85 per email, which is what I got for the last series I did for anyone, when I still "did that" - so we're very much in the same ball-park, there. I was mentioning it unnecessarily, as it turns out. (Apologies - there are people who imagine that they'll easily and quickly get a converting email series written for $10 per email! :rolleyes: ).

            Wishing you well with it ...
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  • Profile picture of the author ebusinesstutor
    A talented web copywriter (landing page, autoresponder emails, etc) is harder to find locally than local bloggers or ebook writers.

    Web copywriting is a specialized skill that you will need to pay more for than other writing. It is unlikely you will find a top-notch web copywriter in your student body of your local university. You will need to go online to places like Guru or oDesk.

    I wrote an article called "Copywriter Vs, Web Designer" about why I believe your copywriter is more important than your web designer to your online success. It is not worth cheaping out on this part.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jack Coxill
    It's been said but yes, go to sites like Elance, Odesk or Guru, and search for quality writers. You can usually view writers work history and ratings, which will give you an insight into their work and communication. It can be trial and error, but soon enough you'll find the team of writers you're looking for.

    Don't always settle for low paying writers either, as they will pump out any old rubbish for peanuts. A good writer will be paid well, and take the time to create helpful and engaging work.
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