What Makes You Hire a Writer?

Well, I've hired several writers before, ranging from Abysmal to GREAT.
Simply, to get hired by someone who has outsourced writing several times before, you need to :
1) Market yourself using the freelancing websites (odesk is a good option for many)
2) When proposing to write, dont start with a cover letter, instead write a small piece of information about HIS Request, that makes him feel you would write based on understanding rather than spinning!
3) Never spin articles. Its easy to detect. If I read an article I would easily say if its spun or not. If I want to spin it, I would use SW not hire you
4) For recruiters who would use a trial article and then use you long term, start with a very low price and write your best, you could then raise your bid, and gain stable income from an ongoing stream business.

Just my 2 cents.

Because of the nature of the sites I build, I look for readability. Many writers are just doing rewrites that have no flow and just aren't fun to read. Most people willing to pay more need higher readability because they aren't building MFA sites they are going for authority.

If you have the ability to flow and to stay on point with keywords without sounding like a regurgitated textbook, then you will be taking your website down soon because you will be bombarded with work.

I call it "internet swag" writing, people are used to a certain free flow almost slang, relaxed prose on the internet and that is what I look for in full time writers.

1. I hire writers to write content for my own sites when I'm tied up writing for clients. Other than that, I write my own articles.

2. This might sound bizarre, but because the content is for my own site, I need writers to sound like me! That's not possible, so I tend to tweak any articles I purchase, no matter how good the writer. That's no reflection on you at all. Other than that, good spelling and grammar, and the ability to write conversationally, like they were talking to someone. That's something I don't always find in a writer.

3. When I visit a freelancer's site, I'm looking for some indication of their personality in their writing. If they seem cheerful and chatty, then I think they may be a good fit for my readers. Looking at your site: "Let’s talk about how I can make your life easier today!" That's what I want. Your site tells me about your business processes (editorial calendar), the questions that ask about my project show that you're really interested in what I want to create and why. There's a lot of personality in your websites, and I feel like I'm getting to know you. I like your sites very much and they give me confidence that if I hired you, I'd get a good product.

4. I like to see testimonials, but not just "Carmen's a good writer". The testimonials on your page show that you have personality, you build a rapport with your clients and you're a real person.

I don't know if that's the sort of information you're looking for, but based on your two websites, I'd buy.

Don't throw stones at me or anything, but the main thing I look for is low price. Why? Simply because I have a full-time job AND a side business (not IM) and I don't have enough time to write. I am not a fast writer, it takes me about 1 hour to write a good article. The question becomes, what is worth more:
1) an hour of my time
or
2) $x payment to someone else to write the article.
If $x is low enough, I go for it and outsource.
From what I've read on this forum, most people disagree, but that's how it is for me.

I hire writer because i can't afford enough to write articles.

1. Ongoing

2. A great storyteller

3. I try to identify a writer first, who interests me, then I try to hire them

4. Examples of their incredible storytelling talent


p.s. Most people assume that when I talk about "storytelling" that I am talking about fiction writers. I am not. I only hire in non-fiction, and I want my readers to be "glad that they took the time to read what had been written for them."

I posted this article in response to Audrey's note about getting ghostwriters to match one's "voice". That point about storytelling is an outstanding one, Bill...I think I'll build an article around that as well. Thank you very much!

http://www.deadlinedervishwritingser...es-your-voice/