Hire a web content writer
Writing and building content for a web site
can at times be very difficult. Some people
have writer's block on a subject, others feel
they can't write, some need fresh ideas or
approaches to a theme, and others want to
use the time to manage their site(s) and links
better.
I've been hiring writers to help produce
content for some of my sites. Here are some
tips on hiring writers for articles; where
you can go; and a few things to keep in mind.
Before ever hiring a writer I would highly
recommend that you write some articles yourself.
The only way to improve is to practice. Write
every day even if it is only a paragraph or
two.
You can also "practice" by taking
the time to post in forums and write more
through emails. But write, and write regularly.
A couple of things come out of this. You'll
know what to expect, you'll write better and
it can help trigger ideas for more articles.
There are many factors in hiring a writer
which are beyond the scope of this article
but you've made the decision to hire a writer,
so let's move on.
- Where to Start...
Assemble a list of keywords or phrases. Break
your list into groups of 10 to 30 keywords
or phrases into a simple text file. For tracking
the status, I use my Site Build It Manager
- http://AssociatePrograms.com/buildit - for
SBI sites and a spreadsheet for non-SBI sites.
- Describe the Job
Try to be as descriptive as possible about
your writing assignment. Remember you're having
articles written to attract search engine
visitors... you want to attract "qualified"
writers who can do the job. Most of my articles
are in the area of 200 to 800 words.
Writers do not need to be an expert on the
subject; they need to be able to communicate
the keyword phrase. What writing "style"
do you want? Some of that depends on your
site theme. Do you want technical, conversational,
formal or just let them write? Determine the
"rules" for your articles such as
keyword density, edits, what you'll accept.
- Finding Writers
When I first started hiring writers I went
to Rentacoder.com and I still use them to
locate writers. Rentacoder may at first appear
to be a little too "techie" but
remember that people have other subjects they
are passionate about.
- Wait for bids
When first submitting your bid, it is reviewed
before posting, usually 24 to 48 hours ...
be patient.
- Review your bids
* Look over your bids carefully.
* How did your writer respond?
* Did their reply have any typos?
* Make sure that you let the writer know up
front - No Copy and Paste.
* ALL material MUST be ORIGINAL.
- Communicate with your "potential
writer"
I've found the best writers ask for a keyword
or list of keywords. Give them a quick assignment.
Ask them to write you a quick paragraph on
a keyword - three to five sentences.
How quickly did the writer respond? Were
they creative? Above all, did they follow
your instructions?
- What to bid or pay?
I've been able to have my articles written
at a cost of $5 US. I don't play a bidding
game. I post it right out front.
"I am willing to pay $5 / article, with
a 10 article minimum ($50 / 10 articles)".
To some this is very reasonable, to others
it is a fortune.
- The Job
Once you've selected your writer(s), email
them your keyword list.
Normally, I have articles written in batches
of 20 at a time. Writing on one subject for
too long can be difficult. If you have multiple
site themes or sections, break the keywords
into groups of four or five per theme. Keep
a constant dialogue with them.
Get the articles in small batches of five,
review them quickly and give them input. This
will make less work for you later.
- Payment
Rentacoder makes it easy since they hold
the money until the job is completed and approved
by you. Not using a system such as Rentacoder
does involve some trust. I have been burned.
When starting with a new writer I work in
small batches of five. As each batch of articles
is "delivered" they are paid. That
way no one gets too far ahead.
One more note on payments - working with
overseas writers can cause problems in transferring
money. Discuss payment methods before you
move forward.
- Your Job
Once the articles have been delivered, they
are reviewed, tweaked, keywords are added,
removed or moved around and then formatted
on the web page to be uploaded.
Total time from start to finish is about
15 minutes per article.
Alternatives to finding writers
* Place classified ads in newspapers
* Talk to members of a club or association
* Post ads at the local college
* Post to online forums
* Ask writers if they know of other potential
writers
These are some basics of getting started
with hiring writers to produce content for
your web site. I've found using outside writers
to be a terrific boost to my web site promotion
and helped me find many new ways to approach
writing more articles.
I've had well over 200 plus articles written
using this method. When I find a good writer
I try to keep passing them more work. This
allows me to spend more time managing and
improving my sites.
I'm sure you are wondering what a hired article
looks like. Check out the links below:
http://www.internet-speed-guide.com/dsl-connection-speed.html
http://www.the-memory-guide.com/usb-flash-drive.html
Here are some outsourcing web sites:
http://www.rentacoder.com
http://www.eLance.com
http://www.smarterwork.com
http://www.guru.com
If you have any questions on hiring a writer
contact me at http://www.web-writing.com and
check out our ebook on the whole process of
hiring writers for web content.
Article by Gary Antosh of http://www.web-writing.com
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