How to Know You’re Hiring the Right Freelance Writer

Registering with a creative talent agency like Artisan can be an effective step in the right direction to hiring the best freelance writer – but ultimately, it’s up to you to determine if the individual recommended for a job has the capability to deliver a project on time and at the level of professionalism you require. Here are a few tips to help you know you’re hiring the best freelance writer for your assignment.

• Verify Their Writing Skills. It’s not enough to take anyone’s assurance at face value, not even the creative staffing agency recommending the talent. Ultimately, you are the only person in a position to be able to say if a writer matches your requirements. Once you find a freelancer you think may be suited for the job, verify their writing skills by asking to see at least three samples of recent assignments they’ve completed for another client. If these assignments are proprietary and can’t be shared, the freelance writer should be able to offer you other writing samples that you can use to gauge their skill level.
• Determine Their Level of Education. Some of the best writers in the world have no more than a high school education so when you do take education into consideration, it’s important not to take it at face value. Simply having a master’s degree is no indication that a writer is talented, although it can give you some indication as to whether or not they’re able to adapt their writing style to a more academic approach.
• Look for Experience in Your Industry. If you’re looking to find a freelancer who can come up with compelling, fun and engaging content for your blogs and newsletters, you probably won’t go after a technical writer – just as you wouldn’t want a freelance writer known for their comedic wit to take on the a serious press release or white paper. This is not to say that just because someone specializes in a certain area doesn’t mean they’re capable of handling other kinds of assignments. But before you hire a freelance writer, make sure they’re a good match to your industry and can write about it with authority.
• Avoid Cut-Rate Writers. Most professional writers know their worth and aren’t afraid to ask for it. If the cost of a freelance writer is too low, it’s usually indication of one of two things: they haven’t gained enough work experience to ask for a higher rate or their skill level isn’t up to par with what you probably require. Remember that good writers are always in demand and the best will not be cheap.

Most importantly, the key to finding a writer that meets your criteria is to first know exactly what it is you’re looking for. If you’re not sure, a creative talent agency like Artisan can help you figure that out, and can use their considerable contacts to provide you with a short list of high-quality, readily available writers waiting to put pen to paper when you need them. Visit www.artisantalent.com to get started.

Vince F is a freelance writer available on WriterAccess, a marketplace where clients and expert writers connect for assignments.