The global outsourcing industry is valued at well over $500 billion.
Businesses and individuals from almost every field, all around the world, are now choosing to outsource operations.
Content writing is one particularly common task people pay a 3rd party to complete.
Writing is time-consuming. It takes time, effort and skill, each of which may be in short supply! However, it would be foolish to forgo the process altogether. After all, content marketing can be a major boon for business. Paying someone else to do it can be the best bet.
Yet it can also be expensive! Quality content doesn’t come cheap. And, if you want lots of it, invoices can stack up thick and fast.
Thankfully, it’s possible to find cheaper ways to do it. Interested in learning more?
Keep reading to discover 5 top tips for hiring writers on the cheap.
1. Identify Your Specific Needs
The first step when outsourcing anything is to realize what you need to be completed.
That sounds obvious. After all, you want someone to write some copy for you, right?
Well, yes. But saving money on this requires going beyond that! Lacking clarity will take up time finding the right person for the job. Of course, time is money. Similarly, it can lead to mistakes further down the line.
The writer may assemble the wrong thing, or write in the wrong voice, or include erroneous information.
Be specific. Know how many articles you want in advance. Have an idea on the subject matters you required. You could even go as far as determining the specific keywords you need your articles oriented around (for content marketing posts).
Understand exactly what you need will help you find the right person sooner. You’ll avoid costly mistakes in the process.
2. Research Market Rates
Understanding the asking rates will be important too.
Undertake some online research to see what freelance writers tend to charge. Of course, the rates you’ll find will vary dramatically between individuals, companies, and platforms.
We’ll discuss the different platforms more in the coming points. For now, it’s enough to know that certain online platforms (where freelancers advertise their services) will have higher rates than others.
This is normal. Generally speaking, you’ll get what you pay for. Paying higher sums is more likely to lead to quality content. That quality may well pay for itself in due course. This is always something to keep in mind when deciding the rates you’re willing to pay.
Sure, you could pay $0.01 per word. Yet such minimal fees are likely to translate to substandard copy from average writers.
You might be tempted to do whatever it takes to get quality content, even if it means taking out a loan. Companies like Bonsai Finance can help you secure a loan that suits your specific need.
All that aside, you can avoid the hassle by paying anything upwards of $0.1 per word. This is more likely to guarantee a quality piece that will serve you better.
3. Establish a Set Time Frame
Time is another factor that can determine the overall expense.
It’s important to treat outsourced writing like any other service.
Imagine needing emergency plumbing work done on your home. Chances are you’ll have to pay a higher hourly rate to the plumber. After all, it needs to be done almost instantly. That demand means the rate increases accordingly.
The same goes for your writing. Need it delivered as soon as possible? Well, expect to pay more.
Conversely, having a longer time frame for delivery can sometimes allow you to charge a lower rate.
In sum, expect to pay more for faster delivery and less for slower. As such, it pays to plan in advance and hire the writer earlier too.
4. Search Online
The internet is an enormous market for freelancers.
A quick Google search will return thousands of potential writers. Almost all of them will be vying for the work.
In fact, there is now a wide range of websites you can turn to in your search. Websites like Upwork and PeoplePerHour are specifically designed to connect freelancers with potential work. You can list a job for a certain price, and almost guarantee a plethora of applications for it.
Some sites will provide cheaper services than others.
For example, Fiverr is another website of a similar nature. Here, though, freelancers advertise a particular service they can do for you. Their starting rate is generally $5 (hence the name). This time it’s up to you to find the right person for the job.
You can get an article written for as little as $5! Of course, remember the rule: you pay for what you get. Expect to pay more for longer and more detailed articles.
Facebook groups are another source of willing writers. Many businesses and individuals advertise the work they have available here. There are innumerable writing groups that exist on the platform.
5. Hire Overseas Writers
Outsourcing work to countries overseas is a common means of saving money.
Thanks to differing world economies, your US dollar goes a lot further in some places. For example, many businesses hire people in India, or southeast Asian countries to perform their tasks.
The internet means almost anything can be done without the need to actually meet (or even talk) to the writer. Again, Facebook groups are a good place to start. You’ll find masses of overseas writers happy to take the work at discount rates.
Of course, this may impact quality. If English is a second language, then, in some cases, the copy may read poorly.
Final Thoughts on Hiring Writers Cheaply
There you have it: 5 top tips for hiring writers without breaking the bank.
Outsourcing is becoming increasingly popular around the world. Businesses and individuals alike are leveraging the power of 3rd parties to perform their operations.
Time-consuming tasks that distract from core operations are ideal for outsourcing. Writing is one particular common example of this. Writing content can make a crucial impact. However, many companies lack the in-house resources to do it well.
Outsourcing it makes far more sense. However, it can also get expensive! Hopefully, this article has provided some ideas on how to cut your writing costs.
