Let’s start with something we can all agree on: your business website needs a blog. That’s not just my opinion as a writer. The numbers back it up. An estimated 7+ million blog posts are published every day, according to industry projections. And about 83% of internet users, roughly 4.44 billion people, read blogs regularly.
Even when someone doesn’t read your entire blog post, they’re likely skimming it. They’re looking for information that fulfills a need, solves a problem, or answers a question. And if you want your business website to show up in search results, you need a blog. Period.
Here’s where many business owners get stuck, though. They don’t know how to hire a blogger for their website. And once they do, they don’t really know how to manage that relationship. As a full-time freelance content writer, I’ve seen what works and what doesn’t. So I want to share some tips on building a strong partnership with your writer.
And no, I’m not making this stuff up. These tips come straight from what I love most about some of my favorite clients.
Start With Trust
If you find a great content writer, trust them. Give them an A from day one and let them prove you right (or, on rare occasions, wrong). Don’t hand them an F and make them climb their way up.
Think about it this way. You hired this person because you saw talent, experience, or a portfolio that impressed you. So let them do their thing. Writers who feel trusted do their best work. Writers who feel micromanaged spend more energy defending their choices than writing great content.
Trust doesn’t mean you can’t give feedback. It means you assume the best and communicate openly when something misses the mark.
Be Responsive
Treat your writers as you wish to be treated. They are real people, too.
If you hate it when a customer or colleague takes forever and a day to get back to you, why would you do that to your writers? When a writer sends you a draft or asks a question, they often can’t move forward until they hear back. Long silences stall projects and push back your deadlines.
This doesn’t mean you need to respond within the minute or even within 10 minutes. But be responsive and set expectations. A simple service level agreement (SLA) from the start can really help. Something like “we’ll respond to each other within two business days” keeps everyone on the same page.
Respect Their Pricing
Your freelancers are trying to make a living, too. When you find affordable copywriting services, that pricing already reflects the writer’s skill, research time, and experience.
Think about how you would feel if your boss consistently reduced your wage but expected the same work from you. Not great, right? So why do that to your writers?
If a writer’s rate is outside your budget, it’s okay to say so and part ways kindly. But haggling every invoice or asking for “just one more thing” for free wears down the relationship fast. The best clients I work with pay fairly and on time, and I go above and beyond for them as a result.
Be Clear About Your Expectations and Scope
Clarity is a gift. Before your writer starts, spell out:
- The topic, target audience, and goal of each piece
- Your preferred tone and style
- Word count and formatting needs
- Deadlines and how you’ll share feedback
- Any keywords or SEO requirements
And once you agree on a scope, stick to it. If you need to change the scope, that’s okay! Things change. Just take ownership of it and discuss what that looks like in terms of time and cost. Don’t expect a scope change to come without some sort of adjustment.
Here’s an example. If you suddenly wanted to add another feature to a car you ordered from a dealership, would you really expect the dealer to add it for free? Okay, totally different industry, but you get the point, right?
A Great Writer Relationship Pays Off
Whether you’re comparing content writing services for the first time or looking to improve a partnership you already have, these tips will serve you well. Trust your writer, respond promptly, respect their rates, and keep your scope clear. Do those four things, and you’ll have a writer who’s invested in your success for the long haul.
Ready to Get Started?
If you’re looking for reliable copywriting services in the U.S., I’d love to chat. At Copywriting For You, I help business owners like you publish blog content that attracts readers, answers their questions, and brings them back for more.
Reach out today and let’s build something great together.