Constructing a profitable content material advertising program typically requires hiring communicative, environment friendly freelance writers. However it may be powerful to seek out devoted freelancers who produce high-quality work and need to spend time investing in your model. So how will you inform up-front if somebody is an efficient match? What data is required to make sure you don’t dump time into coaching a brand new author, solely to seek out that they don’t meet your requirements?
Listed here are 5 questions managing editors can ask themselves earlier than and through that preliminary dialog with a brand new author:
1. Does the freelancer have a portfolio and high quality work samples?
Earlier than you converse with a possible freelancer, don’t neglect to confirm they’ve an internet site or portfolio of labor samples. You’ll additionally need to see in the event that they’ve finished comparable work up to now. Studying a number of of their earlier tales or getting a way of their type may help you identify whether or not or not they’ll be an excellent match on your model. Usually, freelance writers can even give you references or an inventory of earlier shoppers that can assist you get a way of their experience.
Jennifer Dienst, a author and editor with over a decade of expertise, has employed dozens of freelancers. She at all times seems to be at their social media channels to get to know them higher earlier than scheduling an preliminary dialog.
2. Is the freelancer open to a transparent and concise dialog up-front about expectations?
After reviewing the author’s portfolio, an up-front dialogue with a freelancer can reveal what it’s prefer to work with them and the way they’ll reply to boundaries and suggestions. Emily Wolfe, a journalist and model advisor who has managed a number of publications, says the very best freelancers she’s managed have requested questions upfront to make clear what she wished. “[They] weren’t afraid to speak on the cellphone to ensure we’re on the identical web page,” she says. The preliminary communication boded properly for the remainder of the connection—she discovered the freelancers who initially accepted suggestions have been a lot simpler to work with in the course of the drafting and modifying processes.
Nonetheless, because the managing editor, you have to come to the desk with readability on the work the freelancer shall be doing. Which may imply pulling collectively a venture abstract, phrase depend, due date, and fee data earlier than that preliminary dialog.
3. Does this freelancer have concepts that align with my model’s wants?
When you want a freelancer to pitch concepts, contemplate whether or not their preliminary submissions are an excellent match. Is the voice proper? Does the experience land? Once more, this preliminary data can prevent effort and time down the street.
“[When looking for freelancers, I] thought of whether or not their pitches have been a match for our publication and whether or not they have been keen to be versatile with tailoring [the idea] or working with the thought I had in thoughts or that the group wanted to prioritize,” Wolfe remembers. “There’s a push and pull of huge image and getting the nuance proper.”
Hiring a freelancer who understands your model’s voice, tips, and desires can simplify your job and save treasured modifying time.
4. Does this freelancer perceive my viewers?
Discovering the reply to this query could be a delicate balancing act: It’s important to rent writers who’ve experience that may assist your model, however you additionally need to work with individuals who carry new voices to the desk. Nonetheless, to maintain along with your group’s high-level technique, a freelancer ought to have the ability to perceive a model’s viewers and orient content material towards the wants of that group simply.
5. Does this freelancer have the bandwidth to work with my model?
Even essentially the most excellent freelancer can fall brief in the event that they’re working at overcapacity. Dienst suggests asking about availability earlier than making any remaining hiring choices.
“I perceive that juggling a number of initiatives and shoppers will be difficult,” she says. “Relying on the scope and size of the venture, I believe it’s truthful to ask these questions [about time, availability, and schedule] to ensure the freelancer has sufficient bandwidth to take it on.”
Be sure the freelancer can accommodate your inside deadlines on an preliminary venture with time to spare, and contemplate asking about long-term availability as properly.
The underside line
Hopefully, working by means of these questions will lead you to a contract author who creates high quality work, hits deadlines, and communicates effectively. After all, that doesn’t imply that each venture will go completely. Dienst says you want a communicative freelancer, particularly when issues don’t go in line with plan. Once they want clarification or additional leeway on a deadline, an excellent freelancer isn’t afraid to ask. “I’d quite a freelancer maintain me up-to-date in the event that they hit a roadblock that’s going to influence the deadline or finish end result,” she says. “I’m virtually at all times joyful to accommodate.”
