An increasing number of companies are deciding to hire freelance bloggers instead of bringing part- or full-time employees onto their team or outsourcing content creation to marketing agencies. This should be no surprise, since an estimated 53 million individuals do freelance work in the U.S., making up 34% of the workforce.
But exactly what is a freelance blogger, and what do they do? Continue reading to learn more about freelance blogging and the pros and cons of hiring a freelancer to supplement your inbound marketing content strategy.
Freelance Blogger Defined
By definition, a freelance blog writer is a person who is self-employed and sells their work and services by the hour, day or job rather than working on a salary basis. While payment arrangements for freelance blog writers are often made up front, payment may also be received upon completion of a piece or project. Freelancers often work from the comfort of home, provided there’s an Internet connection, but they may also choose to work in an office or a local coworking space.
Freelance Copywriting Services Typically Cost Less – But At What Cost?
Businesses often hire freelance content writers because they’re able to pay for the actual work completed, whether that’s by the hour, by the word or under other negotiable terms. And when the freelancer is not writing for the company, the business doesn’t have to pay them. This can be a huge cost savings in comparison to a salaried worker, especially because there’s no need to dole out traditional employee benefits, like health insurance, 401(k) plans or paid vacations.
However, while you may be saving money, the types of services performed are likely low quality. Instead of making your company stand out amongst the sea of websites floating around the Web with high-quality, relevant and thought-provoking content, your blogs could remain undiscovered along with other unremarkable sites.
Remember: just because it’s cheap doesn’t mean it won’t cost you big in the long run.
Freelance Content Writers Are Available In A Pinch, But They Can Walk Away Just As Quickly
Pressed for time? A freelance writer may be able to come to your rescue. Whether you need a last-minute piece during a holiday weekend or require a 24-hour turnaround on a project, freelancers looking for work are almost always ready to dive in at a moment’s notice. Plus, the hiring process is usually as simple as a few back-and-forth e-mails, making freelance blogging a great choice for short-term needs.
That said, the best writers are not usually freelancers, and good freelance writers may be caught up in other projects when you need them most. Not to mention that even if you’ve hired a freelancer to fulfill a specific role, they still have the potential to move on without even batting an eye, leaving you in the lurch.
Keep in mind that freelancers are interested in their own business over yours. A recent survey by Contently shows that 38% of freelancers see setting their own schedule as the best thing about their line of work. Your freelancer may be dedicated to your project today, but they are likely going to complete it on their terms and based on their priorities as well as – or instead of – yours.
Freelance Content Writers Offer A Great Deal Of Flexibility, But Require A Lot Of Management
From short-term to long-term, part-time to full-time, hiring freelance blog writers offers maximum flexibility when it comes to satisfying a particular short-term need. Besides giving you the ability to add additional blog posts into your rotation, freelancers enjoy flexible hours. This means they can work at their own pace and on their own time, letting them create more pieces than you could otherwise expect from a salaried employee. In addition, they can work overnight, on weekends or during any other timeframe they see fit, helping you meet strict deadlines.
On the flipside, freelance content writers won’t be able to help your company build up content creation as quickly as an agency or internal marketing team. Most times, a salaried team of writers can refocus their efforts on a specific project, increasing their content creation capacity without delay. This ability to deliver fast response times to increasing workloads and offering organized strategies for accomplishing goals generally cannot be achieved through freelance blogging alone.
Freelancer Blog Writers Are Typically Experts In Niche Areas, But Are They Expert Writers?
No matter the project, there’s most likely a freelancer out there that provides some level of expertise in your industry. While you’ll definitely need to spend a good amount of time finding the right candidate for your project, you can rest easy knowing the content they create is based on the necessary experience.
On the other hand, consistent performance tends to be one of the biggest drawbacks of hiring a freelance blogger. While someone may look great on paper, they may not provide the level of consistency and professionalism your business demands, leaving you with unsatisfactory pieces of content at the end of the day.
Are Freelancer Blog Writers the Best Choice?
Now that you know a bit more about freelance blogging, you may still be weighing the pros and cons of hiring a freelancer to supplement your marketing efforts. If you’re thinking about outsourcing content creation services to a freelance blogger or an outside agency, but unsure if it’s the right move for your business, make sure to download our free ebook, Outsourcing Content Creation: 6 Essential Questions for Choosing the Right Partner.
About Virtucom Group
Consistent business blogging yields results – more clicks, more subscribers and – ultimately – more conversions. Whether you’re writing an automotive blog, an accounting blog, a healthcare blog or a home renovation blog, blogging for business and content development are useful for any industry. Follow the content writers at the Virtucom Group blog as they share digital marketing tips and discuss website content writing services that can optimize your business blog.
