The hyper-competitive landscape of modern business has put increased pressure on companies to ensure profitability. Couple that burden with the uncertainty around healthcare, which is delaying retirement for thousands of American workers, and businesses have become increasingly deliberate when hiring full-time staff.
While having full-time writers on staff has been the historical choice due to convenience, many companies began trying to save cost by eliminating these positions and writing the content marketing themselves. Almost immediately, companies that place too low a value on writing quality begin to feel the impact of the decision. Bad writing can cost up to 40% of the cost of managing business transactions, to the tune of around $400 billion annually. Professional writing is simply too important to cut corners, and it is much more difficult than it appears.
The compromise to which many firms have turned is the freelance community. The necessity companies have identified in reducing overhead cost has bred the invention of a workforce-by-contract. From software coders to graphic designers, bookkeepers to human resource specialists, freelance service providers are in the midst of a revolution. The decision to hire a freelance writer truly allows companies to have the best of both worlds: professional writing content without adding headcount.
10 Reasons to Hire Freelance Writers
1. Better ROI – As employee salary and benefits are typically the highest expense a company pays, companies can achieve better than a 57% cost savings when investing in a capable freelance writer by only paying for the specific project completed without associated overhead and training. This savings is even greater when hiring a writer directly, as opposed to working through an agency.
2. Flexibility – By hiring an external writer, companies have the freedom to be much more selective. If a contract content developer is not meeting expectations, they simply terminate the relationship and bring in a new one. It also allows a company to not have to pay a writer during periods of less consistent writing needs.
3. Independence – Utilizing contract writers allows the company’s full-time staff to concentrate on mission-critical tasks in parallel with content generation.
4. Faster Turnaround – Freelancers are more adaptable to customer timeline requirements due to their flexible schedules. This helps ensure deadlines are met by utilizing time both inside and outside of normal working-day hours as needed.
5. Knowledge and Experience – Contract writers offer access to a diverse base of information and current-industry best practices, increasing an organization’s credibility.
6. Consistency and Professionalism of Writing – When a company decides to hire a freelance writer, their deliverables often gain a familiar style and tone. Rather than spread assignments to various internal personnel, each with his or her own style and approach, funneling all writing on a given project to a contract writer ensures consistency in the language and the insurance of professional, expert writing tone in the voice a company wants its client to hear.
7. Objective Third-Party View of Business – External writers also offer a free assessment of a business, product or project in the education they receive when learning about the assignment.
Freelance writers add instant subject matter experts to your team
8. Improved Innovation by Hiring Specific Experts – As writers expand their value sets as consultants, the decision to hire a freelance writer allows the company to “rent” experience, instantly becoming an expert in the client’s subject matter. For example, hiring an engineering-trained writer provides a [e.g.] marketing or PR firm with instant technical expertise about a specific subject. This gained experience can allow an organization to serve clients outside its normal portfolio.
9. Future Availability / Address Turnover Issue – A major challenge companies face in all disciplines is turnover. An internal writer who provided content for one assignment may no longer be available for a future project for the same client. Using a freelance writer mitigates this risk, providing insurance that a company can count on using the voice the client expects.
10. Freelance Writers Want Relationships – The contract writer is motivated to gain future work, and as a result he or she strives to exceed expectations to build a strong reputation with the hiring company. Conversely, an internal hire may only do the bare minimum on a given task depending on workload, interest level, etc. Hiring a capable freelance writer ensures that a company can provide high-level content for its client.
While internal technical writers offer the convenience of an internal team member with whom to interface, a freelance writer can offer additional flexibility, expertise and energy without adding overhead cost.