How to Find, Vet, and Hire Freelance Writers in 2022

Learn all you need to know to hire freelance writers including where to find them, how much to pay, and how the process works!

To stay top-of-mind in today’s fast-paced digital environment, you need to publish a steady stream of quality content and copy. Between blogs, emails, ads, social posts, and web copy — it can be a lot.

That’s where freelance writers come in.

The best freelance writers come on board, work with your team, and seamlessly help with the production process. But how do you find them? This guide will cover everything you need to know! Learn where to look for freelance writers, how to vet them, how much to pay, and how the whole process works.

Where to find freelance writers in 2022
How to vet freelance writers
How much to pay freelance writers
What to expect from the freelance writing process

5 places to find freelance writers in 2022

Not sure where to find freelance writers for hire? Here are five good places to look.

1. LinkedIn

With 830 million members and counting, LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional networking platform and it’s teeming with talented freelance writers. But how do you find them?

Simply go to the search bar and type in “freelance writer” to get pages of results. If you want to find a specific type of writer (e.g. Freelance B2B SaaS Email Copywriters, Freelance Health Blog Writers, etc.), make your search more specific. Further, you can filter your results by experience level, education, past employers, language, location, and more.

Once you find a freelancer that looks like a good fit, click on their profile. LinkedIn is great because you can see work history, services, writing samples, reviews, and contact info all in one convenient place.

2. Vetted directories

Next, you can browse reputable freelance writer directories. These are kind of like the digital yellow pages for writers. However, not all directories are created equal. Some are endless lists without categories which can make it hard to find the right writer for you. Further, some vet writers for you while others list anyone who pays or signs up.

At All Things Freelance Writing, we have a freelance writer directory that’s free to use, organized by niche, and searchable. We also vet all of the writers to ensure they have experience, strong samples, and mastery of their chosen niche. Once you find a writer that looks like a good fit, reach out. You can find the contact details on each listing.

3. Google search

You can also turn to good-old Google. All you have to do is search for the type of writer you need (e.g. beauty content writer for skin and cosmetics) and Google will provide a list of results. This method offers the unique advantage of letting you see who practices what they preach in terms of SEO. Many writers claim to be content optimization experts, but few can back it up with a top spot on Google!

4. Referrals

Next, trusty referrals. Most trust word-of-mouth recommendations over all other forms of advertising, and for good reason. They come from a trusted source who usually doesn’t stand to benefit from the recommendation. Plus, the person has gone through every step of a writing project with the freelancer and ended up satisfied. That says a lot. Being so, asking around for recommendations from friends, colleagues, and other business owners can be a fruitful approach.

5. Freelancing platforms

Lastly, freelancing platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, and NDash are one of the most popular ways to hire writers. You can join, post a job, and watch the applications roll in — kind of like an upgraded job board. However, there are both pros and cons to consider.

Pros

On the plus side, you gain access to a huge talent pool in minutes. Further, when writers apply, you can review their profiles, learn about their offerings, and see how past clients rated them. Further, some platforms offer personalized support, helping you to find the right writers for your project.

Cons

On the downside, freelancing platforms often come with many rules, restrictions, and costs. For example, On Upwork, it’s against the company’s policy to meet a writer on the platform and then arrange to work with them privately. You must request to take a relationship off-platform and will have to pay a conversion fee if it’s before the two-year mark. The conversion fee is equal to 13.5% of the writer’s estimated earnings over a 12-month period, and breaking the rule can result in a permanent account suspension.

Then, there are the fees. Both clients and freelancers pay fees on most platforms. For example, Upwork charges a 5% fee on all payments made to the platform from clients. Further, it charges freelancers:

20% on their first $500 in earnings from a client
10% on the next $9,500
And 5% after that

Often, writers increase their prices on freelancing platforms to account for these fees. You’ll have to weigh the pros and cons to decide if a platform is right for you, and which platform is best.

What people are saying….

Logan Derrick, Founder of Pure Inbound, says, “I’ve tried both Upwork and LinkedIn, and found successes (and disappointments) on each platform. The greatest freelance writer I’ve ever had the pleasure to work with is someone I collaborate with frequently on Upwork.” He adds, “It’s easier to find “qualified” people on LinkedIn. But for some reason, the people I find on Upwork are more reliable and consistent.”

Additionally, Tammy Sproule, Director of Content Marketing at ETQ, says, “My company has been using nDash for about 4 years and we have a great working relationship with them.” She adds, “We just expanded our services to include SEO content as well. They are absolutely amazing to work with, and are always trying to make my life easier when it comes to content production and ideation.”

How to vet freelance writers

Next, you’ll need to vet potential writers to ensure they’re a good fit for you and your project. This can help you save lots of time and headaches down the road. An ounce of prevention is really worth a pound of cure. Here’s what to look for.

1. Check the niche

All freelance writers are not the same. Most specialize in certain industries, and often, certain types of writing (e.g. SEO content, email, social posts, etc.) It’s important to make sure that the writer you hire has the expertise required for your project.

2. Review samples

One of the most effective ways to gauge a writer’s skills is to carefully review their portfolio. The proof is in the pudding! While a writer may have years of experience and great marketing skills, you can find out all you need to know about their writing chops by reviewing their work. Keep in mind that the samples they’re sending to clients should be their absolute best work. If they’re not up to your standards, keep looking.

3. Consider experience

Another factor to check out is the writer’s background. How long have they been writing? Time in the occupation can help writers master their skill sets and fine-tune their processes. However, expertise comes at a higher cost. If you’re looking for a more affordable writer that you’re willing to train, you may want one with less experience.

Additionally, consider a writer’s background. When you need a subject matter expert, you may want someone with time in the field — like a teacher who is now an education writer or a nurse who is now a medical writer.

4. Read reviews

You can learn a lot about a writer’s strengths and weaknesses from their reviews. In many cases, you’ll begin to see trends emerge. For example, clients may repeatedly praise a writer’s conversational tone or SEO expertise. On the flip side, they may repeatedly mention late deliveries or missing a piece’s key points.

You can find reviews on the writer’s website or across their online business profiles (Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, freelancing platforms, etc.) Keep in mind, third-party ratings are harder to fake, forge, or erase so can offer more insight than self-published testimonials.

5. Note past clients

Another way to learn about a writer is to check out the clients they’ve worked with in the past. Do they have experience with clients in your niche? Have they worked with any industry leaders? As writers progress in their careers, they often work with increasingly recognizable brands. While that can mean increased expertise, it also often means higher rates.

6. Talk pricing

In order for a freelance writer to be a good fit for your project, they must be within your budget. Being so, have the pricing conversation early! You don’t want to waste your time or theirs. However, to have that convo, you need to have your project details ironed out.

Tip: If you’ve never created a brief before, check out our free downloadable template. You can use it as is or as inspiration to create your own.

7. Check availability

Another important factor to consider when you hire freelance writers is their availability. One of the first things you want to find out is if they have the bandwidth for your project. Some writers will be available right away, while others may have waiting lists booked out for a year. Be sure to explain your project and find out if your writer can get it done within your desired timeframe.

8. Consider communication

Effective communication is a crucial part of an enjoyable productive client-freelancer relationship. It’s important that you and the writer are a fit in terms of work hours, response times, and communication styles. If you’re having trouble in the initial conversations, that’s usually a red flag.

How much to pay freelance writers

Now for the big question — how much should you pay freelance writers?

Unfortunately, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all easy solution when it comes to pricing. Fees can vary greatly from one writer to the next based on factors like experience, skillset, and reputation. It’s typically best to create a detailed assignment brief for your project and have a budget in mind. From there you can reach out to writers and share your budget or ask them for quotes — clients do both.

To get an idea of what the going rates are for different types of copy and content writing, you can refer to the AWAI pricing guide. Here are some of the ranges it offers:

Optimizing webpage copy for SEO: $100 to $400 per page
SEO copy for a 5-6 page website: $1,500 to $3,500
Single PPC ads: $25-$250 per ad
Home page: $450 to $4,000
Sales page: $450 to $10,000
Standalone sales email: $250 to $2,000
Articles (400 to 1200 words): $75 to $300

Also, keep in mind that certain aspects of your project can affect the price you’re quoted. For example, if you’re on a tight deadline and need a project completed urgently, be ready to pay a rush fee.

How freelance writing projects work (11 steps)

Lastly, if you’ve never hired a freelance writer before, you may be wondering what the process looks like from start to finish. Here’s a quick overview of what to expect:

Project overview: Once you find a potential writer, you’ll need to explain what you need. This is often done best with the use of an assignment brief.
Get a quote: Next, share your budget or ask the writer for a quote — either work. If it’s a match, great! If not, return to step one with another writer.
Agree on terms of the project: With a writer on board, you need a contract. It should outline the scope, deadline, response times, number of revisions, pay amount, and payment terms. You, the writer, or both may supply it. At this point, you’ll also want the freelancer to sign necessary paperwork like NDAs and W-9s.
Writing: Next, the writer will work on the project and deliver it by the due date (hopefully).
Review: Once you receive the draft, review it and see if it meets all of the requirements set out in the brief. Be sure to respond according to the response time expectation you set with the writer (e.g. within 3 business days).
Possible revision rounds: If you want the writer to make changes, and they’re in line with the original project scope, request revisions. However, keep in mind the number of revision rounds your writer included with the price.
Acceptance: Once you’re happy with the piece, let the writer know.
Payment: The writer will send you an invoice and you’ll issue payment — usually via check, wire transfer, or a payment processor like PayPal. Depending on the terms of your contract, you may get a discount for paying early or a penalty for paying late.
Publishing: Now that you’ve paid for the content, you own it and can publish or share it wherever you want. Some writers will handle publication for you if you pay an additional fee.
Feedback: Let the writer know how the project went from your perspective and consider leaving them a review.
Next steps: If you have more projects to complete and you’re happy with the writer, you can rinse and repeat. If not, you can start over with a new writer.

Resources to help you hire freelance writers

Want some more help? Here are some resources to bookmark: