I've visited many websites who have a section titled "Blog," but it's either rarely used or not used at all.  The purpose of most business websites is to increase the customer base, right? But if someone is searching for your products or services online, if you don't have quality, well-written articles or blog posts, the odds are, few will find it. 

Professionally written articles and blog posts that educate the consumer will help establish a name for the business as well as keep serve to keep brand awareness high and ultimately generate more hits to your site, as well as more customers. Content that is useful also gives the consumer more confidence in your site and increases the chances they will purchase from you.

Having a constant stream of fresh, unique content can bring more traffic to your site in a number of ways:

• Original, fresh content increases the chances of a site's inclusion into human edited web directories that can provide quality target visitors. 
  
• More pages mean that more sites will be indexed in the search engines.
• More keywords on your site equals more visitors.
• A site that offers fresh content also brings more repeat visitors.

Now that you know why you should hire a freelance writer, how do you find the best candidate for the job?

The first step should be to write down as many details about the project as possible. Do you need a writer with specific expertise in technology, sports or travel, etc.? What type of writing style are you seeking - professional, conversational, witty, straight and to the point? How lengthy should it be, do you know how many words will be required? Will the writer need to perform research or do you have notes that you are willing to provide? How soon must it be completed? The more details you can provide to the writer, the better the end product will be.

How do you find potential freelance writers?

The next step is finding a good pool of writers that may have potential to complete the project to your specifications.  

• Craig's List. You might consider placing an ad on a site like Craig's List, although you'll need to keep in mind that the odds of having to weed through a large number of responses that don't meet your requirements could take a lot of your time. 
• Another option is one of the freelance sites that connect writers and other professions to clients for a small fee, such as elance.com. 
• A Google search for freelance writers will bring up a number of writers with web sites who are seeking freelance writing projects as well.  Often you can look at their portfolio, recent work and standard rates to get an idea if the writer is someone you are interested in working with.
  
• Networking. Check with your friends and colleagues to find out if they might have a recommendation.

Selecting the best freelance writer

• When selecting the writer from your pool of candidates, it's important to review references as well as some of their recent work.
  
• While brand new writers may be less expensive, the best freelance writer will probably have at least a few years experience.
• Does the writer have a website? If she/he does, this is a good indication of professionalism as well as dedication to their profession.
• Is the writer dedicated to writing full-time? If the writer has another job, he/she may not be able to put in all the time needed for your project and could be more difficult to reach.
• Cheaper is not better. While there will probably be writers out there who are willing to do your job for pennies on the dollar, it will show in the finished project. A true professional will not accept a job that pays only a fraction of current standard rates which can be found on this report at writersmarket.com. A cheap writer could also be plagiarizing material, which can even get you or your business into legal trouble. Remember, you get what you pay for, and if the writing is filled with grammatical errors, misspellings, incorrect word usage, or just bland, it could cost your business its reputation. If it has to be completely redone, it's not a cost savings at all.

Finalizing the agreement

• Once you've selected the best freelance writer, you should prepare a formal agreement that describes the type of work and the schedule in which it should be completed. If you've never worked with your chosen writer before, it's standard practice to pay a 50% deposit before the work is started and also demonstrates good faith they you are willing to fulfill your end of the bargain as well.
• Come to an agreement on payment arrangements - will you pay in installments as a portion of the work is completed, or pay in full after the job is completed to your satisfaction?
• Once the project is started, keep in touch with the writer and be sure to respond quickly to any questions that may arise and ask for progress reports as necessary. When it is completed, be sure to pay the invoice promptly.

Hiring a good writer can be crucial to the success of your project, and sometimes even your business. While employing a full-time writer on your staff is not always feasible, contracting work to a skilled freelance writer is often a necessary part of business if you want to win a new client over with compelling ad copy, to increase sales of products or services, or to write content that will draw more viewers to your site.


A Freelance Writer Can Save You Money

By hiring a contractor, such as a freelance writer, you don't have to pay taxes, pay for health insurance or vacation days, and if you decide the writer is not a good fit for what you need, you can move on quickly.

While many people have good writing skills, writing online content requires having a knowledge of the specific way to write to bring traffic to your site, as well as the ability to follow AP guidelines, for example. Hiring someone who is experienced in writing online content, and can focus on the task at hand without being interrupted by a number of responsibilities makes more financial sense too. 

Everything written associated with your business should be professional and polished, and without misspellings or grammatical errors.  Hiring a freelance writer will assure the job is done right. It can also make your life easier, and serve to make both you and your business look good.

What types of jobs can freelance writers do?

• Articles can be one of the best ways to draw traffic to a web site, if they are written well and the writer has a strong knowledge of the topic.
  
• Blog posts are a more casual form of article writing. They don't often require research, and are written in conversation style without as much concern for grammar.
• Quality web pages are a must for any business, and a freelance writer can create compelling content that will draw more viewers, and potential buyers, to the page.
• Press releases, e-books, ads and newsletters, social networking, sales reports and promotional materials.

Don't stress out over your next writing project. Let a professional help you get the job done right, and quickly, allowing you to move on to what you do best.

If you want your freelance writing venture to be successful there are a few important rules to always remember. 

• While the cliche' says "It's easier to keep a client than to find one,"  it can sometimes be difficult to do if you take your relationship for granted. While you might have lots of enthusiasm for your first project, it's easy to lose passion and not be as thorough in subsequent projects.  Don't make that mistake. By taking your time, focusing, and doing your very best on each writing project you'll have a much greater chance of keeping the client long term.
  
• Don't take criticism personally. If your client wants a revision made, it is probably not a sign of poor quality work, it may just not be what the client wants. Making money using your writing skills always means providing the client with what they are seeking - not necessarily how you would write something yourself.
• Customer service is crucial in any good working relationship. Always respond quickly to emails and other messages from your client. If you leave them hanging, they will look elsewhere. Being professional at all times is also a must. Make sure you can meet the deadline that is set before accepting any assignment. If an emergency arises, offer to refer your client to another writer who can help if at all possible.
• Proofread, proofread and proofread again. Misspellings and grammar errors will make you look like you don't care about your work. We all make them, but it's important to spot them before you send the finished project to your client.