Freelance writers and those who have hired a freelance writer: How was the experience? What was positive and/or negative, and what worked and didn't work about it? Please be specific, and please do not use ai-generated content.

As a freelance writer, I have learned the value of long-term client relations. They might not agree with your price increases but will have consistent work to handle your bills. You might see the need to hire writers to help if you want to grow to an agency and specialize in writing for a niche like health, technology, education, or Engineering.

Yes, for B2B SaaS Reviews, I've hired 10+ freelance writers. In general, my experience has been great. Only one "flaked out" on the assignment (and they weren't really a freelance writer, but a practitioner who said they would be up for a freelance writing assignment.) The freelance writers I've worked with have been professional, speedy, and thoughtful. In my experience, what worked best was finding freelance writers who were willing and able to source input from experts to include in the content. Infusing the content with the voice of experts and authorities on the topic adds a lot of credibility to the piece and differentiates it from AI and low-quality content. Also, writers who made original screenshot images with arrows and text to show the reader something specific is a great value-add that AI can't provide. What didn't work was the combination of my ignorance of freelancer writer costs, and my inability to know what would make for a strong "EEAT" post. For example, early on in the development of content on B2BSaaSReviews.com, I worked with one freelance writer who turned out to be on the very high end of the cost-per-word spectrum — 87x what a SurferAI post would cost — and delivered a piece that was comparable in quality to what SurferAI would make. In general, you get what you pay for, but it certainly helps to know a rough cost range and what good looks like for content that could rank or do what you need it to do for you business.

I have been a regular freelance writer for 13 years and the number one thing companies do wrong when working with freelancers is poor communication. Often, companies will talk with a number of freelancers, but they'll only tell the ones they've decided to work with. The ones the company doesn't want to work with are generally left in the dark about the company's decision. This is not how you deal with freelancers. Companies should have templates on hand for form messages when they've decided not to work with a freelancer so they can easily send out a message to let freelancers know if they can expect to be getting some work from the company or not. It's so easy to send out a form template nowadays that companies really have no excuse for poor communication. Something else companies need to do better with is knowing if a project is 100% going forward or not. I've had many companies tell me they'll be ready to go on a certain date and lead me to believe something is going forward only to disappear when that date comes because they are not as prepared as they thought they were. If you engage with a freelancer, you should know with 100% certainty that your project is going forward and you will have the budget you need to complete it. If you are telling freelancers that you are ready to go only to have to cancel the project (or, in worst-case scenarios, ghost the freelancer and pretend you never had a conversation with them), then your company is poorly organized and you need to address that. I've had many wonderful freelancing experiences with various companies, but when it goes sour, those are usually the two main culprits. Lack of communication and lack of organization is not acceptable if you are looking to hire freelancers. Get your proverbial ducks in a row first and have a minimum amount of integrity before you look to work with a freelancer.

I've been using freelance writers for the last 3 years to write content for me. On the whole the experience has been positive. The only problem I've encountered on a repeated basis is writing that is rushed which ends up having spelling and grammar errors. This is usually because the freelancer has taken on too much work and cannot easily meet their deadlines. Otherwise, as long as you create a clear and detailed brief, the writing typically meets my expectations.

I have experienced both sides of the freelance writing spectrum: being a freelance writer hired by others and later becoming a solopreneur who hired freelance writers to assist my clients. One crucial aspect that greatly benefits freelance writers, regardless of their level of experience, is receiving a clear and concise brief. By this, I don't mean merely providing them with copy points and content format. It entails sharing the keywords, objectives, tone and manner, and other pertinent details about what you aim to achieve with the content. I have found it particularly helpful to run through the content strategy of the client with the freelance writer. This gives them a deeper understanding of the brand and its messaging, enabling them to introduce creative ways to effectively present the copy points you have provided. By stepping into the client's shoes, they can better align their writing with the client's vision.

I am in the academic and content writing field but I must say, hiring freelance writers is tough. Some freelance writers don't even understand what they do. There was a time I needed freelance academic writer urgently for some gigs. 99% of those who applied shared irrelevant samples (that are not related to academic work). Also, some of them understand what they do but their work is of low quality. As a content writer myself, I understand that it's hard to see writers who truly understands what quality content means and be able to write it. So what I do is add writers that are great to my list so that when next I need one, I will select one of them rather than looking for a new one. If I don't do this, I will talk to other writers to recommend freelancers they trust their work. This really works for me.

I often hire copywriters on Fiverr or Upwork for my SEO clients. Today, after several years in the industry, I consistently work with the same individuals. I must say that, except in a few cases, the experiences have been very good. For me, the key lies in one thing: providing clear and concise content guidelines. It's challenging to expect someone unfamiliar with a topic to write about it effectively, so detailed guidelines—including the keywords to use, proposed article structure, and examples of similar articles—can greatly impact the final result.

I'm a freelance writer who has hired other freelance writers as part of my time. Until I made my first hire, I didn't realize the complexities businesses face in choosing and working with freelancers. This gave me a unique perspective on my role as a writer and how I can give myself an advantage when approaching new clients. In my experience in hiring freelance writers, I realized the value of overcommunicating and the need for consistent processes. I had to be very specific about formatting needs, how to submit content, etc. And even with step-by-step instructional videos, some of my writers still didn't "get it." I hired a great writer based on her writing samples. I made timely payments, gave positive feedback, and kept solid lines of communication. She seemed genuinely excited to work together. But within a few weeks, she completely ghosted me. A few days later, she posted on LinkedIn begging for freelance writing work. To this day, I'm still not sure what pushed her away with no explanation. Overall, hiring freelance writers was a mostly positive experience. But it can be a very mixed bag. I don't think writing samples alone are enough to make quality hires. I would suggest looking at the full package: Who they've written for, their track record, portfolio, pay expectations, how they communicate, and references. Also, don't underestimate the power of a paid trial. These can usually tell you everything you need to know and set the tone for what's to come.

I am the author of nine published books and someone who has been contributing/freelancing in the writing arena for over 30 years. Magazines, newspaper, and online media are great to work with and understand the word "freelance." Companies, however, tend to treat you like an employee and expect you to attend meetings upon meetings when you are only paid to write. Freelancing is a service/contract work. Be specific with what you want and when. Then let them deliver! Freelancers - be sure to deliver high quality content and ON TIME. It's a great relationship when it is handled properly.

Hello! My name is Rachel and I've been blogging and freelance writing for 5 years. For the last two years, I've outsourced and hired writers for my three travel websites - Caribbean Uncovered, Barcelona Uncovered, and Oahu Travel Secrets. While outsourcing overall, in my opinion, is always a positive experience, I started outsourcing around the time AI was booming. Because of this, it took much longer to find the quality of writer I was looking for. What I've learned? Always request a test article for yourself (not a portfolio, since portfolios are filled with their "best" and sometimes outdated writing). If a writer produces a low-quality test article (consider: AI, poor grammar, not the tone of voice I'm looking for), I thank them for their time and pass. If they're unwilling to put their absolute best foot forward on article #1, their content will not be up to my standards. Out of approximately 15 test articles over the last two years, I've come out with 4 writers who have excelled and exceeded my expectations! As a freelance writer, I've written for some incredible websites and people, but it's not always consistent. I lost clients due to seasonality, updates, or long-term vacations. Learning someone's writing style and processes can be difficult, but it's a great way to earn income if you can keep a consistent client base. Please let me know if I can answer any more questions about hiring or writing! Thank you. Rachel

My experience of hiring a freelance writer has been positive. I can employ writers who specialise in particular topics to get the required content. Sometimes, communicating and meeting deadlines is tough, but I manage it through regular updates and clearing the requirements beforehand. Another issue is hiring quality and reliable writers, but my hiring process includes writing assessments. It helps shortlist writers who are professionals and deliver quality content.

As a PR solo practitioner, I rely on the expertise of freelance writers. My passion is pitching and media relations, but after many years as a TV promotion producer and writer, I can create a quick and catchy subject line and open in an email, but for an AP style release and accuracy, I need a freelancer's expertise. I also want to use my time wisely, so instead of getting stuck writing and editing, I am able to help research the best people to pitch, and gather the other elements of the pitch, like images, b-roll, etc. When you find a great freelancer, you can rely on them and grow the relationship and your network. It is also an affordable option versus an employee, and I prefer to run my business using experts who can help me complete client goals using the best of the best.

Hiring a freelance writer showered innovative ideas into our tech-savvy firm. Their fresh, external outlook helped shape content resonating with our work philosophy. Challenges surfaced in immersing them in our tech-jargon dominated space, but with effective communication, this barrier was surmounted. The flexibility of a freelance writer amplified our brand's vibrancy, making it a worthwhile experience.

Hiring a freelance writer for dasFlow's content needs was overall a positive experience, significantly enriching our blog and social media presence with high-quality, engaging content. The positive aspect was finding a writer whose style and expertise perfectly aligned with our brand, bringing fresh perspectives and insights into the athleisure industry. However, the challenge lay in establishing clear communication and expectations around deadlines and revisions, which took some time to streamline. What worked well was setting up a detailed briefing process and regular check-ins, ensuring both sides remained aligned on content goals and timelines. A less effective approach was initially giving too much creative freedom without sufficient guidance, which led to misalignments requiring revisions. Over time, developing a structured feedback loop and maintaining open lines of communication greatly improved the process and outcomes.

Over the years I have had both positive and negative experiences working with freelance writers, but lately it has been challenging because of the use of AI. However, overall my experience is positive as working with a freelance writer is cost-effective, they bring a fresh perspective to the table and they offer unique insights that may not be always available within our agency. And to avoid any negative experiences, I recommend establishing clear communication from the very beginning which means setting expectations, providing detailed guidelines and most importantly being open to feedback. Also, do your due diligence in researching and vetting the writer before hiring them.

As a digital marketer, I've hired many freelance writers over the years. Overall, a positive experience. The key is finding the right fit. Someone who understands your brand voice and goals. Communication is crucial. Clearly convey expectations upfront. Provide detailed briefs and feedback. When it clicks, freelance writers bring fresh perspectives and specialised expertise. They can be nimble and adaptable to evolving needs. However, consistency can be a challenge with multiple writers. Building long-term relationships with a reliable stable of freelancers is the ideal scenario. It takes effort but pays off.

I regularly hire freelance writers and appreciate the ability to engage a diverse range of talents, organizing them into specific categories such as business writing and general topics like comparison of products. However, a significant downside is the necessity to vet numerous writers thoroughly to ensure their content is original and not AI-generated. This is crucial to avoid damaging my brand's reputation or facing penalties from Google due to plagiarism or AI-generated content.

A standout positive has been the fresh perspectives and specialized knowledge these writers bring, allowing us to cover a broader range of topics with authenticity and depth. This diversity of content has significantly enhanced our platform's value, attracting a wider audience and establishing us as a thought leader in the SEO space. However, one challenge has been ensuring consistency in voice and quality. Freelancers, with their varied writing styles and understanding of our niche, sometimes deviate from our brand's tone. To mitigate this, we developed a comprehensive style guide and initiated a more rigorous editorial review process, which has greatly improved content coherence. This experience underscored the importance of clear communication and guidelines in leveraging freelance talent effectively, striking a balance between fresh content and a unified brand voice.

My freelance work ranges from creating landing pages to writing blogs for specific clients and organisations. Once, I made all landing pages for a newly launched astrology website, sitting in the comfort of my home. Yes, my experience is positive, and I support taking on freelancing projects whenever possible. However, a clear brief highlighting the requirements and regular coordination with my mentor when preparing the basic framework is paramount. Moreover, I prefer working with clients who provide a partial payment upfront and the remaining upon project completion. I usually prefer working in a shared workspace to keep each other continuously updated. This approach ensures commitment from both parties and mitigates potential issues that may arise with time. Remote work provides flexibility, making it an attractive option in times of need if managed efficiently!