When I am looking for additional work, I browse through Craigslist. Many of the other writers I know do the same. There are also a few sites that will post ads for writers.
If you’re looking for a writer, you’ll probably need to write an advertisement for the position. It’s not difficult to write an ad, but writing an ad that brings in the right writer can be a little tricky. I’ve read thousands of ads since starting my career as a freelancer; only a small percentage have been well-written and informative about the job.
Start by stating, clearly, what services you are looking for. Do you need a copywriter, a blogger, a content writer, an article writer, or a social media specialist? Say so. If you are looking for experienced writers or writers with a certain degree, add that in there. Just keep in mind that there are writers out there with doctorate degrees and years of experience that can hardly write, and newer writers that can provide exactly what you are looking for.
Tell the writers a little about the product or business they will be writing about. A lot of writers have a few areas they specialize in. I tend to gravitate towards healthcare and real estate writing. I know other writers who love to write about law. If you’re looking for writers who have a lot of experience writing about your topic, they need to know what the topic is.
Mention the specifics. What do you need? List the projects that the writer will be working on, as well as the expected turn-around time. Turn-around time isn’t as important if you’re willing to give the writer an extended period of time to complete the project. However, if you need five articles written by the following day, the writers reading your ad really need to know that. You’ll narrow down the number of responses you get, and you’ll know that the writer you choose to work with understands your expectations.
Finally, you need to decide whether or not to list the amount you are planning to pay for the writer’s services. There are two ways to approach this. I prefer to see what you’re offering in the ad. I don’t want to waste my time, or yours, by applying for a position that won’t pay what I am worth. Even if the best you can do is a ballpark figure (ex: I can pay between $200 and $300 for the project, depending on your experience and abilities), the writers can choose for themselves if your ad is one they want to pursue.
The other side of this is that sometimes posting a number can bring in a ridiculous number of (unqualified) responses. This is especially true if you are offering a generous rate. For a lot of newer writers, anything that pays more than $10 or $15 for a 500 word article is fantastic pay. If you’re willing to pay $25 or more, you’re going to get hundreds of responses. Sure, you’ll have more than enough writers to choose from, but do you want to read that many replies? Probably not. The best way to avoid this is to be very clear about the qualifications you want the writer to have.
If seeing a resume is important to you, ask for it. Not all writers will include it automatically. The same goes for writing samples.
Please don’t ask the writers to create something new, just for you, as their sample. I see ads doing this all of the time, and I know that there are writers who are busy writing something, just for a position they might get. It’s not fair to the writer, and, to a professional, it looks like you’re just trying to steal content for your site.
If you follow all of this advice, you’re showing that you care enough about your company to put a little extra effort into finding the right writer for the job. As a writer, that tells me that you’ll care about my work, and that you already know what you’re looking for. It tells me that you’re going to be a client that I really want to work for.
