How to Hire a Content Writer?: The 6-Step Strategy

According to a research conducted by HubSpot, 72% of online marketers consider high-quality content creation as the most efficient SEO tactic. One of the key contributors to a company’s content production process is a content writer. They help build a positive brand image, attract and engage the audience, and increase website traffic through quality content.

This guide will provide you with a 6-step strategy on how to hire a content writer with the necessary steps to keep in mind during the hiring process. We will learn some key metrics you can use to find the right content writer for your brand. 

How to Hire a Content Writer?

Here is the 6-step strategy to help you hire a good content writer for your organization.

Step 1: Identify Your Needs 

Content writers provide tangible results by creating content using diverse content strategies. Therefore, it’s important to identify the brand image of your organization before recruiting a writer. Here is a list of different types of content writers who can assist you with your desired content needs: 

• Copywriter: They are creative, curious, and analytical individuals, who mostly write website copy, infographics, product descriptions, and sales collateral to attract and convert potential customers.
• Technical Writer: They excel at simplifying technical content by writing How-tos, guides, FAQs, instructions, and manuals to provide informative content to the target audience. 
• Social Media Writer: They write captions, video descriptions, hashtags, polls, and promotional material to attract and engage the target audience.
• Blog Writer: They write articles, blog posts, interviews, and research articles with SEO content writing expertise to produce effective content. 

Step 2: Create a Job Description 

A job description is the key to attracting quality content writers. It should summarize the role, duties, responsibilities, and preferred skills required for the position. You can refer to this blog on how to write a job description to learn how to craft an effective job description.

For now, here is a sample job description you can use while hiring a content writer:

About the Company:  XYZ Pvt. Ltd. is one of the leading business media and industry research platforms. Our company is located in Noida with a staff of 120 employees. We focus on creating facts-driven business content referred by top publishers, including WSJ, Forbes, and USA Today.  Job Description:  We are seeking a talented Content Writer to join our organization. As a content writer for XYZ Pvt. Ltd., you will be responsible for creating high-quality, engaging, and informative content for our website and blog with sound SEO knowledge that will help attract the target audience.   Job Title: Content Writer  Responsibilities:  – Conduct simple keyword research and use SEO guidelines to increase web traffic. – Identify customer needs and gaps in our content and recommend new topics. – Optimize content for search engines using keywords, meta tags, and other SEO techniques.  – Coordinate with the marketing and design team to illustrate articles.  – Create and execute a content calendar. – Review, edit, and proofread content. Qualifications: – Bachelor’s degree in English, Journalism, Communication, or a related field. – Impeccable English writing skills along with editing and proofreading skills. – Strong communication and collaboration skills. – Excellent time management and organizational skills to meet deadlines consistently.  Benefits: – Competitive salary (depending on the experience level) – Opportunities for professional growth To apply for this role, attach your portfolio or any two best articles along with your resume and send it to careers@xyz.com

Step 3: Post Your Job Description 

Wondering how to find a good content writer? The next step after crafting a job description is to post it on different job listing platforms. Internshala is a job search platform with a large pool of 25+ million candidates. It also provides an ATS (applicant tracking system) for employees to filter applicants based on personalized criteria. 

You can also check out other job portals in India to find the right candidates. If you are considering hiring a freelancer, you can post a job listing on freelance platforms like Upwork, Freelancer, Behance, and FlexJobs.

Step 4: Review Applications and Shortlist Candidates 

A content writer’s application provides insights into their writing abilities. You can examine their capability and skills by their portfolio. You can also ask candidates for an assignment to get a better understanding of readability, technical accuracy, and consistency in tone and style. A review process helps to comb through the pool of applicants and shortlist the candidates who fit your criteria. 

Step 5: Take the Interview 

An interview helps you assess the writer’s understanding of your brand image, target audience, and content needs. You should ask the candidate about their experience in the content industry, research abilities, and familiarity with content writing tools. 

You can check out these content writer interview questions to ask candidates. Following are the 5 most important questions to ask a content writer during the interview:

1. What are the integral components of good quality content?
2. What is your forte amongst the various content assets?
3. What is the procedure you follow to complete your write-up?
4. Can you explain the importance of target personas while writing content?
5. How do you integrate SEO into your content?

Step 6: Hire!

It is crucial to find the right match for your company. To hire the right candidate, focus on your content needs and collate them with the writing abilities of the candidate. Make sure the content writer you hire has a clear understanding of your expectations and content guidelines. Once you have this in place, send the offer letter and have them onboard!

Absolute Dos While Hiring a Content Writer

Here, we have enlisted some key metrics you cannot miss out on while hiring a content writer.

1. Review Portfolio or Work Samples

Portfolios allow you to get a sense of the type and quality of content they produce. Your content would require a unique tone and style that cannot be delivered by all writers. 

Reviewing portfolios and work samples gives you a comprehensive understanding of their work and capabilities. You are also able to determine if the writer’s style aligns with your content needs and target audience. 

2. Assess Them With an Assignment

An assessment will allow you to assess their writing skills by ensuring they possess the required expertise to write content for your company. Ensure you assess the submitted work based on clarity, accuracy, creativity, and coherence to your content guidelines. 

3. Check Communication Skills

Effective communication skills establish smooth workflow and increase work productivity. You should ensure that the writer can articulate ideas and concepts while sticking to the instructions and maintaining a collaborative work environment. 

4. Inspect the Research Skills

One of the key contributing factors behind good content is research. You should ensure that the writer has substantial knowledge and excellent research skills to create content that is authentic, credible, and provides an understanding of complex ideas to your target audience. 

Conclusion

Learning how to hire a content writer can help you produce high-quality content that engages your target audience and builds a positive brand image. In this blog, we discussed the importance of identifying your content needs and job description to ensure you hire the right candidate. We also took you through the key metrics you need to consider while hiring a content writer for your content needs.

What aspects do you think are crucial while hiring a content writer? Let us know in the comments below. If you are considering hiring a freelance writer, check out these 10 best platforms to hire freelancers.