Marketing Copy - Keep Control
Six of the Most Common Mistakes in Using a Freelance Writer
Freelance writers are widely used. Not many organisations can justify full-time employees to perform this highly skilled function, but results are often poor - here's why
Freelance writers are in great demand. You only need to look at sites such as Guru or Elance to see how much work is being outsourced. Yet all too often the work returned on a freelance writing project is deemed unsatisfactory. For those considering this method of outsourcing here are a few pointers to help ensure success.
Don’t Pitch the Writing Project Price too Low
Most freelance web sites are flooded with projects aiming to push the bid price down to around $2 per item of work.
Just pause and think about that for a few moments. Consider how long you think the item of work will take. If a reasonable assessment is that the remuneration will be below the national minimum wage rate for where you are, ask yourself why anyone would take the job.
Chances are that one of the following will apply -
- The applicant is based in a developing country where the remuneration will represent a living wage.
- The applicant is a student or moonlighter, just seeking to add pennies to his income.
- The applicant intends to use software to generate an end product which will have value only in its bulk quantity.
- The applicant intends to plagiarize the work of others and sell it to you as original.
Now ask yourself what the value of the item is to you.
If the value is low you may consider it worthwhile pursuing a low bid. Certainly you can afford to buy from several suppliers and discard the unwanted items in favor of the acceptable items.
Avoid Allowing the Writer’s Bids to Set the Price
By allowing the bids to set the price you lose control of your project. Success or failure in project work can only be measured against predetermined requirements. Determine what it is worth to you and go out to get the best possible ROI.
Allow Sufficient Time for Writing Projects to Come to Completion
All too often people turn to freelance workers when all else has failed and deadlines are really tight. There may be many freelancers out there who relish the challenge of attempting to complete a project against an impossibly tight deadline, but there are far more who just delete them without bidding. Most freelancers are engaged on many projects for many employers at any given time. Give yourself a chance to get the best your budget will allow by having a realistic schedule.
Remember if the freelancer fails to deliver on time you may withhold payment, but you have still missed your deadline.
Always Make Allowance for Revisions of the Writing Work
A good freelancer will include time for at least two revisions in the project schedule. These should incur no extra charge. Keep this in mind when setting the project price.
Pay Attention to Work Samples and/or References in the Bid for the Project
Always ask for samples and websites where content can be checked against claims. Examine these carefully and ask yourself just how relevant the work is to your project.
Establish a Binding Project Plan for the Writing Work.
It's the freelancer who will be doing the work and who has to fit the project into other schedules. Therefore, it is the normal practice for the freelancer to provide the project plan. It should be detailed enough to define the dates when first drafts should be received and when completion and payment is expected. It must never be ambiguous. If the freelancer doesn't provide a plan you should present one and make sure it is agreed.
