Content writing has been the best medium of communication as it is the major form of conveying any information to the audience before even the internet. Well-researched and well-written content is what makes a website look better and also keeps your readers engaged.
As a business owner, it might be difficult for you to take time out to create engaging and informative content, which is why hiring a professional could be profitable for your business.
According to Content Management Institute, 49% of small, 50% of B2C organizations, and 75% of large B2B organizations outsource content marketing.
While looking for a professional to help you with content writing, you might be confused between a content writing agency and freelance writers, which one to hire?
Well, it usually depends upon various factors such as business requirements and budget. Before moving to find a suitable option for your content marketing, let’s understand who are freelance content writers.
Who are Freelance Content Writers?
A freelance Content Writer is an individual who is a self-employed contractor, has flexible working hours, and provide content in the form of articles, blogs or social post as asked by their clients.
According to elnacain.com, 55% of people use freelance writing as their main source of income, and 60% of those who took were women. The most popular type of content freelancers produce are:
- Website Copy- 30%
- Copy Writing- 24%
- Emails- 22%
Freelancer writers create all types of content as asked by their clients. They have expertise in a particular niche. A survey was conducted to know about the distribution of the percentage ratio in types of content freelancers create.
What is Content Writing Agency?
A content writing agency is a company that provides support or consultancies during the development of content that can be an article, blog, newsletter, or website content.
They offer various other services like web development, social media marketing, graphic designing, etc.
Choosing an agency can be best for your business if you are looking for highly skilled and optimized content. You can expect the following from a good content-writing agency.
1. SEO Expertise
The majority of online search begins with search engines. A content writing agency is highly skilled in forms of SEO expertise.
2. KPI-Focused Strategies
Good Content agencies always report on performance metrics transparently. The KPI reporting system ensures accountability and shows the agency’s value.
3. Less Risky
An agency is more professional in terms of its work and ensures the completion of work efficiently by having certain authorities.
Which One is Better for Your Business?
Both freelance writers and content writing agencies have pros and cons. Freelance writers charge less whereas a content agency generally demands a high fee. A content-writing agency can provide a variety of services but a freelancer will offer you only content-writing services.
You can go your way to choose either of the options. Determine your business requirements and select accordingly.
Here are some of the points that you should consider while hiring either of the options:
1. Services Offered
A freelance writer can provide you only content writing services whereas a content writing agency can offer you various scopes of services like graphic designing, social media marketing, SEO, digital marketing, etc.
2. Risk
Hiring a freelancer is sometimes risky. A freelance writer may become sick, go on a trip or encounter a personal emergency. You may find it difficult in trusting them if they don’t have proper credentials.
Since the freelancer is an individual and if you are not prepared for such uncertainty then your business may linger. However, an agency is a grounded business so it is more professional and responsible in most circumstances.
3. Cost Effectiveness
A freelance writer may not be expecting a full-time salary and will be charged on an hourly basis. The majority of agencies demand a monthly fee. They also charge extra for planning, strategy, marketing, and analytics.
If you’re simply searching for professional website content writers, you may end up paying for things you don’t need.
4. Expertise
Content writing agencies are highly skilled in several forms and niches of writing. On the other hand, freelance content writers are experts in one or two niches.
5. Priority Level
A content agency is engaged with countless projects. Yet they have a limited number of writers so the website content writers work under pressure to provide quick results that can reduce the work quality.
On the other hand, a freelance worker is an individual, he/ she might focus on work in a better way.
Click here to read: How to avoid communication failure in your company?
What To Look For When Hiring an Agency?
While hiring an agency for your business keep the following points in your mind:
1. Consider Reviews
Established content writing platforms often have reviews, testimonials, or references that you can check out before hiring them.
2. Partnership
Your agency will become a key partner for your content marketing. When it comes to content creation for your brand, they must understand its goals, vision, and expectations. Figure this out upfront so you know what to look for when finding the right service for you.
3. Ask about Proactivity upfront
If you’re actively looking for an agency that will be proactive, let the content provider know. Ask if they’re willing to weigh in on topic development or offer strategic insight at any stage in the process.
What To Look For When Hiring a Freelancer?
Consider the following tips while looking for a Freelance Writer:
1. Skill Level
One of the most important factors to consider is a content writer’s skill level. A good content writer will deliver the right content that fits perfectly in your marketing strategy.
2. Knowledge of your business
While hiring a freelancer do look for how much they know about your company and its goals. Hiring an individual who knows the various terms and jargon used in the industry is good to go.
3. Turnaround Time
One of the best qualities of a good content writer is turnaround time. Any writer who can deliver good quality articles within a few days should always be preferred over writers who take a week to give one piece of content.
Note: You can search for the best freelance writers on various platforms such as LinkedIn, Medium, etc. The image below shows the ways to find freelance writing clients with their percentage ratio:
Final Thought
The future of blogging is bright and it’s the right time to start investing in it for your business. You can either hire a group of content writers and manage them directly or you can contact any agency or freelance writers.
The decision between a content agency and a freelance writer should be based on your specific content requirements. Hiring a freelancer or content agency has certain benefits that shouldn’t be overlooked.
You must consider your flexibility, budget, requirement, and time constraints. Both are better in their own ways.
