A No Non-sense Guide on Hiring Content Writers

If you run a business, chances are you've heard of content marketing. Today, it's a must for any business owner who wants to cast a bigger net. You're going to need content creators to establish your online presence.  However, anyone can be a content writer these days. The internet has democratised content through blogs and social media.

Here are tips on how you can narrow down your choices.

Avoid Posers

Every candidate who boasts about their expensive Alma Mater as their defining quality to get hired should be pushed to the bottom of the list.

As a writer, I've encountered a lot of pretentious individuals who milk the wounded or tortured soul stereotype to validate themselves as an artist. People who use creativity as an excuse to be alcoholic and belligerent because hey, totes Hemingway.

If you're thinking of hiring a brilliant jerk, ask yourself if it's worth it down the line. Inevitably, you have to deal with the jerk. It will not only impact your stress levels but also your workplace culture.

Skills and experience should always weigh more than educational background. If in doubt, give a writing test.

Pick the Right Skill Set

Watch out for those jacks-of-all-trades but masters of none.  Journalistic style is different from creative writing. Company websites now feature news and press releases side by side with blog posts and white papers. Each of these copies needs a different style guide.

Determine first what you really need. Do you need news and press releases or blog posts and social media quips? The good news is, writers can be versatile with enough experience.

Identify what you need first and hire accordingly. If you find a whiz kid with a variety of skill sets, examine his/her portfolio. The writer should have knowledge in your niche, keyword optimisation, and content management systems.

Be Careful with Bloggers

Blogging is a great writing exercise. The problem is, bloggers can be hard to work with. They don't have to stick with a style guide. They don't have to appease the spelling and grammar police. Blog readers are much more forgiving than editors. As a result, they can be sensitive to criticism.

Not all bloggers are free-spirited onions. If they only have a blog in their CV, give a writing test to gauge their skills and see how they react to criticism.

Hire a Storyteller

Web-savvy users know it when they're being targeted by a marketing copy. They see ads pop up in different places all the time. Plus, if you're new in the online marketing game, you'll be competing with businesses that have seemingly exhaustible budgets.

Hire a storyteller who can write from a customer's perspective. You'll have relatable content that addresses your target audience's needs.