Businesses outsource a wide range of tasks to qualified professionals who can help them get more done in a shorter amount of time. According to SBA, some of the most commonly outsourced business functions include sales, human resources, accounting, customer service, and marketing, which can include content creation.
If you haven’t considered outsourcing your business’s content needs to freelance writers and content writing services, it’s worth taking a look at the myriad benefits that this strategy can provide.
Continue reading to dive into the importance of outsourcing when it comes to content creation, and to learn why so many businesses are choosing this route.
Why Outsource Content Creation?
Sure, you can take on all of your content creation tasks by yourself, or you can ask one of your current employees to take on this responsibility. However, there are plenty of reasons why this may not be the best idea and why outsourcing might be the smarter path.
1. Outsourcing Might Help Your Business Save Money
When it comes to running a business, it’s all about numbers. You want to be sure your venture is profitable and that your business isn’t overwhelmed with expenses. Being cautious and making wise decisions can help boost the odds that you will reduce costs while also providing high-quality products and/or services to clients and customers.
One reason many companies opt to outsource content creation, in particular, is because it helps them save money.
Of course, it’s necessary to carefully analyze your income and your costs of doing business. But once you crunch some numbers—and factor in the costs of training, equipment, salary, benefits, sick days, vacation days, and overhead expenses—you might realize that hiring an in-house writer is more expensive than working with a freelance writer.
According to ZipRecruiter, the average salary of a content writer is roughly $50,000 annually, but some writers demand more than that based on their skills and experience level. Adding this expense to the other costs of operating your business might be challenging. At the same time, though, having content that generates leads and increases conversions is also an important part of running a successful business.
Hiring an experienced freelance writer means you can bring someone to the team who:
- knows how to develop quality content on a consistent basis, and
- has the equipment they need to get the job done right.
You can pay them for the work that they produce when they produce it, and you don’t need to pay them every day if you don’t need them to work every day.
If you opt to pursue content outsourcing for your writing needs, you can get the best of both worlds: you may save money while also ensuring you don’t sacrifice the quality of your content strategy.
2. You Can Find Expert Writers To Cover Any Topic
You can search for self-employed freelance writers on your own, or you can opt to work with a content creation platform that connects you with highly skilled writers. Either way, you’ll be able to connect with content producers who are capable of covering a wide range of topics.
Versatile writers can write effectively within multiple industries, thanks to their strong research skills and ability to match their writing voice to a particular brand. They’re also used to working for various clients, each with its own set of unique needs and expectations, so these writers know how to adjust their work to suit your requirements.
If you’re ready to outsource content creation, consider the type of business you operate, as well as the type of strategy you want to implement. Then hone in on the expert writers who have experience writing for your industry, are excited to work for you, and have the time and resources to deliver the materials you need.
3. You Can Find Writers to Create a Variety of Content Types
When you outsource writing tasks, you can commission a wide range of content types. Examples include:
- blog content
- website copy
- ebooks
- white papers
- email copy
- social media posts
The possibilities are endless when you have writers who are ready to take on projects as they arise.
Because you can test so many different types of content, you can try things out to see what works and what doesn’t. Over time, you can figure out where most of your attention should go to reap the biggest returns on your investment in content marketing. And, if you hire more than one freelance writer, you can test out different voices and styles to see what type of writing resonates most with your target audience.
4. You Can Get the Content You Need Fast
Content marketing requires a lot of time, consistent effort, and attention. For example, the average blog post published in 2019 took 3 hours and 57 minutes to write.
It’s easy to become overwhelmed when you’re trying to do it all, while also managing other aspects of your company. Having someone else focused on crafting content that suits your brand can reduce your stress level and help you avoid burnout. If you won’t need to worry about doing it all yourself, you have more time to focus on other critical aspects of your business.
Here’s an example: if you need to deliver new content in a short span of time, such as a week, you can assign this task to a freelancer who will get it done. Even if you hired an in-house writer, they’d likely be trying to fulfill multiple tasks or meet several deadlines, and they might not always have enough time to get extra assignments done in a timely manner.
Also, if you opt to work with a content writing service, you can gain access to a team of highly qualified professionals who know the ins and outs of content production and content marketing. When you need to have something written in a pinch, they can take it on for you, leaving you with one less thing to worry about.
5. Sticking to a Publishing Schedule Is Easier
Coming up with a publishing schedule is one thing; sticking to it is another story. Many business owners and managers have a lot of things to tackle on a daily basis, so content creation and marketing might be put off if other tasks take precedence.
To make content marketing work, you need to put in the work. It requires strategy and creativity. It’s best to be familiar with various rules and guidelines, such as best practices for SEO. It’s a lot to juggle, and it can be hard to prioritize a new blog post alongside your other business priorities.
Hiring freelance writers may help set your mind at ease. They will be there to support you, and they can help you get things done on or ahead of your deadlines. Your content can be comprehensive, easy to understand, and on-brand. And you can rest assured that your content will be released on time so you won’t skip a beat.
6. You Can Hire Multiple Freelance Writers
You can choose to outsource article writing to a single freelancer who will be tasked with creating all of the content you need. But there are advantages that come with hiring more than one freelancer at the same time, too.
For example, if you want to have a variety of voices on your blog, multiple writers can help you achieve that goal. Or if you want to tap into the knowledge offered by several experts, this is a good way to do so. If you want to be sure you won’t have to worry if a writer can’t meet a deadline, having more than one writer available is wise.
Another perk of outsourcing to more than one freelancer: you can adapt to seasonal changes quickly and easily. If you suddenly need to have a lot more content produced, or if you need content produced quickly to discuss a current event that’s impacting your business, you won’t need to fret about having the manpower to get it all done efficiently and correctly.
Overall, hiring more than one freelance writer may provide you with more flexibility than you’d have if you hired one full-time, in-house writer. Plus, if you do find that a particular freelancer isn’t living up to your expectations, it’s simple to move on to a different freelancer. The same can’t be said when you hire an in-house writer as an employee.
Take Advantage of Content Creation Benefits with the Help of Freelancers
The benefits of outsourcing your business’s content creation are clear, whether you’re worried about being able to come up with a content marketing strategy that will work or you have concerns about maintaining a consistent publishing schedule. Also, if you simply don’t have anyone within your organization who can take on the writing projects you need to get done, one or more freelance writers can take care of handling those tasks for you.
With the right strategy and team of writers in place, you can save time, reduce effort, and maybe even prevent burnout. With so many talented content producers and writing services out there, it is surprisingly easy to begin reaping the benefits of outsourcing right away.
About the Author
Lisa Selvaggio has been freelance writing, editing, and proofreading since 2012. She’s worked with a variety of clients across various industries, including health and fitness, pets, business, lifestyle, real estate, and tech.