6 Pro Tips To Successfully Outsource Your Content Marketing
Creating quality content is time-consuming. It requires inspiration, a relevant or timely topic, research, writing, editing and proofreading. Even if you’re a fast writer or you’ve got someone on your team who can turn out good content at a high rate, it will still take some time. If you’re not willing to spend all your energy creating content, then why not leave it to the experts?
Outsourcing is a great solution to help get your content marketing strategy moving along. The downside is outsourcing can get quite costly. But if it’s an investment you’re willing to make, here are some tips to help you outsource successfully.
1. Choose the right freelancer
There are plenty of freelancing platforms you can use to look for the best writers. The general consensus is that when it comes to freelancing, you get what you pay for. So, if you’re only willing to pay very little, you’re most probably going to receive work that won’t ever meet your standards. Poor grammar, typos, irrelevant topics and uninspiring prose can damage your brand’s reputation.
A good writer is worth investing in. Check their portfolio for work similar to what you’re looking for so you know they can create suitable content for your brand. See where their work has been published. Go through their testimonials. If possible, contact a previous client to find out what their experience was like.
2. Provide clear instructions
If your instructions are vague, you’re going to get a piece of work that misses the mark. It’s also frustrating for the freelancer when you’re unclear about what you want because redoing a piece of work repeatedly wastes everyone’s time.
Describe your target audience. Let them know what audience reaction you hope to achieve from the content. Share examples of writing styles you like. Inform them of the platforms you’ll be posting the content on. The more specific and clear you are, the higher the chances of the freelancer nailing the brief.
3. Treat your freelancers with respect
Just because you’re paying someone to help you out, doesn’t mean you can treat them poorly. Don’t haggle over their charges; if you don’t like their prices, find another freelancer. But remember what they say about paying peanuts!
Also, be fair and realistic about deadlines. Remember they have other clients too; they are not at your sole beck and call. If you want them to produce a job overnight, be prepared for a poorer quality result, or possibly having to pay express fees.
4. Have an editorial calendar
An editorial calendar will help you manage and streamline your content marketing activities. Without it, you’ll be all over the place. You wouldn’t know which content types to assign to which freelancers, and you’ll find it hard to keep track of content that’s already been published and what hasn’t.
5. Provide constructive feedback
Freelancers thrive on feedback. But be polite and constructive with your criticism; it doesn’t do anyone any good to destroy a freelancer’s morale. It may even be damaging to your reputation if word spreads about what a tough client you are. Helping your talented freelancers to improve and create content that fits your requirements will help your business in the long run.
6. Build long-term relationships
When you find good freelancers, make it a point to build long-term working relationships with them. They will know your brand inside out, which makes it easier to create content, removing the need to write extensive briefs. They will be more loyal to your brand, and they’ll be more motivated to continue creating high-quality content.
