Looking to hire a health and wellness freelance writer? I have some advice.
You have decided that you need help with content creation for your website. Your blog has been dormant for months, website visits are down, you know nothing about SEO, and product sales have been a little stagnant. Or maybe writing blog posts is just not your idea of a good time and you are totally lacking fresh ideas.
You have decided to find a writer who can help But, how do you hire a professional writer? How do you determine who is qualified in a niche field, like health and wellness?
You could post a job listing on one of the many freelance job boards, but then you have to sort through hundreds of possible applicants. Hiring a freelancer via a job board might be a total waste of time because the barrier to entry is low and many freelance are not really qualified, particularly in writing evidence-based content.
All you want is a good writer to improve your website’s SEO and help your customers get to know you better. How do you find that person?
How to Hire a Health and Wellness Freelance Writer
The first step to finding a content writer that works with your business is to understand what your expectations are for the writer. Do you need just a writer to implement an existing content strategy? Or do you want someone knowledgeable in SEO and marketing, who can help you develop a strategy to reach your ideal customers? If you don’t know WHY you are hiring a content writer and what you expect them to do for your business, it will likely be a waste of time and money.
I might be biased, but if you are in the health space you really need a niche writer who understands the demands of Google in this space and has a good grasp on marketing to your ideal customer. (Our expert team specializes in this!).
Next, start to gather a list of potential writers you want to research. Consider asking a friend for a referral or doing a simple Google or Linkedin search of “your industry writer”. This should give you a few different options to evaluate.
Check the writer’s website to get a feel for their content. A good writer will have a strong portfolio page with samples of previous work. Read through a few of the samples they provide to get an idea of their writing style. If you like what you see, reach out. Most writers have a sales process and are happy to hop on a call to answer any questions you have about their services.
How to Interview a Freelance Writer
There are many questions you may want to ask your writer once you get on the phone, but I recommend you do a little bit of prep work ahead of time. Here are a few questions you should ask yourself before hopping on the call:
- What type of content are you looking for? Writers focus on different types of writing. Do you want sales-focused conversion copywriting? Blog posts? Marketing materials, like white papers? The more specific you can be on the call, the easier it will be for both of you.
- How involved should the writer be? Do you want a writer who understands your business, helps with marketing plans, and becomes part of your team? Or do you just want someone to write, with little involvement?
- What is your budget? Although writers charge differently, have a general idea of your budget. Rates usually correlate with the skillset of the writer, experience level, and if they have any industry-specific expertise. I will say when it comes to freelance writing you get what you pay for.
Interview Questions for a Health Content Marketing Writer
Once you get the writer on the phone. Here are some questions to ask a potential candidate to see if they will be a good fit for you and your needs.
What is your previous experience in writing for my particular type of business?
Ideally, the freelancer should have some degree of demonstrated writing experience working directly with clients. Look for writers that have been previously published on similar websites or worked with wellness brands similar to yours. Any writer should be able to provide multiple writing samples, as well as references from people they have previously written for.
For me, one of my first writing clients was an up-and-coming supplement company. At the time, I honestly didn’t know much about the supplement industry. I also was new to writing. Luckily, they took a chance on me as a writer and nutrition consultant. I learned so much from them about how to start a vitamin business from the ground up. This experience is something I have been able to translate to many other clients in the vitamin and supplement industry since then.
Additionally, since the field of health and wellness is so vast, dietitians and other nutrition professionals tend to specialize in a particular area. Some are specialists in sports nutrition, while others focus on diabetes or weight management. Be sure to ask what the writer considers their specific expertise before you hire a writer to see if there is a match between your goals and theirs.
What is your turnaround time on articles and projects?
Most good freelance writers are juggling multiple projects at once. Therefore, it’s important to get a clear timeline based on how long each article or assignment will take. I would recommend doing a small (paid) “trial” article at first, to see how well you work together and if the writer is able to meet the agreed-upon deadline. This way there is no major time or investment lost if it isn’t a good fit.
On the other hand, it’s important to be realistic about your expectations. Most quality writers will not have a 24-hour turnaround on projects. Quality work takes time. If you need a quick turnaround time, consider hiring a full-time writer for your team.
What is your revision process?
Most professional writers, especially when working with a new client, are used to doing revisions. It’s hard to get everything 100% correct when you are just getting to know each other. Writers are not also mind-readers. But, if they have been writing for a while, they should mention ahead of time the number of revisions they are willing to do. I find that 2-3 revisions are usually fair. This forces you (the client) to really take the time to check out the work and provide feedback. Also, the revisions and feedback should be completed in a timely manner. All of this needs to be agreed upon ahead of time.
Hiring an Expert Health Writer
Once you have the answers to your questions, and you have selected your writer, always work with a contract. This protects the writer and the client and spells out all the details of the project. Be sure to include due dates, payment timelines, and any other important details to ensure a successful project.
Then get to writing!
I hope these quick tips helped in understanding the steps to hire a writer for your blog, website, or business.
Want more info on working with me and my team of expert RD writers? Contact our team to discuss your content strategy and creation needs.
