Genesis DaviesFreelance Writer

There are plenty of freelance writers on the market, but not all of them are of the quality you might want working on your business content or copywriting. When perusing ads or application emails, here are a few warning signs to keep in mind.

1. One line responses. If you are getting a one line reply to a writing ad you posted, you need to consider the reason behind it. Many writers will try to keep things short and sweet, but a single line may indicate a lack of English writing skills.
2. No samples. You might be willing to hire a new writer, but the fact is that even someone who has never been published before can take the time to write a few samples if they are serious. A lack of samples means the writer hasn´t bothered to take the steps necessary to prove his or her worth to potential employers.
3. Misspellings. You are hiring a writer, after all! We all make mistakes, but if a freelance writer doesn’t even bother to use their spellchecker for a job application, how careful do you think they will be once you hire them?
4. Not following directions. I often advise people to include at least two clear instructions in job ads, as a test. This can be anything from “include contact info” to “please list your areas of expertise”. If writers respond without following directions, you know that they will likely not follow them once hired, either.
5. No website. Ghostwriting is a very common type of writing these days, which means that many freelance writers have no portfolio, so to speak. A writer who has taken the time to set up a website is obviously interested in working professionally and is taking their career seriously.

It´s important to weed out potentially lousy writers at the beginning. Choosing the wrong person can mean that you are stuck with web content and materials that are not up to your standards, so taking the time to select a high quality freelance writer is vital.