How to Outsource Blog Writing Effectively – Save More & Rank Better

If you have an already swamped in-house team, you’re probably considering outsourcing blog writing. And rightly so.

According to the Annual Blogger Survey, it takes a writer 3 hours and 40 minutes to write an article of average length (around 1,400 words).

However, if you want your blog to drive strong results, the same research suggests that writers should spend 6 or more hours on each in-depth piece of 2,000-3,000 words.

Considering that the average blogging frequency can be anywhere from two to four (say, if your blog is less than a year old) to six to eight articles (for more mature blogs) monthly, that’s a lot of work. That could also mean you do need more hands on deck.

So, to get you started, this article outlines everything you need to know about outsourcing SEO blog writing services–from how to outsource writers to metrics to measure your success.

TL;DR – How to Outsource Blog Writing

It’s common for businesses to consider using article-writing services.

One of the biggest reasons is that good writing takes time. And most businesses–especially startups and SMEs–don’t have the resources or manpower to dedicate to content writing alone.

In this article, we’ll cover how you can outsource blog writing in detail. But if you’re in a rush, here’s a preview:

1. Set a budget
2. Establish an outsourcing process or workflow
3. Know your outsourcing options
4. Shortlist your candidates
5. On-board your chosen writer

You don’t have to look far for your content writing partner. We at TrioSEO bring over 10 years of SEO expertise, the bedrock of which is publishing quality content, to help businesses like yours scale faster and easier.

Sign up for a free SEO audit to discover your website’s hidden potential with a full website analysis, keyword ideas, a 30-minute consultation, and more.

Why Businesses Choose to Outsource Blog Writing

If you’re thinking of outsourcing, you’re most likely after these benefits of content writing services:

• Cost savings: Whether you’re following a hybrid model of in-house + outsourcing or outsourcing your content writing 100%, it’s much more cost-effective than hiring a full-time writing staff.

That’s because it eliminates overhead costs like salaries, benefits, and compliance.

• Flexibility: You don’t have to be limited by the capabilities of your in-house team.

For example, if you need niche articles but lack subject matter experts, you can outsource to writers with the expertise you need.

With flexibility also comes the ability to scale your content production more easily.

• Timely delivery: With people focused on writing, you can ramp up content production, since your in-house team isn’t bogged down by the time-consuming task. 
• Higher productivity: Outsourcing content creation can also mean not just the writing itself but also other aspects of publishing content, like keyword research services and SEO strategy.

Delegating these tasks can significantly free up your internal workload so you can focus on the higher-level items on your to-do list.

Key Differences Between Outsourcing Writers and In-House Teams

Think of outsourcing content creation services as a way of expanding your team without incurring the obligations connected to adding full-time staff.

To decide on the route that works best for you, consider these key differences between the two:

Challenges in Outsourcing Blog Writing

Outsourcing can save you time and money, help you grow your business faster, and allow you to focus your energy and creativity on areas that need you.

Sounds like the perfect plan! However, outsourcing comes with unique challenges as well.

Knowing these beforehand will enable you to keep your working relationships fruitful for you and your writers:

• Choosing the right provider: Without a clear sourcing process, it may take you months to find the writer that matches your needs.
• Alignment with brand voice and style: Most independent contractors juggle multiple clients, which can make it challenging to ensure alignment with your brand voice. When this happens, your blog may lose its distinct personality.
• Ensuring content quality: Since you don’t have direct oversight over the writing process, it can also be tricky to ensure the quality of the content.
• Closing communication gaps: Since independent contractors are not fully integrated into your internal team, communicating with them is often outside of your normal workflow or process. This creates the potential for miscommunication.

By partnering with us at TrioSEO, you can avoid these common pitfalls when outsourcing your content creation.

Work with top SEOs and seasoned editors and writers who will help you create content that drives results aligned with your business needs while navigating these challenges seamlessly.

Request a free SEO audit with us to see how our SEO strategy, including content development services, can be the game changer that brings more traffic and leads to your business.

How to Outsource Blog Writing Effectively

If you’re understaffed but want to scale your content production asap, the best way to go is to outsource your blog writing. Here’s a step-by-step guide that you can follow:

1. Set a Budget

According to Semrush’s State of Content Ops and Outsourcing Writing Report, the majority of businesses outsource one to five articles a month. A small percentage of companies (3 to 9%) produce content at scale, outsourcing 21 to 40 articles monthly.

The same report says that most businesses spend less than $1,000 on outsourcing their writing, which also correlates to lower content production. Extremely productive businesses can spend up to $30,000 a month on outsourced content.

The biggest factor for your budget is how much content you intend to outsource. But these will also affect your spending:

• Whether you choose an agency, freelancer, or niche expert
• Your expected turnaround time
• Subject matter or specialization

2. Establish an Outsource Process or Workflow

Before hiring a writer, ensure you have a solid outsourcing process. This should cover the hiring process, quality checks or editing, submissions, payment arrangements, and communication channels.

It also helps to have a point persong, such as a content manage, overseeing the outsourced content writingr. That way, it’s easier to cascade your style guide and protocols, especially ifyou plang to have a largeoutsourcede team.

3. Know Your Outsourcing Options

You have several options for attracting talent:

• Freelance marketplaces: These are platforms like Upwork, Freelancer, and Fiverr, where you can post job ads and select writers from a pool of freelancers who apply. Candidates from here are anywhere from entry-level to seasoned writers building their portfolio from “writing gigs.”
• Agencies: Agencies like TrioSEO have a team of SEOs, editors, outline creators, and writers who can adjust their style and output based on your blog’s purpose, objectives, and personality. They also have access to a diverse set of writers, which means they can ensure the content they produce matches your brand voice.
• Content writing communities: If you don’t like posting on freelance marketplaces because they charge a fee, you can search on online writing communities, like Facebook groups.

However, unlike with marketplaces like Upwork, the hiring process is entirely up to you. Ensure the process goes smoothly by first setting up an outsourcing process. Creating a job ad with complete information will also help you attract the right talent right off the bat.

• Recommendations: Probably the best way to source talent is through recommendations from other entrepreneurs. You’ll find that many independent contractors ghostwrite for business owners, celebrities, and even other bloggers. You can try to find someone willing to share their contacts. 
• Niche expert websites: If you need someone to write for an extremely niche industry or subject matter (for example, media law), it’s best to go for niche experts. These are independent contractors who have websites where you can read testimonials and browse through previous work.

Pro Tip: They’re a bit harder to find, especially since Google’s algorithm favors more widely known websites, like freelance marketplaces and content mills. So try looking beyond the first few search engine results pages when looking online.

Since we mentioned content mills, our advice is to avoid them! Content mills are companies that hire lots of (usually un-vetted) writers to produce content at scale. Their focus is quantity, not quality.

4. Shortlist Your Candidates

Once you have a pool of candidates, narrow your list down with predetermined criteria. This should include your budget, timeline or schedule, content volume needed, writer experience and expertise, and writer reviews from other clients.

Select your writer(s) from this shortlist by:

• Conducting an interview: This can be a written interview or via video or phone call. Your goal at this stage is to get to know your candidates better. Dig deeper to understand things that aren’t clear from their portfolio or website, such as their work ethic and availability.
• Giving a short writing test: A writing test will help you vet your candidates. Take note, though, that many freelancers are wary of tests, as they take up time away from higher-paying gigs (plus, there’s no certainty that their efforts will bear fruit).

So keep the test short and offer to pay for it if you can. Also, make instructions as clear as possible to ensure your candidates understand the assignment.

5. On-board Your Chosen Writer

The test article is typically the litmus test for whether your candidates are a match. So, by the time those are in, you’ll know if you’ve found the one.

Equip your selected writers to succeed by onboarding them properly. Send out a welcome packet that covers important details, such as the types of content writing they’re expected to do, deadlines, payment schedules, and writing guidelines.

How to Choose the Right Provider for Outsourced Content Creation

With so many providers to choose from, how do you ensure you’re selecting the right one? Here are some tips:

• Choose reputable agencies or marketplaces: If you don’t have a recommendation, opt for trustworthy platforms or agencies. Read reviews or ask people about their experience.
• Know industry rates: A content writer can charge anywhere from $15 to $40 per hour,  depending on their expertise and portfolio. Avoid lowballing or hiring from content mills to make sure you’re attracting the right people and prioritizing quality over quantity.
• Always vet candidates: A glowing resume is great, but the true test of skill is the writing itself. So don’t skip the writing test unless you’re 100% sure your candidate has the skill set you need.
• Be upfront about your expectations and needs: You’ll save yourself and providers so much time by simply being transparent about what you need and what you can offer. For example, many businesses leave out how much they’re willing to pay, which is a no-no if you want to set the right expectations from the start.

Metrics to Measure Success in Outsourcing Blog Writing

As soon as you begin working with an external provider, track and measure results to analyze your content’s performance.

Depending on your content objectives, you should be looking at metrics like:

• Organic traffic: The number of people driven to your website through your content.
• Time on page: Total time spent on your content pages.
• Conversion rate: The number of people who respond to a call to action, such as to schedule a discovery call.

You should also measure your writer’s performance based on agreed-upon guidelines, such as incorporating internal links and proper keyword placement.

Tips to Scale Content Marketing Through Outsourcing

You may find these tips useful when planning to scale through outsourcing content writing:

• Leverage content briefs: Content briefs contain all the information your writer needs to create an article that’s informative, engaging, and aligned with your needs. Be as thorough as possible. Remember–it’s better to over-communicate than to miss important details.
• Create a content calendar: Share this with your outsource team so they understand the big picture as well. It helps writers to picture the direction your content is going (for example, if you’re using a hubbing strategy).
• Generate article outlines: Expedite the writing process by coming up with content ideas or topics and generating article outlines yourself. This way, your articles have a uniform structure even when you’re using multiple providers.
• Automate what you can: There are routine aspects of content development (especially when working remotely) that are best automated to save time and ensure seamless collaboration. These include article assignments, submissions, and revision requests.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Looking for more resources on outsourcing your content? These FAQs might help:

How Can Businesses Maintain Brand Voice with Outsourced Blog Writing?

You can maintain brand voice by creating a detailed content brief for your writers. This brief should cover important details, like content objectives, intended audience, and style.

During the hiring process, you can also select writers who specialize in your industry or niche to ensure they speak your “language.”

Is Outsourcing Blog Writing Cost-Effective?

Outsourcing content creation is a cost-effective option for scaling your content production and strategy. The main reason is you’ll only be paying for the content your outsource providers produce, eliminating overhead costs.

Can Small Businesses Benefit From Outsourcing Writers?

Small businesses and startups benefit a great deal from outsourcing writers, especially because they are the ones who need the most support to produce content at scale. Outsourcing helps better allocate your time and resources.

Conclusion

If you need better quality content at scale right now, your best bet is to outsource the content creation to reliable providers.

This way, you can let pros handle that aspect of your business for you, resulting in better content performance (such as conversions and organic traffic) without bogging your internal team down.

The good news doesn’t end there. You don’t have to look far and wide for the right provider for your business.

We at TrioSEO have been crushing the SEO game for over 10 years, scaling businesses to millions using tested SEO strategies anchored on solid, optimized content. Get in touch with us to learn more about how we can do the same for you.