I make contact with about 50 companies a week to advertise my Freelance Writing Services. Many times, a company knows when and if they need a writer. But for every one of them, there is a business or individual who doesn’t know how a freelance writer can help them. Let’s look at the various businesses and individuals who have used my services – from this short list, perhaps you can decide if you need to hire a freelance writer or not.

Public Relations, Marketing, and Graphic Design firms sometimes use the services of freelance writers. Many of these firms have their own writing or creative staffs and sometimes they do not. If they do, a writer may receive a polite “no thank you”. Sometimes the current workload is more than the in-house staff can handle – in this case, a firm may want to hire a writer. Most of us freelancers can write brochure copy, web copy, advertising copy, and direct mail copy. Many of us can also write white papers, case studies, annual reports, press releases – the list goes on. If you’re a small shop, you can appreciate the fact that the workload can become too large. If you’re struggling to keep up the front end, consider hiring a writer to work on your communications and creative pieces.

Small Businesses sometimes need a freelance writer or desktop marketer – and they don’t know it. Many freelance writers also design basic marketing materials, such as postcards, fliers, brochures, and newsletters. In cases like these, a small business with a small marketing budget may get more “bang” for the buck if they hire a freelance writer/marketer. Not only does it cost less, you’ll be engaging another small businessperson. For small business owners who aren’t quite sure of the need for a writer/marketer, here are a few things to consider. Do you pay a large sum of money to keep a marketing firm on retainer? If so, consider switching to a writer/marketer who may charge by the project. Do you have local visibility? If not, think about what you could do with a few well-written and catchy postcards, fliers, or brochures. Do you want to increase sales? Who doesn’t, right? A writer/marketer can design a direct mail campaign for you – you can offer a discount, a coupon, whatever, to get prospects in the door and turn them into customers. Once you have your customers, think about sending out a monthly newsletter – your writer/marketer can write the content and design the publication for you. If you have a small marketing budget or have never really thought about how to effectively market your business, consider contacting a freelance writer/marketer.

Large companies sometimes use freelance writers, as well. Of course, these companies may have in-house marketing and communications departments, or have an established relationship with a firm. But who writes internal publications – newsletters, articles, communications, training materials? Who writes annual reports, regulatory communications, or other documents? If you’re a corporate PR Manager, Communications Manager, HR Director, or Marketing Manager, think about the time you and your staff spend on writing publications and communications. There’s a possibility you could outsource the writing to a freelancer and utilize your staff for the front line items on your list. Maybe management has been asking you for publications like these and they’ve always fallen to the bottom of your list due to a lack of resources. A freelance writer could definitely help you move these projects.

Entrepreneurs and individuals, especially in the age of Web 2.0, are becoming another segment of business for freelance writers. The digital documents field is becoming quite lucrative – places like Clickbank.com have enabled us to write and sell all kinds of publications, from how to game online, to investments, parenting, crafts, and hobbies. Maybe you have a great idea for a useful publication but can’t quite get it down on paper. There’s no shame in admitting that you’re not the best writer in the world – if we were all great writers, a few of us would be out of a job. If you find a freelance writer who has written e-books, white papers, or even print books (fiction and non-fiction), he or she can help you organize your thoughts, help you with the structure, and write the material. The area of intellectual property falls into play here for both writers and consumers, so be sure to have an agreement on the copyright of ideas and end products.

There are many reasons to hire a freelance writer and I’ve touched on just a few of them here. How do you go about finding a writer? They may be coming to you, like I attempt to on a daily basis. Many of us have online presence and advertising through online ads like Google Adwords, so a search for “copywriters” or “freelance writers” can turn up good matches. Clearinghouse websites that match buyers with service providers, such as Guru.com and Elance.com, are also good places to start. Be aware that prices are driven down on the web because of the number of people looking for the work. Be sure that the writer has the credentials, ability, and maturity to handle your job before you hire them. And remember that the lowest bidder may not always be the most qualified service provider.

If you’re not sure about your need for a freelance writer, contact one anyway. It may not be the right time for you, but it’s never too early to forge a relationship with another businessperson who offers a unique talent that not everyone possesses.
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