Even though I am a freelance writer, I do not have much experience with hiring others to work for me in this capacity. In the past I have hired programmers and designers, but it is not often that I look for other writers or bloggers. After all, if I have a job that needs done I will usually find a way to complete the task on my own.
I have found myself at a point where I am interested in hiring bloggers to help with some of my workload. Over the next few months I plan on starting quite a few new blogs, and with my current work, getting outside help is going to be essential.
There are several things I am going to look for when hiring bloggers. Three of the most important details are listed below.
1. Ideally, I would like to hire bloggers who have some prior knowledge of the topic they will be writing about. While researching online is fine, finding bloggers with a passion for the subject matter would be great.
2. I need bloggers who can devote enough time each day to writing for their given blog. This should not be much of a problem because I will only be asking for five posts per week of somewhere between 400 and 600 words.
3. Payment is the final detail that I will discuss with bloggers who I am hoping to hire. This is a touchy subject because I want to pay a reasonable rate, but at the same time, I need to keep my expenses under control in the early stages of each blog. I will probably offer several payment options to each blogger, and then see where things go from there.
Now for the fun stuff. If you are interested in helping out as a blogger, send me a quick email with some information about your experience, favorite topics, and how much you would charge per post. Hopefully I will be able to find several qualified candidates so that I do not have to write all the content on my own. After all, I do need to sleep from time to time!
Just like any other business, as a freelance writer there are some clients that are good and some that are bad. For me, good clients are much more than those that pay a lot of money. They are also the ones that clearly communicate their goals, pay on time, and work with mutually agreed upon terms.
Breaking away from a difficult freelance writing client is never easy to do. There are two main reasons that this can be difficult. First off, breaking away means that you may upset the client. In turn, a battle of words could ensue, and your professionalism could be compromised. Another reason that makes this hard is that you may not want to give up a client because you do not have enough work. This is reasonable enough, but you should know that bad clients are not worth your time in the long run.
When you decide to sever ties with a freelance writing client you need to do so professionally. I have done this several times in the past, and each situation turned out differently. Most recently, I had to tell a fledgling magazine that I could no longer work for them. While I enjoyed the topic I was writing about each month, they were not paying on time due to financial issues on their end. I explained this as nicely as possible in an email, and the editor responded cordially. When the client knows that they are in the wrong it is always easier to breakaway.
On the other hand, a few months back I stopped working for a client and several crude emails were thrown my way. My reason for ending the work was simple: the client would change his mind halfway through a job, and then want me to redo the work for no additional charge. While I do not mind revisions, a total change of topic after I have started is not doable. The client thought that I should honor his request because I was not yet finished with the work. Of course, he had no idea how much time I put into the job in the first place. In the end relations were severed, but I was left with lost time and no money to show for it.
As you can see, sometimes breaking away from a freelance writing client is easy, but other times you will be up against some resistance. But no matter what, make sure that you stay professional.Â
What do you do when your work starts to get boring? Even though I love my job as a freelance writer, there are times when I feel bored out of my mind. When this happens, finding a way to break out of this funk is imperative. After all, if I am in a bored frame of mind it is safe to say that it will show through in my work. And obviously, that is never a good thing for me or my clients.
Here are three things that I do when my freelance writing work starts to get boring.
1. Although blogging is still writing, it is a great way for me to get my mind off of my freelance writing work. It is nice to be able to stay in the “writing frame of mind†but escape from the direction of a freelance writing project.
2. When writing gets boring, I market my services for a few minutes. This includes everything from sending emails to past clients to checking job boards for new projects. I like doing this because it helps my freelance writing career, but has nothing to do with my primary job of cranking out articles for clients.
3. There are times when you will be facing a bout of boredom that is unbearable. These can be tough times, so instead of fighting them, simply walk away from the computer for a bit. There is nothing wrong with taking an early lunch, heading to the post office, or doing anything else that will get your mind off your writing. Just remember, you need to head back to the computer sooner rather than later. But remember, you do not want to make this a habit.
When your work gets boring, try the three tips above. They work for me, and chances are you can find some variation that works for you!
