Hire a Content Writer: Where to find a writer to hire

So, you’re ready to scale your content marketing efforts? If you’re looking to take your company website to the next level, you’ll likely need to hire a content writer to help upscale your output. That said, with more platforms than ever before and millions of freelance writers across the globe, it can be a challenge to know where to start looking.

I’m here to shed some light on where you should find and hire a content writer. Over my 10 years in content writing, I’ve worked independently, managed a team of 30 writers, worked with marketing agencies, and even collaborated with other writers on major campaigns — I have experience on every side of this equation and would love to share my insight.

In this article, we’ll explore everything you need to know before you hire a content writer. I’ll walk through why you could use a content writer, the best places to find a content writer to hire, and touch on a few FAQs that you’re likely to have.

Let’s dive right in.

Why Hire a Content Writer?

While there aren’t any definitive statistics, common estimates suggest that are are over 120 million freelance writers working in 2025. With this in mind, you may be wondering why companies continue investing in writing and what exactly content marketing brings to their business. 

Statista estimates that content writing services bring in a total revenue of around $94 billion USD each year. This means that from blogs, inbound clicks, and long-term SEO marketing campaigns, companies are bringing in nearly $100 billion in ROI. Quite simply, the main reason to hire a content writer is to make sure you get a piece of that pie.

Source: Graph to show the total revenue in USD billions of content marketing services.

There are a number of content writing services that a writer can help you with, ranging from copywriting to long-form B2B articles and blogs. Whatever you need, there’s a writer that can help you out – I’m sure of it. 

Alongside just simply producing articles for your business, content writers can help by:

• Offering SEO Services: Many content writers have experience with search engine optimization, meaning they can inspect your site, develop a content plan, and help your site rank well on Google.

• Add Further Expertise: Content writers often specialize in a few areas of knowledge. If you hire the right content writer, they’ll give you industry insights and extra information that your company might not have had direct access to.

• Improve Content Direction: Due to the experience seasoned content writers have, they may be able to offer you insight into how you should structure your wider content plan, enhance your company tone of voice, and create a consistent written experience for customers.

Working with a content writer is an effective way to supercharge your blog, enhance your digital presence, and soar through the SERP rankings. That is, if you know how to find a good content writer.

Best Places to Find a Content Writer to Hire

I’m someone that’s been around the block when it comes to using freelance content writing platforms. And don’t just take my word for it; below is a screenshot of my Upwork profile—where I’m Expert-Vetted, Top-Rated Plus in the top 0.01% of freelance writers, have 100% job success over a decade of work, and have made over $200,000 on the platform.

It’s safe to say, I know the platforms you use to hire a content writer in and out. That’s why I want to share my perspective on the best places you can use to find your dream content writer.

Here are the four best places to hire a content writer:

• Upwork and Fiverr: These two are the industry giants when it comes to freelance content writing platforms. Upwork alone has over 18,000,000 freelancers on the platform, making this a great place to post a job and instantly receive a large number of responses. That said, Upwork and Fiverr are a mixed bag when it comes to quality, which we’ll touch on later.

• Freelance Writing Platforms: While not as popular as the industry titans Fiverr and Upwork, there are several other leading freelance writing platforms that businesses can turn to if they want to find a content writer to hire. For example, I know businesses that have had luck reaching out to writers on LinkedIn, Medium, and job sites like Glassdoor and FlexJobs.

• Content Agencies: Another method of hiring content writers is by inquiring directly with content agencies. There are a number of content writing agencies that hire thousands of writers and use their inbound marketing to match potential clients with suitable works. While this can be an effective choice, these platforms are known for employing lower-quality writers to maximize their profit margin – so be sure to use a reputable company with lots of verified reviews. 

• Independent Writers via Google Search: Another fantastic way to hire a writer is to reach out to someone on their personal website. If you come across a writer on Google, then sending them a message can cut out the middleman of all the other options, allowing you to have a more transparent, collaborative relationship. 

But when it comes to creating a lasting, successful working relationship with your freelance content writer, the final option is head and shoulders above the rest. Let’s discuss why.

Where To Hire a Freelance Writer: The Single Best Option

As a content writer that has had years of experience on both sides of the hiring process and has used all of the options above at some point, there’s a clear winner in my eyes. The single best place to hire a content writer is on their personal website. 

Reaching out to a freelance writer on their personal website is the best option because:

• It cuts out the middleman of platforms like Upwork, saving you time and money.

• Direct contact allows for greater flexibility when it comes to negotiating rates, timelines, and the overall scope of the project.

• You’ll be able to collaborate with your writer more easily, building a personal and productive working relationship.

• Writers who maintain a professional website tend to take their careers seriously. They’ve invested in their brand and care deeply about reputation and client satisfaction.

On a personal note, I’d much prefer that a new company contact me through my personal website rather than through a job post board. From both a business and writer perspective, reaching out through their website is a win-win.

How to Hire a Content Writer

Now that you know exactly where to find a content writer, it’s time to talk about the process of hiring one. If you want to create a long-term, effective, and productive working relationship, there are a few steps you should move through.

Here’s a step-by-step on how to easily hire a content writer:

1. Define Content Type and Goals: Before starting the process of hiring a content writer, you need to make sure you know exactly what you’re looking for and why you need to bring another person onboard. Spend time clearly defining the goals of this content campaign, what deliverables you need, and what format each of those articles should take. If you need some extra help, I’ve written a writer’s content brief guide that will show you exactly what you should consider.

2. Set Budget and Rates: Once you’ve defined the scope of the campaign you want to run and outlined the exact content you’re going to create, it’s time to set your budget. Outline a budget range you have in mind for the project and make sure to include a clear breakdown of this budget. For example, how much do you want to spend per blog and how many total blogs are you wanting written? At least for my business, I offer discounts on large-scale projects (20+ articles a month), so this is something to bring up with your freelance content writing hire.

3. Shortlist Candidates: After reaching out to several highly qualified candidates via their writing portfolio sites, personal websites, or via a platform like Upwork, it’s time to shortlist. Select the three best writers from the bunch that best match the exact skills and experience you’re looking for.

4. Vet via Portfolios, SEO Knowledge, and Quality: Based on your shortlist, it’s now time to conduct some in-depth research. Look through each of the content writers you’ve selected and read some of their content, look through past SEO work they’ve conducted, and request any new information you may need to make your decision. This fourth stage would whittle down your list. Although, if you can’t decide, you can take all three to the interview stage.

5. Host Interviews: While this stage isn’t always necessary, I always prefer to put a face to the name of the company I’m working for. This interview can allow you to go through the content writer’s experience, ask them questions, and learn more about how they work. It also provides a space to iron out any final details on the freelancer’s end, allowing you to hit the ground running when you work together.

6. Trial Article and Feedback Loop: Again, this step isn’t always necessary, but some companies prefer to work through a trial article before signing any contracts. In the trial article, the freelancer will write the first deliverable you’ve planned and submit it for review. Remember, this is work and should be paid in full by the company. Requesting that writers work for free is a terrible way to start a working relationship and will be instantly rejected by the vast majority of online workers.

 By following these six steps, you’ll be ready to hit the ground running with your new hire!

Here's a cheat-sheet to help you streamline the process of hiring a writer:

Final Thoughts on Hiring a Content Writer

If you’ve made it to the end of this article, you should know exactly where to find a content writer and understand the process of hiring one. Luckily for you, by landing on this page, you’re already halfway there.

With ten years of experience as an SEO content writer in a range of industries, I’m sure I have a service that can help you. I’d love to hear from you about what exciting campaigns you’re working on and demonstrate how I can bring my expertise to the role.

I’m always just a message away, so reach out today and get the ball rolling. 

FAQs Related to Hiring a Content Writer

Here are some quick-fire FAQs related to hiring a content writer that you may want to know.

Where can I hire a freelance SEO content writer safely?

While all major content writing platforms suggest they vet all the writers they work with, I’ve seen some shockingly low-quality writing over the years that doesn’t quite line up with this fact. The most effective way to hire a freelance SEO content writer safely is to ensure they have reviews, testimonials, and portfolio samples of their previous work.

If someone has years of experience and shining reviews, they’re most likely a safe choice

Can I hire a content writer near me for local business needs?

Another option that businesses often consider is hiring a local writer near me – wherever that may be. Hiring a local content writer is an effective option in some cases, like when you’re writing a blog about a certain city and want a collaborator that is actually from your area.

However, for the vast majority of content writers, the ability to hire from across the globe is actually one of your superpowers. You’re able to find a high-quality content writing service from anywhere in the world, letting you take your pick from top global talent.

On a personal note, I’ve worked in the US, Colombia, the UK (where I’m from), China, Germany, and several other countries. While in these places, I’ve worked for top companies from the States, the UK, Australia, and all over. The global freelancing network is a superpower, not a restriction.

It’s time to think beyond just local freelance writers.

What qualifications should I look for when hiring a content writer for my blog or website?

Here’s a quick list of top qualifications to look for when hiring a content writer:

• Degree: While a degree isn’t completely necessary, a thorough education (especially in a field related to your business) shows that the author knows their stuff and can write well at an academic level.

  
  

• Experience: The more years of experience a writer has, the more likely they are to be professional, deliver content on time, and work well with your company.

  
  

• Related Industry Qualifications: If you work in a field like cybersecurity, it helps if a content writer has related qualifications. However, this is the least important of all these bulletpoints as many writers have translated into fields over time and may have more experience than someone with the related qualifications.

  
  

• SEO Knowledge: It’s vital that your hire be an SEO freelance writer, as knowledge of how to rank content will inform their writing and content development strategy.

While not an exhaustive list, this is a good place to start.

Freelance Writer vs. Agency vs. In-House: Which Option is Best?

When it comes to hiring a content writer, you have three main options: freelance, agency, or in-house. There are pros and cons of each of these, so I’ll quickly give you a summary of each and when you should use that service.

• When to hire a freelancer: Hire a freelance writer if you want flexibility, long-term commitment, high-quality outputs, need to meet tight deadlines, and want a clear working structure without any bureaucracy.

  
  

• When to hire an agency: Hire an agency if you have an enormous content marketing strategy (over 500 articles) and are willing to pay much higher rates.

  
  

• When to hire in-house: Hire in-house if you’re willing to pay an additional salary and want to bring someone on for more than just writing.

By deciding which of these describes your business best, you’ll know exactly who to work with!