To keep up with the consistent content publishing schedule, many organizations have started to rely on freelance writers instead of relying solely on their internal writing teams.
Freelance writers operate from the comfort of their homes, and with the current state of the global economy, they seem to be earning pretty well due to the fee charged in $USD. Moreover, with a freelancer bank account, managing the funds for a safe and secure future has become very easy.
So how can an organization or individual acquiring the service of a remote freelance writer overcome the lack of face-to-face communication and manage whatever communication they can establish between themselves?
This article will look into issues that arise while managing a remote freelance writing team and how to solve them.
Use of technology
Using various online platforms, software or tools is nothing new when trying to manage a team of writers working remotely. However, with so many options available in the market, it can be hard to decide on a single tool that maximizes productivity.
Here are some tools that work best when efficiently managing any freelancing writing team while maintaining consistent and high-quality output.
- Grammarly
- Copyscape
- Slack
- Zoom
- Market Muse
Standard operating procedures
The most common issue when hiring freelancers writer is getting them accustomed to your business processes. The best way to overcome this problem is by introducing an onboarding program that conveys your standard operating procedures.
The recommended way would be to create a “writers operations playbook” and hand it out to all the new freelancers. This playbook would contain all the information your writers need about working with your team, payment process, tools, etc.
Refining your hiring funnel
According to Convex Interactive, adopting a hiring funnel allows you to reduce the risk of hiring unsuitable candidates. The earlier you can determine unfit writers for your company, the fewer headaches you’ll have down the road.
The best methods to identify the most suitable candidates for your company include having them write small test pieces, complete short online courses, and attend video call interviews.
Holding accountable
When managing a remote writing team, much of your time can be wasted chasing up writers who are not following the rules.
You must ensure that your standards are enforced and followed by your remote writing team. After all, the less time you spend chasing the writers and fewer revisions, the better your return on investment will be.
Focusing on outcome vs. reality
The last thing you would want to do is micromanage your remote freelancer writing team, which is ineffective and impractical. Your emphasis should be on the quality and quantity of your writers’ output rather than each minute detail about their day-to-day activities.
This means you set clear goals for your writers while trusting their talent and training to deliver high-quality and punctual work.
It is only natural that every writer will approach different assignments with their unique point-of-view and strategy. Leaving them to handle the project in whatever way suits them best will give them a greater sense of ownership in their work.
