Truthfully, you don't have to. You could write every post for your blog, website, or publication. If you did all that, though, you'd likely spend significant time drafting, editing, proofreading, researching, fact-checking, and revising. But would that be the most profitable use of your time?
If not, then you'll need to hire someone like me. My job is to take all that work of creating listicles, buyer's guides, news articles, and product reviews off your plate--so you can focus on the things that really matter.
What Does A Content Writer Do?
Essentially, a content writer creates content. The piece that you're reading now, that's content. That vacuum cleaner review on YouTube, the silly article that tells you What Your Dog Breed Says About Your Personality, or the buyer's guide on 13 Hot Products From Target--those are all written by content writers.
As a content writer, it is my job to produce writing and media that readers want to engage with.
You already know that the longer a reader stays on your site, the more advertisers will pay. In 2023, for example, the content site BuzzFeed generated about $850 million in advertising revenue.
BuzzFeed's chief product is content. Advertisers will pay top dollar to put an ad in a popular BuzzFeed article because every time someone looks at that article, the advertiser has the potential to make a sale. It's like a single fisherman fishing with thousands of poles.
How Do I Know Good Content From Bad?
There are plenty of people on the internet claiming to be content creators these days. Unfortunately, that label has become something of an albatross. People hear the term “content creator” and immediately think it's synonymous with “amateur.” It might even bring to mind images of ChatGPT content farms where every piece of writing is not only plagiarized but inanely topical.
Now, there's nothing inherently wrong with being an amateur or with using ChatGPT. We all had to start somewhere. The problem is, many amateurs lack the foundational training necessary to identify what makes a piece of content good.
To these folks, if the content they produce has a similar structure to your current content, they believe it's achieved its purpose. Even if that's not the case. Additionally, amateurs may not fully understand the importance of the revision and editing processes.
On the other hand, a professional content creator will tell you that good content uses plenty of whitespace, short sentence structure, backlinks, photographs, video, simple language, active voice, alt text, and a specific structure to engage the reader. Good content is not only well-written and grammatically correct, it's also been revised and fact-checked. It also can't be duplicated by ChatGPT.
Good content is conversational. Reading it is like chatting with a friend. It makes you WANT to know more about the topic. It has unique insights and perspectives. Likewise, it's trustworthy, and it speaks to the audience's values in a way that is meaningful to that audience.
How Much Should I Pay For Content?
That's a tough question and depends on a few factors:
- The length of the content
- The research involved
- The experience of the writer
- The quality of the content
- Whether SEO is needed
- The frequency of publication
- The publishing deadline
All of these factors combine into a time commitment for the writer. Unfortunately, good content isn't cheap, and cheap content isn't very good. Content is like steak--you get what you pay for.
Good content created in a rush also fetches higher rates than content that is given long lead times. If you have a specific project in mind, email me and we can discuss the details.
I'm Ready To Get Started, But How Do I Go About It?
That's a great question. The easiest way is to contact me with the details of your project. We'll go over what kind of deadline is involved, and I'll walk you through my process.
Most of the process can be done via email, or if you'd like to hear my voice/see my face, we can arrange a phone or video meeting. It won't take long, and it won't cost you a thing. Most initial consultations take less than 20 minutes.
Before we go any further, though, I need to make something clear. I know your budget is important to you. It's important to me, too. That's why you need to know:
If you're looking for the cheapest content writer available, then I'm not your guy.
If you need content in the single or double digits, then I'd suggest you check out sites like Fiverr.com, or Upwork.com, to find writers who may be just starting out, or who are willing to work for cheap.
But this isn't a hobby or a side business for me. It's how I earn my living. In addition to my academic credentials, (MFA, BA) I've spent almost two decades perfecting my craft. And you know as well as I do that you can't get New York Strip at ground beef prices. From one business person to another, I'm sure you understand.
What I will promise you is quality content. Content that engages. Content that generates clicks and ad revenue. Content like what you just engaged with.
If all of that sounds good, and you want to proceed, then please drop me a line. Unless there's an emergency, I respond to all inquiries within 24 hours or less. And whether you hire me or not, I wish you success.
Warmest regards,
Matt L. Hall
Owner/Operator
Hawthorne Freelance Services
