{"id":6903,"date":"2021-05-20T12:19:38","date_gmt":"2021-05-20T16:19:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.narrato.io\/?p=6903"},"modified":"2025-11-10T07:21:59","modified_gmt":"2025-11-10T12:21:59","slug":"how-to-manage-freelance-writers-11-effective-dos-and-donts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/narrato.io\/blog\/how-to-manage-freelance-writers-11-effective-dos-and-donts\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Manage Freelance Writers: 11 Effective Dos and Don&#8217;ts?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Managing a team of <a href=\"https:\/\/narrato.io\/marketplace\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">freelance content writers<\/a> is not easy. The challenges exacerbate when your team consists of freelance writers. One reason for that is you have less control over freelance writers than you would over full-time employees.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That\u2019s why you must know how to manage freelance writers effectively.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Are you planning on <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.narrato.io\/how-to-kickstart-a-content-writing-agency-in-2021\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">starting a content agency<\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">?<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Does your team of in-house writers need some extra help?<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hiring freelance writers is one of the best options to get the talent you need. And the way you manage them determines the quality of the work they produce. Ultimately, it also helps ensure that your content achieves its goals.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>TL;DR Here\u2019s a quick summary video of this article.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1026\" height=\"577\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/pw917gR0jtE?si=HRmaddXDRuZOZBl2\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" class=\"lazyload\" data-load-mode=\"1\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/narrato.io\/marketplace\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1584\" height=\"396\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.narrato.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/CTA-banners-for-blog-2.png\" alt=\"Narrato marketplace\" class=\"wp-image-8641 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/narrato.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/CTA-banners-for-blog-2.png 1584w, https:\/\/narrato.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/CTA-banners-for-blog-2-300x75.png 300w, https:\/\/narrato.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/CTA-banners-for-blog-2-768x192.png 768w, https:\/\/narrato.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/CTA-banners-for-blog-2-1024x256.png 1024w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1584px) 100vw, 1584px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1584px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1584\/396;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1584\" height=\"396\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.narrato.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/CTA-banners-for-blog-2.png\" alt=\"Narrato marketplace\" class=\"wp-image-8641\" srcset=\"https:\/\/narrato.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/CTA-banners-for-blog-2.png 1584w, https:\/\/narrato.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/CTA-banners-for-blog-2-300x75.png 300w, https:\/\/narrato.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/CTA-banners-for-blog-2-768x192.png 768w, https:\/\/narrato.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/CTA-banners-for-blog-2-1024x256.png 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1584px) 100vw, 1584px\" \/><\/noscript><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Case for Outsourcing to Freelance Writers<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For many marketing teams, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.godotmedia.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">outsourcing their content creation<\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is the best way to ensure consistency. It also helps ensure the quality of content created is maintained. Apart from that, there are several other reasons to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/narrato.io\/marketplace\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">hire freelance writers<\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Here are the top three:&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Saves Money<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the most significant benefits of outsourcing your content is that it helps you save money. To put it in perspective, consider that the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.glassdoor.com\/Salaries\/full-time-writer-salary-SRCH_KO0,16.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">average salary of a full-time writer<\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is $53,632.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"992\" height=\"417\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.narrato.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/managing-freelance-writers-average-salary.png\" alt=\"writer salaries on glassdoor\" class=\"wp-image-6906 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/narrato.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/managing-freelance-writers-average-salary.png 992w, https:\/\/narrato.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/managing-freelance-writers-average-salary-300x126.png 300w, https:\/\/narrato.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/managing-freelance-writers-average-salary-768x323.png 768w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 992px) 100vw, 992px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 992px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 992\/417;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"992\" height=\"417\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.narrato.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/managing-freelance-writers-average-salary.png\" alt=\"writer salaries on glassdoor\" class=\"wp-image-6906\" srcset=\"https:\/\/narrato.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/managing-freelance-writers-average-salary.png 992w, https:\/\/narrato.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/managing-freelance-writers-average-salary-300x126.png 300w, https:\/\/narrato.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/managing-freelance-writers-average-salary-768x323.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 992px) 100vw, 992px\" \/><\/noscript><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That means you\u2019ll have to budget for an average of $4,469 every month. With a freelance writer, you only pay for deliverables. In most cases, those won\u2019t amount to the amount you pay a full-time writer. By hiring freelance writers, you make massive savings.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Self-motivated<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another advantage of outsourcing your content writing to freelance writers is that most of them are self-motivated. Unlike full-time writers who are guaranteed a paycheck every month, freelance writers must deliver before they get paid. In most cases, you won\u2019t have to hound them to finish a project.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Specialist Experience<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most freelance writers specialize in a particular niche (or two). When you hire a freelance writer, you benefit from their in-depth knowledge of your industry. For example, if your business deals with <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtoascend.com\/tools\/affiliate-marketing-tools\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">affiliate marketing tools<\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, your freelancers must understand the industry. Not only that, but freelance writers are always abreast of current content writing and marketing best practices.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whether you\u2019re hiring freelance writers to be the backbone of your content creation or simply to augment your team of full-time writers, you must know how to manage them. So let\u2019s dive into the do\u2019s and don\u2019ts of effectively managing freelance writers, shall we?<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Managing Freelance Writers \u2014 6 Do\u2019s You Shouldn\u2019t Ignore<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Just because they\u2019re called freelancers doesn\u2019t mean they should be free to do as they please. As a content manager or solopreneur, you must know how to manage your freelance writers. Here are some of the most important things you must do to ensure your freelance writers perform at their best.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1. Do Hire Right<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The first step to ensure that you have a good working relationship with your freelance writers is hiring right. To hire the right writers, you must, first of all, evaluate your content needs. Doing so will help you weed out writers that don\u2019t fit in with your needs. Other factors to consider include:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><b>Niche<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Evaluate your candidates based on the industries they\u2019re knowledgeable in. if they haven\u2019t written in your specific niche but similar niches, they can still adapt to your niche.&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Experience<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. The easiest writers to manage are those with experience. One easy way of identifying experienced freelance writers is by checking if they take <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.unstoppablebrandingagency.com\/personal-branding\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">personal branding<\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> seriously.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Samples (or writing tests)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Take a good look at your candidates\u2019 samples to determine if they can be a good fit for your brand. Alternatively, you could ask for applicants to take a small writing test.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hiring the right candidates will ensure that <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.narrato.io\/content-creation-pain-points-and-success-stories\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">your content creation<\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> flows smoothly and that you don\u2019t spend a lot of time with back and forth editing. Apart from hiring right, onboard your freelancers properly. You can also help them integrate well with your other staff by involving them in your <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/solitaired.com\/101-Top-Team-Building-Activities\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">team-building activities<\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2. Set Expectations for Every Project<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To manage freelance writers effectively, you must lay down your expectations for them for each project.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This means creating a content style guide and detailed briefs for each project.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>Style Guide<\/b><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.narrato.io\/content-process-how-to-create-an-effective-content-style-guide-and-why-you-need-one\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">content style guide<\/a> is a set of predefined standards for the writing, formatting, and designing of your content. It\u2019s the blueprint every writer must follow to ensure they produce content that looks, feels, and flows the same way. Essential elements to include in your style guide are rules that govern:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Punctuation<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Capitalization<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Spelling<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Grammar<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tone<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your style guide must also highlight what your writers shouldn\u2019t include in the content they create.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>Content Brief<\/b><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A <a href=\"https:\/\/narrato.io\/workspace\/features\/seo-content-briefs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">content brief<\/a> is a guide created by a content strategist (or content manager) that includes all the information a writer needs to execute a piece of content. A helpful content brief includes:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Target audience<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Goals of the post<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keywords&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recommended word count<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Special instructions<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Deadlines<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A content brief makes it easy for your writers to know which direction the piece of content they\u2019re working on should take. Followed closely, your style guide and content brief improve the efficiency of your writers.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3. Establish Open Communication Lines<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the major challenges of hiring freelance writers is managing <a href=\"https:\/\/dialaxy.com\/communication-fundamentals\/what-is-remote-communication\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">remote communication<\/a> effectively, since they work from different locations. That means communication can get quite complicated if you don\u2019t deliberately design a system for effective communication.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"678\" height=\"410\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.narrato.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/managing-freelance-writers-zoom-example.png\" alt=\"remote communication\" class=\"wp-image-6905 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/narrato.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/managing-freelance-writers-zoom-example.png 678w, https:\/\/narrato.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/managing-freelance-writers-zoom-example-300x181.png 300w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 678px) 100vw, 678px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 678px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 678\/410;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"678\" height=\"410\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.narrato.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/managing-freelance-writers-zoom-example.png\" alt=\"remote communication\" class=\"wp-image-6905\" srcset=\"https:\/\/narrato.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/managing-freelance-writers-zoom-example.png 678w, https:\/\/narrato.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/managing-freelance-writers-zoom-example-300x181.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 678px) 100vw, 678px\" \/><\/noscript><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/zoom.us\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">Source<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To effectively manage your freelance writers, you must establish open communication lines. Remember, your writers can\u2019t pop by your office every time they need to clarify something. The solution is to leverage <a href=\"https:\/\/clickup.com\/project-management-software\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">communication and collaboration tools<\/a> to minimize the need to communicate via email.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For example, you could use collaborative tools like GSuite to work on projects together in real-time. You can also leverage <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/colinshipp.com\/meeting-management-software\/\">meeting management software<\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to set and hold meetings with your virtual team.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It takes good communication to manage a team of freelance writers. And you must invest in the best collaboration and project management tools to successfully do so.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4. Develop an Efficient Content Workflow<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A workflow is a repeatable pattern of activity. When it comes to managing freelance writers, this is very important.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.narrato.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Content-Creation-Process-Steps.png\" alt=\"Content Creation Process Steps\" class=\"wp-image-6891 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/narrato.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Content-Creation-Process-Steps.png 1920w, https:\/\/narrato.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Content-Creation-Process-Steps-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/narrato.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Content-Creation-Process-Steps-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/narrato.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Content-Creation-Process-Steps-1024x576.png 1024w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1920px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1920\/1080;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.narrato.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Content-Creation-Process-Steps.png\" alt=\"Content Creation Process Steps\" class=\"wp-image-6891\" srcset=\"https:\/\/narrato.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Content-Creation-Process-Steps.png 1920w, https:\/\/narrato.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Content-Creation-Process-Steps-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/narrato.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Content-Creation-Process-Steps-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/narrato.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Content-Creation-Process-Steps-1024x576.png 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/noscript><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the case of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.narrato.io\/how-to-build-a-content-creation-process\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">content creation, a content workflow<\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is the set of steps you, your writers and other process stakeholders are supposed to follow to create great quality content efficiently and consistently. Tips on creating an efficient content workflow include:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ensure all content is submitted in the same way.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Deadlines are clear and adhered to.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keeping tabs on every stage a piece of content passes through.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Periodically auditing your content and process.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Developing and implementing a content workflow creates a structure that makes it easier for you to manage your freelance writers. Like an assembly line, it improves the efficiency of your writing process.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Implementing your workflow using a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/narrato.io\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"dofollow noopener\">content workflow software like Narrato Workspace<\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> would make the process even more structured, trackable and efficient. With Narrato Workspace, you can bring all your content writers, other content team members and stakeholders on a single workspace where you can assign work to writers and editors, share work with approvers and track each content piece through it\u2019s creation journey.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Their content editor, where the content creation happens offers good grammar, readability and content structuring suggestions. It also has an integrated plagiarism checker. Integration with free image search sites like Unsplash, Pexels and Pixabay, plus graphic design tool Canva is super handy.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/narrato.io\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"dofollow noopener\">Narrato Workspace<\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is currently offering free early user licenses, so a great time to use this powerful tool at no cost. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1278\" height=\"788\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.narrato.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Narrato-Workspace-Screenshot.png\" alt=\"Narrato Workspace - Content Workflow &amp; Project Management Software\" class=\"wp-image-6895 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/narrato.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Narrato-Workspace-Screenshot.png 1278w, https:\/\/narrato.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Narrato-Workspace-Screenshot-300x185.png 300w, https:\/\/narrato.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Narrato-Workspace-Screenshot-768x474.png 768w, https:\/\/narrato.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Narrato-Workspace-Screenshot-1024x631.png 1024w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1278px) 100vw, 1278px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1278px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1278\/788;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1278\" height=\"788\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.narrato.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Narrato-Workspace-Screenshot.png\" alt=\"Narrato Workspace - Content Workflow &amp; Project Management Software\" class=\"wp-image-6895\" srcset=\"https:\/\/narrato.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Narrato-Workspace-Screenshot.png 1278w, https:\/\/narrato.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Narrato-Workspace-Screenshot-300x185.png 300w, https:\/\/narrato.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Narrato-Workspace-Screenshot-768x474.png 768w, https:\/\/narrato.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Narrato-Workspace-Screenshot-1024x631.png 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1278px) 100vw, 1278px\" \/><\/noscript><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5. Invest in the Career Growth of Your Freelancers<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your freelance writers will appreciate you more if you invest in helping them improve their craft.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What does this have to do with managing your freelance writers?<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Everything.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Educating your team of freelance writers on how to be better freelancers helps them know what is expected of them. It also enables you to indoctrinate them on your way of doing things. This results in your freelancers becoming better at self-managing themselves.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A good way of investing in your freelance writers is to use <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.adamenfroy.com\/best-webinar-software\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">webinar hosting software<\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to run regular workshops on becoming better freelancers.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">6. Prioritize the Necessary Paperwork<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When working with freelance writers, it\u2019s easy to overlook paperwork. Sure, your writers may be working remotely, but you still need to make sure you sign a contract or non-disclosure agreement (NDA). Thankfully, you can use electronic signature software to get all the necessary documents signed.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Particularly in the case of an NDA, processing the necessary paperwork also helps prevent freelance writers from sharing insider secrets with other clients.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Managing Freelance Writers \u2014 5 Things You Must Not Do<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Just as important as it is to know what to do to manage your team of freelance writers, it\u2019s equally important to know what not to do.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let\u2019s quickly dive into the pitfalls you must avoid as you work with freelance writers.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1. Do Not Micro-manage<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the worst things you can do when working with freelance writers is to micro-manage them.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.narrato.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/managing-freelance-writers-micro-managing-1024x1024.png\" alt=\"micromanaging employees\" class=\"wp-image-6904 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/narrato.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/managing-freelance-writers-micro-managing-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/narrato.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/managing-freelance-writers-micro-managing-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/narrato.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/managing-freelance-writers-micro-managing-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/narrato.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/managing-freelance-writers-micro-managing-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/narrato.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/managing-freelance-writers-micro-managing-340x340.png 340w, https:\/\/narrato.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/managing-freelance-writers-micro-managing.png 1280w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/1024;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.narrato.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/managing-freelance-writers-micro-managing-1024x1024.png\" alt=\"micromanaging employees\" class=\"wp-image-6904\" srcset=\"https:\/\/narrato.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/managing-freelance-writers-micro-managing-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/narrato.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/managing-freelance-writers-micro-managing-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/narrato.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/managing-freelance-writers-micro-managing-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/narrato.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/managing-freelance-writers-micro-managing-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/narrato.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/managing-freelance-writers-micro-managing-340x340.png 340w, https:\/\/narrato.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/managing-freelance-writers-micro-managing.png 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many choose to go freelance and not work in-house because of the freedom that comes with working as a freelancer. Therefore micro-managing your freelancers will frustrate them. And that will lead to the quality of work produced suffering.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Give your freelancers room to work and show that you trust them by only checking in on them when necessary.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2. Don\u2019t Alienate Your Freelance Writers<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another cardinal sin you mustn\u2019t commit when working with freelance writers is to alienate them. While they may not be a part of your core team, they still add value to your business and should be treated as such. Things that make freelance writers feel alienated include:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not being appreciated for their work.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.billdu.com\/invoice-template\/freelance-invoice-templates\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Freelance invoices<\/a> not honored on time.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not being updated on important changes.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you alienate your contractors, they won\u2019t give you their best. However, if you put effort into instilling a sense of belonging in them, they\u2019ll go above and beyond to produce exceptional work.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3. Don\u2019t Make Assumptions<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Never assume that freelancers know what you expect from them. Always make your instructions as clear as possible. And when it comes to issues that regard your brand, you can never over-communicate.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When working with freelancers, it\u2019s better to err on the side of over-communication than to let them come to their own conclusions.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Assuming that everyone knows what to do will only cause bottlenecks in your process as you\u2019ll be inundated with questions as your writers seek clarification.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4. Don\u2019t Be Disrespectful<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Freelancers are not second-rate employees that can be pushed around anyhow. For most of them, freelancing is a choice. It\u2019s not that they were cornered into freelancing and are thus desperate for work.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the worst things you can do as a content manager is to disrespect your freelance writers. Disrespect manifests itself in things such as:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not valuing your contractors\u2019 time.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Responding to queries late.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Failing to apologize when you make mistakes that affect your freelancers.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re to enjoy a good relationship with your freelancers, treat them with respect. It will make the job of managing them easier as they\u2019ll reciprocate your respect with cooperation.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5. Don\u2019t Hold on to Toxic Freelance Writers<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.timedoctor.com\/blog\/toxic-employees\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">Toxic employees<\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are everywhere. Sometimes, you may hire an exceptional freelance writer who\u2019s toxic.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No matter how talented they are, let them go.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The danger with toxic employees, including freelancers, is that they affect everyone they work with. In the end, they could lead to a breakdown in your process. So, no matter how good they may be, if a freelancer exhibits signs of toxicity, consider replacing them.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Managing Freelance Writers Well is Essential to Achieving Your Business Goals<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The way you manage your freelancers determines the quality of work they produce. That\u2019s why you must know how to do it properly. Armed with these eleven do\u2019s and don\u2019ts of managing freelance writers, you can build an effective team. More importantly, proper management of your freelance writers puts you in a better position to achieve your business goals.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/narrato.io\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1584\" height=\"396\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.narrato.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/CTA-banners-for-blog-5-1.png\" alt=\"Narrato AI content workspace\" class=\"wp-image-8538 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/narrato.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/CTA-banners-for-blog-5-1.png 1584w, https:\/\/narrato.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/CTA-banners-for-blog-5-1-300x75.png 300w, https:\/\/narrato.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/CTA-banners-for-blog-5-1-768x192.png 768w, https:\/\/narrato.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/CTA-banners-for-blog-5-1-1024x256.png 1024w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1584px) 100vw, 1584px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1584px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1584\/396;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1584\" height=\"396\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.narrato.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/CTA-banners-for-blog-5-1.png\" alt=\"Narrato AI content workspace\" class=\"wp-image-8538\" srcset=\"https:\/\/narrato.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/CTA-banners-for-blog-5-1.png 1584w, https:\/\/narrato.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/CTA-banners-for-blog-5-1-300x75.png 300w, https:\/\/narrato.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/CTA-banners-for-blog-5-1-768x192.png 768w, https:\/\/narrato.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/CTA-banners-for-blog-5-1-1024x256.png 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1584px) 100vw, 1584px\" \/><\/noscript><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Author Bio<\/h4>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.narrato.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Neal_Headshot-150x150.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6932 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/narrato.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Neal_Headshot-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/narrato.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Neal_Headshot-340x340.png 340w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.narrato.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Neal_Headshot-150x150.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6932\" srcset=\"https:\/\/narrato.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Neal_Headshot-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/narrato.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Neal_Headshot-340x340.png 340w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/noscript><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Neal Taparia is the co-founder of Imagine Easy Solutions, a portfolio of online educational services that reached over 30 million students yearly. Neal sold the business to Chegg (NYSE: CHGG), where he stayed there as an executive for three years. He&#8217;s now pursuing a new initiative, <a href=\"https:\/\/solitaired.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Solitaired<\/a>, which ties classical games with memory and attention training.<\/p>\n<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on the_content --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on the_content -->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Managing a team of freelance content writers is not easy. The challenges exacerbate when your team consists of freelance writers. One reason for that is you have less control over..<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":6911,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[601,657,528],"tags":[673,674,536,642,672,675],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/narrato.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6903"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/narrato.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/narrato.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/narrato.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/23"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/narrato.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6903"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/narrato.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6903\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21783,"href":"https:\/\/narrato.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6903\/revisions\/21783"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/narrato.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6911"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/narrato.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6903"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/narrato.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6903"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/narrato.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6903"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}