Outsourced content writing can be a boon for busy content managers, especially if you’re also handling social media, email marketing, link building, and PPC—and doing it all with a smile. But while you’re leaving the content writing in the hands of a skilled professional, you’re not completely off the hook when it comes to getting exactly what you want. Your writers are great at writing, but until they can also learn to read your mind, they need a little push in the right direction.

Let’s explore how to set your outsourced writers up to produce an epic final piece that’s ready to publish with minimal or no revisions on your end.

Onboard Your Outsourced Content Writing Team

When you outsource content creation, your writer needs to learn about your company as though they were a part of it. Things your content writer will need to know include:

  • What is your company name and website?
  • What are your goals for each piece of content and your content strategy as a whole?
  • How do you plan to use the content (e.g., post on your own blog, use as guest blog articles, share on LinkedIn)?
  • What makes you unique (i.e., your unique selling proposition)?
  • Who are your competitors?
  • What makes you different from those competitors?
  • Who is your target audience?
  • Do you have any specific buyer personas to whom the writer should speak?
  • Do you have a style guide to help with content formatting, word usage, tone, etc.?
  • Are there any examples of writing, tone, and style you really love? 
  • What keyword(s) do you wish to rank for?
  • Do you have topic ideas, or would you like help coming up with some?

These are questions and considerations you’re probably already familiar with. So familiar, in fact, that you might not realize an outsourced content partner needs to know them, too. The more information you can share upfront when you outsource blog writing, the better-quality content you’ll receive.

Screenshot of Content Pros onboarding form.

Create a Content Brief for the Writer

The above questions help your writer get to know your business. But they also need clear direction for each piece of content they produce for you. This is where content briefs become immensely helpful. 

A content brief specifies what information to include in the content. It shares your goals and ideas so the writer can “get inside your head” and produce the work you envision.

The most important elements of a content brief include:

  • A title or topic
  • Desired keywords, if any
  • Type of content (e.g., blog post, case study, white paper)
  • Intended audience
  • Key takeaways (an outline is helpful but not required)
  • Specific links to include
  • Research sources
  • Buying stage and call to action (CTA)

You might want to add more details than this—great! The more information you provide, the better your writer will understand the direction you’d like to take.

A screenshot of the Content Pros briefing form.

Provide Feedback on Every Piece

It’s normal to have feedback on your outsourced content, just like you would if you hired a new employee on your team. This is especially the case for the first couple of projects as you and your writing team get to know each other. 

Using tools like Google Docs allows for easy collaboration and feedback—leave comments directly in the doc to highlight your changes or other things to note. The more you work with the same writer, the more they can learn your style, voice, and preferences. After the first one or two projects, feedback should be reduced to a minimum. You might continue to tweak a few words based on personal preference, but you’ll usually be able to avoid major revisions. 

Feedback also gives the writing team ideas for future topics that will fit within your content goals. When you outsource article writing, you can also outsource some of the content ideation. The longer you work together, the greater the value!

Scale Up with Outsourced Content Writing Services

Going through these onboarding exercises allows your outsourced writers to create better-performing content that aligns with your expectations. You’ll be able to skip some of the back-and-forth and get your content faster with fewer revisions.

If you need help with content creation or want to scale up, consider an outsourced content writing partner like Content Pros. We offer full-service content writing delivered on time and on-demand, crafted by professional, industry-specific, native English-speaking content writers. Work with the same writer, editor, and account manager every time so we can learn your voice, style, and preferences and become an extension of your team. Contact us today to find out more!