You’ve decided to make the leap, and use a freelance writer for your marketing copywriting.

Great, everyone’s doing it. But how do you avoid getting burned badly? Your marketing is too important to spend money on a writer that doesn’t deliver. There’s a number of criteria that separate good writers from great candidates for your content marketing team. In fact, even if you’re picking among pre-screened writers, you should dig a little deeper. Here are 7 seriously important factors to consider:

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As a small business owner, hiring freelance writers may be something that you do quite regularly, or at least, something that you plan on doing. What choice do you have, right? In-house writers are expensive, and content is king. You need it for your website, your marketing, and your clients – you need it to stay relevant in your industry.

But are you doing it right? Are you hiring the right people for the job? You might not be, and a simple oversight can cost you time and money when you’re outsourcing content. The wrong freelancers can even sink your business. The next time that you hire a freelancer to handle your writing, keep the following eleven things in mind.

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So, you’re thinking of a career as a professional copywriter.

You’re dreaming of a life where you’re paid to be creative. Perhaps you’re a marketing enthusiast, or maybe you’d just like to work from home in your pajamas. Regardless, one thing is abundantly clear to those of us “on the inside.” Considering how to become a copywriter is a lot more sensible than you may think. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics is predicting strong job growth in this area, and studies find that companies are desperate for digital marketing talent. A exceptional career  and lifestyle is within reach, and we’re here to tell you how to become a copywriter:

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The world’s greatest copywriters aren’t just writers. They’ve also mastered the art of sales, psychology, creative branding, marketing, and so much more.

If you’re already a competent professional at your craft, you’ll need to consider making yourself into a true epic copywriter by acquiring some new content marketing skills. If you’re in the market to hire a staff copywriter or exceptional freelance writers, use this list as a guide for skills to look for.

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Trying to understand copywriting? Looking for that missing element that will make your copy sparkle, shine and convert? Copywriting isn’t something you can just do at the drop of a hat, but there are tricks you can learn to do it well. In fact, there’s really only one secret, and I’ll even give it away up front. Ready?

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Are you sick and tired of feeling like your content marketing strategy is a whole bunch of guesswork?

Even the most data-driven marketers can find themselves grappling with what to integrate next. The cost of creating video or infographic content can seem overwhelming. It’s hard to make the leap if there’s little proof in your content market metrics that a new tactic will work.

Understand that you’re definitely not alone. While most of us realize we should significantly expand the repertoire of our content marketing strategy, making decisions about precisely what to do next can be challenging.

Well, you’re in luck. We’ve combed studies and surveys to compile 8 data-backed tactics that will drive results in 2015:

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Freelance writers can make or break your business.

Hire the right ones and your traffic, leads, and conversions could skyrocket, while you save time and money. Hiring the wrong ones, on the other hand, can mean poor sales, wasted resources and opportunities, and a muddy reputation that can’t be salvaged. Who can afford that?

Want to make sure you’re hiring the right person for your blogging and content marketing? Here are eleven things to look for when scouring the Internet for writers.

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Have you ever watched a movie and, out of nowhere, a scene takes place that is somehow so “off” that it jars you out of the narrative and back to reality? Sloppy storytelling is confusing and frustrating, whether it’s in a movie or on a website.

A blog post or article will succeed or fail based on whether it engages the audience in a clear and consistent way. Here are nine writing strategies that can help you snag your readers and keep them interested.

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How much effort do you put into images for your blog posts?

Are they an afterthought, or top priority? Time and time again, user experience and behavioral studies show that visual content really matters. In fact, it matters a ton because it’s what your readers will notice first when they click on your blog posts. Here are some data-driven, scientific ways to boost your visual content game:

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SEO writing tips in 2014? With all that has happened in search in recent years, do we really even need them? The answer is yes. Despite all the speculation in the industry, SEO is not dead, and it can still help you rank in SERPs when creating content.

Don’t worry, no keyword spamming or black hat tactics. I’m talking about writing optimized content using Google-friendly best practices. After all, when you spend time and money on quality content, your prospects should be able to find it.

Want to get a leg up on your competitors? Need to generate more leads and sales for your business? Here is a collection of must-know tips to boost the visibility of your web pages.

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