How to hire a content writer: Cost, skills & where to find one

Hiring a content writer? Learn where to find one, how much to pay, and how AI fits into content creation.

How to hire a content writer: Cost, skills & where to find one

SEO can bring traffic, but without the right content, those visitors won’t stick around. That’s why hiring a good writer matters.

A skilled writer can turn SEO into real business results. Whether you need blog posts, case studies, or thought leadership pieces, hiring the right SEO content writer helps attract leads—without expensive outbound tactics.

Good writing is often underestimated. Many assume it’s just words on a page, but great content blends storytelling with SEO, ranking higher on search engines while keeping readers engaged.

That’s why companies that invest in content marketing see conversion rates nearly six times higher than those that don’t. It also costs 62% less than traditional marketing.

With AI tools like ChatGPT and Jasper making content creation faster, some wonder if human writers are still needed. The answer is yes.

AI can assist with research, outlines, and first drafts, but it lacks originality, strategic thinking, and trustworthiness (EEAT)—all crucial for SEO success. Businesses using AI still rely on human writers to refine content, ensure accuracy, and inject creativity.

So, how do you find a writer who understands SEO, adapts to AI-driven workflows, and fits your brand’s voice? This guide covers everything—whether you’re hiring freelance or in-house. Let’s get started.


💡 Pressed for time? Here’s what matters:

  • Freelance vs. in-house – Freelancers cost US$50–US$500 per article, in-house writers earn US$40K–US$80K per year.
  • Finding a writer – Use ContentGrow, Upwork, or LinkedIn, review portfolios, and assign a small paid test before hiring.
  • AI in content writing – AI tools can help with research and drafts, but human writers refine, fact-check, and optimize for SEO.
  • Key hiring tips – Set clear KPIs, align content with marketing goals, and build long-term relationships with reliable writers.
  • Need content fast? – Try ContentGrow for scalable, vetted content creation.

Why should I hire an SEO content writer?

Businesses garnering more than 1 million monthly pageviews reveal that a significant chunk of their traffic comes from search engine optimization (SEO). Marketers will then nurture this traffic inside of a sales funnel strategy that will ideally lead to more revenue over time.

Companies looking to win on the search engine results page battleground should focus on hiring SEO content writers. These are the people who can combine the best of both worlds: captivating storytelling and technical SEO skills.

In reality, SEO best practices and content marketing are closely connected. To increase your SEO strength, you need high-quality content designed to answer the user’s question when they type in specific keywords. So in this sense, understanding how people think when they use a search engine is important.

ContentGrow | A Managed Marketplace & Workflow App for Content Teams
ContentGrow helps content teams scale up by providing top-tier freelance talent and a project hub that keeps everyone on-brief, in sync, and paid up.

What makes a great SEO content writer?

hire-content-writers-2

An understanding of strategy. A great content writer is not just an executor. They know how to spin an otherwise boring topic into stories that are interesting and exciting to read. A good content writer will know the talk of the town and adapt your content to ride the wave accordingly. The best ones do this while also ensuring it’s relevant to your marketing objectives.

A knack for SEO. SEO knowledge is what differentiates good content writers from great ones. They know how to do keyword planning, utilize insights, and play around with phrases to make sure your content appears at the top of the search engine results. According to Zerolimitweb, 71.33% of all clicks on Google go to the top ten organic results on the first page. That’s why SEO is important for bolstering your rank in the Search Engine Ranking Positions (SERPs).

Adaptability and flexibility. A multitude of writing skills is important for any great content writer. Ideally, they should know how to cope with different languages, adjust editorial plans on the fly, massage story angles, and pivot their tone in accordance with the audience.

Research skills. Good research equals good content. A great SEO content writer knows how to source reliable data and embed it into their writing to strengthen arguments and add to a story’s credibility. According to a SurveyMonkey study in the US, 82% of adult readers say they’d prefer to read a data-based article rather than an opinion-based one.

Finding and hiring the perfect content writer can take time and effort. But if done successfully, your brand can put out engaging stories and cultivate a closer relationship with its target customers. When consistent, content writers can improve your sales, traffic, and brand awareness.

Dos and don’ts

  • DO hire someone with technical SEO skills.
  • DON’T hire someone who promises link-building services.

Content marketing combined with SEO strategy is a long game. Don’t be baited into taking a shortcut and risking your company’s reputation along the way. Do believe that by producing high-quality content, traffic will increase organically, and you will be able to reap the benefits.

  • DO hire someone who understands your industry and content needs.
  • DON’T eliminate candidates just because they don’t have work samples in your industry.

To make sure you hire the best SEO content writers, give them a preliminary writing test based on the topics and criteria of the actual gig. Taking this little extra step early on will go a long way toward helping you separate the winners from the losers.

ContentGrow | A Managed Marketplace & Workflow App for Content Teams
ContentGrow helps content teams scale up by providing top-tier freelance talent and a project hub that keeps everyone on-brief, in sync, and paid up.

Where can I find a great SEO content writer?

hire-content-writers-5

So now you know what to look for and have decided to hire a SEO content writer. But where exactly can you find them?

The outbound approach

LinkedIn. There is a legion of writers waiting to be hired on LinkedIn. When searching, you can use specific keywords like ‘freelance content writer’ or ‘freelance editor’ and filter the results down to those who are available in your desired geography.

Medium. Medium is an online publishing platform hosting millions of writers. Try to search for posts related to your industry and see if you can find high-quality and engaging content. You could then reach out to the author to see if they’d be open for a freelance gig.

Freelance Marketplace. Freelance content writers are everywhere, but you might not have the time to scour the internet looking for the perfect one. If that’s the case, we suggest you take advantage of a managed marketplace like ContentGrow. Unlike other more chaotic freelancer sites, ContentGrow is an invite-only platform. It offers a service through which the team works with you, one-on-one, to assemble a mix of experienced and qualified freelance content writers, tailored specifically for your niche and geography.

ContentGrow review - a specialist’s marketplace for journalism and PR
Check out the latest ContentGrow reviews by prominent media outlets and PR firms in Asia.

The inbound approach

Your own website. Post the vacancy for a content writer on your company’s website. This helps filter out candidates because only those who are interested in your company first would visit the website and find the information.

Always remember to be selective when picking a content writer for your business. Just because their previous articles look good, it doesn’t mean they can write as well about your industry. Test them by asking for an article on spec before hiring. By doing this, you can also see whether their writing suits the voice of your brand and if they can deliver without delay.

Should I hire in-house or freelance?

hire-content-writers-3

Both in-house and freelance content writers can do good things for your company. But there are some points of differences that you need to keep in mind before deciding which type you want.

Why should I hire a writer in-house? In-house content writers can be a great addition if your company has sufficient time and a budget for one more full-time employee. With them being part of the company, you will get more consistency in your content overall. This works well if you’re looking to publish often across all channels. They will come to know your company inside and out, and thus be able to tailor a more strategic editorial plan that aligns with your key messages.

Hiring content writers permanently also means that you have them ready at all times. You will never have to worry about missing important coverage or scrambling to the phone looking for someone who can write a time-sensitive story at a moment’s notice.

ContentGrow | A Managed Marketplace & Workflow App for Content Teams
ContentGrow helps content teams scale up by providing top-tier freelance talent and a project hub that keeps everyone on-brief, in sync, and paid up.

Why should I hire a freelance content writer? Hiring a freelance content writer is basically just working with a vendor. With no overhead costs of insurance, training, HR weight, or a permanent salary, working with a freelancer is by far the better option for an SME looking to stay lean.

Extra effort may be required at the beginning, especially when establishing a division of duties, writing guidelines, and the overall workflow in the content operation. But once you get that up and running, you can expect a smoother process while also getting high-quality content at a cheaper rate.

How about hiring a content marketing agency? If you want to combine the professional touch of in-house talent and the low-commitment advantage of a freelancer, you may consider working with a content marketing agency. It’s often a win-win solution, as an agency will come equipped with more resources and you can expect them to reach the agreed KPIs.

Depending on the agency’s rates, you may or may not be getting the best bang for your buck, but the good news is that you can always parse work out on a per-project basis to see which agency is right for you.

How much should SEO content writers be paid?

hire seo content writers - how much should seo content writers be paid

If you have found the perfect in-house content writer, you can actually decide their salary based on the company’s policy. But if you want to hire a freelance content writer, it’s a trickier calculation. Standard writing fees vary depending on the nature of the work, timeframe, and the assignment. Expect some of the best freelancers to give you a quotation, typically on a per-hour, per-word, or per-article basis.

To get a baseline, you could check the standard editorial rates via the Editorial Freelancers Association (efa.org). There are also some rates databases and rates calculators online that you can make use of.

For example, TechCrunch pays a US$300 flat fee for a 1,800-word article. Agoda pays US$50 for a 500-word article. Ernst & Young pays US$150 per hour for 1,500-word articles about business and economics. Of course, this fee also depends on the writer’s quality and productivity. The more difficult and technical the order is, the more the content writer is likely to deserve.

Get PR service
We’d love to help your company create and distribute press releases. After filling out this form, our team will be in touch to discuss the story at hand. Let’s get started!

Things to know before hiring SEO content writers (and how AI fits in)

hire-content-writers-7

Hiring an SEO content writer isn’t an instant process. Finding the right person takes time, but the payoff is worth it.

A skilled writer can improve your search rankings, boost engagement, and support your marketing efforts, freeing up your team to focus on growth.

AI can speed up workflows, but human writers are still essential

AI writing tools like ChatGPT, Jasper, and Copy.ai are becoming popular for content creation. They can assist with outlines, research, and first drafts, helping speed up the writing process. Some companies use AI to generate bulk content, but human writers remain crucial for:

  • Accuracy and trustworthiness – AI can pull outdated or incorrect data. Writers ensure content is fact-checked.
  • SEO strategy – AI can suggest keywords, but it doesn’t understand search intent the way a skilled SEO writer does.
  • Brand voice and creativity – AI lacks human nuance, tone, and original storytelling.

Businesses that blend AI with human writers get faster content production without sacrificing quality. AI is a tool, not a replacement.

Engagement doesn’t always mean sales

Content marketing works, but it’s a long-term strategy. Seeing traffic go up without immediate conversions can be frustrating, but it doesn’t mean your efforts are wasted. People might not buy now, but they’re aware of your brand and may return later when they’re ready.

Set clear KPIs

Whether hiring freelance or in-house, define your expectations upfront. Are you aiming for:

  • More pageviews?
  • Better SERP rankings?
  • Higher engagement rates?

Put it in writing and set realistic timelines. If results aren’t meeting expectations, analyze, adjust, and optimize before making changes to your team.

Content should work with other marketing efforts

Content marketing isn’t an isolated strategy. Before hiring a writer, ask:

  • How does content fit into our overall marketing goals?
  •  Will it support social media, email campaigns, or lead generation?
  • What problem are we trying to solve with content?

Align content efforts with SEO, PR, and paid campaigns to maximize impact.

Long-term relationships work best

Hiring new writers constantly disrupts consistency. If you’re working with freelancers, build long-term relationships rather than switching too often. A reliable content writer:

  • Learns your brand tone and style over time
  • Understands your business goals and audience pain points
  • Helps maintain content consistency across all platforms

Unless there’s a major issue, keeping a trusted writer long-term will save time on onboarding, training, and revisions.

Now you know the A-Z of hiring a content writer, from sourcing to setting expectations and understanding AI’s role in content creation.

💡
This post is created by ContentGrow, providing scalable and tailored content creation services for B2B brands and publishers worldwide. Book a discovery call to learn more.
Book a call with ContentGrow (for brands & publishers) - ContentGrow
Thanks for booking a call with ContentGrow, a managed talent network of freelance media professionals ready to serve brands, publishers, and global content teams.Let’s chat a bit about your content needs and see if ContentGrow is the right solution for you!IMPORTANT: To confirm a meeting, we need

FAQs

How to hire a freelance content writer?

Start by defining what you need—SEO blog posts, case studies, or social media content. Next, search on platforms like ContentGrow, Upwork, or LinkedIn and shortlist candidates based on their portfolios. Don’t rely solely on past work—assign a small paid test to see if they match your expectations. Once you find the right writer, set clear guidelines, deadlines, and KPIs to ensure smooth collaboration.

How much does it cost to hire a content writer?

Freelance content writers typically charge US$50–US$500 per article, depending on experience and niche. In-house writers earn between US$40K–US$80K per year, while agencies start at US$1,000+ per month for full-service content marketing. Pricing varies based on content type, industry, and complexity, so it's best to compare options before deciding.