What to Expect When Hiring a Content Writing Agency for the First Time
Sarah Edwards
Have you decided to team up with a content writing agency? That’s a great call. But if you don’t know what to expect, it will be tough to differentiate a great partner from an average one. When you decide to outsource blog writing and content creation to a quality agency, here’s what the agency will do, step by step.
Conduct a Thorough Onboarding to Learn Your Brand Voice
A great content writing service will set the partnership up for success long before a writer ever types a word. First, an account manager or another designated point of contact will carry out a comprehensive onboarding process. They’ll learn your brand voice, your preferred style, and your goals for the partnership.
The onboarding process gives the agency a baseline so that writers can capture the essence of your business before they begin creating content.
Review the Competition and Conduct SEO Research
Next, your agency will take a deep dive into the competition, conducting research to identify which search terms are ranking in your market. They’ll use this information to create an SEO content brief for each deliverable.
Each brief will outline the desired content length, the keywords to be targeted, and other information for the writer, such as how many internal and external links to include.
Build a Content Calendar to Plan Out Deliverables
Regularly adding new content to your website and staying active on social media platforms is vital for keeping up with the competition. The best agencies will help you create a content calendar so that you can stick to a consistent publishing routine.
The number of deliverables included on your calendar will depend on which of the agency’s content marketing packages you choose. If you are trying to gain ground quickly, it’s better to post more frequently. Your point of contact will cover this with you during the onboarding process.
Produce High-Quality Content for Your Target Market
Effective content is engaging and on topic. It’s also free of low-quality, unoriginal AI output.
While generative AI has a wide variety of use cases, AI-powered large language models (LLMs) exhibit some major issues when creating written content. In addition to being formulaic, LLMs are known for pulling the wrong sources or making them up entirely.
Writers at a high-quality content marketing agency will create content without using AI tools. The agency will also scan all copy as a preemptive measure to avoid getting flagged by AI detectors. That way, you don’t have to worry about your content being mistaken for AI output.
Naturally Integrate Keywords in All Content
A great content marketing agency will identify which keywords will attract search engine users to your content. However, keyword stuffing can negatively impact your rankings and make the content less enjoyable for readers.
Your agency’s skilled writers will make sure that all keywords are incorporated naturally. This results in cohesive, informative content that is easy to read and ranks well on search engines.
A primary keyword should appear multiple times in a piece of content, but it should not be overused. When you’re collaborating on a content strategy, your account manager can provide tips regarding keyword saturation rates.
Regularly Check In to Make Sure Content Is Performing As Expected
Your collaboration with a writing agency doesn’t end when the content is published. A good agency will follow up regularly with you. During these check-ins, the account manager will make sure the content is performing as desired. If you have new ideas or different preferences, they’ll work with you to update your content marketing strategy.
Over time, you may realize that certain types of content resonate better with your audience. During these check-ins, share what you are learning so that the agency can incorporate your feedback into future pieces.
Load Content Into Your CMS or Publishing Platform
Leading writing agencies go the extra mile to simplify content publishing. They will upload content into your template documents or directly into your CMS. Premier content services may also include graphics and other visual elements to complement written copy.
Frequently Asked Questions About Working With a Content Writing Agency
How Long Does It Take to See Results From a Content Writing Agency?
That depends on how much content you publish and how you deploy it. A multichannel strategy that includes a high volume of content will drive results faster than publishing a few pieces a month. However, SEO always takes some time to take effect, which means it may be several months before you notice an uptick in traffic and rankings.
How Do I Know Whether I Need a Content Writing Agency or a Freelancer?
You can count on a content writing agency to deliver consistent and high-quality content. An agency will also be better able to meet tight deadlines. Hiring a freelancer means taking on a lot of risk. They vary greatly in rates, quality, and promptness. It’s much harder to know whether a freelancer will be worth what you’re paying them.
What Should I Prepare Before Hiring a Content Writing Agency?
Try to get an idea of what your goals are, who your audience is, and what type of content you need. However, you don’t have to have it all figured out. A great writing agency will turn your raw ideas into an actionable content strategy. Lean into their experience to create a plan that furthers your company’s growth goals.
Can a Content Writing Agency Match My Brand Voice?
Absolutely. One of the first things a quality agency will do is meet with you to understand your brand voice, goals, and audience. This initial meeting paves the way for engaging, on-brand content that resonates with your customer base. Be detailed and provide feedback as the first few waves of content come in.
Looking to Hire a Content Writing Agency? Contact Write Collective Today
Write Collective is an experienced content writing agency with a dedicated team of copywriters and editors. Our team is ready to capture your brand voice and deliver engaging content that resonates with your audience. Get in touch with Write Collective to learn more about our content packages.
About Sarah Edwards
Sarah Edwards, the founder of Write Collective, is an SEO and content marketing expert with a strong track record in helping businesses, agencies, and individuals in every sector establish credibility online with strong links, optimized webpages, and superior copy.