How to filter blog writers for hire in 6 steps

Hiring a blog writer shouldn’t feel like playing Russian roulette with your brand voice, you certainly shouldn't get your fingers burnt for seeking out professional support. But too often, this is exactly what happens. Some writers for hire sound good on paper (or on a slick website), but then you hand them the brief and...

If you’ve been burnt before, here’s how to avoid the same mistakes — and hire someone worth your time.

1. Prioritize thought process over grammar

Good grammar is table stakes. What separates a forgettable writer from a great one is how they think. Can they take a messy idea and shape it into something clear, sharp, and readable?

Forget your stance on Oxford commas for a second. Look at how the writer for hire structure their ideas. Are they chasing clarity or padding sentences? A writer with a good brain is 10x easier to edit than one who just polishes empty paragraphs.

2. Beware of 'everything to everyone' freelancers

If a writer says they’re equally passionate about fintech, fashion, leadership, astrology, and lawn care — run.

The best writers have range, yes — but they know their lanes. If they haven't said no to certain topics, they probably won’t say yes with any real conviction to yours.

Look for people who get what you do and why it matters. Otherwise, you’ll be stuck translating their work back into your language every time.

3. Judge by questions, not answers

Here’s a big tell: a good writer should ask annoying, specific, sometimes uncomfortable questions before they even start writing.

Who’s your audience? What are they fed up with? What tone do you hate? What’s off-limits?

If someone blindly accepts your brief with a cheery “sounds great, I’ll get started!” — warning lights. You’re not hiring a yes-person. You need a curious, strategic brain that can push back when it matters.

4. Look for sentence-level control

Most writers can get from A to B. Great writers make the ride sharp, clean, and memorable.

Pay attention to how they open a paragraph, land a point, and transition between ideas. Are the sentences doing work, or are they just filling space?

You want writing with rhythm — something that knows when to punch, pause, or speed up. If it reads like a lifeless content mill post, it probably is.

5. Test for tone-switching

Your brand doesn’t live in a vacuum. Sometimes you’ll need smart and serious. Sometimes punchy and playful.

A decent writer can match a tone guide. A great one can switch between them naturally — without sounding fake.

When you test any blog writer for hire, throw in a curveball brief like asking them to suggest a guerrilla marketing-style blog for your brand. See how they flex. Can they shift gears without losing clarity? If not, they’ll trip you up later.

6. Don’t be dazzled by big-name portfolios

Some writers will proudly drop brand names like they personally wrote every word Nike or Google ever published. Reality check: unless they’re very senior, they were likely one of many hands on deck — and not the one calling the creative shots.

Big names look good on a CV, but they don’t always prove skill. Focus on the actual work they did, not just the logo. Ask what their role was, what they owned, and how much of that final piece reflects their thinking. If it’s vague, it probably wasn’t theirs.

In my years of being one and hiring blog writers...

My advice to anyone looking for support on getting their voice out there is:

• Don't fall for big names in their portfolio or overly enthusiastic intros.

• Filter for thinking, clarity, and flexibility — and you’ll hire someone who makes you look good, not stressed.