Presented at MN Blogger Conference 2017 Hiring Writers and Other Freelancers: How to Leverage Others to Increase Your Capacity Do you create all the content on your site? Are you questioning whether you will be able to keep up with your blog long-term? Or even worse, are you on the brink of burnout? Learn how to go about hiring writers and other freelancers who can help you avoid burnout and provide you with the capacity to focus on the things that will push your blog and brand to the next level. Recommended/helpful audience prerequisites: Already have a blog established and blogger is doing all or almost all the work themselves (i.e. all the writing, graphic design, social media management, etc.) Key session takeaways: Attendees will learn how to go about hiring freelancers who will take work off their plate and create capacity for them to focus on the important things that will help them take their blog and brand to the next level. They will hear tips and best practices for finding freelancers, on-boarding freelancers, and managing freelancers. David will lace in stories from his 4+ years of experience hiring and managing contributors and freelancers on his blog, and how outsourcing work has allowed him to pursue bigger projects that he otherwise would have had time for.

1. Hiring Writers and Other Freelancers:
How to Leverage Others to Increase Your Capacity
David Carlson
Minnesota Blogger Conference 2017
March 14th, 2017

2. David Carlson

3. Blogger Life
Writing Blog Posts
Blog Design
SEO
Twitter
Email Marketing
Pinterest
Facebook
Freebies/Incentives
Editing Blog Posts
YouTube
Pinterest Graphics
Planning New Content
Resources & Guides
Facebook
Affiliate Programs
Sponsored Content
Sponsored Content
Finances
Instagram
Commenting on Blogs Networking
Replying to Emails
Reading Other Blogs
Research
Learning New Programs

4. Young Adult Money
• Founded July 1st, 2012
• Zero freelance help in the beginning
• Not my first blog
• Started with two goals in mind:
oBuild a brand/business
oMake side income

5. Continuity & Consistency
• Continuity: Keep the Blog Going
• Consistency: Publish Content at Regular Intervals
• Things that can stop continuity and consistency:
o Burnout
o 9-5 obligations
o Family emergencies & circumstances
o Lack of motivation
o Illness
o Opportunities

6. Blogger Life
Writing Blog Posts
Blog Design
SEO
Twitter
Email Marketing
Pinterest
Facebook
Freebies/Incentives
Editing Blog Posts
YouTube
Pinterest Graphics
Planning New Content
Resources & Guides
Facebook
Affiliate Programs
Sponsored Content
Sponsored Content
Finances
Instagram
Commenting on Blogs Networking
Replying to Emails
Reading Other Blogs
Research
Learning New Programs

7. Before Hiring Freelancers
• Register as an LLC
• Create and follow an Editorial Calendar
o Google Sheets
• Clearly understand expectations of freelancers
• Spend time putting together Writer Guidelines
o The more detailed the better
o Start with something
• Have some sort of Financial tracking system in place

8. Editorial Calendar
http://www.youngadultmoney.com/2016/11/25/free-2017-editorial-calendar-in-google-spreadsheets/

9. Hiring your First Writer
• Write up a Job Description & Publish on your Blog
o Rate & Requirements
o Sample: http://www.youngadultmoney.com/writerswanted/
• Send others to your Job Opening via Social Media & your
Email List
• Use your Network
o Other bloggers in your niche who have hired freelancers
o Freelancers who write for other blogs in your niche
• Organize and Review Applicants
• Extending an Offer

10. Other Considerations
• Ongoing Recruitment
o Time Spent Onboarding
o Turnover
• Tax Implications
• Contractual Implications
• Your Blog’s “Voice”

11. Beyond Writers
• Graphic Design
o Both Pinterest and Other Graphics
• Web Design/Redesign
o Coding
• Virtual Assistant
o Manage Emails
o Content Audit
• Social Media Manager
• Editor

12. Upside and Opportunities
• Focus on Content “Beyond” Blog Posts
o Pages/Guides
o Audio/Video
o Webinars
• Focus on Email Marketing
• Monetization / Sponsorships / Advertising
• Ancillary Services
o Freelance Writing (Arbitrage)
o Courses

13. Questions?

14. Contact
David Carlson
DC@YoungAdultMoney.com
http://www.YoungAdultMoney.com