According to the Content Marketing Institute, some 93% of marketers already had a content marketing strategy in place by 2013, and this figure continues to grow as more companies come to recognise the benefits of providing value-adding content to their target audiences. A report by the same organisation also found that 72% of large companies outsourced their content creation, compared to 33% of small companies. However, many companies and entrepreneurs still approach outsourcing with a degree of hesitancy, fearing that it may cause them to lose their voice and compromise on quality.
In reality, outsourcing presents a great deal of advantages, provided that it is approached in the right manner. Too many companies consider outsourcing to be nothing more than a cost-effective shortcut, often hoping for tangible results in return for very little money. Others fail to maintain a clear line of communication with their freelance writers or content platforms, thus leading to disappointing results. Ultimately, however, outsourcing presents a number of major advantages over in-house content creation, as you’ll find out in this article.
1 – Save Money
According to payscale.com, the average salary of an in-house content writer is $40,278 per year in the United States, though this figure is far higher for more experienced technical writers. By contrast, outsourcing your content creation allows you to pay for content on an as-needed basis, rather than having to fill a permanent job placement that you will still have to pay for even during periods of decreased demand.
Since outsourcing provides you with the opportunity to tap into a global writer’s pool, you’ll often be able to work with freelancers who are willing to work for significantly less than in-house content writers sourced locally. People living in countries with lower costs of living often charge less, although quality quickly gets compromised if you set your budget too low.
2 – Faster Turnaround
There are thousands of great writers out there, many of whom write full-time for a living. Outsourcing is highly scalable, and this allows you to get more done, particularly when there’s a sudden spike in demand. Content marketing requires persistence and long-term commitment as well as a great deal of effort, and oftentimes it simply isn’t practical to have everything taken care of by an in-house team.
When you are managing multiple projects at the same time, outsourcing allows you to more evenly distribute the required work among multiple writers rather than overloading your own team. Any reputable freelance writer or content platform takes deadlines very seriously, and you can easily lay your concerns regarding turnaround times to rest by doing a bit of research before reaching out to new freelancers, either directly or via a content creation agency.
3 – Find the Expertise You Need
Outsourcing your content allows you to tap into an enormous, global writer’s pool in such a way that you can take advantage of knowledge, abilities and experience that go beyond the capabilities of any in-house team. Since you’ll be able to work with writers from all over the world, you won’t be restricted by the relatively limited human resources that are available in your area. By tapping into the skills of others, you’ll be better equipped to ensure that you’re getting quality results.
There are many people who have the business acumen to start a successful online business: they might be financial wizards, excellent Web designers, social media geniuses or a combination of these and much more. However, not everyone can write great content, and even if they can, many companies and busy entrepreneurs simply don’t have the time. By taking advantage of external content creation, you’ll be able to establish the thought leadership that your brand needs.
4 – Change Your Focus
As you already know, content creation takes a great deal of time and, while it is an important part of any modern digital marketing strategy, your in-house team, as well as yourself, will often be more productive and useful to your company if their efforts are focussed on something else. By outsourcing your content creation, you’ll be able to focus more on your business itself as well as its products and services. You’ll still have the final say over what gets published, particularly if you retain an in-house editorial team, but you will be able to free up your time for more important tasks.
Conclusion
Outsourcing all or part of your content creation will give your business breathing room to grow by freeing up in-house human resources and allowing you to focus on more important company goals and priorities. It might take time to build a reliable external team of writers, but the return on investment in the longer term can be extremely beneficial for your business.
