How to Outsource Content Writing in 2024 (and 5 Ways to Do It).

Is it time to outsource content writing? It’s a question facing companies everywhere – from startups, to small businesses, to marketing teams at larger corporations. Perhaps you’re already looking at the options for cutting costs and increasing efficiency in 2024. While content remains king, the digital world is becoming ever more competitive, and an in-house content writer or content team is a luxury that few but the biggest firms can afford. 

Despite the changing winds in marketing and sales enablement, there are plenty of alternatives that you can consider if you’re ready to look at new and innovative content solutions. Read this post and learn how to outsource content writing, as well as the best solutions available to your company in 2024. We’ll cover:

• Why you need to outsource content writing. 
• 5 ways to outsource content writing in 2024.
• Why content outsourcing with Swantent could be the solution you’re looking for.

Do You Need to Outsource Content Writing?

Quite possibly. Content creation is a paradox. On the one hand the demand for quality content has skyrocketed. On the other, the job prospects of specialist content writers have rarely looked so grim. Or perhaps rumors of their demise have been exaggerated. While the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT have played a role in the (alleged) decline of the in-house copywriter, there are a multitude of factors at work. These relate largely to how content is actually created in the modern marketing landscape, and what that content is actually used for.

Content creation is an increasingly difficult expense to explain. When you can blast out reams of text with ChatGPT in seconds, the cost of hiring and maintaining an in-house content writing team can feel even more financially burdensome than it otherwise would. In “traditional” content teams, the costs associated with salaries, benefits, and training often outweigh the benefits. Likewise, with the evolving landscape of content requirements, relying solely on an in-house team might limit the variety and quality of content your business needs.

Value for Money?

However, the real question of ROI: how much value a content writer can really bring a company? The answer is less simple than it may seem. While relying on in-house content writers might not be a cost-effective approach, there’s surely a solution more dynamic than your over-stretched staff writers and more trustworthy than leaving your brand image in the hands of a still-developing AI. 

This is the middle ground that companies try to occupy when they outsource content writing: the benefits of in-house staff with the flexibility of a SaaS subscription. Let’s explore why outsourcing content writing has become a necessity, rather than just an idea, and delve into five distinct ways to achieve this goal effectively.

5 Ways to Outsource Content Writing

When it comes to creating content, finding the right balance between quality, quantity, and cost efficiency can be a challenge. Here are some of the most effective (as well as less-effective) ways that your business can start to outsource content writing in 2024.

1. Outsource Content Writing with Swantent

If you’re looking to outsource content writing, there’s no better place to start than with a content outsourcing specialist. Outsourcing your content creation to Swantent is the perfect balance for startups, SMEs and marketing teams, especially in the SaaS industry. That’s because we offer all the advantages of having your own content team – dedicated writers with deep industry knowledge – while removing the negatives: payroll costs, downtime for sickness and holidays, and the need to pay for time, not output.

With Swantent’s straightforward fixed monthly fee, your company gets a dependable content package, enabling you to scale without the financial burden of maintaining an in-house team. This fixed cost structure ensures predictability, streamlines budget management and eliminates unexpected charges.

Why Swantent Could Be the Best Way to Outsource Content Writing.

• Cost Predictability. A fixed monthly fee for content creation means that you can budget for months ahead with ease.
• Scalability. By adjusting your package on a month-by-month basis, you can scale your output seamlessly: no need to hire more staff or spend time looking for freelancers.
• Reliability. Access to a consistent and dependable content writer, who will build a long-term connection to your brand over time, is included in every Swantent package.

Why It Might Not Be

• You have no budget whatsoever. Naturally, outsourcing content writing will require some investment, and yes, Swantent costs money. However, we’re sure that the benefits of quality content outweigh the costs.
• We can’t think of anything right now. However, you’re very welcome to talk to our content specialists and see if you can find a reason why outsourcing content writing with Swantent might not work.

2. Outsource Content Writing to Freelancers

It has never been easier to find and outsource content creation to freelancers, which is why the method remains a favored choice for marketing teams and small businesses alike. Freelancers are (generally) flexible and cost-effective, while the prices can also be quite low providing you don’t need a lot in terms of volume.

Platforms like Fiverr offer access to a diverse pool of content writers, from the ludicrously cheap to the prohibitively expensive. This allows businesses to select professionals that fit their specific needs. In the main though, freelancers offer you exactly what you pay for. While low-cost content writers offer a great deal of affordability, you could be paying for something of no value at all. Likewise, managing a larger pool of freelancers can pose challenges, and you may even be subject to payroll charges like tax and social contributions if you engage the same freelancer too extensively.

Why Freelancers Could Be the Best Way to Outsource Content Writing.

• Flexibility. On freelance platforms, you can easily access an enormous pool of content writers who can cater to various niches and styles.
• Cost-effectiveness. With prices starting at rock bottom, freelancers often provide services at rates suitable for businesses with budget constraints.

Why They Might Not Be

• Quality Issues. Freelancers are notorious for inconsistencies in content quality. You might get lucky, but there are varying skill levels and work ethics among freelancers, and it’s difficult to tell who the bad apples are.
• Management Complexity. Over time, you’ll face challenges in overseeing multiple freelancers, potentially leading to coordination and communication issues.
• Reliability Concerns. Freelancers are people, and sometimes they get sick, find different jobs, or simply ghost you. If you’re dependent on individual freelancers’ availability and reliability for timely content delivery, any number of factors could get in the way.

3. Engage a Marketing Agency

Marketing agencies offer a variety of services, and many will be more than happy to help you create content on a regular basis. However, when you outsource content writing to a business of this type, there are some important considerations to make. 

On the plus side, marketing agencies promise exceptional content quality and a deep grasp of industry trends. Usually staffed by more-than-capable content writers, they excel in crafting concepts and delivering high-quality content that resonates with target audiences. However, their services typically fall on the higher end of the pricing spectrum, potentially posing challenges for businesses seeking sustained long-term content solutions.

Why an Agency Could Be the Best Way to Outsource Content Writing.

• High-Quality Content. Marketing agencies specialize in delivering top-notch content tailored to industry standards.
• Trend Understanding. Possessing insights into current industry trends, agencies are in an ideal position to craft content that aligns with market demands.

Why It Might Not Be.

• High Costs. Services from marketing agencies often come with premium pricing, making them less feasible for businesses with tight budgets. Some agencies will also charge you for project management and time they spend with you in meetings or on calls.
• Long-Term Sustainability. While agencies excel in delivering quality, sustaining the cost for ongoing content needs might strain budgets.
• Concept Over Content. Many agencies focus more on conceptualization than consistent long-term content production, posing challenges for businesses requiring regular content.

4. Trust in AI

If you were asleep for 2023, it might come as a news to you that one of the most popular ways to outsource content writing is to use an AI-powered tool like ChatGPT. Just in case you missed it, text generators present a new frontier for content creation, creating words upon words within seconds. This speed, combined with the fact that many free versions are perfectly serviceable, means affordability as well as rapid content generation. 

However, AI is still something of a pandora’s box. That’s because generated output often lacks the depth, context, and nuanced understanding inherent in human-created content. In turn, this impacts its engagement and impact levels. Worse still, AI-generated content raises concerns regarding potential legal and factual issues, necessitating careful consideration when relying solely on AI for content creation. Embrace the future by all means, but do so with caution.

Why AI Could Be the Best Way to Outsource Content Writing.

• Cost-effectiveness. AI-powered text generators provide an affordable solution for content creation. Many can be used free of charge.
• Rapid output. Tools like ChatGPT can produce massive amounts of content within seconds, tempting if you have a pressing need for a substantial volume of material.

Why It Might Not Be

• Lack of depth and understanding. AI-generated content might lack the depth and context that human-created content offers, impacting its ability to engage audiences effectively.
• Quality Standards. Meeting the quality benchmarks required for engaging and impactful content might be challenging with AI-generated content.
• Legal and Factual Concerns. Potential issues with accuracy, copyright, and factual errors in AI-generated content could pose legal risks for your business. While “hallucination” is something that developers are acutely aware of, it may take a while before a reliable fix is available. 

5. Do It Yourself (Insourcing)

Let’s think outside the box: maybe the best way to outsource content writing is not to outsource content writing at all. Especially if you work in a larger company, using your existing staff to “democratize” in-house content creation might be your best way forward. Your colleagues will have a deep understanding of your product and the ability to express it, two vital ingredients for excellent content.

However, despite the initial appearance of cost-effectiveness, in-house content creation demands substantial time and effort from employees. Likewise, you could be diverting their attention from more productive core activities. The temptation to get involved in minutiae like commas and adjectives is better kept away from the people whose output your commercial success depends on.

Why Insourcing Content Writing Could Be Better Than Outsourcing.

• Brand Alignment. In-house teams possess an inherent understanding and direct connection with the brand and its values, ensuring content authenticity.
• Product Knowledge. Employees have an in-depth understanding of your company’s products or services, enabling them to create content that resonates with consumers.

Why It Might Not Be

• Resource Drain. Creating content in-house consumes significant employee time and effort, diverting focus from their primary job responsibilities.
• Expertise Constraints. While they may be able to write and communicate well, your non-marketing employees can lack content creation skills or experience. As a result, potentially you may notice limitations in content quality and variety.
• Cost Illusion. Despite seeming cost-effective initially, in-house content creation incurs hidden expenses, including salaries, benefits, and training, impacting overall cost-efficiency.

Ready to Outsource Content Writing in 2024?

Each outsourcing method has its merits and limitations. However, we’re confident that for businesses seeking cost-effective, reliable, and scalable content solutions, Swantent offers a compelling option. 

Book a demo with Swantent today and discover how outsourcing content writing can transform your content strategy, ensuring quality and consistency without the overheads associated with traditional in-house teams.