What Is Content Outsourcing?

The fact that most businesses are in some way active online means that content is everywhere. Some of it is excellent and some of it… isn’t. While most companies would love to get professional help in creating text that drives their business forward, the majority won’t hire an in-house content writer: choosing instead to craft their own copy or engage someone from outside to do it for them.

To help you decide on the best way to create your company’s content, we’re asking “what is content outsourcing?” and answering some key questions: 

• What is content outsourcing?
• How much do in-house content writers cost?
• Is content outsourcing expensive?
• What types of content can be outsourced?
• How does content outsourcing with Swantent work?

What Is Content Outsourcing and Why Is It Popular?

At its core, content outsourcing means tasking someone from outside your company with writing your content. There are plenty of options for delegating content creation and management services: from part-time freelancers to specialized agencies. The goal of a content outsourcing partnership is generally to optimize resources, enhance quality, and get better results from written materials.

Content outsourcing offers a number of key benefits. A successful outsourcing arrangement will reduce idle time and increase efficiency: either by acquiring the services of content professionals on an hourly basis or paying for content at piece rates. Furthermore, by outsourcing content creation, businesses can access specialized expertise and industry insights that may cost considerable resources to replicate in-house.

Compared to the cost of in-house staff, a solid content outsourcing strategy means that businesses can harness their resources to achieve excellent outcomes in content marketing for relatively small monthly outlays. Above all, the strategy is inherently scalable, in a way that insourcing content writing is not, which can help achieve longer term growth. 

How Much Do In-House Content Writers Cost?

Like anything that has a market, the cost of hiring in-house content writers, or building your own content marketing team, is a sliding scale of quality and price. If you’re lucky, you’ll unearth a young, talented copywriter who can create fantastic copy on a junior salary. In the main though, proficiency increases with experience, at the same time as salary demands. 

However, hiring in-house content writers involves more than just salary considerations, and understanding all of the costs helps you see the bigger picture of what content outsourcing is for.

• Base Salary and Benefits. The core expense is the content writer’s salary, which varies based on location, experience, and skillset. According to Glassdoor, content writer annual salaries range from $49,000 to $79,000 per year, while senior staff may demand upwards of $100,000 per year. Moreover, salaries, health insurance, paid time off, retirement contributions, and other perks can add 30-40% to the base salary.
• Equipment and Tools. Equipping in-house writers with tools and software adds to the overall cost. This includes computers, content management systems, SEO tools, and more.
• Training and Development. Investment in continuous training and development programs is crucial to keep in-house writers updated with evolving industry trends and skills. Seminars, workshops, courses, and certifications all add to the overall expenditure.
• Overheads. Operating costs such as office space, utilities, and administrative expenses are part of maintaining an in-house team. These costs can significantly impact overall budget and must be considered when evaluating the feasibility of your content team.

Comparing these expenses with the cost structures of outsourcing content is essential for businesses seeking cost-effective solutions without compromising quality. Outsourcing content offers flexibility, scalability, and often more predictable costs, making it an attractive alternative to maintaining an in-house team.

Is Content Outsourcing Expensive?

Although it’s evidently cheaper than hiring internal staff, the perception of content outsourcing is sometimes that it incurs higher expenses than businesses are willing to pay. However, a closer examination reveals a different reality.

• Long-Term Savings. Over time, the low-maintenance aspect of content outsourcing will pay dividends. With outsourcing, there’s no need to invest in training, equipment, or ongoing development for an internal team. Instead, the predictable, fixed-cost models offered by content outsourcing ensures stability, and helps you focus key resources elsewhere.
• Scalability and Flexibility. Outsourcing content means that businesses can scale content production up or down as needed, without the burden of hiring or downsizing internal staff. This allows for more agility and optimizes resource allocation.

• Access to Specialized Talent. Content outsourcing gives you access to a vast pool of specialized talent, including writers, designers, and strategists. These professionals can elevate the quality of content produced. While this might seem costlier upfront, the efficiency and expertise often lead to higher-quality content and better ROI in the long run.
• Fewer Overheads. Maintaining an in-house team involves various overheads such as salaries, benefits, office space, and utilities. Then, when someone leaves your company, you’ve got to do it all again. Outsourcing mitigates these costs, providing relief from administrative and infrastructure expenses and enabling you to build for the long term.

Value Over Cost

While it isn’t the cheapest solution to creating content, the benefits of using a professional outsourcing service often outweighs the expense. That’s because the efficiency, expertise, scalability, and quality associated with outsourced content often make it a cost-effective and strategic choice for businesses aiming to improve their content marketing efforts.

Is It Best to Outsource Content Outsourcing to Freelancers or Agencies?

Now you know what content outsourcing is, you’ll need to decide who you want to outsource your content creation to. This decision often boils down to a choice between freelancers and agencies. In turn, each option has its own set of advantages and considerations. Understanding the strengths and limitations of each can help your business make an informed decision.

Freelancers

Working with freelancers can benefit your business, particularly if you only require small amounts of content. 

• Flexibility and Cost Efficiency. Freelancers will only charge for the hours they work, offering flexibility for specific projects or tasks and making them ideal for short-term content needs.
• Direct Communication. Working directly with freelancers allows for more direct communication and personalized attention. They’re generally quick to implement improvement suggestions.

However, relying solely on freelancers can have some limitations:.

• Scalability Constraints and Reliability. Availability, reliability, and capacity to handle larger or multiple projects simultaneously can be challenging with individual freelancers. Likewise, if you’re engaging a freelancer on essentially a full time basis, you may be liable to pay tax and social contributions anyway.

Content Outsourcing Agencies

The benefits of content outsourcing agencies can far outweigh their costs, particularly if high-quality, regularity, and scale are among your priorities: 

• Comprehensive Services and Expertise. Content outsourcing agencies often house teams of specialists — writers, editors, SEO experts, and strategists — offering you comprehensive service under one roof. This diversity ensures a holistic approach to content creation.
• Reliability and Scalability. Agencies are generally more reliable and scalable than individual freelancers. With a larger talent pool and structured processes, they can handle larger volumes of work more efficiently.

However, content outsourcing agencies may also have a more rigid structure than an individual freelancer, and might not be the best call if you only need occasional, “off-the-cuff” content.

The Best Fit Depends on Your Needs

In short, you need to assess your scope, budget, and long-term content strategy when determining whether freelancers or agencies better align with the business objectives. Some businesses even opt for a hybrid approach, leveraging freelancers, agencies and in-house staff based on the nature of the content and project requirements.

What Types of Content Can I Outsource? 

In short… almost anything you want written, you can outsource. However, outsourcing content creation extends far beyond merely offloading tasks: it’s an investment in your content strategy that should help you drive key results. Here are some key content categories that businesses frequently outsource:

Outsource Blog Content

Blogs are central to most content marketing strategies, offering a platform to engage audiences, demonstrate industry expertise, and improve SEO. Outsourcing blog content to professional writers or agencies ensures a consistent flow of high-quality articles tailored to the brand’s voice and audience preferences.

Outsource Sales Content

Sales-focused content, including sales emails, product descriptions, and sales collateral, demands a persuasive yet informative tone. Outsourcing this content to seasoned copywriters can significantly impact conversion rates and customer engagement.

Outsource Websites and Marketing Copy

Your company’s website, landing pages, social media content, and other marketing copy help you tell the story of your brand. Although you might be nervous about outsourcing these elements, professional content creators understand the nuances of these different platforms, optimizing your content for maximum impact.

Outsource Social Media Content

Consistent and engaging social media content is pivotal for brand visibility and audience interaction. Outsourcing social media content creation helps businesses maintain a strong online presence without the daily time investment required across various platforms.

How Does Content Outsourcing With Swantent Work?

You can learn more about Swantent’s monthly content packages on our Pricing Page.

What is content outsourcing? We’re content outsourcing. At Swantent, we want to offer your business the best aspects of outsourced content while maintaining the trust and closeness of an in-house team. 

To do this, we offer monthly, fixed-price content packages, giving you the content you need, from a dedicated writer, without the effort and expense of hiring your own team. As such, we can simplify content creation while helping you optimize your resources, free from the cost of in-house operations.

Here are just a few reasons to consider content outsourcing with Swantent.

• One Package. Endless Potential. Our all-inclusive content packages help you establish thought leadership, amplify brand visibility, and give your sales teams the tools they need to succeed.
• Efficiency Through Outsourcing. We know that producing content in-house can be an inefficient use of your company’s resources. Instead of bearing the payroll expense and managerial complexities associated with internal content teams, let us take the strain.
• Fixed Monthly Fee for Reliability and Scalability. Our fixed monthly fee means you only pay for the content you actually need. No wastage, no hidden costs, no nasty surprises. This predictability in budgeting, means you can scale without worry.

Book Your Swantent Demo Today

You started the article with the question “what is content outsourcing” and – through the magic of compelling content – you’ve finished it not only convinced of the benefits, but with the perfect partner to drive your business forward.

Don’t just take our word for it. Book your Swantent demo today and see how our solutions can elevate your brand, drive engagement, and fuel growth without the hassles of in-house operations.