A crucial part of modern digital marketing is content marketing. To use content marketing effectively, you should regularly add content, like blogs and videos, to your website and other channels. While some businesses can manage their content marketing on their own, others prefer to outsource this writing. One choice for outsourced content marketing is online content marketplaces.
Using a content marketplace gives businesses access to freelance writers and other content producers. It can be a valuable resource if you get the right person. However, content marketplaces do have some drawbacks that might make them a poor choice for some businesses.
Today, we’re exploring the benefits and drawbacks of content marketplaces and comparing those to a professional writing agency. Read on if you’ve ever wondered how online content marketplaces work.
What Is a Content Marketplace?
A content marketplace is an online platform where freelance writers and other creators can offer their services to anyone who needs them. Two popular online marketplaces are Fiverr and Upwork.
Marketplaces like these give content creators a safe place to make business transactions while paying a small fee to use the platform. Most marketplaces are open to everyone and there is no quality guarantee. Depending on the platform, you can either browse through writer profiles to find one that matches your needs or post a one-time job offer and sort through interested writers to see who qualifies for the role.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Online Content Marketplaces
Using a marketplace for content can come with several pros and cons. For example, if you run a small or medium business, you might find that they’re a good fit because of the access you get to writers. But you might want to weigh more advantages and disadvantages, so let’s explore what those look like.
1. Costs for Content Marketplaces
Advantages: In general, the writers and creators you can hire through a content marketplace offer reasonable prices for their services. Content marketplaces tend to be more affordable than professional content services or writing agencies because you cut out the middleman. It should be noted that lower prices do not necessarily mean low-quality work. Usually, it’s a side effect of the high competition in the marketplace encouraging writers to work for lower rates. You’ll still find that the highest-rated writers usually have higher rates.
In some online marketplaces, the writer sets the fee for the content they provide, which can help you establish budget expectations if you don’t have any. Other marketplaces have a model that lets you set your prices while freelancers pitch their ideas to you. If you have a strict budget, this might be useful.
Overall, content marketplaces can give you more freedom to shop for writer fees that match your budget without being locked into anything.
Disadvantages: In a content marketplace, you may not have the option of a regular payment schedule, which can make budgeting for your content marketing more difficult. Additionally, there is an added time commitment that goes into hiring the best freelance writers. It may end up being more expensive than working with a professional agency, so you should consider the manpower costs that go into navigating an open marketplace.
2. International Writers
Advantages: Here in the United States, most businesses look for native English speakers for their content. However, if you operate in other countries or serve a specific non-English-speaking population, you might need content in another language.
Because content marketplaces are open to anyone, there tend to have more international writers. You can likely find a writer who is fluent in the language you need.
Disadvantages: Many non-native English speakers sign up for content marketplaces to earn money. These people may be excellent writers in their native language but struggle with some of the idiosyncrasies of English, especially when writing about more complicated topics.
3. Freelancers’ Skills and Expertise
Advantages: Freelance writers tend to have well-rounded knowledge and the ability to write generally on a broad range of topics. Some writers may even offer SEO and keyword research as part of their services.
Disadvantages: If you need expert-level writing, you might struggle to find a freelance writer with the right expertise. This lack of industry knowledge means many businesses turn to professional agencies when they have higher-level content needs.
Does your business cover multiple content topics? If so, you will likely need to work with multiple freelance writers. This can change your deadlines while waiting on content and you may end up managing multiple sets of instructions. Should you be the only person at your company managing content, you are likely to be pulled away from more important tasks that need your attention.
4. Workload Management
Advantages: Freelance writers in a content marketplace have the freedom and flexibility to choose which projects they take on. Since most freelancers only take on the amount of work they can manage well, you can probably find a writer to take on an urgent project. You can also work with them closely so they’ll make it their top priority and listen to your feedback to make any necessary changes.
Disadvantages: Some freelancers end up overextending themselves and take on more than they can handle. When this happens, some projects get pushed aside, they miss deadlines, and writing quality begins to suffer. These writers may also struggle with doing even simple revisions because they are overworked.
5. Schedule Flexibility
Advantages: Freelance writers are usually not tied down to a typical 9-5 workday schedule. Many prefer to work odd hours. This could be advantageous to you if you have a last-minute project that you need by the next business day. Once you build a working relationship with a writer on these marketplaces, you can work with them again, meaning it’s easier to access them.
Disadvantages: Because freelance writers do not work set schedules, you may have more difficult contacting them. The issue could be exacerbated further if there are significant time zone differences. Plus, freelancers might charge extra if you need work done quickly in the evenings or over the weekend.
6. Service Expectations
Advantages: For a freelance writer, their name and reputation is their brand. They will usually do whatever it takes to maintain a good online rating and keep positive reviews flowing. This sole focus on their own work can make them dedicated writers who deliver excellent service. Additionally, you can guide them about your expectations, getting better results from the start.
Disadvantages: Freelancers can take time off whenever they want. If you have a writer you prefer, and they aren’t working, you will have to find someone else. Therefore, the quality of the work you receive could be wildly different than what you’re used to. Plus, a writer could promise one thing while delivering something less than stellar.
7. Problem Solving
Advantages: Should an issue arise with your content, your chosen freelancer can work with you on a one-to-one basis to problem-solve and come up with a solution. Because of their odd hours, they might even be able to take calls more quickly and work with your team directly on a solution. And, since they only have to consider one person outside of your business, they might be able to come up with really creative solutions. Agency writers may not have that available time or flexibility.
Disadvantage: Even with their dedicated efforts, being a single-person team with limited experience may make it more difficult for them to brainstorm solutions to problems that come up. A professional writing team will have more resources available and a wider pool of expertise to draw on. This means more people can work together to get your content where it needs to be while caring for your expectations.
8. No Binding Contracts
Advantages: One excellent advantage to hiring freelancers is there is no emotional baggage or contract to worry about if you don’t like their work – you simply do not hire them again. However, if you are firing someone in your company or even trying to break ties with a professional agency, you may have to deal with contract issues.
Disadvantages: Freelance writers can take advantage of the same benefit. If they don’t like your company, they can just as easily stop accepting your content requests. Many freelancers avoid signing contracts so they can maintain this freedom.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Professional Writing Agencies
Professional writing agencies can be a great resource if your business wants to see stellar content marketing results. And there are often agencies that work well with businesses of all sizes. You might find that the advantages and disadvantages of content writing agencies are more clear.
1. Costs for Professional Writing Agencies
Advantages: While the upfront costs of a professional agency may be more than a freelancer in a content marketplace, you typically get a lot more quality and expertise for your money. In addition, if you have multiple projects or sign up for a long-term commitment, agencies have more room to negotiate prices for packages. Professional agencies also offer consistent pricing, which makes it easy to plan for future content marketing costs.
Disadvantages: Writing agencies typically charge for each part of a project. For example, if you want SEO research, a 2,000-word blog, and custom images, each portion of the project will incur an additional fee. However, finding a freelancer who can do all these things well at an affordable price would likely be nearly impossible.
2. Quality Assurance
Advantages: Professional writing agencies are typically fully staffed teams. This means not only do they have expert-level writers, but editors and project managers to help ensure quality. Freelance writers may have limited funds to spend on quality editing software.
If a writing agency has a project manager, this person will help select the best subject matter expert for each job. With a wide selection of writers, you are more likely to get better-quality content. And if you ever have questions or concerns, you can work with a team on the revisions.
Disadvantages: None.
3. Skills and Expertise
Advantages: Since a professional agency has a larger team of writers available, you’re more likely to find someone who understands your niche in the wide range of writing niches. Each writer brings their own unique experiences and expertise. This can save businesses a lot of wasted time trying to vet a freelancer with the right expertise.
Since all the resources are housed under the agency umbrella, they can meet a client’s needs in a shorter time. They’re also more likely to spend time working with you on the specifics of your branding and expectations. You can also expect writing agencies to understand the finer details of digital and content marketing better.
Disadvantages: None.
4. Communicating with Writing Agencies
Advantages: When working with another business, like a writing agency, you have certain expectations when it comes to communication. A writing agency will treat you and your requests seriously and professionally. It is also easier to schedule communication or meetings since an agency will have regular business hours.
Disadvantages: Due to the nature of writing agency teams, the person a business communicates with at the agency is not the person doing the writing. If a writer needs clarification on the assignment, there could be a communication delay as the question is passed back and forth through the chain of command.
5. Work Priorities
Advantages: Thanks to the abundance of resources, professional writing teams can offer fast turnaround times for projects. They typically have no problems meeting deadlines since they can share projects between multiple writers. If you’re committing to larger projects or contracts, you’ll also find that agencies will spend more time learning your branding and needs closely.
Disadvantages: While a professional agency typically appreciates and respects every client it gets, you may not get the same level of dedication to your projects as you would from a freelancer. This is because agencies have more clients and may not get attached to a client if they don’t order regularly.
6. Working as a Team
Advantages: An agency is designed so multiple teams can work together to create the best results. The more people there are, the more ideas will be passed around. This can lead to incredible results for your content marketing strategy. A single freelancer is limited to their worldview. But writers, strategists, and designers working together on your projects add more creative flare. You’ll also find that the leadership can work closely with the team to provide other solutions and creative thinking.
Disadvantages: With multiple people working on your projects, you could see higher expenses if the agency doesn’t have an inclusive pricing model.
7. Reliability and Consistency
Advantages: With a full team of managers, writers, and editors, you can expect consistent, reliable, on-time results for each piece of content. Professional agencies understand the importance of being consistent as they want to maintain their brand image and reputation.
Freelance writers have fewer resources and expertise and may struggle to be as consistent as an agency. In addition, if there are any major issues, like a writer having an emergency and being unable to finish a project, an agency can reassign the content. With a freelancer, you will likely have to start your search from scratch.
Disadvantages: None.
Content Marketplace vs. Professional Writing Service
There are a ton of considerations to consider when you’re deciding which direction you want to go for content outsourcing. It’s important to examine your own goals, business model, and niche to understand which space will suit you best.
Do you need some quick and easy content on a tight budget? A content marketplace might get you what you need. You’ll work one-on-one with a writer without worrying about a middleman. These experiences can be more personal but might lack the knowledge of content marketing you need.
On the other hand, if you need expert-level writing with impeccable quality and research, a professional agency may be a better fit. For example, the Express Writers team vets and manages all our writers so you never have to. We just need your briefing documents, then we match you with a writer who understands the technical ins and outs of your business and industry. In the end, you get content from a trusted writer and can work with a team if you need revisions.
Get the High-Quality Content Your Need with the Professionals at Express Writers
In the past, have you tried content marketplaces and ended up being disappointed with the quality? If so, you are not alone. Many businesses find themselves exasperated with the inconsistencies and unpredictability of content marketplaces.
Express Writers is not a content marketplace. Our end-to-end content writing agency works with each of our clients to understand their needs before matching you with a writer who stays with you the entire time you order with us. We thoroughly vet our writers during the hiring process and only choose those who meet or exceed our high expectations. Then they receive internal training before starting to work with our clients.
You can trust that we’ll handle your content with the passion and care it deserves. Our mission is to get you the best quality content from the first delivery. In case we don’t get it right the first time, we include two free revision requests with every piece of content. Then we can work with you further to understand your expectations.
If you are tired of spending money to only get mediocre results, it is time to invest in the quality content your brand needs.
Contact Express Writers today to learn more about our professional content services.
