Using LinkedIn to Find the Best Freelance Writers for Your Essays

LinkedIn is the #1 platform for professionals, with over a billion users worldwide. It's not only about networking for career perspectives but also personal branding and self-promotion:

Specialists from different fields use it to build portfolios and find clients for their services.

Unlike job boards or freelance marketplaces full of unskilled users offering their services for $5/hour or less, LinkedIn Talent Network is a surefire way to find qualified contractors for your project.

This is especially true for those seeking a talented freelance writer for essays or web content creation. Or, for those willing to find legitimate websites that write essays for you: LinkedIn articles share dozens of unbiased reviews of the services where you can hire a professional writer for your content needs.

Here's how to use LinkedIn to find the best freelance writer:

1. Go to a quick search and specify your query

LinkedIn Talent Network is easy and comfortable to use. Your first step is to go to its quick search and enter "freelance writer" or "content writer" there. It will generate a list of qualified specialists based on your search criteria.

Please note that LinkedIn automatically prioritizes freelancers with solid portfolios and recommendations. It will save you time and eliminate the need to check dozens of profiles.

Take a step further and configure your search by filters like a writer's location, industry, services they provide, etc. (All filters are available even if you don't have a premium account on LinkedIn.) Thus, you'll ensure you consider the most relevant candidates for your writing project.

2. Check the profiles of promising candidates

Now, it's time to review several profiles and find the best fit to hire. Freelance writers who are serious about their work and online reputation do their best to polish a profile that will demonstrate all their achievements.

Check the profiles for work history, client recommendations, and portfolios. Writers usually share a portfolio link where

If there's no link to a portfolio, try checking the profile elements like Publications (a writer may add the links there) and Articles. Many write and publish articles on LinkedIn, and it's your opportunity to see a writer's style, tone of voice, and quality of work.

3. Send a customized connection request

When you have several candidates whose profiles you like and see as potential fits for your assignments, it's time to connect! Send a brief connection request via LinkedIn but customize it a bit for a freelancer to understand who you are and what you want from them:

Many writers also list their emails in LinkedIn portfolios. If you see this communication channel as more reliable and comfortable, try to connect with your chosen candidates via email.

Once you connect with a freelance writer, provide them with a polished brief. Please include all the must-have elements to ensure a productive and efficient collaboration. Specialists should understand the specifics of your niche and order to see if they are competent enough to deal with it.

At a minimum, provide a writer with the following information:

• The content type you want them to craft (an academic essay, a blog article, a text for landing pages, etc.)
• The target audience for that content (Who are the readers?)
• The content goal (What are you trying to achieve with that asset? Do you want to generate leads or attract a broader audience to your website? Or, are you a college student seeking a high-quality academic essay to impress your professor and get an A?)
• Word count (Mention an approximate number of words for a writer to understand the workload.)
• Writing style and tone of voice
• The information regarding the visual content (Do you want a writer to add images, infographics, videos, etc. to the text? What are the requirements, if so?)
• Internal- and external link guidelines (Should a writer include any URLs in the text?)
• First-draft and final article deadlines
• A few examples of the published content for a writer to use as a reference and see what you want to get (a structure, a quality, a style, etc.)

The more specific you are, the better. Freelance writers are active on LinkedIn, meaning you can expect speedy responses and productive collaboration.

If you are not a big fan of communication via LinkedIn, feel free to offer an alternative channel to your writer. Once connected with a promising talent, move your collaboration to email, a project management tool, or any other channel comfortable for you and your hired freelancer.