Time equals money. That’s nothing new, and yet it’s often forgotten. One thing that could hold you off from hiring a freelance writer is the cost. Any freelancer who values your business will find ways to help you keep costs down, no matter what they charge per hour. So, here are eight tips you can already use to save your freelancer time, which will keep costs down.

1. Have as many details as possible ready for your first meeting. How this saves time: We’ll spend less time emailing back and forth to clarify questions down the road. In the end, the clearer your instructions to the writer, the less time the writer spends asking questions.
   

2. Write down and agree to the project details at the beginning and stick to this document. How this saves time: Straying from the project scope means the writer will either need to redo some or all of what’s been done so far, which means extra time for the writer and therefore extra cost to you.

3. Provide the writer with 2-3 examples of what you do and don’t like. For example, if you’re hiring the writer to create some blog posts for you, email some links of other bloggers whose work you do and don’t like. How this saves time: The writer will spend less time trying to find the style you’re looking for.

4. Return drafts as soon as possible. How this saves time: The longer a writer has to wait in between drafts, the longer it takes to “warm up” again to your project each time the writer receives your feedback.
   
5. State upfront what you need in terms of meetings and check-ins. How this saves time: A writer may err on the side of caution and check in with you more frequently than you actually need.
6. Limit the number of company employees who will be in touch with the writer. How this saves time: Each contact person from your company is extra time for the writer. Why? Because the writer has to juggle the extra requests, which can overlap and even interfere with each other.
   
7. Provide your writer with the necessary research for the project. How this saves time: Research consumes a lot of time. The writer will always search for more material than is needed to find the best material for your project. Double-checking copyright and usage rights also takes up a good chunk of time. Provide all of this information for your writer, and you can easily save yourself hundreds if not thousands of dollars, depending on the size of the project.
8. If possible, provide your writer with a template. How this saves time: The writer already has restrictions within which to work, which limits the possibilities the writer will consider when creating the outline for your project.
   

It’s the freelance writer’s job to serve you in a way that lets both of you do your best work. For the writer, that means a clear project description, because that makes your expectations clear. For you, it means a project that is exactly as you envisioned it to be but that doesn’t have skyrocketing costs.

To keep your costs within your budget, I’ve already created copywriting packages suitable for the small business owner. Should you want to put your own package together, though, have a look at my á la carte copywriting rates. For any other inquiries, contact me and I’ll help you find ways to hire me and save costs at the same time.