You’ve hired a freelance blogger but you’re not completely happy with the work. It’s like any company or individual: one person is not going to please everybody. It could have been a one-off, but there may also be other issues.
Sometimes it’s best to move on from your freelance blogger and find another one. In some cases, you may decide to handle all the blogging yourself.
But when is the best time to move on?
When the Quality Decreases
Your blogger was great to start with. She constantly produced high quality pieces of work that you were proud to showcase on your blog.
Then the quality started to go downhill.
You’ve questioned the blogger about it and she promised to go back to the original quality. But it’s just getting worse. You’re not getting the quality you’re paying for, but the blogger isn’t interested in giving you a discount.
It’s time to move on.
When the Freelance Blogger Misses Her Deadlines
Missing one deadline now and then happens. I’m not condoning it—and I would hate for it to happen—but there are events in life that mean things are out of a blogger’s control. I’m talking about storms that cut out all power (I’ve had that happen) and deaths in the family.
Communication is still important, but these types of misses are understandable. Right?
What isn’t understandable or acceptable is a blogger constantly missing her deadlines. She promises one date and then gets it in two or three days later. And there isn’t a reason or an apology (at least not anymore). In some cases, you’re not even warned that it’s going to be late.
You’re paying for a set deadline and you have plans from that deadline. It’s important that the work is delivered to you when you both agreed.
If your freelance blogger is missing her deadlines, it’s time to move on.
When the Work Is Plagiarized
This is a big no-no! You should never put plagiarized work on your blog. While you’ve hired someone to do it, you’re the one that is responsible for that work being on your blog. You’re the person the other blogger is going to go after.
It’s very important to check if any work is plagiarized. Copyscape is really good for this.
If you find something is copied, go straight back to the writer and get her to fix it. If she continues to deliver copied content, it’s time to move on.
The same applies to images.
When the Prices Are Out of Your Budget
You’ve had the same blogger for five years now. You just don’t want to change, right? You knew that prices were going to increase and she definitely deserves it but you’ve got a major problem.
The problem is her prices have just gone out of your budget.
The first thing to do is try to negotiate with her. Explain that they’re out of your budget and discuss your highest price possible. If she can’t do that though, you need to walk away. There are cheaper bloggers who are just as good out there.
When She’s Becoming Difficult
Your freelance blogger is one of the most difficult people in the entire world. She constantly questions your topics, your keywords and the angle you want to take. Her deadlines are never quite what you need and she keeps bringing up excuses as to why she can’t meet with you on Skype this evening.
Difficult freelancers are just as bad as difficult clients. You don’t have to deal with one!
It’s time to move on and find a freelance blogger who isn’t a piece of work.
There are times that problems can be worked out. However, there are also times that they can’t. You don’t need to work with the first blogger you find, or stick with the one that you’ve been with for the last five years. It’s up to you to decide whether your freelance blogger is worth your money or whether it is best to move on.
Copyright Alexandria Ingham, 2014. All rights reserved.
Interesting stuff. I’ve never used anyone else to write my blog, but you’ve given good things to look out for in someone else’s work.
Thanks! Great to hear I can help in some way.
Great points made there Lexi, w don’t always know when to let go do we x
No we don’t and sometimes it’s for all the wrong reasons. Bloggers have the same issue too x
Ahhh, you make some really good points!
Thanks, Sophie. Hope it helps!