Content marketing has exploded in popularity over the past few years. With numerous success stories online, there’s no question that delivering high quality and valuable content can be one of the most effective strategies to grow your business. The problem, however, is that finding the right content person can be excruciatingly difficult. There are good writers who don’t have a clue about marketing, and there are marketers who don’t know how to write. What you want is to get the best of both worlds. The following are some tips to help you hire the best content marketer for your business.

1. Find someone with an existing audience

A person who has already successfully built a website with a large following can prove to be an asset for your business. This shows that the person knows what it takes to craft content that helps other people solve their problems. More importantly, he or she is familiar with the technical knowhow involved in setting up websites and publishing blogs. But don’t focus on the sheer size of his or her platform. Evaluate the kind of content on the website and the overall quality of his online presence.

2. Rethink your application process

For most companies, the application process begins with applicants submitting their resumes. But you don’t have to stick to this tradition, especially in the chaotic world of content marketing. You have to put the skills of the applicants to the test. For example, you can have them write a landing page that sells your product or service. Through this, you can immediately weed out those who are not fit for the job. Those who make it through can then take the interview for further assessment.

3. Domain expertise is essential

This might seem obvious, but finding someone with relevant experience in your industry can get tricky. You might stumble upon people who can write well about a certain topic, but it’s all due to research. While this can help your business, you don’t want to risk it because a single mistake can tarnish your brand. Most experts agree that it’s better to hire a great marketer with decent writing skills instead of a great writer with so-so marketing skills. It’s easier to teach a person how to write precisely the kind of content you want than to teach how to market a business.

4. Don’t forget about networking skills

If you read a lot of blogs online, you may notice that many bloggers refer to other experts in their field. This is completely normal. Industry leaders get in touch with each other regularly. The content person you hire must have the networking skills to communicate with other people in the industry. This enables advancement of knowledge and opens an opportunity for increased traffic by acquiring links from other high authority blogs in your niche.

5. Hire someone who fits your company’s culture

Many employers have also found that hiring someone who’s a good culture fit is more beneficial than someone with more experience. Remember that years of experience can be for naught if the person doesn’t share the same values of your company. You can determine if someone fits your company culture during the application process. For instance, work with the applicant while editing his or her writing sample. This gives you and the applicant a feel for what it would be like working together.

Finding a person with experience in your industry along with exceptional writing skills, the ability to connect with other people and a willingness to continue learning can take a considerable amount of time. But hiring the right content marketer can have a significant impact on your business, so follow the tips mentioned above and understand the most important things to look for.

Originally posted 2016-02-27 20:32:20.