How to Hire Top Technical Writers

How to hire technical writers

Product manuals, user guides, and white papers won’t write themselves. If you’re looking for a freelancer who can help you take advanced technical topics specific to your industry and make them sensible to the masses, a technical writer can help. They are crucial in translating complex technical information into user-friendly content, enhancing your product's usability and customer satisfaction.

Whether you have your technical content already written—say, by an engineer at a manufacturing company who isn’t a writer by trade—and all you need is someone to edit it for clarity or a broader audience, or you need a technical piece written from scratch, the key to a successful project is a clear, thorough, and creative brief that will ensure you're well-prepared and organized.

What goes into a successful project brief? Here are a few things to consider including:

• Background information. What is your company or business? What products or services do you provide? While technical writers won’t always have to be SMEs to work on a subject, it can be helpful for them to have experience and knowledge pertinent to your business or project.
• Business goals and scope of the project. Next, clearly outline what you’re trying to accomplish with your content. Potential candidates should be able to read this part of the brief and instantly understand how the content they’ll write will help achieve these goals.
• A description of the content and channels where the content will be promoted. Is this an industry white paper distributed to a network of peers or high-level materials for customers who want to educate themselves more on your product or service? Will the technical writer write in-depth explainer articles that need SEO expertise, white papers with footnotes, or more engaging training materials?
• Specific writing styles, acronyms, or terminology they will be using. If there’s a set style or library of acronyms and terms the writer should be familiar with, mention that as well.
• Timeline and deliverables.

How to shortlist technical writers

A skilled technical writer isn’t just good at understanding how something works—they must also understand the audience and how to communicate effectively. Instead of documenting a product’s feature, they ask why and how people would use it. They know the user’s perspective and the goals the user is trying to achieve.

As you’re browsing available technical writing consultants, developing a shortlist of the freelancers you may want to interview can be helpful. You can screen profiles on criteria such as:

• Industry fit. You want a technical writer who understands your industry so they can help you translate your technical jargon into something that speaks to your target market.
• Detail oriented. It takes strong attention to detail to accurately translate advanced technical concepts into the words of a layperson.
• Feedback. Check reviews from past clients for glowing testimonials or red flags that can tell you what it’s like to work with a particular technical writer.

How to write an effective technical writer job post

You can get more qualified proposals and speed up your search by being more specific with your needs. Before posting a job, ask yourself:

• What level of expertise do I need? Do they need job experience as a business analyst, engineer, or accountant? Do they need academic credentials such as a Ph.D.?
• What graphics are needed? Technical writers can usually create graphics such as tables, diagrams, and engineering drawings to support what they’re writing about. Good writers are skilled at creating well-designed graphics that integrate with the copy.
• When do I need the project done? If you have a tight deadline, a more experienced writer may be able to turn a project around faster and with fewer edits required.
• How much research is needed? Does the writer need to sit with engineers to watch a piece of equipment being installed and then write instructions about how to do it? Does the writer need to run their draft by a test group to read for accuracy and comprehension?

With a clear picture of your ideal technical writer in mind, it’s time to write that job post. Although you don’t need a complete job description as you would with employment, aim to provide enough detail for a contractor to know if they fit the project. An effective technical writing job post should be detailed and comprehensive, effectively communicating your needs.

• Scope of work: From blog posts to test procedures, list all the deliverables you’ll need.
• Project length: Your job post should indicate whether this is a more minor or extensive project.
• Background: If you prefer experience working with specific industries, software, or marketing channels, mention this here.
• Budget: Set a budget and note your preference for hourly rates vs. fixed-price contracts.

TECHNICAL WRITERS FAQ

What is technical writing?

Technical writing is an umbrella term that covers everything from code documentation to blog posts covering the latest tech news. If you’ve ever clicked “help” in a software service, perused an informative article covering new technology, or relied on a user manual to use a new product or service, you’ve benefited from the services of a technical writer.

Here’s a quick overview of the skills you should look for in technical writing freelancers:

• Technical writing and editing
• Experience writing technical documents (whitepapers, user manuals, etc.)
• Research
• Attention to detail
• Familiarity with your subject matter

From marketing a technical product to educating your customers on how best to use it, technical writing consultants can create the documentation you need to reach your target audience.

Why hire technical writers?

The trick to finding top technical writers is to identify your needs. Are you seeking someone to write fun, informative blog posts about your technical products or services? Or do you require someone with a strong coding background to create the documentation for a library to be used by other developers? The cost of your technical writing project will depend mainly on your work scope and the specific skills needed to bring your project to life.

How much does it cost to hire a technical writer?

Rates can vary due to many factors, including expertise and experience, location, and market conditions.