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Technical writers are essential members of your team. They tell the world about your products, communicating functions and capabilities to everyone from your marketing team to the end user. They're indispensable — but hiring them full-time can be expensive and time-consuming. Plus, your writing team doesn't always need a consistent staffing level.
The solution is to outsource technical writing projects. Outsourcing is a cost-effective solution that gives you access to top-notch writers without the commitment of full-time hires. Consider these 10 benefits to your company, customers, and bottom line.
1. The Cost Efficiency of Outsourcing
Hiring a full-time professional tech writer can be costly. Salaries depend heavily on location, but the median pay for a technical writer in 2024 is over $80,000.
In some states, a full-time tech writer will cost you over $100,000, which doesn't include the steep cost of hiring. According to the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), that price tag could be three to four times the position's salary.
Outsourcing cuts these costs and the other "added costs" of a full-time hire. Outsourced writers are contractors, not employees, so you don't pay for benefits. You pay for the time and effort they contribute.
2. Access to Specialized Expertise
Technical content requires a writer to be familiar with the industry and technology they're writing about. Finding a candidate with the right specialization can be extremely time-consuming, especially for companies in niche industries.
Skill matching becomes increasingly difficult as your project requirements diversify. If you were hiring full-time, you'd face the constraint of needing to solve all of those needs with a handful of team members. Those team members would also need to be able to handle all the projects coming down the pipeline.
With outsourcing, you can find a specialized writer for every project. You can hire someone who excels at writing technical white papers and not have to worry whether they can write application programming interface (API) documentation. If you need an API doc, you can hire a writer for that project. You pay by the project, so one person doesn't need to do everything.
3. Improved Quality and Consistency
Hiring by the project doesn't require a new person for every task. Outsourcing lets you build relationships with contracted writers and get to know what they do well. You can hire the same person repeatedly for multiple projects or move on to someone different if your writer isn't the best match.
This flexible staffing model lets you set a higher standard for project quality. You haven't committed to a full-time hire whose poor performance you'd need to document before you let them go. A contracted writer delivers their best work, and you decide whether to use them again based on that work.
Contractors understand their work speaks for itself, so the smart and successful ones put their best foot forward. Services are the same way. At Compose.ly, we succeed when you do, so we only work with top-notch writers who we believe will be a great fit.
4. Increased Focus on Core Activities
Consider the time and money your business would save by outsourcing technical writing. What departments and core functions would benefit?
Most technical writers collaborate with multiple people across departments, including product development specialists, user experience (UX) designers, customer success managers, and marketing and sales teams. With a reliable writer outsourcing pipeline, these valuable professionals can spend less time managing the output of less skilled writers. Teams can spend more time and energy on core value-added tasks that drive the bottom line.
5. Scalability for Variable Project Needs
Technical documentation needs fluctuate based on projects in the pipeline. You might have piles of documentation in quarter one, a few reports in quarter two, and another flood of guides and manuals in quarter three. If you rely exclusively on in-house writers, that leaves you scrambling to avoid over- or under-utilizing those staff members.
Outsourced technical writing adapts to those shifting needs. If you have many projects in a month or quarter, you can contract with more writers to meet those needs. If there are fewer projects in the next period, no problem — you don't issue any contracts.
This system is significantly better for your finances. Instead of paying salaries so people are available on-demand, you pay for work when it comes up. If the work isn't there, you can put that money aside for the next spike in demand.
6. Faster Turnaround Times
The scalability of outsourced technical writing means you can get more done in less time. An in-house staff with a fixed number of writers has a fixed capacity to produce. When you outsource, you can get more technical writing tasks done in the same amount of time simply by hiring more writers.
For example, say you have six user guides for six new products. You want the documentation as soon as possible so you don't have to push back any release dates.
If you rely on in-house talent, you have two less desirable options: potentially overload your team or try to hire in time to meet your deadline. Or, you could outsource the writing of those six guides, choosing how many writers to hire based on your deadline.
If it will take three writers to get six guides done in time, you hire three. If it will take six, you hire six. You'll usually pay the same amount because you're ordering the same amount of work — though you will probably have the option to spend a bit extra to expedite the process. The expense can be worthwhile, especially as a one-time cost.
7. Enhanced Documentation Standards
In-house writing may feel like it offers more control, but consider everything else your teams must focus on. Even when they can give document review their full attention, they have other areas of expertise.
Tech writing providers are experts in technical documentation. They understand the accepted standards for each type of technical document, from formatting to accepted source attribution practices. Most importantly, they invest time and resources in staying current with changing standards.
Outsourcing lets you benefit from that expertise without investing time and money in training your team. It ensures your documentation abides by the highest standards so you can focus on your business.
8. Flexibility in Resource Allocation
Technical writing projects are only some of the tasks on your plate. Outsourcing lets you shift resources to or away from documentation as needed, so you don't over- or under-spend. That flexibility gives you more control over your budget.
9. Fresh Perspectives and Ideas
Outsourcing technical writing services opens a communication pipeline with skilled, insightful professionals. These professionals have worked on multiple projects like yours and seen how many different businesses work. Unlike an in-house writer who only knows how you do things, a contractor can offer valuable new insights.
For example, suppose you need to create documentation for a new product. You've been using your well-established documentation workflow and style guide, but the pieces don't seem to fit. But then your outsourced technical writer offers an idea.
They worked on a similar guide with a competitor and found that a different type of diagram communicates these functions more effectively. Trying their idea requires deviations from your norm, but your subject matter experts and end-users rave about the clarity of your new guide.
You might not have thought of that new approach without an outside eye.
10. Mitigating Risks in Documentation
Technical documentation affects how people engage with and use your products. Multiple risks are involved, but a knowledgeable writing team can manage those risks.
For example, what would happen if someone used your product incorrectly because instructions were unclear? Misinterpretations can be frustrating for users and potentially dangerous, depending on the type of technology involved.
Some documentation risks exposing proprietary knowledge, particularly if the technology is protected intellectual property. Communicating the necessary information while protecting sensitive information requires a high skill level.
Finally, if you operate in a regulated industry, you may need regulatory compliance documentation to abide by the law. An outsourcing relationship can assist with this process, relieving you of the need to allocate resources to it.
Common Pain Points When Hiring Technical Writers and Tips To Overcome Them
Specialized Qualifications
Technical communication jobs often require in-depth knowledge of a particular industry or niche. It can be challenging to find candidates who fully understand your field, especially when you also need the person to have top-notch technical writing skills. The more complex your needs, the more difficult the hiring process gets.
The solution: Use a writing service with a pre-vetted technical writing team. Services like Compose.ly have the resources and reach to find writers with diverse skill sets. We've done the work, so all you have to do is make the call.
Extended Interview Processes
Hiring a tech writer involves multiple rounds of interviews, often including take-home assignments. For the hiring company, that means many staff hours spent talking to candidates, reviewing tasks, and sitting in on group interviews. Those are hours your team won't spend working on client projects.
The solution: Outsource the hiring and writing together. Instead of posting on freelance job boards and wading through applicants, as you would for an in-house hire, contract with a service that has already done the legwork.
Competition for Top Talent
If you want the best results, you need the best people. Yet competition for the best talent is stiffer than ever. You could easily break your budget wooing tech writing superstars with brand marketing, competitive salaries, and top-level perks.
The solution: Outsourcing to a service solves this problem, too. Instead of wooing individual writers whose work you don't know, request a writer from a company that knows its team. You'll get a better match and avoid disappointment.
How Compose.ly Can Help You Find the Best Technical Writers
At Compose.ly, we understand the need for a technical writer who understands your industry. We recruit and vet top-tier technical writers with experience across various tech domains so you get the perfect writer for your niche.
Our writers are skilled storytellers who focus on your audience's needs. They translate jargon into engaging human language, improving your user experience and strengthening valuable connections.
Learn more about Compose.ly's outsourced technical writing services today. Our writers are standing by to help you reach your audiences, wherever they may be.
