Finding an excellent writer is a huge step in creating content that engages and converts your audience.
According to the Semrush content marketing report, 66% of very successful content marketers have more than four specialists in their content team.
However, finding a specialist writer who fits your business like a glove is exhausting.
If you’ve been sweating to find writers and coming up with poor results, it’s time to consider using writer directories.
Using top writer directories can help you find suitable candidates in your niche. And you can achieve this in less than an hour.
I’ve compiled a list of writer directories featuring writers across various industries. Some of these directories even vet writers before they appear on their platforms.
So you can expect to find some well-trained writers in these directories.
Top writer directories
1. AWAI Directory of Professional Freelance Writers
The American Writers & Artists Institute (AWAI) launched The Professional Writers’ Alliance (PWA) to help copywriters improve their skills and land exciting jobs.
Their freelance writers’ directory features hundreds of copywriters across various industries. This means you’ll likely find a writer who works in your industry.
You’ll also see their location on the directory page. So, if you need a writer to work in your office location, this helps to streamline your options.
To get more details about a writer, click on their image.
In the profile, you’ll find details such as:
- Website address
- Phone number
- Services
- Specialties
- Clients served
- Fees
- Payment schedule
- Samples
Here, you can find all the information you need to see if a writer fits your business.
The writer profile on the AWAI freelance writers directory will answer more than half of the questions you need to ask a prospective writer.
2. Copyblogger Certified Content Marketers
Copyblogger is one of the top online resources about content marketing. So, you can confidently say they know what great content looks like.
Copyblogger Certified Content Marketers is a list of about 100 content marketers who understand how to write quality content.
These writers have completed advanced coursework and had their work reviewed by a member of the Copyblogger editorial team.
While browsing the profiles, you’ll see a few sentences about the writer and links to their website and social media pages. With the search box at the top of the page, you can search topics to find relevant niche writers.
On the list, you’ll also find writers at the Master level and those with limited availability. This provides more information about a potential writer before you reach out.
3. Smartblogger writer directory
The Smartblogger writer directory lists writers who have undergone the highly-rated Content Marketing Certification Course.
Here, you’ll find over 200 freelance writers trained and vetted by the Smartblogger team. If you go through the list, each entry has a name, certification, and summary.
The search box is handy, as you can search for writers according to their niches. Once you see a writer who attracts your attention, you can click on their profile to learn more about their work.
A profile page on this directory looks like a “hire me” page. And the platform allows each writer to design the page as they see fit.
So, the content on the profile page depends on what information the writer wants you to see.
Here’s a profile page for a freelance SaaS writer:
Each profile page will show a writer’s:
- Specialty
- Work samples
- Email address
- Website address
- Past clients
This information lets you decide whether to contact a writer or check another profile.
4. SurferSEO SEO Content Writers Directory
Since Surfer SEO helps writers create high-ranking content on search engines, finding many writers on the platform makes sense.
Surfer SEO content writers directory has over 200 freelance writers and content agencies. In each writer’s entry, you’ll see a summary of their writing services.
To find writers fast, use the filters in the left sidebar and at the top of the page. At the top of the page, you can sort writers according to name, price, and availability.
You can use the search box in the sidebar to find writers for your preferred topics.
Beyond that, filters include user type, price per word, availability based on the number of words per week, and verified skills.
After going through the list, you can visit their profile to get more information about a freelance writer or agency.
On their profile, you’ll find these details:
- Writer summary
- Email address
- Links to website and social media pages
- Price per word
- Availability (number of words per week)
- Language
- About
- Example works
You can visit the writer’s website or some sample works to judge their writing style. Then, you can determine if they’re a fit for your business.
5. Best Writing
Best Writing maintains a list of writers available for hire each month. Scrolling down the directory page, you’ll find writers and their areas of specialization.
Once you find a writer who interests you, click their profile for more details about their work.
On the writer’s profile page, you’ll find details, such as:
- Number of years of experience
- Preferred location
- Job types
- Pricing
- Preferred topics
- Link to portfolio
- Link to website and social media pages
So, you have a writer’s homepage before visiting their personal site. You also have all the information to know if they’re a right fit before you even reach out to them.
Note that the rates for most writers on this platform start at $0.1 per word. Best Writing maintains a list of writers across various topics on the internet.
6. All Freelance Writing
With over 200 writers across various niches, you’ll likely find a few who write for your niche. And since writers must pay to have their profiles in this directory, All Freelance Writing is a platform for serious writers.
Beyond that, the platform says you can’t pay writers less than $50 per article. This ensures people looking for writers prioritize quality and are willing to pay for it.
How good is their writer’s profile?
Once you click a writer’s profile, you’ll find details about the writer, such as:
- Rate
- Type of writer
- Rate type
- Average rate
- Website/portfolio address
Below these, there’s a profile summary and writer qualifications. Through these details, you’ll get an idea of the writer’s fit and a link to their website for more information.
7. Problogger Candidate Search
Problogger is one of the most popular job boards for writers. A few years ago, the platform asked every writer to create an account before applying for jobs.
As a result, thousands of writers who use the platform created writer profiles. Today, more than 18,000 writers have an account with Problogger. And you can find these writers on the platform.
Even though Problogger has no list containing all writers, you can do a candidate search.
The Problogger candidate search lets you search for writers using criteria such as:
- Keyword
- Location
- Last updated
- Job category
- Other freelance job category
- Writing topic(s)
All you have to do is enter important details and click the “Search” button.
Doing this will display relevant writers for your search criteria. From this page, you can click on a writer’s name to see more details about them.
On a writer’s profile, you’ll learn more about the type of content they create and how to work with them.
One thing you’ll love about the candidate search is getting results for most keywords. For example, I searched “cannabis” and got results.
Use the right search terms, and you’ll likely find writers who fit your needs.
Factors to consider before shortlisting a writer
Read their work samples
A writer can list a niche on their profile without any experience writing about it. That’s why you need to read their work samples. This helps to determine whether they actually write about your niche.
After that, reading their work lets you study their writing style and how it fits into your brand voice.
Apart from posts on top industry websites, you should check blog posts on their personal sites.
Why? Most top industry websites use excellent editors who polish their posts before publishing. So, the published post may be far better than the writer’s first draft.
However, only a few writers use editors for blog posts on their personal sites. So, these blog posts will resemble the first drafts they’ll deliver to you.
Some writer directories show work samples. Otherwise, you have to visit the writer’s website.
Ultimately, the question you should ask while reviewing the samples is, “can I publish this content on my website?”
See their customer reviews
Social proof is powerful and useful for businesses. If a writer has produced great results for businesses like yours in the past, they can do it again.
That’s why you need to see what past clients say about a writer’s work. Some questions reviews can answer about a writer are:
- Are they reliable?
- Do they pay attention to details?
- Do they take corrections gracefully?
- Do they work well in a team?
- Does their writing produce results?
While a lack of reviews shouldn’t be a deal breaker, reviews can shed more light on a writer’s work.
Visit their website
No matter how detailed a writer’s directory page may be, it’s insufficient for hiring decisions. Before you even shortlist a writer, you should visit their website.
On their website, you’ll find more:
- Work samples
- Reviews
- Details about working with them
- Details about availability
- Contact details
A writer’s website is their office online. So, it provides the information you need before reaching out to them.
Conclusion: Top writer directories
By going through these writer directories, you can find at least 5 to 10 qualified writers in your niche. To speed up your research, use search boxes to uncover relevant writer profiles in your niche.
And in less than an hour, you can have a shortlist.
So, visit these directories with your writer requirements to draw up a list of excellent writers for your marketing campaigns.
If you’re looking for a marketing and SaaS writer, you’re in the right place.
I write for companies that want to build brand awareness, generate leads, and acquire paying users.
Let’s talk about how to use content to achieve your marketing goals.
