What is a headline writer?
A headline writer is a content professional who is tasked with crafting dynamic, attention-grabbing headlines for articles, blog posts, press releases, newsletters, and other marketing collateral. A good headline writer is able to grasp the primary message of the written content and craft a headline in a way that captures a reader’s eye across multiple platforms and channels.
How do you hire a headline writer?
You can source headline writing talent on Upwork by following these three steps:
- Write a project description. You’ll want to determine your scope of work and the skills and requirements you are looking for in a headline writer.
- Post it on Upwork. Once you’ve written a project description, post it to Upwork. Simply follow the prompts to help you input the information you collected to scope out your project.
- Shortlist and interview headline writers. Once the proposals start coming in, create a shortlist of the professionals you want to interview.
Of these three steps, your project description is where you will determine your scope of work and the specific type of headline writer you need to complete your project.
How much does it cost to hire a headline writer?
Rates can vary due to many factors, including expertise and experience, location, and market conditions.
- An experienced headline writer may command higher fees but also work faster, have more-specialized areas of expertise, and deliver higher-quality work.
- A contractor who is still in the process of building a client base may price their headline writing services more competitively.
Rates typically charged by headline writers on Upwork are:
- Beginner: $50 per hour
- Intermediate: $89 per hour
- Expert: $250 per hour
Which one is right for you will depend on the specifics of your project.
How do you write a headline writer job post?
Your job post is your chance to describe your project scope, budget, and talent needs. Although you don’t need a full job description as you would when hiring an employee, aim to provide enough detail for a contractor to know if they’re the right fit for the project.
Job post title
Create a simple title that describes exactly what you’re looking for. The idea is to target the keywords that your ideal candidate is likely to type into a job search bar to find your project. Here are some sample headline writer job post titles:
- We have the written content; we need an expert headline writer to make it pop to catch eyeballs
- Looking for a talented headline writer to take our content and create amazing headlines to drive engagement
- Can you create fantastic headlines that draw a ton of traffic? We want to talk to you
Project description
An effective headline writer job post should include:
- Scope of work: From keen ability to write creatively to understanding what draws a reader’s attention, list all the deliverables you’ll need.
- Project length: Your job post should indicate whether this is a smaller or larger project.
- Background: If you prefer experience with certain marketing channels, subject matter, or industries, mention this here.
- Budget: Set a budget and note your preference for hourly rates vs. fixed-price contracts.
Headline writer job responsibilities
Here are some examples of headline writer job responsibilities:
- Read through new, yet-to-be-published article drafts and summarize in a single sentence for the headline
- Develop several headline options from a slate of weekly blog entries
- Incorporate selected keyword(s) in final headlines for SEO purposes
- Deliver required batch of headlines by, or before, each deadline
Headline writer job requirements and qualifications
Be sure to include any requirements and qualifications you’re looking for in a headline writer. Here are some examples:
- Excellent spelling and punctuation
- Portfolio of dynamic headlines currently being used
- Native English (or select language) speaker.
- Regularly able to meet deadlines in a fast-paced, high-volume environment