11 lesser-known places to hire freelance press release writers
It’s wise to assemble a team of great freelance press release writers for various projects. Here are some places to help get you started.
Imagine you're racing against the clock to get your company’s announcement out, and as the head of the communication team, all eyes are on you. Your bosses are asking when they’ll see the company’s name in the media, but crafting a catchy and punchy press release takes time—time you don’t have. Training a content writer or coordinating with a busy professional journalist only adds to the delay. Popular platforms with top-rated talent can also be slow. But don’t worry. There are lesser-known, credible platforms where you can find experienced journalists who are ready to help.
Additionally, if press release writers are actually project-appropriate, they will come with built-in experience in your specific niche (e.g., maybe they were former journalists on your beat, or worked in the comms department of a similar company, etc.). They will conduct better research and utilize their own understanding of key industry trends, insights, terms, and other crucial information inside of the release.
That said, and in no particular order, here are some places to look for project-appropriate freelance press release writers.
Why hiring a professional press release writer matters
Hiring a professional press release writer can turn a standard corporate announcement into a story that grabs journalists’ attention, increasing media coverage. Relying on AI-generated press releases often leads to generic content that fails to stand out, wasting the opportunity to catch a journalist's eye.
Benefits:
- Crafts press releases that read like engaging stories rather than dry announcements.
- Offers constructive feedback to improve the press release content.
- Works within tight deadlines, ensuring timely distribution of company announcements.
This approach helps your team meet communication goals more effectively, ensuring that your press releases make an impact when it matters most.
Places to hire freelance press release writers
Comparing platforms: mainstream vs. specialized services
Mainstream platforms like Upwork and Fiverr offer a broad range of writers with diverse skills across many writing specialties. However, they provide fewer options for directly comparing writers' experience levels, and it's harder to find professionals with specific media recognition.
In contrast, specialized platforms like ContentGrow vet their writers from the start, offering access only to experienced journalists with expertise in specific areas like tech, startups, and business. For first-time users, a free consultation is recommended to match with the right journalist, ensuring a more tailored approach to your press release needs.
Frequently asked questions
- Who writes a press release?
- How much does it cost to have a press release written?
- How much do freelance writers charge for a press release?
- Do companies pay for press releases?
- Can anyone write a press release?
- What is the typical turnaround time for a press release?
- What types of contracts are available for hiring a press release writer?
- How reliable are the platforms for hiring press release writers?
FAQs
Who writes a press release?
A press release is typically written by a professional writer with experience in public relations or journalism. They craft the release to effectively communicate the news to the media and target audience.
How much does it cost to have a press release written?
The cost of a press release can vary depending on the writer, their experience, and the platform you use to find them.
Freelance writers who specialize in press releases typically charge from US$5 to US$25 on the low end with a Fiverr freelancer to up to US$300 with a professional press release writing service.
How much do freelance writers charge for a press release?
As mentioned above, freelance writers who specialize in press releases typically charge anywhere from US$5 to US$300 per release, depending on the length and complexity of the release.
Some writers may charge by the hour or by word, while others may charge a flat fee for the entire project.
Do companies pay for press releases?
Yes, companies typically pay for press releases. Press releases are a form of marketing and advertising, and companies use them to promote new products or services, announce new hires or promotions, and share company news with the public.
The cost of a press release is typically included in a company's marketing budget.
Can anyone write a press release?
Technically, anyone can write a press release. However, writing an effective press release requires a certain level of skill and experience.
A well-written press release should be informative, engaging, and concise, and it should effectively communicate the key message or messages that the company wants to share with the public.
It's recommended that companies work with professional freelance writers who specialize in press releases to ensure that their releases are effective and impactful.
What is the typical turnaround time for a press release
Turnaround times usually range from 24 to 72 hours, depending on the writer's availability and the project's complexity. Some platforms also offer expedited services for urgent needs.
What types of contracts are available for hiring a press release writer?
You can choose from per-project, hourly, or per-word contracts, depending on what works best for your budget and needs. Most platforms provide flexibility in contract types.
How reliable are the platforms for hiring press release writers?
Platform reliability varies, but specialized platforms like ContentGrow vet writers for their journalistic experience. While offering a range of pricing options, they ensure that all writers have relevant expertise, making it a dependable choice for quality press releases.
Platforms to hire freelance press release writers
ContentGrow
It’s a good idea to hire freelance journalists to craft high-quality press releases. In their line of work, they’ve received tons of press releases and story pitches. This is why — when the tables are turned — they have a unique advantage in understanding what kind of story angles will play well with an audience of journalists and editors.
ContentGrow is a private marketplace that connects brands and content teams with curated freelance writers and journalists, particularly from the US and Asia Pacific. It's ideal for hiring tech and business journalists in the Asia Pacific region. Additionally, ContentGrow offers support for distributing press releases across Southeast Asia, providing a comprehensive solution for PR needs.
A unique value-add on ContentGrow is that the team will help assemble a list of freelance journalists and PR writers that it believes will be suitable for your project. Clients can browse through the platform’s user base or request free outbound talent curation for their projects.
The app has an excellent workflow system that helps content teams collect inbound story pitches from freelancers, commission assignments, sequence edits, and handle payments. There is no subscription required. Instead, ContentGrow just charges a small commission on every completed assignment inside the venue.
Enricko Lukman
Fiverr
While Fiverr is a well-known marketplace to work with affordable freelance talents globally, the company now has different talent tiers to help with various projects. Its top tier (Fiverr Business) will provide a personal account manager to help clients thrive.
Fiverr Business charges a subscription of US$150 annually (excluding freelancer rates). Brands looking for cheaper options can browse through Fiverr’s low tier with a few hundred writers.
Constant Content
This marketplace claims to have a database of more than 100,000 writers. Clients can browse through the database or request writer applications from candidates interested in press release creation projects. Clients can set their rates when requesting applications.
Constant Content will also provide an account manager to help clients navigate the platform.
Ramya Priya
WriterAccess
Launched in 2010, WriterAccess is a combination of a writer marketplace and a suite of writing tools. Using its lowest subscription option at US$39 per month (excluding writing fees), clients can access its writer and journalist database, and easily use tools such as BuzzSumo and SERP Tracking.
Freelancers on WriterAccess charge anywhere from US$0.02 to US$1 per word, depending on complexity. The company claims that it has writers from more than 90 industry niches and provides unlimited revisions.
Upwork
Among the wide range of services that Upwork offers, one of them is press release writing. To streamline content processes, businesses can hire press release writers from this freelancing platform.
Hiring freelancers on Upwork could be quite handful. Businesses have to post the job vacancy on Upwork’s site, and then vet candidates from all the incoming proposals. Basically, this is the opposite of a specialized platform like ContentGrow that offers free talent curation and helps companies create press releases quickly.
In general, fees for press release writers on Upwork range from US$15 to US$110 per hour, although this may vary depending on the scope of the project.
People per Hour
People per Hour is another freelancing platform that offers press release writers as part of its community. This platform works similarly to other freelancing platforms: businesses can post a job, shortlist proposals from freelancers, and choose the most compatible one.
On People per Hour, press release writers charge clients for every working hour they spend on the task. The pricing depends on each writer's personal rates; some charge under US$15 per hour to over US$60 per hour.
Falencia Naoenz
Guru
Guru is another option to find a press release writer, with more than 17,000 freelancers in its community. On this platform, businesses can create WorkRooms to manage all their hired freelancers' projects in one hub, including the payments.
Guru charges companies a 2.9% handling fee from each invoice.
Scripted
Scripted has a wide selection of content writing services that include press release writing.
Slightly different from the other platforms, clients must purchase a subscription before hiring writers. Pricing starts from US$199, depending on the services clients need (like revision counts and a dedicated account manager). For starters, this site offers a 30-days free trial.
Toogit
With Toogit, clients can hire freelancers from across the world, including press release writers. Some of the included countries are the United States, Indonesia, Singapore, Australia, India, and more.
In terms of fees, Toogit doesn’t charge clients anything aside from the writer’s fees and 2.5% to 8% payment gateway charges, which are pegged based on the payment gateway that clients decide to use.
Textbroker
Textbroker is a platform that offers content production services, including press release writing. The app works closely with US-based authors and claims to be able to produce content in various languages, such as English (both American and British styles), German, Italian, Spanish, Russian, and more.
TextBroker offers two kinds of services for clients: self-service and managed-service. For the managed-service plan, which requires more team members and advanced management, TextBroker charges US$2,500 per project, which includes a dedicated project manager and translation services.
PR efforts are time-consuming and often exhausting, with the added pressure of meeting tight deadlines. Securing the right media coverage requires precise messaging and timely execution, which is why hiring an experienced press release writer is essential.
Not only does this ensure your message reaches the right journalists effectively, but it also allows you to focus on broader strategic elements of your campaign. Instead of being bogged down by the details, you can concentrate on the overall impact and success of your PR objectives.
Save time and money when creating and distributing high-quality PR. ContentGrow's platform serves up the best freelance content professionals and helps marketing teams execute at scale. Fill out the form below to commission your press release in APAC and beyond.
Enricko Lukman