The Content Marketing Institute’s 2022 B2B Content Marketing Benchmarks report states that nearly 50% of B2B marketers outsource at least one content marketing activity. That’s half of all B2B marketers. That means one out of every two organizations is outsourcing content. If your tech company is experiencing any of the following challenges, it may be time to outsource your technical copywriting.

But first, what is technical copywriting?

Technical copywriting includes a variety of content such as white papers, case studies, technical blog posts, data sheets, explainer videos or video scripts, and website copy for technical products. There are other types of technical copywriting examples but these are the most popular ones.

To keep technical content flowing, meaning publishing on a regular basis and publishing consistently, requires time, resources, and expertise. Often tech companies may have the knowledge but lack the time to produce and edit high-quality technical content.

So what do you do if your team doesn’t have the resources or time available? Outsource. With that in mind, here are five signs, listed in order of importance, that your tech company should outsource technical copywriting:

1. Can’t Keep Up With Content Needs
2. Lack of Technical Copywriting Expertise
3. Need Better Messaging That Resonates With Your Audience
4. Content Creation Delays
5. Can’t Justify Hiring Full-Time

Let’s explore these in detail.

Breaking down the five signs your tech company should outsource technical copywriting

Below are the five signs I’ve seen with tech companies that hire me to write their technical content:

1. Your Team Struggles to Keep Up with Content Demands

Technical content needs to be published consistently. If your team is too busy handling product development, customer support, or sales enablement, content often takes a backseat. Skipping technical blog posts, white papers, or case studies means losing opportunities to educate customers, build credibility, and generate leads.

Example: You’re launching a new product and need content, and you need it fast. Internal teams and resources are completely maxed out, and hiring a full-time writer isn’t an option. Outsourcing technical copywriting lets you scale up technical content production without overloading your internal team.

2. Your In-House Team Knows the Tech, But Not the Writing

Engineers, developers, and product managers are great at building technology, but that doesn’t mean they should write the content. Technical copywriting requires a unique blend of subject matter expertise, clarity, and audience awareness. Without it, your content might be too dense for decision-makers or too surface-level for engineers.

Example: Your team needs a white paper explaining an aspect of your latest technology. Your developers know the tech, but they don’t have the time (or writing experience) to turn it into a compelling, well-structured piece. An experienced technical copywriter can write it in a compelling, digestible way that will engage your audience.

3. Your Messaging Sounds Repetitive or Off-Target

Even the best internal teams can get stuck writing technical content. Sometimes you’re too close to the product to see how customers may actually perceive your technical content. A fresh perspective from an outside technical copywriter can help fine-tune your messaging and write it in a way that its message reaches your target audience.

Example: Your marketing team has been repurposing the same product descriptions and case study templates for months. Engagement is dropping, and the messaging isn’t landing with your target audience. A skilled technical copywriter can help you refine your positioning and bring a fresh, compelling angle to your technical content.

4. Technical Content Creation Is Delaying Your Product or Service Launch

Timelines are tight. Your development team is busy trying to get your products and services ready for the release date. Your QA team is running final tests, and your marketing team is prepping launch campaigns. But there’s one problem. You still need documentation, blog posts, and sales collateral.

Example: Your new SaaS product is ready to go live, but your team is scrambling to finish the user guide, API documentation, technical blog posts, and user scenario instructions. A technical copywriter can create high-quality content on a faster timeline while your team stays focused on the launch.

5. Hiring a Full-Time Technical Copywriter Doesn’t Make Financial Sense

Technical copywriters are valuable, but hiring one full-time isn’t always cost-effective, especially if you don’t have a steady flow of content projects. Outsourcing technical copywriting allows you to get high-quality technical content without the overhead of a full-time salary, benefits, and training.

Example: You need content based on need. For example, one quarter is heavy on blog posts while the next quarter may also require white papers. Instead of hiring a full-time writer you don’t always need, outsourcing gives you flexibility while keeping costs under control.

These are only five of the many signs to outsource your technical content. Now let’s take a look at potential cost-savings along with proof.

Are there cost-savings when outsourcing technical copywriting?

Yes. Employees are expensive, especially when compared to outsourcing technical copywriting services. Don’t get me wrong, quality technical content from an experienced technical copywriter isn’t necessarily on the cheap end of expenses, but when compared to having your internal team attempt to write content they don’t usually write on a daily basis, the cost-savings start to add up quickly.

How about some external proof? According to Archbee, outsourcing technical writing helps businesses adapt their content strategy without dealing with extended recruitment or training. Archbee also shares an infographic showing that 62% of companies reported savings of 10-25% after outsourcing work, and 38% of companies reported savings as high as 40%. I’ve included their graphic below.

Source: Archbee

If your tech company is experiencing any of the signs I mentioned above, and instead wants to experience the benefits, including cost-savings, let’s explore how you can start outsourcing your technical content to a technical copywriter.

How do you start outsourcing your technical copywriting?

I always recommend starting with one project. The simplest and cheapest projects to start with are typically technical blog posts. Of course that depends on the type of technical blog post it is, meaning does it include an extensive tutorial or require interviewing one or more subject matter experts? Or does it require coding examples and getting editing revisions, which is another reason to hire technical experts? Or is it to start a blog post as part of your overall content strategy?

With the information you now have, start with a technical blog post or a case study, then move into more complicated and time-consuming projects like in-depth technical research papers. If you like how the project turns out and you get the appreciation and results you expected, or if you outsource to the right technical copywriter, you could also hire them to build your entire content strategy.

Have questions or want to learn more?

Reach out to [email protected] with questions, feedback, or request a conversation on how you can partner with Young Copy to learn how to benefit from outsourcing your tech company’s technical content to an experienced technical copywriter.