Content & Writing Tycoon

**tehfincheh** · 03:12 AM

...because I've just had an absolute nightmare dealing with unreliable freelancers. Here are some tips for how not to p... the buyer off!

1. Deliver on time!

Nothing says unreliable like somebody who takes on a job knowing full well that there's a deadline for the articles to be delivered by - and missing it. Set yourself some helpful targets. When I take on freelance writing, I always set my own deadline to be two days before the client's deadline (where possible). This keeps me on top of things.

2. Don't fluff your articles with meaningless content!

When the client says they want 500 words on a particular topic, they mean that topic! I asked for a 500 word article on a specific computer hardware related problem and got 300 words of tripe about the impact that personal desktops have had on the home before the real issue was even mentioned! Think of the reader, and get to the point.

3. For the love of god, proof read.

It doesn't take long and it'll turn your article from a shoddy hack-job that the buyer will have to spend time editing, to something that he can copy and paste as he needs. If I find an error in my purchased content, I'm obligated to read the rest of the piece and scan meticulously for other mistakes. On a mass scale, this is - for lack of a better term - enough to make me want to chomp off your balls.

4. Respond to emails if you're being chased up.

If I assign ten articles to somebody to complete within a week, and it gets close to the end of that week, I will normally email to ensure that everything is running to plan - especially with newer writers. If you get an email from the buyer, respond to it as soon as you can. Don't wait until the last possible window to send all your work. There's a great possibility the buyer will already be scrambling to re-distribute it to somebody who he knows can get it from with his own deadlines drawing in. To clarify: be easy to contact.

5. Write to the buyers needs.

This isn't always obvious, but it'll get you a hell of a lot more work if you do it well. It's important that you pitch your writing in the way that the buyer is looking to present it. For example, if you're writing reviews for a product, it's pretty likely that he's going to want them to be positive and urging the reader to an action point (follow an affiliate link, whatever). make every effort to understand what is being asked of you and don't be afraid to ask questions.

I'd rather a writer asked me what pitch to go with on an article than returned 600 words which were totally useless in context.

I write this with my blood boiling having made a mental note/scar to hire reliable freelancers in future!

**VirtuosiMedia** · 07-21-2008, 01:34 AM

I agree and might I add, write for the reader first before the search engine. That doesn't mean you have to ignore the search engine, but that should be a secondary priority.

**Catelin** · 07-21-2008, 05:09 AM

I hear your boiling blood.. As a new writer I appreciate the guidance. Hopefully I'll be able to follow it before too long!

Regards

Catelin

**Foundationflash** · 07-23-2008, 04:27 PM

Quote:

3. For the love of god, proof read.

Quote:

5. Write to the buyers needs.

Anyone see the irony?

No seriously, life would be a lot easier if everyone did what was asked of them, when they were asked.

**Learning Newbie** · 07-23-2008, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tehfincheh

2. Don't fluff your articles with meaningless content!

[snip]

For example, if you're writing reviews for a product, it's pretty likely that he's going to want them to be positive and urging the reader to an action point (follow an affiliate link, whatever). make every effort to understand what is being asked of you and don't be afraid to ask questions.

I agree with you about context. If you're demanding that a review you pay somebody to write be positive, tho, for context, we're talking about writing that's closer to World Weekly News than the journal Science. Forgive the assumption, but with only so much information available to me, I'm forced to assume - you probably pay about the going rate for internet writing?

Quote:

Originally Posted by tehfincheh

3. For the love of god, proof read.

At article writer for a blog rates, proof reading is kind of asking a lot. It would be sort of like me finding the cheapest oil change place in California, going in to have my oil changed, and saying "Oh, by the way, for the love of God, align the wheels and rotate the tires while you're at it. Here's your $15." If you're writing for the Washington Post, you proof read. If you're writing for SEO for Joe's Affiliate Blog, most people don't proof read.

This reply is in the interest of knowing reliable expectations.

**tehfincheh** · 04:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Foundationflash

Anyone see the irony?

Not really. I don't get paid to make these posts.

Quote:

At article writer for a blog rates, proof reading is kind of asking a lot. It would be sort of like me finding the cheapest oil change place in California, going in to have my oil changed, and saying "Oh, by the way, for the love of God, align the wheels and rotate the tires while you're at it. Here's your $15." If you're writing for the Washington Post, you proof read. If you're writing for SEO for Joe's Affiliate Blog, most people don't proof read.

As for reliable expectations, I don't know. You're right in saying that I pay a competitive market rate for Internet writing, and by no means do I pay through the roof.

It's just if I get a piece sent back to me where I only have to open it up in Word to see twenty squiggly red lines and a handful of glaring spelling disasters, I think that's BS.

I can forgive a few small mistakes, but I think its reasonable to expect that a writer brushes up his work and takes a little time to check what he's submitting, no matter what he's being paid.

I think there's a difference between paying a lower rate for a writer of less talent - and paying a lower rate for somebody who simply doesn't check his work.

**neena** · 07-24-2008, 08:48 AM

I can understand your frustation tech, but my experience on both elance and DP has been that people try and go in for someone quoting the cheapest rates. Somehow, this is my opinion that if I am researching a topic for hours, then putting the content together attractively and then checking and rechecking for spellos and grammatical mistakes, I should get decent returns for my efforts.

Sometimes when you know that you're going to be paid a pittance for your effort, then some people like me, won't opt for the job, but newbies looking for break will do the job, but then end up being careless. I always think that one needn't be a great paymaster but atleast should be a good one.

**tehfincheh** · 07-24-2008, 10:35 AM

Well, for the articles in question, I was charging $10 for 500 words.

I'm sure some writers would scoff at that and refuse, but I consider it a pretty competitive rate for passable content that only needs to be unique and decently formed.

If a writer isn't going to do the job properly, why offer his services?

**ephouse** · 08-13-2008, 09:14 AM

I agree with you, when we are paying for writing, then expecting quality writing is not much we r expecting from writer's, ithink your guidelines are perfect and the new writers should follow them.

**rp605** · 08-20-2008, 07:04 AM

Hi,
I am looking to getting into this kind of writing and I have to say these are great rules to live by. I am certainly someone who wants to offer a good service, even if I am offering it at low rates. I think it's the only way to really build up a good, reliable reputation.

**CodyLoco** · 09-04-2008, 01:12 PM

I'm looking for writers to write full overviews of faxing companies for my site- here's an example of what I wrote:

http://www.faxtoemailguide.com/compo...w-user-reviews

In all honesty, I know the article sucks because a) I can't write, and b) I hate writing, so I can't get into it- so don't burn me for it!

What I'm wondering, is how much should I honestly pay for an article like that? I give the writer an account with a company to write out and test and I expect an overview of the company, an overview on how to send and receive a fax with the service, and an overview of the rest of the possible features. It's not supposed to be a critical review (that's up to the readers) but just an overview... I don't even expect screenshots (I can take those).

What would you suggest?

**Learning Newbie** · 09-04-2008, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CodyLoco

What I'm wondering, is how much should I honestly pay for an article like that? I give the writer an account with a company to write out and test and I expect an overview of the company, an overview on how to send and receive a fax with the service, and an overview of the rest of the possible features. It's not supposed to be a critical review (that's up to the readers) but just an overview... I don't even expect screenshots (I can take those).

What would you suggest?

I can't suggest a dollar figure, although I can tell you what I would personally charge. Knowing that, and having $0.50, will get you a phone call. But let's recap your requirements.

You need somebody to research the particular service you're getting them an account for. To test it, like a software tester, and find anything your readers need to be made aware of, especially things the service itself might not play up. (Quality assurance, you could call it, or due diligence.)
You need them to research the market, albeit less intensively. ("I had an issue trying to send a fax from WordPerfect, but all online faxing services have the same issue, so it can't fairly be counted against Brand X.") Any review has to provide some context to be useful.
You need the person to already have spent time developing a skill at writing.

That last one is really the key. They need to get their spelling and grammar right, and they need to have enough of a vocabulary and ability to string words together into phrases and sentences, interestingly, that a reader won't fall asleep. Because you want the readers to enjoy your service, and come back to you again in future. That's where you get into needing skilled labor, and not just anybody on the internet.

**John_audson** · 09-08-2008, 02:03 AM

Hello,
I fully agree with you. Thease are very useful tips to write content

**jetlady** · 09-24-2008, 11:43 AM

Hahha! I think this work of yours is needlessly copyscaped, man.

Great tips!

And one other thing:

Use sense of humor to engage the reader. They will love you for it.

**RichardG** · 09-26-2008, 12:25 PM

I do have problem with freelance writers. But on freelance sites there are certain advantages dealing with non competitive writers.

**rickypointing** · 10-01-2008, 07:07 AM

I think you have given a good tips for new writers... it will help them a lot..If they follow these tips they will have a great time in their work..

**Beakerwriter** · 10-05-2008, 10:47 PM

I have to say, you get what you pay for. You know that $10 is on the lower end, so you have to expect lower-end work. That's not to say that offering $10 is bad or that you shouldn't do it, but you have to realize what you get for that price.

You don't get a professional with a lot of experience for $10, so you won't get high-end work. If paying less fits into your budget and business plan, great, but you'll also have to budget time for proofreading and correcting the work.

**andreyapadty** · 10-07-2008, 04:06 AM

Thank you for your great tips i think this will be very useful for everyone who write contents....

**trelog** · 10-08-2008, 10:30 AM

I totally agree that you get what you pay for. If you pay someone only $1 for 500 words and ask them to say, write you 50 articles, that you can pretty much expect to find some errors in what you get.

**crothall** · 10-08-2008, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tehfincheh

2. Don't fluff your articles with meaningless content!

When the client says they want 500 words on a particular topic, they mean that topic! I asked for a 500 word article on a specific computer hardware related problem and got 300 words of tripe about the impact that personal desktops have had on the home before the real issue was even mentioned! Think of the reader, and get to the point./quote]

This is a good point to go by. The more I read, the more I realized how writers tend to generalize things and rely on cliches to get their point across. When you actually stick to point, you don't need to write so much.

Anyway, thanks for sharing.