Sex tips

[geniuswaitress]

Hi Ed.

I was wondering about my recent submission.

My first set of sex tips was written for a request, so it lacked an intro and conclusion because it's meant to be split up week by week. It was purchased before the requester even bought it. I kept writing new ones and submitting the so the original requester could have the weekly tips. They finally bought them, but in the end I sold five sets of tips to four different buyers before that happened.

I'm a little confused that a format that is selling so well for me is not allowed now that the request is closed. Are unusual formats never, ever allowed? I remember having a quiz approved (and it sold immediately.)

Could I resubmit if I make it more clear in the short summary that they are meant to be used separately as weekly tips? I understand that it's not a typical article format, but it appears that several buyers are wanting these.

I've finally carved a niche, and now I can't cater to it!

[Ed]

When a request is closed, articles that are submitted with that request in mind must conform to our guidelines. They are immediately available for purchase by any customer, and therefore may be picked up by any customer. Please simply include a few lines to serve as an introduction to this article.

Thanks,
Ed

[geniuswaitress]

I can do that, no problem, but I probably won't. I feel funny about adding lines just for the sake of adding lines.

Anyone using them as separate tips will likely remove them, and four customers wanted them without the unnecessary words at the beginning.

I'll just ditch this format and write regular articles, but it's with a heavy heart. I was so pleased to find something that was clicking.

[Celeste Stewart]

I would add a short intro and get those articles approved and out there rather than abandon something that's working well for you. It won't hurt and may add value, giving the customer the option of posting the tips as one longer article or using the tips as individual blog posts/tweets etc. Use the short summary to explain to potential customers how you envision the tips being used (as daily tips) as well as a note that the article can also be used in its entirety.

For example, I submitted a series of tweets which I hope will be used one at a time as tweets, but Ed suggested I include a short intro so that if someone wanted to use the article as a blog piece in its entirety, it would make sense. If someone comes along and buys it, I don't really care if he drops my intro and uses the tweets individually or posts the entire thing on his blog. As long as it sells, I'm happy.

[Ed]

Yep. Thanks, Celeste.

[geniuswaitress]

I'll think about it.

What bothers me is that one of my previous lists only sold for usage, so it gets to be here, while the newest one can't. It just doesn't make sense.

Why is one okay and another not? Any rule should apply to both.

I guess a rule is a rule, but it's a rule that seems to be counter-productive if it's applied religiously without care about what sells.

[Ed]

Deviation from the guidelines was requested by this customer. The request no longer stands, so our guidelines must be followed by default - it is the same for every article, the same for every author here.

It is unlikely that an article will not sell because it contains a two-line introductory paragraph. It is more likely that a greater number of customers will be interested in a piece that contains the components of a professionally written article.

[Celeste Stewart]

By the way, one of my collections of tweetables just sold :) I think that these short little tips could be an emerging market. Businesses need to tweet about something and sound professional in 140 characters or less. I don't know yet if the customer will post the article as a collection on a website/blog or use the tweets as individual tweets, but I do see a trend. To take advantage of this trend, introduce the article - like you did with the Obama quotes - and give the customers a choice in how they may want to use the tips.

[geniuswaitress]

You surely see my frustration. It wasn't just the requester that has bought these, but four different buyers, yet suddenly they're not good enough.

I've sold five articles in this format, and now I'm told I can't.

We're both losing the sales.

[Ed]

If your customers have so much interest in these articls, they can always put in for a Private Request.

[Celeste Stewart]

Or just do what you did here:
http://www.constant-content.com/MoreDet ... Quotes.htm

The opening works well and conforms to the guidelines while also making the article more usable to potential customers. They can post it on their website or use the quotes as you suggested in the intro.