Hello all you fine-looking, sweet-smelling, smooth-writin' Constant Content folks!
I just joined CC this week, and I have a few questions that I haven't been able to answer by combing through the FAQs.
Firstly:
What is a "purchase rating"? I see it listed as one of the columns on the requested content page, and I'm not sure what it means!
Secondly:
I found a request for content on the request page that I would be a good fit for. I messaged the customer to get more specifics on the project, but haven't heard back yet (it was only a few hours ago). Would you guys recommend writing an article and just submitting it, or waiting to get details from the customer first?
Glad to be here, and thanks in advance to everyone for your help! :)
-Liz Brown
Purchase Rating??? Content requests???
Moderators: Celeste Stewart, Ed, Constant
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HayleyWriter
- Posts: 536
- Joined: Mon Aug 25, 2008 7:28 pm
- Location: Sydney, Australia
- Contact:
Re: Purchase Rating??? Content requests???
Hi Liz,
Welcome to CC! As I understand it, the purchase rating is how many articles the customer has purchased in the past - it gives a good indication of who actually purchases articles in some cases, however, I never refer to it as the only indicator. I have personally written for a request and had several articles bought by the customer but the purchase rating is still zero. This is because the articles were purchased by a different person within the same company as the requester. So personally, I tend not to worry too much about the purchase ratings.
With regards to the requests, CC is NOT a site where authors bid against each other. That's why I love it!Customers want written articles, and will choose from those submitted. Customers do not always respond to questions for more information, and will not give one author only the "go ahead" for a public request. We don't 'tender' for the project like you do on other writing sites. Write the article and submit it. When you submit the article, tick the "Is this for a request?" box. A new box will open allowing you to link to the particular request. Once your article is approved, the requesting client has three days to exclusively preview your article. If it is not purchased by the customer at this point, the article goes back into the site and is available for purchase by anyone.
Please note that many of the requests currently on the list have already been filled, with customers purchasing articles directly related to the requests. I know this because I keep an eye on the recently sold list, and take note of what articles are sold. You may find that the customer has not responded to your question because the request has already been filled and the particular customer does not need more articles, even though the request hasn't expired yet.
Welcome to CC! As I understand it, the purchase rating is how many articles the customer has purchased in the past - it gives a good indication of who actually purchases articles in some cases, however, I never refer to it as the only indicator. I have personally written for a request and had several articles bought by the customer but the purchase rating is still zero. This is because the articles were purchased by a different person within the same company as the requester. So personally, I tend not to worry too much about the purchase ratings.
With regards to the requests, CC is NOT a site where authors bid against each other. That's why I love it!Customers want written articles, and will choose from those submitted. Customers do not always respond to questions for more information, and will not give one author only the "go ahead" for a public request. We don't 'tender' for the project like you do on other writing sites. Write the article and submit it. When you submit the article, tick the "Is this for a request?" box. A new box will open allowing you to link to the particular request. Once your article is approved, the requesting client has three days to exclusively preview your article. If it is not purchased by the customer at this point, the article goes back into the site and is available for purchase by anyone.
Please note that many of the requests currently on the list have already been filled, with customers purchasing articles directly related to the requests. I know this because I keep an eye on the recently sold list, and take note of what articles are sold. You may find that the customer has not responded to your question because the request has already been filled and the particular customer does not need more articles, even though the request hasn't expired yet.
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HayleyWriter
- Posts: 536
- Joined: Mon Aug 25, 2008 7:28 pm
- Location: Sydney, Australia
- Contact:
Re: Purchase Rating??? Content requests???
Continued... (forgot the word limit on the forum posts)
My advice to newcomers is to ignore the request list that exists when you first arrive and just submit articles on speculation - many customers do not make requests anyway, but buy from the stock of articles already available. Write a number of articles on diffrent topics and build up a good portfolio. Then when a new request comes along, decide whether or not you will write for it. Respond to the requests within a couple of days of the request first being made, as there is a lot of competition for the requests. There are no guarantees your article will be purchased when you write for a request, but often other customers will purchase articles that were originally written for requests anyway.
The majority of my sales have been articles that were not written in response to requests, although I have had some success with responding to requests too. Write articles that you think will sell and build up your portfolio, and respond quickly to recent requests with well written articles for the best success on this site.
Hope this helps!
Good luck here,
Hayley
My advice to newcomers is to ignore the request list that exists when you first arrive and just submit articles on speculation - many customers do not make requests anyway, but buy from the stock of articles already available. Write a number of articles on diffrent topics and build up a good portfolio. Then when a new request comes along, decide whether or not you will write for it. Respond to the requests within a couple of days of the request first being made, as there is a lot of competition for the requests. There are no guarantees your article will be purchased when you write for a request, but often other customers will purchase articles that were originally written for requests anyway.
The majority of my sales have been articles that were not written in response to requests, although I have had some success with responding to requests too. Write articles that you think will sell and build up your portfolio, and respond quickly to recent requests with well written articles for the best success on this site.
Hope this helps!
Good luck here,
Hayley
Re: Purchase Rating??? Content requests???
"My advice to newcomers is to ignore the request list that exists when you first arrive and just submit articles on speculation - many customers do not make requests anyway, but buy from the stock of articles already available."
This is really sound advice.
Ed
This is really sound advice.
Ed