Constant Content

Hi Writers,

Recently, there was a discussion about getting advice from the established writers here on CC. I'd like to review those for others' benefit, throw in some of my own, and provide this thread as a location for questions or tips other writers may have.

Celeste Stewart offers this advice:
"With CC you have three main options:

1. Write what you want
2. Write what the customer requests via public requests
3. Write what the customer asks you individually to write via a private request

It's unusual to get to #3 without first proving yourself through #1 or #2.

I got my best customer by answering several of his public requests. Hardly anyone else was answering these requests - probably because they were "techie." Too bad for them because he keeps me busy! I was in the right place at the right time. So, stretch yourself and try those requests that no one else will touch. "

I would like to add that it certainly helps, rather than hinders, to include more than 1/3 of the article in the long summary. The more the customer can see of your article, the less wary he or she will be about purchasing the piece.

If I came to Constant Content to purchase articles, I would definitely want to know what I was getting, especially if I put in a request for content. Getting several submissions on the same topic makes choosing the one that is right for my site/publication essential, and the only way I'll be able to make the right choice is by comparing those sections of the articles I can view before purchase. The writers who include only a paragraph or two may lose out if other writers include larger portions of their articles - simply because I will know what I'm getting before I buy.

Also, check out the blogs. All of them offer helpful advice, but these two focus on general ways to succeed at CC:
http://constant-content.com/blog/?p=41
http://constant-content.com/blog/?p=42

Ed

Thanks for starting this Ed.

Hi all you pros. Any more tips for us greenies?

Hi jak,

Something I discovered early on was that writing for more popular public requests is like running a 100 meter dash. After the request is read it's a race to see who can finish first. Often it seemed the first person to write the article, submit it, have it reviewed, and ready for the buyer often got the sale. Because I am not a fast writer, I felt frustrated when the deal was done before my article was seen by the buyer. Over time I learned that although online writing can be a dog-eat-dog world I could not and would not change my way of writing that has served me well in the past.

I still believe quality over quantity is the way to go. Strong writing with proper editing gets noticed sooner or later. When I race to outrun the pack I tend to get very sloppy and yes, rejected. The bottom line is to absolutely write to public requests using your best writing skills. Be patient and the right buyer will come along.

T

Speaking for myself, while I may not respond to your tips with an individual thank you, please know that your tips are still much appreciated and valued. (It's possible I could be speaking for some others too.) So, thanks for helping us out! And thanks, Ed, for getting this going. There may be a light at the end of the tunnel.

I agree with Grouchy in passing on my thanks to all for tips , and also with topdycke where writing to public requests is concerned. Although, perhaps what's more frustrating than trailing the pack when it comes to writing an article for a request, is writing an article for a request, getting it accepted, highlighting it to the buyer, not getting the sale, and then noticing NO writer got the sale! (I haven't yet noticed a "purchase" from the customer who's requesting these articles about jewelry... ).

The same can be true of the private requests. You can get a private request, write up a couple of articles, and then hear nothing.

Writing to the public requests, for me anyway, is good practice, especially when I'm at a loss as to know what to write about! And once the article is accepted, even if it's not sold to that customer, providing it's not too "specific," it's another article that might sell to someone else. One day.

Yeah, he did buy a jewelry articles from the first batch a couple of weeks ago. He just takes awhile to decide.

The best way to do it, Ed - at least we all get a fair bite of the cherry that way and the customer gets more selection.

Yes, the jewelry guy bought a couple of mine. Even for those he didn't buy, they're a popular topic with good keyword density.

I've never had a private requester not come through and buy privately requested articles. One took something like three months but he came through and bought them. Did you shoot a note to the customer asking if the articles somehow weren't what he expected? Or asking if you need to revise them?

Ok, more tips:
If you write for a public request and put a note to Ed saying "this is for a public request" or "written for such and such's website" or something like that and your article does not sell, go back and edit the short summary so you aren't inadvertently telling other potential buyers that the article is not intended for them. Also, they could think that since it didn't sell to the original requester that it is "damaged goods."

While you're at it, make the short summary shine.

Thanks, Celeste.

I might just be being a little impatient where the private request is concerned. It's just that the customer seemed quite keen on getting a couple of more articles, which I wrote and sent him/her links to. They also asked if I would be interesting in writing a "column" on their site and I queried something about this - but to date have heard nothing further, and the two articles are sitting in the private request category. Maybe they're busy with something and will, in due course, resume our exchange.

Thanks for the tips, Ed, Celeste, and all!

Here's another tidbit: just because you priced an article to meet a customer's request doesn't mean it has to stay at that price. Once you realize the customer has picked someone else's article, feel free to go back and adjust the price upwards or downwards. I wrote a quick, cheap article for $20 and it didn't sell to the original requester. Then I went in and increased the price to $40 or $50 and it sold a few weeks later to someone else.

Also, I keep a checklist of all my priorities. I have three columns: high priority, medium priority, and low priority. I use One Note because I like checking them off as I do them and moving them around easily as priorities change.

For example, if you were to see my list right now, you'd see several high priorities that I must do - no exceptions. Then several medium priorities and interesting requests that if time allows I might tackle. For example, "write premium content," "FLorida articles," and "John's IRA request" are in my medium priority list right now. Finally, you'll see my low priority list which consists of "think of topics" and several links to other places I might be able to get more work.

So I have a plan! If nothing is in my high priority column, I can shift gears and do the medium priorities (or search current requests if the ones I have are gone or too old). If nothing interests me there, I have a brainstorming session and dream up new topics. Suddenly, I'll have a bunch of medium priorities on my list to keep me busy until a new high priority request comes in.

You will notice that my priorities are exactly the opposite of my earlier post of: 1. Write what you want/ 2. Write what the customer requests via public requests/ 3. Write what the customer asks you individually to write via a private request.

Writing what I want is my lowest priority because what pays here most often is writing what the customer wants.

And read the requests thoroughly.

For example, one recently sold article was for a request that spelled out that the job paid $48 with a stated range of $40-$50. The article sold for $40. In this case, the customer told us exactly how much his budget was -- $48. Someone missed out on a few extra dollars by not reading the request completely. Or, who knows? Maybe they wanted to price themselves low.

Whatever. All I'm saying is that every little penny helps.....

Thanks Celeste and everyone. This is brilliant.

This is a very good point about reading the requests. Sometimes I see submissions that clearly do not follow the requester's guidelines. It's also important to read every request even if they appear, at first glance, to be something you aren't particularly interested in (because of topic, price, or something else).

Ed

I not only read requests, I copy ones that interest me into word. As I write I refer back to the request as needed. I keep a file of CC requests and when I complete one, I delete it. If don't write to the request I delete it. It's a good way to make sure you write precisely to the request.

I used to keep all my information: what articles I wrote, how much I charged, who purchased, etc in a notebook. I must thank Celeste for turning me on to Excel. I had no idea how to use it, but learned through trial and error. Recently I also heard of a software program called The Working Writer. The program keeps track of submissions, queries, etc. It's geared more for print, but may work for online submissions as well. I downloaded the trial from www.dolphinsoftware.

T