How do we avoid wasting time?

[Financialbull]

Hi guys,
I'm a writer who's new to CC. I haven't yet felt motivated to respond to a request (although I've seen some exact topics that I write about pass me by) because I'm afraid by the time I write the article, someone else has already submitted something that's been accepted. I could potentially spend hours writing without knowing if it will be purchased or not. I read the post in about this in the new writer section at the top of this forum, but I didn't find it to be that helpful. An aging feature on the request would be great (although, I guess that would go in the suggestions topics of this forum).

I don't want to go outside of CC; I'm just looking for some kind of assurance that my work will be purchased. So is it OK if I'm contacting the customers through CC to inquire if they received the work they requested? Obviously, if the customer's answer if no, I have the assurance I'm looking for and I can knock out the article.
Thanks!
Tom Copeland

[Judith]

I can only speak for myself, but I have been here about four months now and have sold a bit over half of what I have submitted for a total of 17 articles sold. About half of those are responses to requests. My writing time is about to be increased and I will be able to submit many more articles. It is worth your time, effort and patience. One request took three of my articles instead of just the two that were requested. I wrote two articles in response to requests that were not purchased by the customer but in about a week someone else purchased them and that is pretty much what I was told would happen.

I don't think a wise customer buys on a first come, first serve basis. I think they read all the submissions and choose the one that best fits their need. The others will sell to other buyers. Just take a chance and see what happens. When I write an article for a public request, I send the buyer a note letting them know I have submitted an article to CC for review and that it will be sent to them for their consideration after it is approved. That way they know it is coming and hopefully they will want to read and consider it.

[aprilk10]

Remember also that many of the clients that CC attracts are repeat customers. The requesting client may not purchase your article now, but may return later and buy it. Keep an eye on the purchase rating displayed in the customer request. This number represents how many articles have been puchased by that client since they signed up with CC. If it is a large number, you can be fairly sure that the client will return. On the other hand, a low purchase rating doesn't mean you shouldn't submit. My first private request client was the result of my submitting to a client who had previously only purchased 2 articles on the site. She has since purchased many articles from me.

Also, if someone is placing a request for something, it is likely that someone else will be interested in it as well. I don't think it is a waste of time to write anything to post on CC. Even if it sits for awhile before a customer comes along to purchase it, you have it in your portfolio to use as an example of your writing. The very first article I submitted here (in Feb. 2010) just sold a couple of months ago. Sometimes you just have to be patient. I have also had articles that I wrote purely on spec because they interested me. I didn't really expect them to sell soon, but I remember one of them selling within 30 minutes of approval! Just start submitting and I think you will find it is worth your time! Good luck!

[cosmo]

I felt the same way at the beginning. I didn't get my first sale until my ninth article, which sold for 15 dollars. All of the articles I've written at that time were for public requests, so it was pretty disheartening. Fast forward a few months, only 3 of my first 9 articles are still up for sale, and most of them have been purchased for full rights.

I guess the lesson here is persistence (and a little bit of luck). From one newbie to another, just keep on writing and they'll eventually sell.

[jak]

All the advice above is good. I'd just like to add that it is NOT a good idea to contact customers in the way you suggest. Those that come here are usually busy people who might feel they are being harassed and could even be turned off the site if it happened too much. CC does not encourage communication other than offering articles or clarifying what is wanted.

[Financialbull]

OK, that all sounds like great advice. Thanks guys!
T

[Lysis]

I advise NOT to contact the customer unless it is a question. It's generally frowned upon, and CC does audit those PMs. If you put your email address in the message, it automatically gets flagged.

[JoyRCalderwood]

You are right on a few points. I've decided it isn't worth writing on requests in most cases.

I've written articles - many of them that were time consuming due to research, and then found one was sold to the requester while mine sat there under review for 2 more days. I had no chance at all. Enough said.

I think I've had more request ones declined than accepted.

Sometimes you can post the articles independently and charge more than some of these requested ones.

[jak]

You can edit the prices you charge once the request has been filled if your article was not chosen. Just go to My Content and click on the edit tab next to the article.

[jadedragon]

You can write for a request or write on spec. If you write for a request, think of it as writing on spec with at least one potential buyer waiting out there. They might not buy but at least you know there is one potential active buyer which is better than writing on pure spec.

Some of the requesters are actually looking for steady writers. They treat the request as an audition. They even state this sometimes but not always. So doing requests could lead to a steady client.