Do you get this problem with Textbroker?

7 replies
I've found Textbroker great for getting reasonable-quality articles written for not-too-high a price. I know you can't expect Nobel Prize-winning stuff for $5-$15, but I use those articles as a basis, to get some content up, and then flesh out the subject myself, gradually. Just saves some initial time for me, and the writers (in the 3-star and above bracket) have all been pretty decent, literate etc.

But I've run into some real hassle, here is what has happened:

1) I commission an article, I write quite clear instructions, in fact, I could have written half the article myself by the time I have written the instructions!
2) Writer (via a DirectOrder, a writer I have used before who is good) comes back with finished article which is fine, but she hasn't really followed my instructions, the article just doesn't really fit the title, it's got way too much fluff in it - 3 paragraphs of introduction and only 2 on the actual subject.
3) I ask for a revision.
4) Writer bails out - flags it as something like "Could not complete" (I forget now), thus preserving her 0% rejection rate.
5) I post the job again, making the instructions even clearer, to avoid the mistake the first writer made.
6) New writer does exactly the same thing! Mostly general fluff, with only a paragraph on the actual subject!
7) I ask for a revision again, though in somewhat peeved tone along the lines of "I thought my instructions were very clear".
8) Next thing - the article is "Available to authors" again, i.e. he/she has bailed too.

Just wondering how common this is? It hadn't happened to me up to now. It looks like I am going to have to write the *&^&* article myself.

I understand, these people aren't getting paid a huge amount, and it's not worth their while to rewrite an article which could potentially get refused again by us "difficult" clients. But I am surprised the system allows them to do that. Evidently the rate of pay is too low for many of them to even read the instructions properly!

It's worth bearing in mind when using Textbroker or similar services. As ever, you pay for what you get...

Maybe someone else has a similar experience, or maybe can even tell it from the author point of view.
#problem #textbroker
  • Profile picture of the author Victoralexon
    Well, first of all, and you said this yourself but it bears repeating, I suppose you get what you pay for.

    Perhaps they wrote the article and forgot to adhere to your instructions, and then simply felt that they could not be arsed to rewrite it.
    Or perhaps they had a hard time writing on the subject, hence why so much of the content ended up being fluff. Of course, in that case, they should have held the lines of communication open with you and let you know that. No excuses, but it is a possible explanation after all, that is all I am saying. I am just brain storming on possible reasons why it ended up the way it did for you.

    This was just from a freelance writer's point of view.
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  • Profile picture of the author graemecclark
    Ya I had a few issues with textbroker as well. Not all the writers are bad but sometimes it's hit or miss. You can also try IWriter.com (Brad Callen's site) or Odesk.com is great for outsourcing.
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    • Profile picture of the author markowe
      Originally Posted by graemecclark View Post

      Ya I had a few issues with textbroker as well. Not all the writers are bad but sometimes it's hit or miss. You can also try IWriter.com (Brad Callen's site) or Odesk.com is great for outsourcing.
      Yeah, I didn't mention that I once ordered an article that came back clearly not written by a native English speaker. I quickly asked for a revision and did indeed get one, which was hugely different from the first one (and much better) - rather suspicious, sounds like someone trying to do arbitrage with TB and farming out articles to somewhere and hoping clients don't notice they suck, and only getting a proper version out if the client insists.
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    • Profile picture of the author Victoralexon
      Originally Posted by graemecclark View Post

      Ya I had a few issues with textbroker as well. Not all the writers are bad but sometimes it's hit or miss. You can also try IWriter.com (Brad Callen's site) or Odesk.com is great for outsourcing.
      To add on to what graemecclark said, you could try these sites as well: www.constant-content.com, www.fiverr.com, www.textbroker.com, www.textbroker.co.uk, www.vworker.com, www.freelancer.com, www.elance.com, www.guru.com, and The Content Authority.

      Also check out the Warriors for Hire and the Wanted - Members Looking To Hire You sections here at the Warrior forum if you have not done so already.
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  • Profile picture of the author markowe
    Thanks for the tips everybody, sure, I will try other options, and I will probably throw some higher budget at content in future.

    I just wanted to add that I just had a THIRD author do exactly the same thing, despite my instructions?! Now I am getting a tad confused!

    Yes, the topic is a little more involved, takes a bit of research, I guess that must be why...
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  • Profile picture of the author textbroker
    Hi Markowe,
    Sending you a PM about your orders. I'm glad to see that an author did revise and you accepted!
    Thanks,
    Christina
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  • Profile picture of the author textbroker
    Whoops! Was going to send you a PM, but don't have enough posts. Sorry about that, and I also apologize that we didn't get the item written sooner. Either PM me or send us a note via Textbroker, and I'm happy to talk about it in more detail.
    Thank you for your patience,
    Christina
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    Starting at 1.2 cents per word
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