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Writers - I need your opinion for a major freelance writing website

by Epic Write
19 replies

Hi,

We're recently building a freelance writing website... that will mostly benefit both clients and writers alike.


This is not a:
  • Bidding Website (Similar to o***k.com) - Where writers still have to hunt and do a bid fight to win the project.
  • Write and Get Rejected Website (Similar to i*****r.com) - Where writers are being paid low just to be rejected at the end.
  • U.S. Freelancing Website (Similar to t********r.com) - Where only U.S. writers are accepted.
Our project is similar to a DIRECTORY or Warriors for hire section. Instead of the writers searching for projects, the clients will be the ones to search their preferred writer. We have features such as:
  • Name your price - As a writer, you will be able to customize your profile: expertise, career, language, country and your fixed pricing per word.
  • Clients will be able to choose you - Clients will be able to search to a central database to find you. Search categories includes country, niche, career, pricing, last login, feedback, who's online, etc. They will be able to choose up to 5 writers in a project - The first one who can go online and claim will be automatically awarded. The project's total cost will always honor the writer's pricing per word.
  • No rejection - We're proud to say that our project won't have any rejections to our writers. You'll get your payment always. However, clients will always be able to dispute. If they win, our in-house team will be the ones revising/replacing them.
  • All countries/nationalities accepted
  • No bidding necessary - No need to get into a bid war with someone offering $1/500 words.
  • You'll just get informed - Not online all the time? The system will be able to inform you via email, social network and mobile.
  • Paypal payment withdrawals takes less than 24 hours - Freelancing websites have scheduled payments, while some have a 3-5 days TAT. We would like to change this processing time to less than 24 hours upon the writer's withdrawal.

I understand that some websites do pay low - so we would like to CHANGE THE GAME. We have a $20,000 marketing budget to hire massive clients and writers. This is a big worldwide project so please help us answer the questions below.
  1. What are other things you need in a freelance writing website?
  2. Do you see any disadvantage about our site's features?
  3. Any other suggestions / comments / ideas?
We appreciate your time reading this. Thank you.
UPDATE:


Hi,

We're already testing the site - it's currently in beta phase but we need freelance writers/teams to serve our new clients. All countries/nationalities accepted. Here's the link: www.grabawriter.com

Let me know your thoughts/critiques.


Best Regards,
- James
HR Agent, GrabaWriter.com
#freelance #major #opinion #website #writers #writing
  • Profile picture of the author Alex Cohen
    Which types of freelance writers will your writing website feature?

    Alex
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  • Profile picture of the author Epic Write
    Almost all types... SEO Writers, Niche Writers, Copywriters, Bloggers, etc.
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  • Profile picture of the author RenderTheWeb
    The concept is awesome. Question, how do you plan on marketing?
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  • Profile picture of the author laurencewins
    It sounds like you have a basic overall plan covered. Perhaps as you get it set up you might come up with more specific questions that we can help answer. It's impossible to give broad answers because we don't fully know what you're going to do yet but it does sound like a great idea for sure.
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    Cheers, Laurence. Read my Warriors for Hire ad.
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  • Profile picture of the author Corey Geer
    You know, I usually can think up some suggestions here and there but this sounds like a really great website.

    I myself am a member of the I site you linked in your original post, but it's like working for peanuts. They've implemented some cool features to make sure you don't write cheapo's or people looking for free work though. They've come a long way.

    Still, I don't necessarily need the money, sometimes I just get bored, have no clients online, nothing to do, don't feel like hopping on WoW and I would just like to make some quick money. I use quick money from writing services to fund random various projects or do "miscellaneous" stupid things.

    It's the only rule I have for doing those things, is that it can't be funded by any other form of business.

    My Question: How do you plan on getting the higher paying clients there? I find that they're very few and far in-between.
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    Skype: Coreygeer319

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    • Profile picture of the author arfasaira
      Originally Posted by Corey Geer View Post

      My Question: How do you plan on getting the higher paying clients there? I find that they're very few and far in-between.
      I agree with Corey - one of the things that irks me about bidding sites is that higher-paying clients are few and very far between - so this is something I want to know as well.

      I like the idea of having the ability to upload a portfolio, testimonials and video to profiles and also would be good to have some form of categorization in place - so if a client is looking for a copywriter in the health niche they can search on that rather than having to look through hundreds of profiles trying to find a good match.
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  • Profile picture of the author WeavingThoughts
    When will you launch it? Domain URL?
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  • Profile picture of the author staceythewriter
    It's a great idea. You have to come back and let us know when you're up and running. I'm also curious as to how you plan to market it.

    Good luck!

    Stacey
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    • Profile picture of the author marciayudkin
      No rejection - We're proud to say that our project won't have any rejections to our writers. You'll get your payment always. However, clients will always be able to dispute. If they win, our in-house team will be the ones revising/replacing them.
      I do have questions about this business model.

      Clients will be able to dispute on what basis? It doesn't convert? They don't like it? It uses bad grammar? It's completely off-base? Which reasons do you deem legitimate, which not?

      You couldn't possibly accept and keep all writers in your directory with this business model. Those whose work doesn't please clients will cost you way more than you make from them. So it would be smarter to screen them out ahead of time, if you could. What are the criteria to get listed, then?

      Marcia Yudkin
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  • Profile picture of the author whenryson15
    Yes I agree that the idea was really cool but it is different on how you are going to market them and how you would execute your plans.

    Good luck to you.
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    • Profile picture of the author Epic Write
      Originally Posted by RenderTheWeb View Post

      The concept is awesome. Question, how do you plan on marketing?
      We're already preparing the marketing plan as the site is being developed. Also, we have a very responsive, client list of around 10,000++ - U.S., U.K., Canada, Indonesia, Malaysia, Germany, etc. =)


      Originally Posted by laurencewins View Post

      It sounds like you have a basic overall plan covered. Perhaps as you get it set up you might come up with more specific questions that we can help answer. It's impossible to give broad answers because we don't fully know what you're going to do yet but it does sound like a great idea for sure.
      Thank you for your feedback - We'll try to come up with specific questions for sure. =)

      Originally Posted by Corey Geer View Post

      You know, I usually can think up some suggestions here and there but this sounds like a really great website.

      I myself am a member of the I site you linked in your original post, but it's like working for peanuts. They've implemented some cool features to make sure you don't write cheapo's or people looking for free work though. They've come a long way.

      Still, I don't necessarily need the money, sometimes I just get bored, have no clients online, nothing to do, don't feel like hopping on WoW and I would just like to make some quick money. I use quick money from writing services to fund random various projects or do "miscellaneous" stupid things.

      It's the only rule I have for doing those things, is that it can't be funded by any other form of business.

      My Question: How do you plan on getting the higher paying clients there? I find that they're very few and far in-between.
      Advertisements + We already have a responsive list. =)



      Originally Posted by arfasaira View Post

      I agree with Corey - one of the things that irks me about bidding sites is that higher-paying clients are few and very far between - so this is something I want to know as well.

      I like the idea of having the ability to upload a portfolio, testimonials and video to profiles and also would be good to have some form of categorization in place - so if a client is looking for a copywriter in the health niche they can search on that rather than having to look through hundreds of profiles trying to find a good match.
      Yes, I agree with you. =)


      Originally Posted by WeavingThoughts View Post

      When will you launch it? Domain URL?
      We're targeting it by end of the year. Will let you know. =)


      Originally Posted by staceythewriter View Post

      It's a great idea. You have to come back and let us know when you're up and running. I'm also curious as to how you plan to market it.

      Good luck!

      Stacey
      Yes I will, thank you. =)



      Originally Posted by marciayudkin View Post

      I do have questions about this business model.

      Clients will be able to dispute on what basis? It doesn't convert? They don't like it? It uses bad grammar? It's completely off-base? Which reasons do you deem legitimate, which not?

      You couldn't possibly accept and keep all writers in your directory with this business model. Those whose work doesn't please clients will cost you way more than you make from them. So it would be smarter to screen them out ahead of time, if you could. What are the criteria to get listed, then?

      Marcia Yudkin
      As much as possible, we would like to give the client and writer a win=win situation. Once the client file a dispute, we'll be the ones to handle it - while the writer can still keep the money (But will receive a negative review as usual).
      We'll also discuss if we have to screen writers for quality purposes. =)


      Originally Posted by whenryson15 View Post

      Yes I agree that the idea was really cool but it is different on how you are going to market them and how you would execute your plans.

      Good luck to you.
      Thank you for your feedback. =)
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  • Profile picture of the author WeavingThoughts
    Don't you think 20 grands is a bit too little to actually market it? I guess creating a customized portal which is truly awesome would cost 20 grands it self, without marketing. Don't you think so?
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    • Profile picture of the author Epic Write
      Originally Posted by WeavingThoughts View Post

      Don't you think 20 grands is a bit too little to actually market it? I guess creating a customized portal which is truly awesome would cost 20 grands it self, without marketing. Don't you think so?
      Yep, that's only for the first phase of our marketing. =)
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  • Profile picture of the author akowally
    Seems like an awesome idea. I hope it actually provides a win-win situation to both clients and writers. I like the fact that you accept all countries. This is something I would like to follow up and see how it goes.

    Make sure you include Kenyan writers when looking for writers. We always do an awesome job and are ranked almost native in most websites. I personally am a Kenyan writer and internet marketer.

    All the best and I'm waiting for everything to be up and running.
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    Awesome article and web content writing service at only $5 per 300 words
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  • Profile picture of the author jbush2404
    Sounds like a cool idea...I will give it a look see when you get it up and running.
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  • Profile picture of the author Astounding Writing Coach
    Definitely something needed for writers. Would be nice to see it really take off. I like everything you've written so far. Will be eager to see the unveiling!
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    Why do personal development, self-help, natural wellness and hypnosis small business owners regularly hire me for my engaging, intuitive, creative content writing skills? Because that's what I passionately do best.
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  • Profile picture of the author laurencewins
    How close are you to unveiling now?
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    Cheers, Laurence. Read my Warriors for Hire ad.
    Writer/Editor/Proofreader. Place orders.

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  • Profile picture of the author George Lee
    You need a process to assure a speedy and timely acceptance of the articles by the client. You might also think about limiting the number of rewrites a client can request to a reasonable number. And finally you should have editors that truly know how to edit.
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  • Profile picture of the author sethczerepak
    I think the key to attracting high value clients would be to:

    1) Limit the amount of writers who can sign up by making the qualification process more rigorous
    2) Requiring a minimum 4 start rating to remain an active provider on the site
    3) Require new employers to put up a deposit of $200, to demonstrate that they're actually serious about spending money
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  • Profile picture of the author Epic Write
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