I suspect "copywriter" is trying to sell ripped content to me

all your base are belong to us... what a supprise

[jasonlambert]

Just had an interesting conversation with someone who contacted me via Yahoo messenger, trying to sell me website content writing services.

I asked a specific question about assignment of copyright on the work written, explaining that I was in the UK, and asking do they provide standard transfer of copyright contracts. The response was (paraphrase, and without spelling mistakes), "I have worked with people in many countries I always sign an NDA".
I asked about copyright, not what they are going to talk to their friends about on a friday night.
Made me suspicious from the outset. I think its reasonable to assume/request that anyone offering content writing services would have a basic knowledge of copyright.

After some discussion and some poking around, I looked at one of the websites they claim to own. I picked a random page and asked who wrote the content. I was told "me and my assistant helped".
Then I dumped the first sentance from each paragraph into Google. Supprise supprise, the first paragraph was on an Austrailian site, the second, third and 4th were copied from a site on a .net domain, and the rest of it was copied from who knows where as there were so many exact matches in google for a substantial proportion of the last paragraph.

When i pointed this out, the answer was (paraphrase) "xyz.com is a friend of mine, they copied me". The content on this 1 page I looked at was clearly copied from multiple sources.

My advice: beware of anyone trying to sell you content writing services over Instant Messaging, who makes frequent spelling mistakes, and whose sentances make no gramatical sense what so ever.

Oh, and if you are still considering hiring a content writer, always ask to see a sample of their work. Dump sentances from it into google, enclosed in quotes. It is the quickest way to find out if multiple sources have the same content, suggesting someone is copying someone else, or the company you are hiring claims to work on an exclusive basis, if the company resell's the same work multiple times.

Does anyone else have any tips of things that should set off "alarm bells" when talking to potential content writers (also the reverse, what is the best way to know your dealing with a legit firm?).

[rogerd]

Certainly searching for phrases from sample work is a good check. Prices that seem too low should make one suspicious, although there's nothing to say a ripoff artist might not demand a premium price.

If you are contracting through a freelance organization, check their rating and comments. If you are contracting independently, see if you can get some good references. These could be confederates, but if they have worked for a major firm or two that might give you some comfort factor.

I'd also avoid paying much up front - wait until you see the content and can satisfy yourself that it's not already on the web. And be sure your contract defines who owns the work lest you find it peddled to others later.

[EileenC]

As a copywriter, here's the level of professionalism I expect from copy buyers:

Professional copy buyers will:

1. review your portfolio
2. ask for samples of a specific style, format, or industry, if that's important
3. request and checks references
4. understand the concept of rights, and understand what rights he/she is buying
5. expect to sign an agreement with the writer specifying all terms
6. expect to pay market rates

If the copy buyer does not indicate interest in at least four of the above points, I know they are probably going to be a difficult client for me.

Here’s what you should look for when hiring a web copywriter:
1. He/she has own website and own domain name with an online portfolio (this indicates stability and professionalism)
1. He/she understands all the nuances of web content versus web copy, and which is more appropriate when
2. He/she has experience writing on a broad variety of topics and in a wide variety of styles
3. He/she takes the time to do research using credible sources, not just looking at two or three other web sites on the subject
4. He/she knows how to identify experts and obtain interviews to get you current, expert information
5. He/she can document her sources
6. He/she can write in a manner that will engage the reader at whatever level you require, to pull the reader in, keep the reader reading, and keep the reader on your site.

As far as googling phrases to check for copying, that's a great idea. I actually do that myself sometimes when it comes to clients. Ever since I had a client who just asked for a little "tweaking" and "editing" and I discovered he'd hopscotched all over the web stealing copy from all his competitors, I'll check out all content currently appearing on the web that I'm ask to "rewrite."

Hope that helps!

Eileen

[kevinpate]

> things that should set off "alarm bells"

A cold call sales pitch via an instant message :)