Forum Moderators: not2easy
1) I only have so much time available to write content myself. I can't work 24 hours a day, and since I go to college, I need time to study and whatnot. Plus, I want to have some time to myself.
2) I don't want to have an office (here or overseas). Its too much overhead, and, just as importantly, too much headache!
3) I don't want to have to deal with lots of HR issues--someone calls out sick, this person is mad at that person, this person quit, or this person is stealing office supplies--I don't want to hear about it, I don't want to deal with it. Again, its just too darn much headache! :-)
So, I guess what I need to do is find a firm that does outsourcing for this sort of thing. Ideally, I'd like one that can grow with me, but start small (one writer at first, and then as the business grows etc, I can add them one at a time). That way, if someone quits, they deal with finding a new person. If someone calls out sick, they deal with it. I just email/IM them the various writing tasks I have for them for the day, they each get a "writer" account on my content management system, and boom, they start writing. I then go to my administrator page once a day, and edit and approve their articles and other content, and schedule it for when I'd like it to appear.
I guess I have a few questions that I will be eternally grateful if someone can answer, suggest, add ideas, shed some light on, or even ask some other helpful questions (questions in reply to question are always good, IMHO, because they make me think more) :-)
1) What countries are best to look in? I need people who are proficient in english are are somewhat decent at putting together a sentence. I can do some editing, they don't have to be perfect. But I want them to be reasonably good at what they do.
2) Can anyone suggest to me a firm to talk with that offers the service that I am looking for?
3) What are the benefits and hazards of going about this in other ways, and how have you dealt with them?
4) What should I expect to pay for this kind of service?
5) Any thoughts as to how one mights best direct the work of the employees from afar? Does my proposed system of direction sound workable, or do you think it needs improvement?
I appreciate any advice and feedback that anyone gives me. You will have my everlasting gratitude :-).
cheers!
1) What countries are best to look in? I need people who are proficient in english are are somewhat decent at putting together a sentence. I can do some editing, they don't have to be perfect. But I want them to be reasonably good at what they do.
America--end of story.
You could always go to other places if you don't mind re-writing their murdered version of the English language. While there are great writers all over the world, the country with the largest population of quality English language writes is the USA.
I don't know what kind of content you need though. Perhaps stuff like "See my sentence. See my sentence here." works. In that case, you could outsource to a non-English speaking country or visit your local Junior Highschool.
Don't be shocked when you hire someone from say India and you get served for copyright infringement.
I am sure many will chime in with their experiences.
2-I could make a recommendation, but then I would be self-promoting.
3-There are a lot of benefits to outsourcing your content needs. The extent of those benefits will be determined, in large measure, by the kind and amount of content you need.
4-Pricing will be determined by the kind of content you need and how much of it you are willing to buy. You will find some people who will charge quite a bit for very little. You'll find others (especially some overseas providers) who are willing to work dirt cheap. The old saying "you get what you pay for" is not necessarily true, though. There are low to moderately priced providers who can do a great job, depending on your needs.
5-Just make sure you are working with someone who understands your needs and expectations. Your provider should be readily available and responsive to your needs. Directing the nature of the work you are buying should not be troublesome if you are dealing with a good provider.
Jerry
[edited by: rogerd at 3:22 am (utc) on Feb. 19, 2005]
[edit reason] No URLs please... [/edit]
You could always go to other places if you don't mind re-writing their murdered version of the English language. While there are great writers all over the world, the country with the largest population of quality English language writes is the USA.
Ahem, ahem. Were one to pit "The Queens English" versus "The Presidents Drawl"... But never mind ;)
Two ways to go, depending on your budget and size:
1- Find a decent copywriting firm, and get them to develop the content. Pros - everything in one place, etc CONS - Hoping the company has employees who actually know about what they're writing about.
2- Put a decent CMS in and advertise for individual writers specialised in each subject, heaven knows the internet can supply them! PROS - Don't need to negotiate a contract which may include monthly payments, could work out cheaper, get a specialist for each subject, can invest the amount you have at hand each month CONS - having to revet each person, send money to different people.
Up to you which way you go, try to find and contact a few copywriting companies and see if they can work with you.
I can't really see you getting cheap content in the US, so I'd recommend that you at least look at "cheaper" countries. Ask for samples of previous work and see if they work out.
Good luck!
Cheap US content by talented individuals is out there. Lot's of it. Just put your brain to work: Where can one find a talented pool of older or younger people who have time to burn AND could use some cash?
"The Queens English" versus "The Presidents Drawl"...
The question is: How important is the quality of writing to you?
I use rentacoder for most of my outsourcing.
Dirk.
...and i'm typing faster already. Wow.
Indeed, as was beautifully illustrated by VR, you really can find inexpensive content right here in the USA. But if someone is willing to make $4 - or 40 oz. - per page, it's important that you figure out how much the writing is worth to you. Perhaps it's a steal, and in that case I admire your financial wizardry: Great work often does come out of desperation.
Chances are, however, that the quality will reflect the price. If you can afford to spend the extra time editing, rewriting and checking for plagiarism, then this is a good deal. Freelancers who take themselves seriously will charge more because they proofread their own work, rewrite it when necessary, and of course they NEVER plagiarize.
Throw an import brew into the bargain and you've got a quality writer for life!
For example, I was looking for a baseball writer, and I got a guy who has been a member of the Baseball Writer's Association for 28 years, whose writing have appeared in hundreds of newspaper articles. Of course, he costs $75/hour, but the content was brilliant, and readership increased as a result.
You may occasionally get lucky, but you get what you pay for mostly.
Most of the time I pay around 5$/700 words. Some of my writers are AmericanThat's mind boggling. I thought we had minimum wage laws in this country. You could easily make twice the money by working for Wal-Mart or flipping burgers.
Same logic here.
$5 for 700 words sounds great until you realize that it was worth $2.12.
That homeless guy downtown knows this guy who has a cousin who will write me a novel on any subject I want for 6 cigarettes and a grocery cart that doesn't have damaged wheels...we are in negotiations. :D
I am not saying that bargains don't happen but you get what you pay for generally. A good source might be college students who work on their school's paper.
