I'm actually not trying to solicit my writing services in this thread, but I find it quite annoying that basically the whole Digital Point "Content Creation" forum is filled with so many people trying to bid for work for the lowest prices. I just got accepted by this one individual on the Content Creation forum looking for a large writing job. However, he was supposed to send me the article topics to write on, but instead he lead me on for a couple days and then decided he didn't want to take me up on my offer. I'm assuming it's because he found someone to do the job for him for a much lesser price, but I can't be sure. The whole thing just ticks me off, and the issue of the "dirt cheap" but "quality" writers on the Content Creation forum. I have picked up several good-paying customers from Digital Point in the past and fortunately I have two customers (that I didn't receive from Digital Point) that provide me with steady work for a decent income. An idea struck me a couple months ago and I'm wondering what anyone's thoughts are. What if I were to create a writing service website of my own that offered customers rewards for coming back to use my services? I don't currently have a writing service website of my own (even though I really should have put one up a long time ago). But back to my idea-- for example, what if I offered gifts to repeat customers (say, an iPod or DVD after so many orders)? Do you think anyone would go for such things?
It might work. It depends on your audience. They might not care about prizes... keep in mind, that's not why they're going to you. I think it would be much more appropriate (and professional) to offer something relevant to them. Perhaps a free e-book or report related to your work to better help them understand what you do, how quality content can help them make more money, etc.? Or maybe discounts on services if they've been with you for a certain amount of time? Give them something relevant to them if you want to give them something.
Actually giving free ebooks is a good idea-- I'll have to see what I do with that whole idea. I just wanted to do something different because it seems that almost everyone is either offering discounts or offering free ebooks for something....but maybe I could find some other digital product to offer- not necessarily ebooks. Anyway, thank for the idea!
I suppose you better give more content as a bonus. I suppose more of the webmasters here on DP already have iPod and/or all the interesting gadgets that you can give as gifts.
It's a good idea to give incentives to your repeat customers. I agree with Jenn, keep it relevant. Give a discount on services or one free article for every 10 (or whatever number) purchased. If you offer another service, let your customers get a free "sample" of that service. For example, if you also edit, offer to edit content they've purchased elsewhere free when they use your writing services. There's something about gifts that doesn't breed loyalty, IMO. Someone might order just enough articles to get the gift then leave. Unless you're getting these gifts for free, it could end up costing you.
I like the free content with X amount purchased idea the best. I use that myself. If someone wants 50 articles, I give them 5 for free on the next order. Does anyone actually read ebooks about how to make blah blah blah? I sure don't.
Why do they have to be about how to make something? Give away one actually related to your work. For example, there were times when I gave away my e-book on effective press release writing to my press release clients. I had quite a few of them actually enjoy the fact that they could better understand why I handled them the way I did, how they could get the most benefit out of them, etc. You could do the same on Web copy, Web content, etc.
Giving Ebooks is great but what would be better is if you gave them free backlinks? or give them free software (like buy resellers with software, and give it out ) There are a lot of things you can do For example Seller sells client A 500 backlinks, and he bought a total of over 15,000 links and seller decided to give him some free scripts and he came back and bought another 10,000. So yeah if you give them a really good reward they will come back
I bought quite a number of articles before and here is my point of view: a) If you gave away ipod or dvd - not interested b) If you gave away free ebooks - not interested. We are webmasters, we know how to get information for free or buy it if we need it c) If you gave away free articles per x orders - that for sure would interest me We need you for your services, not for freebies, so giving away a free article or more per X number of orders, is in my opinion the best incentive.
I think that you have to just market your qualities and don't think of poor Indians, Pakistanis or eastern Europeans like me as a serious competition. First of all a lot of us don't have high enough language knowledge level, many of us have very low writing capabilities, cultural differences are also important and of course simply because you are geographically close to the source of the business ( customers). We can't take any good job from you, methinks. All the good paid jobs are still reserved for you guys.