What Should You do If you Recieve Unusable Content?

Discussion in 'Copywriting' started by momofreelancing, Jan 22, 2009.

  1. #1
    What should you do if you receive content that is just not up to par on the task that you posted?

    Has this ever happened to anyone? How did you handle it?
     
    momofreelancing, Jan 22, 2009 IP
  2. wibblet

    wibblet Banned

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    #2
    I had some articles done about 5 which isn't even considered bulk and you can tell the writer got lazy and started to use "fillers" which wasn't keyword rich like he promised I told him for a rewrite and he did it for the articles I said, but maybe I was just lucky. I would suggest holding off your itrader til you see the content than if he refuses to rewrite leave him a negative and a warning to other clients on their thread
     
    wibblet, Jan 22, 2009 IP
  3. momofreelancing

    momofreelancing Guest

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    #3
    Thanks Wibblet!
     
    momofreelancing, Jan 22, 2009 IP
  4. jhmattern

    jhmattern Illustrious Member

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    #4
    First of all, you need to figure out if your expectations were realistic.

    For example, if someone says they'll pay $1 per article, and they're demanding English fluency, expert knowledge, perfect grammar, or any other common demand, they have little ground to stand on if there are grammatical issues. Why? Because they know when they post that advertisement that they're not realistic (or they should), and they should understand that their definition of something like fluency won't match what people in other countries (who are willing to work for those rates) consider "fluent."

    If you don't have issues like that, ask for a rewrite. No serious writer is going to tell you to forget it. It's a part of the job.

    The most important thing is to figure out where the problems lie. Did you not give detailed instructions about what you wanted topic- or style-wise? Did the writer plagiarize and just change a few words? What went wrong? At the very least, knowing that will help you prevent it again in the future.
     
    jhmattern, Jan 22, 2009 IP
  5. cd928

    cd928 Peon

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    #5
    Unusable? Hmmm... you could let the person revise it. It's probably the most pain-free way of solving the problem. You get what you want (hopefully) and the person gets paid. Everybody goes home happy.
     
    cd928, Jan 22, 2009 IP
  6. EspressoChick

    EspressoChick Well-Known Member

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    #6
    Many clients I've worked with have given me a trial assignment before giving me something larger to do. So assigning ONE article before asking for a batch of five. This may be a good way to go with a new writer.

    Sometimes it is not a question of bad writing - but a question of writing style. Not every writer is perfect for every job. Assigning one article will give you a sense of whether this writer is ideal for your project.

    I do have to say that I agree with Jenn..... if you asking for the sun, moon and stars for a very low price - then it may be time to adjust your expectations.

    :)
     
    EspressoChick, Jan 23, 2009 IP
  7. iplunge

    iplunge Peon

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    #7
    I've learned my lessons the hard way. First time I went to the forum, I got overwhelmed with the cheap packages and low rates and ordered here, there and everywhere. Got what I'm looking for the price I paid: cheap articles. Right now, I'm still hunting for that right writer, with not so cheap rates but actually delivers. Someone with a system that delivers what I want.
     
    iplunge, Jan 24, 2009 IP
  8. latoya

    latoya Active Member

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    #8
    It's never happened to me on the purchasing end, but I've bad buyers ask for edits or changes to articles. No problem. I make the requested changes and everyone's happy. So you have a few choices: 1. Ask the writer to rewrite the articles. 2. Pay someone else to rewrite the articles. 3. Rewrite the articles yourself. 4. Hire a write to create entirely new articles. 5. Nothing, use the articles as is.
     
    latoya, Jan 25, 2009 IP