Placing a direct order with a writer is a great way to ensure the content they create matches your business’s needs. A writer you’re familiar with and that has completed orders for you before is bound to know how to incorporate keywords, write in your preferred tone and style and meet other requirements important to your business success.
Placing a direct order with a writer is simple.
- On the standard order form, accessible from your account on crowdcontent.com, scroll down to the blue Pricing and Word Count header.
- Click the Direct Order button. A box will appear next to the button. Within, you can search the database of writers available at the star level selected.
More About Star Levels
Four-star writers are classified as “Expert” level. They have extensive professional experience and proven track records with Crowd Content clients. Three-star writers typically have diversified expertise in particular subject areas and write with personality and persuasiveness. Writers are bumped from three- to four-star level through a manual process conducted by an administrator, and they must have proven themselves to be successful content creators with Crowd Content clients.
Direct Order – From a Writer’s Perspective
When you place a direct order with a writer, they receive an email notification and are prompted to login to their writer account at crowdcontent.com. Included with the email is an encouraging message that reads: “It’s a pretty big deal to get Direct Orders from a client. This means that these orders are available only to you. Way to go!”
This is the primary benefit of a direct order — the order placed is available to only that writer, ensuring no one else without the knowledge of your requirements will pick it up.
Why Hasn’t My Writer Picked Up My Order?
The network of writers at Crowd Content is comprised of full-time and part-time freelancers. Many writers produce content for clients as a second job, and those who write full-time work with a large number of clients to ensure a stable income. Sometimes, freelancers aren’t available or don’t have room in their schedule to complete your order by deadline. Other times, they might be willing to complete the order, but only at a higher rate. If that’s the case, they may decline the direct order, giving you an opportunity to either raise the star rating (if applicable) or find a different writer who is available. Your customer success manager can also assist with finding a suitable writer.
Something to keep in mind when watching your direct orders: Writers have a maximum amount of orders they’re allowed to have in their queue at one time. Depending on the writer’s account, their claim limit may be set at 1, 3, 4 or 5 orders. If a writer’s queue is full, they’re not able to pick up an order right away, but they may pick it up after clearing existing work.
Writers also work on a schedule, just like any other service provider. If the deadline for the order is set for four or five days in advance, they may not have picked it up yet because they’ve planned to do it within the next day or two. For instance, if a direct order is placed on a Sunday and the due date is listed as Thursday, the writer may not pick it up until Wednesday. If you’re ever in doubt as to a writer’s availability, you can message the writer or reach out to a customer success manager for assistance.
What Can I Do If My Writer Hasn’t Picked Up My Order?
A few options are available if time is running out and you need content sooner rather than later.
- Message the Writer: Oftentimes, the writer is aware of the direct order, but isn’t able to get to it right away. By messaging them, you can get an idea of a time frame and when you can expect the order to be completed. If you’re a regular client, many writers will rearrange schedules if possible to get content to you when needed.
- Customer Success Manager: Reaching out to your CSM is always a great option. They can help you get in touch with the writer to find out their availability or suggest other potential writers who have similar skills, experience and pricing levels.
The moral of the story is: if your writer hasn’t picked up a direct order yet, don’t panic. Any number of reasons can exist for why they haven’t picked it up. Perhaps their queue is currently full or they’re busy with other projects at the moment but plan to get to it soon. Don’t hesitate to message your writer to get an idea of a time frame, and definitely contact your customer success manager for help getting in touch with your writer to find out their availability.
