Textbroker - Writing for money (not vouchers)

wombat27

Loads of 5 star travel ones just gone on, don't very often see lots of 5 star. Just glad I managed to stay at 4, we seem to get the most usually

ajdunn

Has anyone here passed the proofreading test? Is there work available for those who have passed? I've taken it twice and been one correct answer away both times, which was a bit frustrating, but the three-month block is almost over again, so I might have another go.

fantastapotamus

Jarbuhu wrote: »

Does taxbroker handle all of the in between work between writer and client? Say, you did a superb article and the client claims not to like it. Do you just give up the work without being paid, or does the site handle the issue for you?

Usually, TextBroker favours the client over the writer. If you've done an article to the client's specifications and they still aren't happy, I think TB will decide on the issue. I think another poster earlier in the thread said that they were having a back and forth with a client and TB ultimately sided with the client.

I wouldn't worry too much though, most clients aren't too picky and most requests (if you even get any) tend to reasonable so you probably won't have to get TB involved. Some specifications can be frustratingly vague, so you can click on a client's ID number and see if they have a high revision rate if you're not sure about picking up a job from them. I've done 200+ articles and haven't had to get TB involved.

fantastapotamus

ajdunn wrote: »

Has anyone here passed the proofreading test? Is there work available for those who have passed? I've taken it twice and been one correct answer away both times, which was a bit frustrating, but the three-month block is almost over again, so I might have another go.

I passed after failing two times. I only bother checking it every now and then because I haven't seen a single job pop up since passing it a few months ago. I think you need to have passed the test to be considered as a 5* writer, though.

sachatith

Anyone still waiting for payment today? Made my request yesterday about midday as usual and normally its in my paypal at 10.30 without fail but today I haven't seen it....

jimjamspread

Hey folks. I was rated as a 4* author in January. Things were slowly building up and each day I was writing more. I was starting to get excited. I was starting to imagine that I could earn a part-time income doing this. It was an amazing feeling to turn thoughts into gold. So an important moment arrived: it was the beginning of a new month. I decided to make a real go of it. I earned €100 in three days, my best record so far. Then suddenly the Textbroker editor arrived holding the bat, with my fate in their hands.

Every article was rated. My heart was racing as I read from the bottom up. 4*, 4*, 4*.... I was coming to the top of the list, getting ready for the moment of relief that all of my articles were rated 4*. But the most recent 5 articles were rated 3*. My heart sunk. I knew what was coming. Since ratings are based on the most recent 5 articles, I was demoted and kicked back down the ladder. My little gig with Textbroker was over. The dreams and aspirations of a freelance career had wilted, all in a matter of seconds.

I was very angry initially. The fact that ratings are based on the previous 5 articles and all of my articles were rated 4* until the last 5 felt like Textbroker had farted on my face, just for the fun of it. It was deliberate, I thought. I became the victim in my own conspiracy theory. But after a few weeks I realised this probably wasn't the case. Thinking about it now, I reckon I was becoming a bit complacent. Professional standards were dropping and I was trying to be more creative in the articles.

The lesson of this to all new authors is never to become complacent! Unless you're a professional, you need to raise your own standards and never drop back. Like others have already said, it's a buyers market. There are too probably too many writers for too few articles. But don't let that put you off. Just make sure you're in a position where Textbroker can't fob you off.

I don't think they really care about how good the content of the article is and I'm sure their ratings aren't based on whether clients are satisfied or not. They are seeking professional standards. I wrote what I thought was a fantastic article on Apple and Microsoft but it was rated 3*, due to a few moments of sloppy comma usage. In hindsight, I guess it's fair enough. Read the AP style guidelines (I think this is what they recommend), and when you're proofreading your work, check anything you're unsure of against these guidelines. Don't submit until you're sure you've got it right. I know that I only proofread about half of my articles. And that's why I'm writing this now.

I don't feel that I have entirely given up on freelance writing. There's definitely still a seed somewhere! But being demoted has taught me to avoid flying without wings. Stay humble and get the basics down before you start dreaming of an income!

Lilyann

jimjamspread wrote: »

Hey folks. I was rated as a 4* author in January. Things were slowly building up and each day I was writing more. I was starting to get excited. I was starting to imagine that I could earn a part-time income doing this. It was an amazing feeling to turn thoughts into gold. So an important moment arrived: it was the beginning of a new month. I decided to make a real go of it. I earned €100 in three days, my best record so far. Then suddenly the Textbroker editor arrived holding the bat, with my fate in their hands.

Every article was rated. My heart was racing as I read from the bottom up. 4*, 4*, 4*.... I was coming to the top of the list, getting ready for the moment of relief that all of my articles were rated 4*. But the most recent 5 articles were rated 3*. My heart sunk. I knew what was coming. Since ratings are based on the most recent 5 articles, I was demoted and kicked back down the ladder. My little gig with Textbroker was over. The dreams and aspirations of a freelance career had wilted, all in a matter of seconds.

I was very angry initially. The fact that ratings are based on the previous 5 articles and all of my articles were rated 4* until the last 5 felt like Textbroker had farted on my face, just for the fun of it. It was deliberate, I thought. I became the victim in my own conspiracy theory. But after a few weeks I realised this probably wasn't the case. Thinking about it now, I reckon I was becoming a bit complacent. Professional standards were dropping and I was trying to be more creative in the articles.

The lesson of this to all new authors is never to become complacent! Unless you're a professional, you need to raise your own standards and never drop back. Like others have already said, it's a buyers market. There are too probably too many writers for too few articles. But don't let that put you off. Just make sure you're in a position where Textbroker can't fob you off.

I don't think they really care about how good the content of the article is and I'm sure their ratings aren't based on whether clients are satisfied or not. They are seeking professional standards. I wrote what I thought was a fantastic article on Apple and Microsoft but it was rated 3*, due to a few moments of sloppy comma usage. In hindsight, I guess it's fair enough. Read the AP style guidelines (I think this is what they recommend), and when you're proofreading your work, check anything you're unsure of against these guidelines. Don't submit until you're sure you've got it right. I know that I only proofread about half of my articles. And that's why I'm writing this now.

I don't feel that I have entirely given up on freelance writing. There's definitely still a seed somewhere! But being demoted has taught me to avoid flying without wings. Stay humble and get the basics down before you start dreaming of an income!

Did textbroker pay you to write this as a consolation prize? Lol

jimjamspread

Lilyann wrote: »

Did textbroker pay you to write this as a consolation prize? Lol

no you can pay me though

lady_in_need

hi can some one help me please if you are working doing a normal job can i sign up to this text broker cause some one wrote you class your self as self employed , can you be employed and self employed at the same time thanks :j

SpunkMonkey3000

Quite difficult, but works. Thanks!