Full disclosure: I work part-time for the company that launched Content Cloud and publishes Content Desk. Even fuller disclosure: having used it to commission out a portfolio of features for a client magazine, I have to say, I’m a big fan.
My jobs have been picking up between five and 15 bids from writers. So filtering for the best is a major issue. And choosing successful bidders has taught me a few things about how to pitch on Content Cloud.
So what helps me pick out bidders?*
1. A full profile
While you shouldn’t claim to be brilliant in areas you don’t feel comfortable tackling, those “expertise” tags trigger the job alerts when someone uploads a brief. You can’t assume the commissioner will be a Content Cloud ninja just yet, and if they don’t choose exactly the right keywords, you might miss the perfect job. Put it another way: if you get an alert and the brief just doesn’t look right, you can always ignore it.
2. Work samples matter
Get a decent portfolio up on the site. Content Cloud doesn’t have the most elegant system for uploading your portfolio (that’s on the wish list for v2.0…). But my first port of call when evaluating a writer’s suitability is their past work advertised within the site. Variety matters, as does provenance of the publisher.
3. Spread yourself around
Final point on profiles: include your LinkedIn and Twitter details. Again, I’m hunting for reassurance that you’re a great writer with excellent contacts. Social networks (the professional ones, anyway) are a common shortcut for me to do that, especially if your portfolio on Content Cloud is limited.
4. Make a pitch for the specific job
Your profile and portfolio are important. But the filter I’ve found most useful is the three- or four-line pitch for that particular brief. (You add this when you submit a bid.) Mention your contacts in the area – and include links to articles on the subject you’ve recently had published. It reassures me that your knowledge is fresh and you’re not going to go into analysis-paralysis if you get the job. (I’m a freelancer three days a week – so I know what it’s like…)
5. Don’t low-ball the fee
As a writer, I don’t want systems that make it easy to commission work to drive down fees. And I know that the people behind Content Cloud really care about quality – they’d be mortified if it became some kind of content farm. Here’s the kicker, though: if, as a commissioner, I see a really low fee, my assumption is that you’re planning on knocking out 1,500 words of filler ASAP based on desk research. (That’s not blind cynicism: as a writer, I work much harder on quality when the client’s offering a good rate.) Be competitive, by all means – but I don’t want writers resenting the work they’re doing for me because it’s low paid.
6. Get in touch – but don’t pester
Lots of emails or LinkedIn requests might sound like sensible adjuncts to a pitch. But they’re not. Win the work first – and then I’ll be delighted to hear from you via backchannels. In fact, I’m desperate to ensure you feel comfortable with the full brief and have read all the supporting documents I’ve uploaded. Ping me a couple of thoughts based on your reading of the full brief, and I’ll be a very happy camper.
In sum…
Other than that, it’s just like a regular gig. Follow the brief, stay in touch on progress, hit the deadline and if the work is good I’m going to be delighted to hit the ‘accept’ button the other end, triggering your automatic 30-day payment.
Like any digital service, Content Cloud is evolving. Some of the kludges and tips above might soon be baked into the vanilla bidding or profile-building process. But even now, I’m bound to say that my early scepticism about the quality of writers and the ease of use of Content Cloud has evaporated. I can’t wait for it to scale!
* Confession: I know lots of writers (a function of two decades writing and editing for a living) so if they bid, and I know they’ll knock the brief out of the park, I’ll default to them. And the Content Cloud ratings will help eventually – but right now they’re a bit useless until you’ve done a couple of jobs through the site and been ‘starred’.
