Search Influence Contract Writer FAQ

November 2nd, 2011 by Search Influence Alumni

Are you now, or have you ever been a contract writer for Search Influence? If you answered yes, you’re in the right place, because this FAQ post can answer any and all questions you may have. If you said no, you can read all about our guidelines for freelance writers anyway. You just might learn something.

Search Influence Writer Commandments
When and how do writers get paid?
Search Influence pays its writers every other Friday based on the assignments they have turned in that have been fully processed and graded since the last payment. All payments are made through PayPal.

How many articles should I ask for each week?
How many do you want? We have writers that produce as few as five articles per week, and some that crank out over 30. It all depends on how much you want to work. All pay is based on the number of assignments turned in, so you set your work flow as well as your paycheck. If we find that your quality suffers as your number of assignments goes up, we may dial you back, but in the end it’s up to each individual writer to pick a suitable amount.

How do I get new assignments?
Ask and you shall receive. There are occasional lulls in the flow of assignments, but our writers generally enjoy a steady stream of assignments at any given time.

How important are deadlines?
Deadlines are to Search Influence as water is to fish and videos of kittens are to YouTube. Vitally important, in other words. As with most things, except maybe kitten videos, communication is key. Schedules can sometimes be modified and deadlines can be adjusted on a case by case basis dependant on circumstances such as vacations and snow storms, but missing a deadline without letting us know is never a good idea. If we don’t hear from you, we may reassign your work, and you will not be paid.

Why does Search Influence use Copyscape?
We have incorporated the popular online plagiarism checker Copyscape into our required steps to submit an assignment for the simple and all encompassing reason that we do not tolerate plagiarism. Duplicate content is the cardinal sin of SEO, and as such will not be allowed in any form. Original content is king, and it is what we require at all times.

What do I do if I’m going to miss a deadline?
Let us know ahead of time. If deadline performance becomes a problem, you will be placed on probation. If we don’t hear from you, we may reassign your work, affecting your paycheck and status as a dependable writer.

What happens if I end up on Search Influence probation?
I’m glad you asked. Writers who persistently miss deadlines will be placed on probation for one month. During this probationary period, they will receive a reduced workload that will be decided on a case by case basis. If any deadlines are missed during the one calendar month of probation, the writer may be subject to termination. A decision will be made at the end of the probationary period to determine the writer’s new daily and weekly quota.

How do I get in touch with Search Influence?
All writers are issued a tin soup can connected to a string tied directly to our world headquarters in New Orleans, Louisiana. If this can and string method of communication fails for any reason, the Production and Content Manager, Steve Maloney, can be reached 24/7 by email at smaloney@searchinfluence.com.

May I bring in help to get my articles done?
Nope. We do not condone the outsourcing of your work. All content must be original to you, the contractor with whom we have a W-9. Please do not attempt to pass off someone else’s work as your own.

I’ve got a serious case of writer’s block and I need some inspiration. What can I do?
We’ve got a monster list of ideas for any number of topics. Just ask. Also, coffee helps.