You painstakingly constructed the terms of your order and took great care to include as much information as possible to ensure you get what you want, but then you receive the finished product and it isn’t quite what you expected. Maybe it just needs a little massaging to get it where it needs to be, or maybe it’s way off base. The good news is that you aren’t stuck with content you can’t use. That is precisely why Writer Access has a revision policy in place.
Why Do You Need Revisions?
Not all clients request revisions on their orders. However, some do and that’s OK. Your writer may not have understood your instructions, or you may have received input from other members on your team, and they suggested a few changes. It could be that you feel your brand voice wasn’t adequately captured. (This is why it is so important to include your blog URL in your order!)
In the end, it is your content, and we want you to be absolutely thrilled with the finished product. You call the shots. If you like it, awesome! If you feel like it needs a little work, well, that’s what our revision policy is for — it is part of our satisfaction guarantee.
Writer Access Revision Policy
There are many reasons that you might request a revision. Common reasons compliant with our revision policy are:
- The quality of the content is unsatisfactory, including grammar and punctuation errors, wrong tone or style, formatting issues, etc.
- The linking and SEO requirements were not met.
- The writer did not follow the instructions or fulfill the requirements provided on the order form. (The instructions and requirements must remain the same from the original order to the revision request. If you wish to change them from your original request, additional charges may apply.)
- Minor wording or style changes.
- The content has Copyscape matches.
If any of these issues occur, go ahead and hit that revision request button and get your content created your way.
Best Practices for Revision Request Success
One revision is usually sufficient for getting what you want. Sometimes a little extra honing of your content may be necessary, but you can save time and money by avoiding the serial revision cycle with these best practices:
- Communicate with your writer before you submit the order – Once you’ve chosen a writer, send them a message to discuss what you want and what they need from you to make that happen. This will help streamline the process and cut down on delays due to missing information or unclear instructions. When you submit your order, attach a PDF of the conversation for quick reference.
- Stick to your original instructions and requirements – Once you submit your order, the instructions and requirements you provide will be the definitive guide for the life of that order. Your writer has spent time and effort working on your order, based on the original instructions. If you need to change the direction of your order, we understand. If the instructions are all new, we suggest placing a new order.
- Organize your process – When you are preparing the terms of your project, jot down points or information you want included, what the content should do (draw traffic, inform, convert, etc.) and note any sources you want used. Do you want a call to action or links to your website or blog? Make sure you make these things clear, and don’t forget to provide the URLs.
- Respond to writer questions as soon as possible – The sooner you answer questions or provide information, the sooner you can get your content and put it to work for you.
- Gather all feedback before you submit your revision request – If multiple people are reviewing the content, gather feedback from all of them before you request revisions. Otherwise, you could end up sending your content back again and again each time someone suggests changes.
- Use the annotation feature to give feedback directly in the copy – Simply highlight the area and type your comments. Note: If the change is a single letter or punctuation mark, highlight several letters along with the error and type your note — that makes it easier for the writer to see when making corrections. Once you click submit, your writer will be able to see your annotations and make the changes that you need.
- Provide clear and descriptive feedback – Try to explain what you need changed. Vague answers like “I don’t like this” or “This needs to be changed” aren’t really helpful. The annotation tool is invaluable in instances like this because you can show exactly what you want revised. Try to be as descriptive as possible. Remember, your writer cannot read your mind! They need you to tell them what you want to change!
Revisions are a natural part of writing, and you should not feel hesitant about submitting a request if your content isn’t quite what you were hoping for. Just work with your writer, communicate, and be clear and descriptive with your feedback. It’s all part of the process of creating content that works for you.
Stephanie M has been writing since she was old enough to hold a pen – and that’s a really long time! She has been writing professionally for more than 20 years and specialized in SEO, social media, and branding. She has written for clients of all shapes and sizes, including Home Depot, Mapquest, Axon Optics, Amazon, MobileRVing, Polaroid, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery, and many more. If you want polished, professional content that brings your brand to life, reach out to Stephanie and start a conversation.
