My Return to HubPages

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   Marie Flintposted 10 years ago

   I have been very busy over the past two weeks developing the social links allowed on HubPages and am hoping these efforts will improve traffic flow to my hubs.
   
   I am also experimenting with a membership at Textbroker.com, which essentially is a ghostwriter type of site.
   
   I received no emails requesting help with English, so I will not be offering critiques any longer at HubPages. There are the HubPages Tutorial, online sites that offer assistance, and YouTube videos on writing. I hope that everyone has been doing great.
   
   I am in the process of changing my profile summary and attempting to focus my writing topics. I wish to thank everyone who has visited my hubs over the past two weeks. ***

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      sunilkunnoth2012posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      We all need your great  service in rectifying our works seriously but with a positive mind. You always provided your kind help too. Don't give up.  Changing profile is good idea and may attract more visitors.  People like you are the real asset of HP platform. Don't give up and keep working more ideas for the  exclusive benefit of fellow hubbers.....

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      Phyllis Doyleposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Welcome back, Marie. It is good to have you here. You should start a forum on Request a 'Critique' -- I am sure that would really help a lot of hubbers and be a very valuable asset to HubPages as a whole.

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      1. 76

         Marie Flintposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         I had been doing critiques for people at random, Phyllis, if I saw numerous edits were necessary to improve the hub. The work is very time consuming, and when I invited beginners to send me something under my profile, no one responded. So, for now, I think I'll pass on the idea (it does sound like a good one, though.)

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   jericho911posted 10 years ago

   What do you think of textbroker so far ? I gave it a small chance and I didn't like it at all. The subjects that were offered on me were things that I have zero knowledge about and I didn't want to create an article strictly on researching other pages online.

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   1. 76

      Marie Flintposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Truthfully?
      
      I'm not thrilled with the fact Textbroker is located in Las Vegas, the gambling capital of the U.S. (I view gambling as a vice for my personal development.)
      
      Requiring a picture I.D. seems a bit aggressive; no other site, so far, has asked for a W-9 form, either. ( I've decided I won't try to write with them until they are satisfied with the W-9, although they've told me it's ok to start--just me in reaction to their seemingly snippet requirements, which, hopefully will be offset with prompt payments.)
      
      One real downside is you can't cut and paste, even though it's your original work. Also, the work site showcases really small print and, for me, less than comfortable to read. You retain no rights to your work, either. (Occasionally, this is all right.)
      
      So, it will be awhile before I attempt to write something for them. In spite of the negatives I've listed and your comment, I'm still willing to give them a chance. After all, responses have come quickly in the registration process and, from what I understand, writing approvals/rejections are equally prompt. I have yet tol see if they have anything that inspires me to write. (I was pretty specific about topics in the registration process.)

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      1. 76

         Marie Flintposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         Two edits: small print[,which,] for me, [is] less than . . .
         AND  I have yet to[delete "l"] see . . .

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      plogan721posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I feel the same way about Textbroker.  even if I have very little knowledge about the topics, I could not research them.

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      Nimesh De Silvaposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      They require all authors to be either US citizens or UK, Canada etc citizens (if using their UK site). I think they are missing out on a lot of other good authors from other countries.

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      1. 91

         chasmacposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         No - There are Textbroker sites for a variety of countries, France, Spain, Netherlands, etc.
         The US site (textbroker.com) only accepts US residents. The UK site (textbroker.co.uk) accepts anyone apart from US residents, provided they can write in British English. I have a hub about the UK site for anyone interested in joining that one.

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            Nimesh De Silvaposted 10 years agoin reply to this

            Those aren't the only countries with good authors!

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               chasmacposted 10 years agoin reply to this

               As I said, the Textbroker UK site accepts ALL countries' authors apart from those in the US, who have the textbroker.com site all to themselves. The only requirement for the UK site is that authors write in British English unless the client requests otherwise (which is rare).

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                  Nimesh De Silvaposted 10 years agoin reply to this

                  Sorry my bad.
                  But is the site fully trustworthy? Because the pay rate seems pretty high.

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                  1. 91

                     chasmacposted 10 years agoin reply to this

                     Trustworthy? - Yes, I've never had a problem. They pay every Friday via Paypal provided you've made at least 10 euros. (The UK site pays in euros as they're actually based in Germany.)  Everyone's writing is rated for quality and each author is given a star rating of between 2 & 5 stars. You can do quite well if you can get at least 4 stars. Authors with 2 or 3 star ratings would starve to death if they relied on it, though. Their pay rate is low and there's hardly ever any work available for them.

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            WriteAngledposted 10 years agoin reply to this

            That seems very unfair. If the US site is open only to US residents, the UK site should likewise limit membership to UK residents. If people in other countries want similar sites, they should request for such resources to be established. As far as I can see, most non-English speakers tend to try to mimic US English, so I don't see why they should be allowed onto a site where UK English is promoted.

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               chasmacposted 10 years agoin reply to this

               Unfair to whom? British English is taught in schools in Ireland, New Zealand, Australia and elsewhere. Why would you want to exclude those authors? That seems very unfair. And who are these 'people' that want similar sites? Textbroker isn't any kind of social platform or author-driven site like HubPages. It's an organisation that provides written content as requested by paying clients. If a client wants an article written in British English, obviously the UK site will be where they go. Those clients neither know nor care what the author's nationality is; they're only interested in getting what they're paying for - British English text. If a non-native English speaking author is unable to write British English to the required standard, then their work won't be accepted. They will be excluded by their individual lack of ability - not by their nationality. Non-native English speaking authors who are able to write in British English to the required standard are welcome. On the other hand, native English speaking authors, whether from the UK or elsewhere, who are unable to write to the required standard will find their work rejected. This is a lot fairer than what you seem to be suggesting, which sounds like a throwback to the old "Irish (and other foreigners) not welcome" mentality that was common in the 50s in Britain. As Nimesh pointed out, there are great authors in all countries. If they can do the job, let them do the job. Don't exclude them based on the colour of their passport.

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      Ky Cardinalposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I have also written a few things for textbroker, but there are a lot of requests for things I may know something about, but do not have a lot of interest in writing about, or have very little instruction about what the client is expecting.

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3. 81

   Wilma Henryposted 10 years ago

   I do some writing for Textbroker.com. I've found that the subjects offered vary drastically from day to day. I thought the same as you at first jericho911, but  then I realized that  there is no way that anyone could write for this site without relying on research. I've made about $75.00 in three weeks with only two articles being written  without having to do research.

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   1. 76

      Marie Flintposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      That sounds hopeful. --Marie

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   receivetipstricksposted 10 years ago

   I am also working on SEO , and it' s working already.

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   1. 76

      Marie Flintposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you for your input, Receive. I'm finally at that stage in life where I realize I shouldn't keep transplanting myself because, by doing so, I can never develop roots to grow.

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   peachpurpleposted 10 years ago

   well, thanks for returning to HP. Missed your presence. Hope to see more hubs soon.

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6. 64

   shielamaeparrenoposted 10 years ago

   checked the site..yes, sad they don't allow writers from other countries..

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   1. 76

      Marie Flintposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      The reason Textbroker wanted my picture ID was, as one staffer put it, "We've been experiencing a lot of influx from outside [non-native-English] writers."
      Personally, I don't see how a picture ID changes one's gifts or talents--either you write well, or your writing does not fit their preferred style. Perhaps the ID requirement discourages ESL writers and helps somewhat in the screening process. I would think, though, that a first paragraph would be the better qualifier.

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   shielamaeparrenoposted 10 years ago

   thanks chasmac, yes i've tried the UK site..

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8. 62

   Deepak Chaturvediposted 10 years ago

   Welcome back to start your journey again here on HP GOD BLESS!

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9. 62

   Deepak Chaturvediposted 10 years ago

   The site textbroker.com is not open for authors of all countries,though it seems good promising.

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    ChitrangadaSharanposted 10 years ago

    Welcome back Marie!
    Happy hubbing again! Waiting to read your forthcoming hubs! All the best!

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    ThriftyBoomerposted 10 years ago

    I started writing for Textbroker in 2009. They helped us through some rough spots when my husband's hours at work were cut back in 2009 & 2010. I haven't written much for them lately, but you can make $75 a day if you are a fast writer.

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    1. 76

       Marie Flintposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Thank you, Thrifty, for your input. I'm still waiting for acceptance of my W-9, and I haven't figured out my goals yet. Also, I have an interview tomorrow with AmeriCorps for part-time work as a reading tutor/mentor. If I take that, I will have to balance my time.

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