As a consultant dedicated to helping small business owners succeed, I‘ve guided countless entrepreneurs through one of the most crucial website challenges – sourcing high quality, affordable content.
Between juggling limited budgets and resources, many understandably struggle with identifying the most strategic content partner that aligns with their specific needs. In this post, let me walk you through an insider‘s comparison of three popular platforms – Upwork, Content Hourlies, and Textbroker – to help uncover the best fit.
Evaluating Writer Quality
Beyond assessing the sheer number of writers on each platform, it‘s crucial to dig deeper into their vetting and reviews processes that uphold quality standards.
For instance, Content Hourlies accepts less than 10% of writer applicants into their platform based on stringent writing tests. Textbroker does limited initial screening before writers can take on projects across star rating levels. Upwork conducts basic background checks during onboarding but quality control then depends on client feedback and ratings.
As an advisor, I would examine the share of writers filtered out through the selective entry barriers:
- Content Hourlies rejects over 90% of applicants
- Textbroker rejects an unspecified portion during initial review
- Upwork rejection rates are likely minimal given the platform‘s open access
For small businesses without expansive content needs, a smaller pool of exceptional writers can prove more efficient than sifting through thousands of freelancers with variability in quality.
Delivering on Customer Service
Navigating writer-client disputes or issues with an order requires strong customer support. From my consulting experience, entrepreneur clients often face tight deadlines that leave little room for back-and-forth communication gaps when problems arise.
While all three platforms promise relatively responsive support, Content Hourlies possesses an advantage with their hands-on accountability and writer management. With direct access to their small writer pool, the Content Hourlies support team can swiftly handle complaints or concerns through their message system during active orders.
Textbroker utilizes a similar centralized messaging interface between clients and writers. However, owners of smaller businesses frequently desire a more tailored, boutique-style approach offered by Content Hourlies‘ customer service model.
Catering to Diverse Content Needs
The types of writing projects suited for each platform vary greatly. Upwork‘s vast marketplace presents an opportunity for business owners to source writing, editing, graphic design, web development and more under one roof. But sorting through the expansive freelancer pool to cherry pick skill fits requires deep due diligence.
Meanwhile, Textbroker‘s writer network works well for companies needing high volumes of content regularly, like marketing agencies or enterprise-level websites. Content Hourlies strikes an optimal balance for small site owners seeking specialized content that necessitates premium quality over maximum quantity. Their managed services also give entrepreneur clients built-in direction via dedicated resources.
Worth Evaluating Further
For those looking to establish an efficient, scalable content workflow, I always advise business owners to test a few options using small-scale projects first. This allows you to gauge elements like quality consistency, turnaround times, billing processes, and communication before committing to any single partner.
Make sure to dig beneath the surface level as you run trial periods with platforms like Upwork, Textbroker or Content Hourlies. Analyze their vetting rigor, support systems and actual capabilities to handle your precise content needs. Developing that hands-on understanding will drive you towards the best overall match.
Feel free to reach out if you need any guidance navigating the content provider landscape as a growing business!
