How it Works - Content Seekers

What you'll find at The Wittery:

*An easy peasy way to get in touch with witty writers who can cook your fresh witty content to order.

*A virtual marketplace packed to the gills with witty writers waiting to be let loose on your content. (The job-posting facility is now available.)

*A selection of writers who don't bite.

*All writers are pre-screened (content seekers are too). It's good to know who's on board.

*The Wittery Blog is also worth a visit. Drop by anytime. We'll wave out the window when we see you. Better still, throw a line or two into the comment box over there and let us know what's on your mind.

*Register here for the limited free trial or read on to find out more.

 

Some Random Things before you dig into the main info below:

• Too much information for you on this page? Go here for a gentler introduction.

 

• In a hurry? Don't leave without knowing  Why Wit is IT.

 

• Beta free trial benefits:  Post your project for free and get the writers working on your witty copy. Here are some top tips on how to write a killer job post.

 

• To get the activation email after you register, make sure we're on your email whitelist. Otherwise, we may end up in your spam folder. 

 

• Writer Rates - This is a marketplace so rates will vary. As a rule of thumb, if a writer quotes under $50 for a piece, quality concerns will arise.  Experienced, established writers will charge higher rates (there will be added value of course).  At The Wittery, there is a mixture of experienced and less experienced writers, but they all do funny.

 

• Come on, don't be shy. We need a valid business email address from you. Cough up. Let us know who you are. There are plenty of clues on this site that suggest we do actually exist. We'd like a few clues that you exist too. A valid business email address is a good start. Don't be shy. We don't spam by the way (hate the taste).

 

• To get more pitches/views for your job, include a company description and choose a public profile. See here for more info. on posting jobs.

 

• We have a bit of a door policy... we do some checking before activating accounts. (This helps to improve the service for all. If you have registered and your account hasn't been activated but you believe you should qualify for membership, feel free to get in touch. We are likely to need more information from you before activating your account.)

 

• If you need witty technical content for your business, we suggest you provide the raw technical content in draft form and ask for  a "witty re-write". You know your business best.

 

• All writers may not suit all tastes. Include specific requirements in your job post to make sure you get responses from writers who best suit your needs (eg if you want a more experienced writer, say so).

(ps. No rollerblading in here please - the floor is new.)

Please Use these Linky Things to Find Your Way to the Information You Need When you Need it:

General
Why use wit?
Pre-screening Witty Writers
Sample Works
Signing up & becoming a member
Membership plans
Creating your public profile
Finding the perfect witty writer
Posting a job
Writing a good Job Post (Witto’s Tips)
Searching Writer Profiles
Receiving Replies to your Posted Jobs
Managing your job posts and your office
Contracts for Writing Projects
Employer-Employee Relationship
Feedback on The Wittery
Unsubscribing
Witty Content – a few ideas

MY OFFICE:
About My Jobs (My Office)
About Saved Searches (My Office)
About Membership Plans (My Office)
About My Notifications (My Office)
About Application Tracking (My Office)
About My Profile (My Office)
About Writer Alerts (My Office)
About Saved Listings (My Office)
About Billing History (My Office)
About Private Messages (My Office)

General

The Wittery is here to make it easy for you to find pre-screened freelance witty writers to write your fresh witty content to order, whatever your business, whatever your content needs.

We put you in direct touch with witty freelance writers who can breathe life into your business. Simple as that. To join us, come here.

Why use wit? - Why Wit is IT

(For the unserious version of these tips, visit The Wittery Guide in the blog. You're reading the serious sister here.)

• WIT SELLS

WIT is a powerful weapon in online sales, will increase revenue and get you repeat business.   Humor humanises your business, breaks down barriers, builds trust and helps you connect with your customer. By having those factors present, sales follow.

• Stand Out from the Crowd 

Be the blue banana in the bunch, be seen and make those sales. Outwit your rivals and stand head and shoulders above the competition. You won't sell if you're not seen.

• Spread the Word – Humor is Viral

Humorous Content is THE type most often shared by users. Seize the opportunity for your business. Shared content is free marketing. Shared Content, Word of Mouth, Referrals and Direct Traffic are the holy grail.  Wittify your content and get the word out there.

• Make Google Happy  

Need to make Google happy and like you? Feed the hungry animal fresh engaging witty content, keep the powerful beast happy and improve your visibility in Search Results.

Use Your wit to climb up the Search Results Page and reach out to free traffic on the way.  The Big "G" will notice those organic links to your witty content and your site's popularity.

Google has a mantra in its webmaster guidelines - "Make pages primarily for users, not for search engines".  Follow this basic principle and you're on your way to happy Googledom.

• Social Media Marketing, Buzz Marketing, Viral Marketing, Attraction Marketing

Get tongues wagging by charming your fans and followers with your Witty Tweets, Witty Status Updates and all-round witty copy in the social media jungle. It's all about getting noticed and being attractive out there and Wit is IT for your social visibility. 

• Big Brands Do Wit

Play it like the Big Boys. Big Brands use wit to spread their message. Now Your business can too.

• Ban The Bland

Ditch the Dull. Real customers like dealing with businesses with a real personality. Magnetize your business, get conversions with attraction marketing and take on the bland brands. Get The Wittery Writers to help you banish the bland from Your Business.

• User Experience is crucial to online sales

A Good User Experience attracts customers to your business and a good dollop of humor enhances the experience.  Give users that warm fuzzy feeling and they'll reach for their wallets sooner. Quality Content connects. Quality witty content connects quicker. It's about how you make the user feel.  

• Sticky

Fresh witty content makes Your Site sticky. Users hang out longer, convert easier, come back more often and bring their friends, family, fans and followers. Use The Wittery to get Sticky.

Pre-screening Witty Writers

To save you time and to add value to your marketplace experience, we pre-screen all writer applications.  We only accept writers who we believe have a genuine marketable talent.

There are experienced freelance writers alongside rookie writers at The Wittery.   They all do witty, a rare talent which will add value to your business. 

Not all writers will tickle all tastebuds, but you'll find a selection that will suit most tastes. Seek out the writers that best suit your needs.

Sample Works

To get a sneak preview of the talents of some of the writers, check out the guest blog posts in The Wittery Blog and visit the  Sample Works section.  Writers will do your witty original content to order.

Signing up & becoming a member

We're currently in Beta Mode. During this phase, you can register now, avail of a limited free trial and post your project for free (this is a limited offer).

Simply complete the registration form and click “Register”.  A valid business email address is required. We'll assign a free trial plan to your account and send you an activation email within 24 hours (once we're happy that your business is suitable for membership). Once you activate your account,  you can then get through to  My Office.  Once you're there, you can then start posting your projects for free.

[If you've already registered and availed of the free trial, you can still post your new projects by choosing an associate member plan (through the Membership Plan icon in My Office). You can post your new projects for $15 each.

We may, from time to time, have to restrict the number of new memberships that we accept.

Membership Plans

During this phase of roll-out, the following membership plans apply:

1) New Registrations: Free Trial Plan.  

This plan will be assigned to your account when you register and before you are sent the account activation link (subject, of course, to your application being approved). It includes 10 profile views.

2) Already Registered & Free Trial Plan has expired?

You can go to Membership Plans in My Office and choose an Associate Membership Plan. This allows you to post 1 project for USD $15.  If you need to post more than one project, you can.

Creating your public profile

You can control the information that is available about your business at The Wittery. When you post a job, go to My Profile.  The default setting is private (ie none of your information will be displayed in your job post unless you tick the public profile box in My Profile.)

If you select a public profile, your business name and web address (if entered in your profile) will be displayed in your job post.  Writers will also see the "Company Description" you've entered in your profile and a list of your active jobs.

Writers don't see your email address, physical address and phone number information when you choose a public profile. If you want writers to see this type of information, you can include it in the "Company Description" Box or in the text of the job post itself.

Your  business details are only available through jobs you post.  There is no Company search facility for writers at The Wittery. (If you think there should be one, let us know.)

Finding the perfect witty writer

At The Wittery, full membership gives you freedom to choose how to find the perfect  writer for your business needs.

You can either post your project on the job board (recommended) or you can browse the writer profiles and contact writers that tickle your fancy. You can send them a private message or use other contact details which they are free to provide in their profiles.

Full membership (and access to the writer directory)  is not yet available during this phase of roll-out. However, you can start posting your projects straight away.

Remember that  writer members have made it through The Wittery pre-screening process. We add value to the service we bring to you by checking out the writers first, saving you time and tears. 

Posting a job

To Post a Job, choose the Post a Writing Job option and enter the job details.  Job posts will be automatically deactivated after 30 days.  Use the Wittometer to select how much wit you want in your content [little wit, half wit, big wit]. Leave the setting at "half wit" if you're not sure. 

Your business information will be displayed with your job post if you have selected a public profile. For more information on this, see Creating your Public Profile.

Writers interested in your job will reply with their pitch directly to you (Check the "Reply to" field of the email for the writer's email address.)

You can then get in touch with your chosen writers to discuss terms and seal the deal. Terms and contracts are between you and the writer. We have no involvement and don’t take any commission. (Full members can use private messaging at The Wittery to contact writers).

 

Writing a good Job Post (Top Tips)

 (For the unserious version of these tips, visit The Wittery Guide in the blog. You're reading the serious sister here.)

• Be specific about the project - the more information you give the better. Give clear instructions.

 

• If the content you need is technical in nature or very business-specific, consider offering to provide a rough draft of the content to be "wittified" by The Wittery Writers.  You know the raw technical ingredients of your business better than a witty writer. Call it a witty re-write. This will be more cost-effective for you and you are also more likely to find a witty writer for your project by doing this.

 

• Write a Catchy Title and first few lines for your pitch . This will encourage the writers to click through to your job post. 

 

• Define your Target Market. The type of wit you need will depend on your target market. By defining the market, the writers will have a clearer picture of your requirements and who to aim for with their wit.

 

• Specify approximate word count (where possible) - this gives the writer an indication of the scale of the project.

 

• Specify what you aim to achieve with the witty copy - this helps the writers to get a handle on the project.

 

• Give some details about your business and core values. This helps writers to assess your witty copy needs.

 

• Specify writer preferences (if you have them) - eg if you want an experienced advertising copywriter, say so. This helps to filter the responses you will receive.

 

• (If possible) specify budget - this will help writers to determine whether they should bid on the project.

 

• By selecting a Public Profile and giving details about your company, you will receive more pitches (writers like to know who they are dealing with).

 

• Specify a Delivery Date (if possible): A good lead-in time can work to your advantage; writing witty content is a creative process; it can assist the creative process if there is a good lead -in time for the project. Some of the writers have their best ideas in the bath when they're not under pressure from tight deadlines.

 

• If you're not getting replies to your job post, Review the Post. Does it have a catchy title? Are you asking too much for the price you are willing to pay? Are you expecting the writers to write your technical business content from scratch?  Is your job spec too vague? Revise your job post to deal with these issues.  If you're still experiencing difficulties, get in touch and we'll help to identify what the issues might be.

 

• Respect the Writers.  These guys have a rare talent . Value The Wittery Writers and they will bring value to your business content.

 

Searching Writer Profiles

[This Feature is Not yet available but will be rolled out later. The information below will give you an idea of the service in advance of its roll-out.]

This service is available to full members.  To search the Writer Profiles, go to Find a Writer. Enter your search criteria and hit “Search”.

You can save your favorite searches to save you time in the future. To check out your saved searches, go to My Office.

To get in touch with a specific writer, you can send a private message through The Wittery.

Writers are free to provide alternative contact details in their profiles and you are free to contact the witty writers via whatever method you choose. (This is, of course, subject to the proviso in the User Agreement that you are not a direct competitor of The Wittery.)

Some of our writer members are a bit shy and have chosen not to create profiles. You won’t be able to find those writers using “Find a Writer”.  However, they might just reply to jobs you have posted. 

Receiving replies to your posted job

Once you have posted your job, witty writer members will be able to see it and, if interested, they will send you their pitch.

You can review the replies you receive and decide which writers (if any) you will contact further to discuss the job. You don’t have to hire any of the writers that reply to your job.  However, we require you to post genuine jobs only; no fishing expeditions. 

When a writer applies for your job, you will receive the application (including the writer's email address ["reply to" field)  to your registered email address.  To manage the applications you receive, go to Application Tracking in Your Office.

Full members can use private messaging at The Wittery to get in touch with writers. This service is not available to Associate Members.

You can keep track of applications that you have reviewed through Application Tracking. To reject an application, select "Reject Selected". To keep track of successful applications, select "Approve Selected". 

When you've chosen a writer (or when you've received enough responses), deactivate the job post by going to My Jobs. Select the "Deactivate" link which appears under the relevant job title.

Managing your work at The Wittery (“My Office”)

You can manage your work at The Wittery in My Office.  Full members have full access to the facilities in "My Office". Associate Members' access is limited.

You can send private messages to writers, access your saved searches, track applications received from jobs you have posted, see your subscription information, and change your membership plan, together with some other features that you may find useful.

Scroll on down to the end of this information section for more details about  “My Office” features.

Contracts for Writing Projects

When you've picked the witty writer for your job, you can agree the terms of the contract directly with the writer. The Wittery has no involvement in these contracts and does not charge or receive any commission.

It is between you and the freelance writer to agree the appropriate fee, payment terms, deliverables and job specifications. You are responsible for paying the writer directly. PayPal is a popular method for receiving online payment for freelance work, but you are free to choose whatever payment method suits both of you best. Sometimes, for bigger projects, the use of an escrow service might be a good idea.  We suggest to writers that they seek a 50% deposit when starting a project for a new client.

Employer-Employee Relationship

Freelance writers are self-employed and the general rule is that they are responsible for their own tax affairs. However, remember that if you use a writer quite extensively, that individual could be considered an employee. If necessary, you can seek legal advice about your own circumstances or about the relationships that you have with specific writers.

Feedback on The Wittery

Your feedback is important to us at The Wittery. Use the feedback form to let us know your thoughts. We love to hear them.

Unsubscribing

We aim to make it easy for you to unsubscribe.

There's a big “Unsubscribe” button in My Office which you can use at any time.  Use the "Unsubscribe" button if you have a recurring subscription. If you do this, your membership will terminate at the end of the relevant subscription period (eg at the end of the relevant month for monthly recurring subscriptions.)

To terminate your membership at The Wittery with immediate effect, use the "Delete Account" button in "My Office". Remember that by choosing this option, all your details will be removed from The Wittery, including your username, and access to the membership areas of the website will terminate immediately.

We aim to make sure that you can leave The Wittery easily. We'll miss you when you leave, but won't keep you against your will.

Witty Content – a few ideas

Your Business Website

Take the leap. Get your website content re-written or get new witty content and witty blogs written from scratch. Engage your web visitors with your zesty sense of humor: make them remember you, come back again, bring their friends and buy from you.  Choose the type and amount of wit you want, to suit your customers.  We've installed a handy Wittometer in the Job Posting form at The Wittery [Little Wit, Half Wit, Big Wit - you choose].

Fresh content should be a key part of your business website. Users and search engines love fresh content. The easiest way to include fresh content in your website is by using a blog.  It's a long term commitment but your blog content is a valuable business asset.  It helps you to build credibility, authority and trust. It also helps you to get found in organic search results.  The best blogs are both informative and engaging. You can make your blog more engaging by including a humorous element.

A sprinkling of wit throughout the static pages of your website can also enhance User Experience for your visitors.  Users remember little touches like this.

Your own website should be at the hub of your content marketing strategy. This is your own bit of virtual real estate. Before you rush off to create content on third party sites (eg Facebook, Twitter) make sure you have sorted out your content for your website first. 

Most businesses don't yet understand the value and power of fresh engaging content. If you're an early adopter, you will give your business a competitive advantage. If you treat content as an afterthought, you will pay the price in time.  Do your business a favor and factor quality content into your marketing budget.  

Check out this post on SimplyZesty.com which explains perfectly why you need to put your readers centre-stage when creating your content.

(If you missed out on Why Wit is IT, you'll find it here.)

"About Us" Page

Pack a punch with your "About Us" Page by getting it hand-crafted by a Witty Writer at The Wittery.  This is a great place to display your business personality and to captivate your visitors. Give the raw ingredients to your chosen writer (background info, core values, mission, the essence of your business) and let them work their magic. Those blasted writers have already done damage to our About Us page.

Promotional Stuff

Newsletters, ad copy, press releases, marketing campaigns - the possibilities are endless. Picture your promotional copy full of sharp and sassy wit... this time your readers will read your message and are likely to pass it on.

They will start looking forward to receiving your newsletters and will be more likely to open them.

Social Media Content

Buzz your social media presence. Get noticed, seen and talked about with platefuls of witty content served up by the writers at The Wittery. Excite your online audience.

Short Content

Need to increase your followers or fans? Endear yourself to your Twitter Followers or Status Update readers with short witty content made to order.  Notice that comedians get lots of followers on Twitter?  Commission a bundle of Witty Tweets from a Wittery Writer and Wittify your Twitter account.  The Wittery writers can fix your Witlets* to order.

*Witlet = A little bit of wit (less than 180 characters) created by a Wittery Writer 

Speeches & Presentations

Captivate your audience with your sharp sense of humor by getting your speech written by a Wittery Writer. Need a Powerpoint Presentation that won't send your audience to sleep? The Wittery Writers can help you to keep your audience awake.

Technical Business-specific Content

Get your technical content re-written by The Wittery Writers. You know your business best. Give a rough draft of the raw (unwitty) content to a witty writer and get them to work their magic with a witty re-write. There's humor to be found in every product or service and the witty writers can sniff out the humor in Your technical content.

Stuck for a unique gift idea?

Commission a  personalised witty poem for the CEO or office secretary  who is off to pastures new.

And More....

We love to hear from you about how you will use witty copy for your business. Let us know.

 

MY OFFICE [Features]

About My Jobs (My Office)

In “My Jobs”, you can manage the jobs you have posted. You can keep track on how many jobs you have left to post. You can also view, edit, clone, deactivate and delete jobs you have posted.

Deactivating or deleting a job means it will not show up on the job board. This can be useful when you have already got more than enough replies to a posted job. If you deactivate a job, you can reactivate it at a later stage. If you delete a job, it will be removed altogether.

Jobs which you post will automatically be deactivated after 30 days.

About Saved Searches (My Office)

When searching the writer profiles, you can save the particular search criteria you used. This saved search will be kept in Saved Searches for your future use. This can save you time if you want to do a fresh search using the same criteria at a later date. When in Saved Searches, you can also delete and edit your saved searches.

About Membership Plans (My Office)

This is where you select your membership plan after you have registered.  If you already have selected a membership plan,  you will find details of your plan here. You can also change your current membership plan from here.

About My Notifications (My Office)

This is where you can choose to be notified when various significant events happen e.g. when your posted job expires, when your membership expires and when you receive a new private message.

About Application Tracking (My Office)

Here you can view and manage replies/applications you have received to jobs you have posted. 

About My Profile (My Office)

Here you can manage your account and profile information. You can also control what information is available about you when you post a job. You can decide whether or not to reveal your identity in your job posts. Remember, once you have chosen a writer, they will normally want to know who they are doing business with.

You can upload your company logo and website address if you want these to be seen in your job posts. You can also insert a description of your Company or business which the writers will be able to view (if you have chosen a public profile). 

About Writer Alerts (My Office)

Here you can create new writer alerts and manage any writer alerts that you have already saved. You can edit, delete, preview search results and disable saved writer alerts.

By using the writer alert feature, you will receive notifications when new writer profiles that match your alert criteria, are added to The Wittery.

About Saved Listings (My Office)

When you view a writer profile, you have the option to Save this profile.  All profiles which you have saved will be kept for you in Saved Listings. From here, you can view the profile details or delete the Saved Listing.

About Billing History (My Office)

This one does what it says on the packet. You can see your billing history here.

About Private Messages (My Office)

Come here to send and receive private messages to and from writer members.

Brought to you by The Wittery®, The Witty Writer Marketplace (Please mind your step as you exit.)