If you’ve spent any time as a Verblio customer, you probably know that a request (formerly known as a ‘topic’) is a pretty significant part of your experience. Our team knows it, too. In fact, we consider requests to be the most important part of your Verblio experience.
Without requests, writers cannot create any content for you. And if you aren’t sure how to use request content effectively, you might not receive content anywhere near your expectations.
So, how can you create requests that will attract writers and make sure you receive A+ content? Read on to find out!
How to Make Requests (A Brief Overview)
When you first sign up, we’ll collect some basic information about your business and content writing needs. However, in order to start receiving content, you’ll need to create requests.
Here’s the quick refresher on the overview of requests in Verblio and how they work:
Creating Requests
Navigate to the Request page to add new requests. You can also edit or delete your requests on this page.
Click the New Request button:
Add a title for your request and then use the description field to explain what type of content you’d like to receive. Make sure to give our writers a useful description to ensure that you receive spot-on content.
If you’d like to provide writers with additional resources (we highly recommend this!), either insert links into the request description field or upload PDFs to the request.
Use the Add SEO Requirements fields to request that writers follow your SEO requests including keywords to include in their submission(s), internal links, external links, etc. (Click here to learn more about using this feature.)
Choosing How Many Pieces of Content to Request
In the Verblio platform, you have the option to make specific requests for unique content that you plan on publishing a single piece on, request several pieces on a broader topic or series, or create a very broad topic that allows writers to iterate continuously until the topic is paused.
So, which option is right for you and how does this impact the writing you receive?
(Need help brainstorming topics to include in your requests? Check out these 50 ready-to-go ideas to get you started.)
One-Time Requests
By default, your request will be for one single piece of content. In fact, once you purchase a single submission, the request is considered to be ‘fulfilled’ and is no longer available for writers to work on.
These requests are specific, detailed, and sometimes timely, and they are usually used when you have an idea or rough scope in mind of what the content should be about.
One request = One submission
One-time requests are perfect for businesses adhering to editorial calendars or those who are in the practice of coming up with specific titles for their content pieces. You can also use these requests for timely content, such as upcoming events and holidays.
Here are a few examples:
- Press release about an upcoming fundraising event
- Blog post about various 2018 Easter egg hunts in and around Denver, Colorado
- Top 10 Trends in 2018 for Kitchen Cabinet Trends
Keep in mind that writers are more likely to look for guidance on their submission and expect detailed instructions from your request. Outlines, examples, points to cover, and resources to cite are just a few things you can include for the writers. If there’s anything you want to make sure our writers include in their writing, make sure to include it in your request.
Multiple Piece Requests
If you want several pieces of content on a broader topic or series, you can tell writers exactly how many articles or pieces of content you’re planning to publish on this topic. From 2 pieces to 23 pieces, our writers will have a better understanding of your content needs when they know exactly how many submissions you’re expecting on a given topic.
A couple of examples include:
- A four-part series summarizing the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s 2018 Annual Energy Outlook
- Two blog posts evaluating the benefits and drawbacks of live chat customer service for your website.
Unlimited Requests
These requests are formerly known as ‘ongoing topics.’ They typically revolve around a keyword and are used to create multiple pieces of evergreen content, meaning content that you think will stay relevant to readers in the long run and that you need multiple pieces of content about. As the name implies, writers will continue developing content about ongoing requests until you remove or pause them.
Unlimited requests are perfect for customers looking to purchase multiple pieces of content about a subject without having each piece sound exactly the same and cover the exact same material. Feel free to use ongoing requests for any SEO keywords you would like to continually rank for and spin differently (Not familiar with keywords? Learn more here).
Some examples of ongoing requests include:
- Healthcare news
- Healthy living
- Benefits of CBD oil
- Tax news in Colorado
Take note that these broad requests typically communicate to our writers that they can take more creative license with their writing about the general subject matter. They may brainstorm on your topic and create content that examines various angles of the original topic.
For example, posting an ongoing request like “Benefits of CBD oil” could result in submissions like “10 Health Benefits of CBD Oil for Senior Pets” and “Benefits of Using CBD Oil to Treat Nausea.” These are two similar yet different articles for the same request.
What Makes a Good Request?
Requests are the main way you communicate your content needs to our writers, and they’re among the first few places our writers look when they’re searching for new customers to write for. As you can probably guess, this means it’s quite important to create top-notch, informative requests. The better the request, the better writing you will receive.
So, how can you ensure that you always create great requests? The answer is in the details! The more detailed and specific your request, the better. Here are just a few of the many things you can include to get our writers up to speed:
- Type of content (Do you want a blog post, a press release, or a whitepaper?)
- Main topic or theme of the blog post
- Major points the submission should make (Heck, you can even provide our writers with a complete outline! Learn how here.)
- The audience that will be reading the final content
- Examples or resources you’d like the writer to reference or use
- SEO keywords (primary, secondary)
- Information that writers should NOT include (e.g., don’t cite sources from “Example Company”—they’re my competitor!)
Still having trouble envisioning your requests? Read on to learn more!
Customer Examples
The best way to really understand the type of content you will receive for your requests is by checking out how current Verblio customers are using the platform.
Specific Requests
The following customer requests are specific, detailed, and are for purchasing one piece of content. Notice how these requests tell the writer exactly what they should write about.
When creating requests, you should expect our writers to only write about what is specified in your request description.
Title: How much does it cost to do an ICO?
Description: Address the question: how much does it cost a cryptocurrency startup to do an ICO? What are the costs involved, at a high level, and what does the average ICO cost? Please see attached PDF article for research purposes.
Title: The 3 Elements to a Successful ICO PR Strategy
Description: Please write about the elements that go into a successful ICO PR strategy. Please see the attached PDF article as a starting point for research.
General Requests
SEO agencies tend to use ongoing topics to receive content based on a list of keywords for their clients:
Apartments in Tucson, Arizona
Things to do in Tucson, Arizona
The customer has purchased at least 6 pieces of content for each ongoing topic, which have covered a variety of subjects related to those subjects, including:
- “The Arizona State Museum Is a Short Walk Away”
- “Get in the Holiday Spirit in Tucson, Arizona”
- “5 Free Music Events in Tucson”
Now It’s Your Turn!
While we want you to create requests that make sure you receive content you love, it’s important to remember that any request is better than no request. Without requests, you won’t be able to receive any content at all, so don’t get hung up on entering the perfect requests right away.
At the very least, enter a few requests (we recommend at least 3) so you can start receiving content from our writers. You can request edits on that content, give feedback to our writers and learn how to home in your next requests so you can grow your crowd of writers!
So, log in and start creating requests. Our writers are at the ready to start writing.
Need some help narrowing in on what type of requests should be in Verblio? Submit the form below or send an email to support@verblio.com.
