Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs About First Rate Content, Free Web Content, and Jennifer Mattern
What topics (what niches) will you write Web
content for?
What kind of writing do you offer?
Do you offer ghostwriting services?
Do you write SEO articles?
Will your articles pass Copyscape?
What kind of turnaround do you offer on business Web
content?
When are payments required?
What forms of payment do you accept?
Other writers will work for $5 per article or less. Why do you charge so
much more?
Where can I find samples of your business content?
What kinds of clients have you worked with in
the past?
Do you offer free Web content?
Can I use your free Web
content in an email newsletter or in print form?
Can I remove your credit paragraph below
your free Web content?
Can I
change the title of any of your free Web content, or edit it before using
it?
Can I remove links from your free Web content?
Can I add a no-follow attribute to the links?
How can I place an order or ask additional questions?
What topics (what niches) will you write Web content for?
I write Web content only for business topics. I specialize in topics such as small business, startups, public relations, freelancing, and marketing. I will occasionally write pieces on the topics of writing and the business / promotion side of independent music. I will not write Web content on adult business topics, or subjects related to gambling, hate, or illegal topics, or in any niches that I deem to be morally inappropriate for my business (or with companies otherwise engaged with such subjects - at my own discretion). I also don't write Web content in niches completely unrelated to business.
What kind of writing do you offer?
Here at First Rate Content, I offer business content writing services. That does not include business writing such as copywriting (things like sales pages, home page text, etc.). Web content writing involves articles, newsletter pieces, blog posts, etc. I do offer copywriting and other business writing services (including my specialty of press releases as an online PR professional) through my primary business - JH Mattern Communications. Please visit that site for additional business writing rates.
Do you offer ghostwriting services?
Yes. I do now offer ghostwriting services. You can find ghostwriting rates on my services page (I do offer a discount for bylined content).
I can write articles keeping SEO in mind, but all of my Web content writing is designed to be written for the reader first. You may request specific keyword phrases to be integrated into your articles (within reason - for example, I'm not going to be able to effectively work 30 keyword phrases into a 300 word article, and still maintain quality writing). I will not accept keyword phrases that don't make sense within the context of the article. For example "injury lawyer UK" is not an acceptable keyword phrase, as it would be nearly impossible to work into a well-written article (the phrase itself doesn't make sense). However, "injury lawyers in the UK," or "UK injury lawyer" would be absolutely fine.
Will your articles pass Copyscape?
You're welcome to check. Of course you may find a common or standard phrase in the niche appearing in many articles (such as "the 4 Ps of marketing"), but all of my business Web content is unique. When I say "unique," I mean truly unique - not another article rewritten just to the level of fooling Copyscape and search engines (that level of rewriting is actually illegal in places like the US if the rewriter doesn't have the copyright holder's permission anyway). However, please understand that if you approach me about a writing project, and you begin our working relationship with threats of running all of my work through Copyscape, that tells me you're not used to working with a professional writer, and you're essentially accusing me of being a content thief from the get-go. In that case, I'll most likely reject your project up front. If it makes you feel better to run my work through Copyscape when it's completed, feel free to do it after the case.
What kind of turnaround do you offer on business Web content?
That depends heavily on my schedule and the size of your order (I do business content writing part-time on the side of running my PR firm). You can generally expect a quality piece of business content within 48 business hours (based on orders being received prior to 5:00pm US Eastern Time, and not including weekends or US holidays). I'll offer you a time estimate for larger quantity orders prior to you placing your order. If a piece will require longer than a 48-hour turnaround (will require an unusual amount of research, I'm pre-scheduled to be out of town, I have a solidly-booked client schedule, etc.), I'll let you know before placing your order.
Payments are due 100% up front for orders up to $200, or any order from a first-time client. Exceptions will only be made for long-standing or repeat clients that I've worked with for a significant amount of time. Larger orders up to $1000 may be broken down into a 50% payment up front, and the remaining 50% due upon completion. Only orders in excess of $1000 may be broken down into more than two payments in a budget payment plan to extend no later than the completion date of the project.
What forms of payment do you accept?
Clients may pay via a Paypal account, or by e-check or credit cards via a Paypal invoice. The only other payment form accepted at this time is a check or money order (must be drafted in US funds). Checks or money orders should be made payable to "Jennifer Mattern" and NOT "First Rate Content." Payments must be received and cleared before work will begin on a Web content order.
Other writers will work for $5 per article or less. Why do you charge so much more?
Frankly, I charge more because my writing is worth it. As a former writer and editor for two of the world's largest content networks, I learned how to write effectively both for search engines as well as readers. As a webmaster and blogger myself, I'm in tune with the needs of my clients and their readers when it comes to business content on the Web.
I've been a freelance writer since 1999, and I have a formal education not simply in English, but rather in my area of specialty (Public Relations and business). Because my business content writing is based on a combination of my education and my practical experience as a business owner and freelancer, I'm able to produce well-written business content quickly, without having to base it entirely on the work of others. Where other, generalist, content writers often provide rewritten material (illegal in some areas of the world) or articles simply piecing together information from a few sources on the Web, you never have to worry about that when ordering professionally-written business Web content from First Rate Content.
Where can I find samples of your business content?
Please view my portfolio for samples.
What kinds of clients have you worked with in the past?
Please view the About page for a list of some of my notable clients.
Do you offer free Web content?
Yes. I do offer free Web content, as long as you leave my credit and link information in tact. Check back often, as I'll be adding new free Web content periodically.
Can I use your free Web content in an email newsletter or in print form?
Please contact me prior to using my free Web content in any way other than publishing it on a public Web page.
Can I remove your credit paragraph below your free Web content?
No.
Can I change the title of any of your free Web content, or edit it before using it?
No. My free Web content must be used exactly as-is. If you find errors (such as links that may become dead in the future), please contact me for approval before making changes. In cases like that, I'll generally update the source file as well.
Can I remove links from your free Web content?
No. Links within, or below, my free Web content must remain in tact if you choose to publish the articles.
Can I add a no-follow attribute to the links?
No. The links may not be edited in any way.
How can I place an order or ask additional questions:
Please contact me.