FAQs
What is Express Writers?
We are a full-service, inclusive content writing agency. If you have a piece of content that needs writing, we’ve got it covered!
Our growing team is a diverse mix of writers, editors, and content strategists who have a passion for great content. Since 2011, Express Writers’ goal has been to deliver our clients the highest quality content on the web.
Need more info? Our process page will walk you through each step of content creation with us, and you can find more about us over on our team page.
How do you vet your writers? Are your writers based in the U.S.?
All writer and editor candidates must prove to have Native English proficiency. They must then pass a background check to prove they are from or live in the U.S. After our team has ensured these qualifications, they may move to the next step in the vetting process.
Once a writer has passed the initial stage, they receive further instructions to submit a resume and portfolio. Then our COO and Content Operations Manager further vet these applicants. They check references, background, and education to ensure that each writer and editor has the proper experience for our team.
After passing this step, they complete a writing or editing test so the team can see their skills in action. If they are a match for us, we send over onboarding and training materials that they have to read before they officially begin training.
From there, our leadership team continuously mentors each writer as they learn the system and our internal guidelines. The majority of our writers come to us with at least two years of writing experience for our expert content level, with five years and up being standard for the specialist level.
These steps are just part of our commitment to finding and hiring the best writers on the web to create stellar content and grow your brand’s authority.
Can I request the same writer for each of my projects?
Yes, you can request the same writer for all of your projects. We can’t always guarantee their availability, but our goal is to match each client to a writer who fits your brand and give them the chance to learn the ins and outs of your content needs.
Our Content Manager, Korilynn, is very hands-on with these assignments. She works with each of our writers closely so she can understand their background and coordinate their industry knowledge and passions with each of our clients.
We enjoy long-term partnerships with our clients, which is why you’ll typically work with the same writers over time. They learn your brand and, over time, produce content that doesn’t need any other edits or revisions from your team. You just receive the best content possible from the first delivery.
My project doesn’t exactly match your services. Can you still help?
Absolutely! Get in contact with our client success team and share the parameters of the project. We can then talk as a team to decide on a quote and check with our writers to see if their experience matches your needs.
Once that’s settled, we’ll be able to let you know and put together a custom service for you if the project falls into a category we cover.
If the project is content-based, we can usually work something out. Exceptions include writing compliance or law documents or things like novels. At this time, we also do not take external editing projects.
If you’re unsure about something or don’t know all the parts of your project, our team is always ready to help, so never hesitate to reach out.
How do your content levels work?
We have four primary levels of content writing. These levels represent the different types of research and expertise required of our writers.
- General Writing is great for brands just getting started with content that don’t need a lot of industry expertise or research for their topics. At this level, our writers understand SEO and are looking to build up their experience but are still excellent.
- Expert Writing is at a slightly higher level. These pieces are for more in-depth industries and require more research and topical understanding. Our expert writers have been writing content for 2+ years. Articles about the service industry, less in-depth marketing topics, or retail are good examples of pieces that do well at this level.
- Specialty Writing can be used for most industries and targets complex, technical topics. For example, our legal, finance, and medical writing are at the specialty level. The writers we hire at this level are experienced professionals with years of job experience and advanced degrees in their fields of study. They also have two or more years of content writing experience.
- Authority Writing packages combine SEO research and graphic design with your content. Designed internally, our authority writing seeks to fill the gaps in outsourcing top-level content. All writers at this level went through strict training with our editors and leadership.
Some of our other services are priced separately from these levels (i.e. Press Releases are always $199 for up to 500 words of writing, and marketing copy is $120 per 500 words). Our prices are decided based on industry standards for the more specialized requirements of writing that type of content.
Can I get a sample post?
Sure, reach out through our Contact Form to request a sample from our content library. Since we sign NDAs with many of our clients, you may notice that some samples are less industry-specific. However, we still strive to provide you with high-quality examples regardless.
If you’d like to start with a test order instead, that’s fine. You’ll just order via the Content Shop as normal and then receive content. If you prefer to talk to the team before placing an order, just let us know.
How do I sign up?
You’ll find our registration page on the site. Click the link, enter your information, and then submit the form. You’ll receive an email asking you to set up a password, once you complete that step, you’ll be able to order from the Content Shop whenever you like.
We ask that everyone registers for an account before ordering with us, so everything connects to one account. This account will grant you full access to your orders, with the ability to redownload older orders as you work with us over time. Additionally, we never store your content, so if our system changes or updates, we cannot guarantee that we will have access to previous orders.
Our system is e-commerce-based and does not rely on contracts, so once you have a password ready to go, you can order content whenever you need it.
What are input forms?
Additionally, you can link to or attach a document that further briefs the writer on the project’s parameters.
With the forms, our writers, then the editorial team, can ensure content is delivered to your specifications and with your topic as the focus. When you complete input forms, we get the full picture of what you’re looking for and easily share that with the team.
Can I upload guidelines for my brand(s)?
Yes, our system is specifically designed for those. There are two options for that:
- You can include your brand or client guidelines with each piece of content by attaching or linking to them.
- Or, you can send your guidelines to our team, and we add them to your account. That way, even if you have multiple guidelines, our team always has access to each set of rules– whether it’s for your clients or your internal content.
Can you scale with my business?
From there, we can set up a time to chat or work together via email to understand what you’re looking for and if Express Writers will be the best fit for you.
Seeing our clients grow is one of the best parts of the long-term partnerships we strive to cultivate. That’s why our team prepares for scaled services of all kinds. We keep your content flowing without compromising the quality of your articles.
What are your turnaround times?
Each of our content levels has a unique turnaround window for the first draft. Our base levels per piece are:
- General writing– 3-5 business days
- Expert writing– 4-6 business days
- Specialty writing– 5-7 business days
- Authority packages– 10 business days
If you need revisions to tweak the piece to make it exactly right, it’s usually between 24-72 hours (sometimes less).
With every order, you receive a unique input form for each piece. Our team gets started right away once the form is complete.
Delivery windows can also be affected by how long it takes to approve part of a project. To avoid delays, keep an eye out for email notifications from our client system. That’s the quickest way to get your perfectly crafted piece of content!
When ordering in bulk, you begin to receive pieces in the turnaround window. Generally, larger orders take longer to process, so expect that not everything will be ready the same day. Your writing team cares for each piece to ensure everything fits together, so we never rush your orders.
We strive to deliver the highest quality content promptly. Our turnaround times allow our writers and editors to familiarize themselves with your brand needs/brief first. Then they complete research to write the best piece the first time, without additional editing. Each order receives the time and attention it deserves.
If you have a question about when to expect your content, get in touch!
Are revisions included in your pricing?
For most content pieces, you’ll receive two rounds of revisions in the 14 calendar days after delivery.
After the 14-day window has passed, we can still complete revisions are your pieces, but there is a fee that starts at 15% of your order. Depending on how in-depth the revision is or how long it is past the window, that cost will go up.
We strive to deliver content done right the first time, but if the quality doesn’t meet your standards, please let us know. We’ll work with you to understand what you need from the piece and assign a new writer if you feel that there is no way for your current writer to complete work to your standards.
How do you keep content unique?
All of our writers are expected to research and understand other content about the topic as customer requests. Our writers are creative and passionate about their industry, so they understand how to bring new life to a topic, even when they find inspiration online.
Additionally, we provide internal training on writing about a topic uniquely to engage your audience. From there, our writers craft content that is unique to your order.
Once our writers submit their pieces, they receive careful editing and reading from our editorial team. They make sure that our internal guidelines are followed, the brief and writing match, and the content is unique to your blog or article.
Do you check for plagiarism?
Yes, we do. We expect our writers to submit non-plagiarized work from the start, but we utilize Copyscape as well.
After our writers complete your order, it goes directly to the editorial team. They read through everything and then determine if the copy is where it needs to be. Our editors then run the edited piece through Copyscape. If they find matches, they send the copy back to the writer for improvements. Editors can also make small wording changes to remove hits that match only a few phrases.
We expect integrity from our entire team. Along with the quality of the content, this is a top priority, and we hire folks who match these expectations. If you ever have concerns about the content you receive, let us know, and we’ll make it right. We know the tools we use to catch plagiarism are great, but they are not infallible.
How can I pay?
If you’re looking for a more long-term relationship with Express Writers, we offer ACH transfers between accounts. Reach out and talk to our team about setting that up.
Do you offer refunds?
If you ordered something incorrectly, or need to change an order, let us know. We may be able to credit your account and help you reorder if the writer hasn’t gotten too far into the content.
If you’re not satisfied with the quality of the work you receive, please let us know. We ask that you allow us to revise content first, even if that means passing it to a new writer. We consider account credits on a case-by-case basis if we are unable to reach a compromise after that.
Usually, we can figure out a solution that allows us to support our team and our clients where everyone receives the content and service they need. Our goal is to create open communication between team members and clients. You can always chat with a real person, and we’ll help you get everything sorted.
How do deposits work?
Please note that account deposits will expire if left in the account for over 6 months without being used.