Last Updated on by Michael Brockbank
When writing for Textbroker, some people keep track of how many orders they complete in a day. While it might be good to keep track of progress, I prefer to focus on words rather than jobs. For me, it shows a better breakdown of productivity.
Does it really matter? That all depends on the person. If keeping track of total orders works to keep you focused, that’s good. However, it can also give you false-positives regarding certain aspects.
As a freelance writer, you need to find things that keep you motivated. This is because it’s incredibly easy to get sidetracked working from home.
Let me explain.
Why You Should Focus on Words
Total word counts can reflect your actual production rate. It can also become instrumental when trying to get private writing clients outside of the Textbroker system.
Let’s take a closer look at the two biggest reasons I focus on words rather than a daily number of orders when I write articles for money.[adrotate banner=”8″]
1. Some Articles are Very Short
Not all orders in Textbroker are the same. Some people will want 100-word Facebook posts while others will want 3000 word eBooks. And while some people avoid shorter articles, don’t discredit them off hand.
Shorter articles can quickly add up in terms of making money online.
False Gratification
Would you rather say you completed 10 orders today, or just one? Now, what if those 10 articles were only 100 words a piece versus that one article that had 3000 words in it?
That compares 1000 to 3000 words. And if you’re a 3-Star writer on Textbroker, that’s a difference of $20.00.
It’s easy to feel good about yourself after writing a lot of orders. But what it really boils down to as a professional is how much money you made today.
Keeping track of order numbers can lead to a false sense of gratification. It’s a psychological thing that will impact your motivation.
What if you did 20 orders today all with less than a hundred words. You’d feel pretty good, right? Now, are you going to use the productivity of that day to inspire you for tomorrow?
What if Textbroker doesn’t have any orders other than 1000 word jobs? Are you going to be disappointed in your productivity if you only did three compared to the 20 you did the day before?
In reality, I know several writers who gauge themselves in such a way. But in the end, they would make more money overall.
Textbroker Pays per Word, Not Order
In the grand scheme of things, Textbroker pays for the number of words you write for a client. Now, you are paid once the order itself is completed. However, the amount you make is based on a total number of words.
Sure, you can feel good about completing 10 orders today averaging around 300 words a piece. After all, that’s $30.00 for a 3-star writer. But it pales in comparison to someone who cranked out a total of 5000 words today in one order…which would bring in $50.00.
I’m not saying you should avoid shorter orders in Textbroker. My point is it doesn’t matter how many orders you produce. The amount of money you make all comes down to the total words you type.[template id=”2087″]
2. Better Gauge of Productivity
Because article writers are paid per word, tracking this is a much better overview of being productive. The length of orders in Textbroker widely varies. But your average production of content per hour remains.
Well, that is unless you continue to improve your typing skills and research capabilities.
Production Speed
At any given point, I can look at an order and gain a sense of how long it would take me to complete it. That’s because I know I can produce an average of 1100 or more words per hour.
This includes typing, research and proofreading.
And because my spreadsheet keeps track of all orders I complete, this includes both short and long jobs. So when I look at a 300-word article, I know it would take me about 20 minutes or less.
It doesn’t matter how many orders I complete. Remember, I am paid for Textbroker word count and not the actual number of orders themselves.
What My Formula in a Spreadsheet Looks Like to Focus on Words
So, my formula in a Libre Office spreadsheet is quite advanced. But how it works is that it takes the time I spend writing, the number of words and my pay for the completed job to show how much I make on average per hour.
And because I keep track of the entire year, I can also see where I stand in terms of annual income.
It looks something like this:
If I was tracking an order, it would look something like this:
In this example, I would start at 7:53am and write until 8:13am, which is 20 minutes. Then, I would enter the number of words I typed as well as how much I made.
According to this example, I make an average of $13.50 per hour. After completing the order, I would pick up another one and write until it was done.
After three orders, the spreadsheet starts to take shape:
In the above image, you can see that after writing for one hour and one minute, I could make $14.50. This is based on what I type and how much I bring in for each order.
And that’s with taking a couple of minutes in between for breaks, such as going to the bathroom or grabbing some coffee.
But why am I capped at making $4.50 when I typed 462 words? Because that particular order caps at $4.50. I often over-write articles, especially if I am adding high-quality information to the piece.
In reality, I am giving the client “free” words to make the piece better.
Eventually, I’ll have the spreadsheet available for download in case someone wants to use it for themselves.
The bottom line is that I will pick up orders and complete them as quickly as possible. My goal is for achieving more words today than I did yesterday. Which then translates to making more money.
Which is Best for You?
I can’t say that tracking words while working on content mill jobs is right for you. All I can say is that this is what works best for me. When I focus on words, I am not hung up on trying to get a certain number of jobs done.
It all comes down to how much I can type in a single day. Then, I will get an average of this as I keep track of my progress throughout the entire year.
Like I said, my spreadsheet is a bit on the extensive side.
But if keeping track of the total number of jobs is what works to keep you motivated, then that’s what’s best.
It All Boils Down to the Payout
In the end, it all comes down to how much you make as a writer on Textbroker. For myself, it all comes down to the number of words I can type in any given situation.
Whether it’s 20 orders at 100 words each or a single order sitting at 2000, it all comes out the same in the end.[template id=”2089″]
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