Has anyone worked with EditFast.com? Good, bad, indifferent? Thanks so much! 
www.editfast.com/
~Julia
www.editfast.com/
~Julia
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There've been some complaints. Here's a lengthy discussion. http://forums.writersweekly.com/viewtopic.php?t=1175&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0
Kudos for EditFast.com
http://www.editfast.com has been a very beneficial site for me. I signed up there two years ago and although it took some time to receive my first editing project (I assume they were checking me out and waiting for the right project to match to my skills) I now get work from them regularly and I am paid well and on time. I took a look at the problems mentioned at the site quoted below and it seems that Robert has addressed them all and the few people complaining are simply just complainers who did not pass the strict editing tests that Robert uses to screen all editors who register at http://www.editfast.com I would not pay any attention to those who have failed the tests. The tests are easy for good editors but they do weed out those who think they are editors from those who are truly editors.
TemlynWriting said:Has anyone worked with EditFast.com? Good, bad, indifferent? Thanks so much!
www.editfast.com/
~Julia
http://www.editfast.com has been a very beneficial site for me. I signed up there two years ago and although it took some time to receive my first editing project (I assume they were checking me out and waiting for the right project to match to my skills) I now get work from them regularly and I am paid well and on time. I took a look at the problems mentioned at the site quoted below and it seems that Robert has addressed them all and the few people complaining are simply just complainers who did not pass the strict editing tests that Robert uses to screen all editors who register at http://www.editfast.com I would not pay any attention to those who have failed the tests. The tests are easy for good editors but they do weed out those who think they are editors from those who are truly editors.
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I signed up with them about two years ago and have gotten zero projects. Every now and then I receive an email from Robert talking about how great the site is, blah blah blah.
I can't say I'm terribly impressed with the writing sample WriterPlus provides here. It makes me question the quality of the editing provided, to say the least.
Note, too, the classification of all those who've made complaints about the company as bitter, failed applicants. Where have we seen behavior like that before, boys and girls, and why does it smell bad?
Note, too, the classification of all those who've made complaints about the company as bitter, failed applicants. Where have we seen behavior like that before, boys and girls, and why does it smell bad?
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EditFast? Anybody have any experience with it?
What's the skinny on EditFast? I received a couple of emails from it the past two or three weeks.
I then asked a similar question on the techwr-l e-mail list and received a few private responses about it. Then, a Robert Kidd, the director of EditFast, sends me an e-mail (describing his editing service and stating that signing up is free, BUT a better display is available at extra expense) shortly after he read the techwr-l list. I doubt that he really follows that list because he made eight responses to it (but nothing within the past 3 1/2 years).
A Robert Kidd, purporting to be the director of EditFast, also has a LinkedIn profile with zero connections. In that profile, he only lists something about his education--two years at some college in BC, Canada. Nothing else...
I suppose that a Robert Kidd will eventually stumble across this entry too, as he allegedly searches for EditFast hits with Web searching.
What's the skinny on EditFast? I received a couple of emails from it the past two or three weeks.
I then asked a similar question on the techwr-l e-mail list and received a few private responses about it. Then, a Robert Kidd, the director of EditFast, sends me an e-mail (describing his editing service and stating that signing up is free, BUT a better display is available at extra expense) shortly after he read the techwr-l list. I doubt that he really follows that list because he made eight responses to it (but nothing within the past 3 1/2 years).
A Robert Kidd, purporting to be the director of EditFast, also has a LinkedIn profile with zero connections. In that profile, he only lists something about his education--two years at some college in BC, Canada. Nothing else...
I suppose that a Robert Kidd will eventually stumble across this entry too, as he allegedly searches for EditFast hits with Web searching.
I applied to EditFast this past December and passed their tests with a 93%. My account was "activated" after a week or so. I was immediately issued an invitation to join their paid membership with the added benefit that my listing would be bumped to some sort of recommended editor. I found that to be quite misleading for the clients. I've received a few emails about upgrading my membership. I also received a jobs listing email that was simply a list of job site links. Impressive!
I'll drop a note here if I hear anything interesting from them.
I'll drop a note here if I hear anything interesting from them.
Becky, see if you can become a LinkedIn connection with "Robert" in Japan or wherever Mr. Kidd, director of EditFast, happens to live. I hear he's **VERY** exclusive and doesn't link with just anybody. That's probably why his LinkedIn connections still total ZERO!
I got a higher test score than 93%, BTW. But be advised that the editing tests may be bogus, and those scores might be randomly assigned anyway.
A case in point, Robert posted eight times on the TECHWR-L e-mail list and asked some relatively simple questions four years ago. Google them yourself. Also Google "Robert Kidd" and EditFast together and check out some more of his posts. Like the review he wrote last November. Or the time he was giving advice on how to report scammers or frauds on another forum.
"Robert" is good at making one or two posts on a number of boards and liberally plastering his EditFast logo and links. I got him and his MO pegged...
Anybody who has any dealings with or knowledge of EditFast: let me know. Not that I ever plan to edit for him. But for the laughs...
If he ever does have work for his 1200 (or whatever number of) satisfied editors working with him, he wants a 40 to 50% cut for himself.
I got a higher test score than 93%, BTW. But be advised that the editing tests may be bogus, and those scores might be randomly assigned anyway.
A case in point, Robert posted eight times on the TECHWR-L e-mail list and asked some relatively simple questions four years ago. Google them yourself. Also Google "Robert Kidd" and EditFast together and check out some more of his posts. Like the review he wrote last November. Or the time he was giving advice on how to report scammers or frauds on another forum.
"Robert" is good at making one or two posts on a number of boards and liberally plastering his EditFast logo and links. I got him and his MO pegged...
Anybody who has any dealings with or knowledge of EditFast: let me know. Not that I ever plan to edit for him. But for the laughs...
If he ever does have work for his 1200 (or whatever number of) satisfied editors working with him, he wants a 40 to 50% cut for himself.
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This guy's fast! This email from Robert came only three minutes ago. I must be high on his sucker list:
I left his links active in this post. Please don't go there, anybody. It's at your peril.
I must be in limbo, as I cannot get any editing projects because I'm not activated at EditFast. But, if I get taken off his mailing list, I won't be eligible for any projects either. Either way, I win!
I left his links active in this post. Please don't go there, anybody. It's at your peril.
Thank you WriterPlus. Sorry for being so late in responding (two years!) but I have just discovered this thread.
Sassenach, I am sorry you have not received any projects. My goal is to get work out to as many people as possible. Unfortunately, I have no control over who the clients select as their editor. If you wish to get your profile in front of more clients you are free to create as many specialization pages as you wish. These pages are linked to your profile and will help attract the type of clients you wish to work for.
In addition, there are other opportunities to promote your profile and to make some money here:
http://www.editfast.com/location_writing_contest.htm
and here:
http://www.editfast.com/english/articleposting.htm
The ONLY way you would receive a message from me is if you registered on the EditFast site. I DO NOT send out spam.
I have never added my profile to LinkedIn. Some of these networking sites, like the hundreds of "work in your pajamas from home" sites, scour the net for information and place it on their sites without asking permission. The information you see on LinkedIn about EditFast is not correct and I did not create it. If you wish to see my education or my qualifications, my resume is in the public domain here: http://www.editfast.com/english/resume/resume.htm
Your posts here are full of false information and misleading assumptions. My only question is: "Why?" Why would you write false statements that are easily found out with a little research (in fact all you have to do is ask me).
The "college" you speak of is the University of British Columbia, where it took me two and a half years to complete my four-year honours degree in English and linguistics. I then moved to the University of Victoria for my MA in Canadian Literature.
A little late but yes, I do look for what people say about my company on the net as every businessperson should. I use "Google Alerts", a free service that sends you notifications when it discovers keywords/phrases of your choice. I hesitated in responding to this thread as it often leads to personal attacks (why, I don't know), but I cannot let false statements go uncorrected. I guess it's the editor in me.
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Hi, EditFast and welcome to AW.
One of the earlier posters mentioned the following experience:
I've had a quick look through your FAQs for editors but can't find any no reference to a paid membership option. Is this something that you still offer to editors? If so, how much do you charge for this membership and what are the benefits for editors taking it up (e.g. does it result in a guaranteed minimum amount of work)?
MM
One of the earlier posters mentioned the following experience:
I've had a quick look through your FAQs for editors but can't find any no reference to a paid membership option. Is this something that you still offer to editors? If so, how much do you charge for this membership and what are the benefits for editors taking it up (e.g. does it result in a guaranteed minimum amount of work)?
MM
Anyone who operates a "freelancer" Web site will tell you that getting freelancers to respond to client requests is the biggest challenge. Try creating a project at any freelancer site and requesting estimates from as many freelancers as you can, and see what happens. I would guess about a 10-20% response rate. Naturally, freelancers who pay for a membership are far more eager to respond to client requests than those who do not. That is not an opinion, it is a fact discovered from experience at EditFast and at other freelancer sites. With that in mind, it is certainly not misleading to the clients to place the editors who will respond at the top of the list, as the paid members are. Remember, these are editors who have been screened and have the same scores (within 5%-10%) on the tests as non-paid members, so there is no difference in quality of editing service being provided to the clients, but a world of difference in promptness of service. I implemented the membership system to provide better service to my clients, not to make the $50 - $70 a month that I get from four or five memberships.
The job links resource you saw at http://www.editfast.com/job_search/united_states/job_search_resources.htm was not created specifically for you or for any editor to find work directly from those links, although that is a secondary benefit. The main purpose is to attract people looking for jobs who might need a resume written or edited. It took me two months to compile the information into a database and so far the effort has been worth it. It has been very successful at bringing in resume editing/writing work for my editors and writers. I get hundreds of people everyday coming to that resource and some of these submit their resume for editing/rewriting. This was entirely my intention in the first place. Notice the link at the top of each page for the resume service.I've received a few emails about upgrading my membership. I also received a jobs listing email that was simply a list of job site links. Impressive!
I'll drop a note here if I hear anything interesting from them.
I am sorry it was not what you expected, but links to the job application page for thousands of companies all across the U.S. is a very useful resource for some people and the added benefit for the freelancers at EditFast is obvious.
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LinkedIn is a work-from-home website-scraping networking site? You'd think being one of the most popular websites in the world would be enough for them.
The paid membership is still available. You can only upgrade to the paid membership option once you register. For obvious reasons I cannot allow someone to buy a membership before they have passed the screening process. That would not be good business as it would allow anyone to bypass the testing process and become an editor. I am very strict about who is allowed to do work for my clients. Only 8% of the "editors" who register are able to complete the process and become working editors for EditFast.
EditFast does not guarantee work to anyone at any time. That has been the policy since day one, and because of the way the system works, it will always be the policy. Clients get to choose their editor and thus I have no control over who gets selected for any specific job. I do have control over how I promote the site to attract more clients and you have some control over how to promote your profile, but in the end when it comes to selecting an editor, it is up to the client.
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I never said that. I compared it to the work-from-home sites because in this case they may have done the same thing. This profile of "me" has been there for years. Or perhaps someone has created this profile for me, in which case, I wish they would remove it. I would if I could, but I cannot access it because I did not create it.
It is zero because I have never pursued it and never created that profile.
I can assure you that the tests are real and the scores are real too. I am not sure why you would say they are "bogus". Why so bitter sounding?
I don't understand what your "case in point" is about. I see nothing wrong with what you say I have done, but the way you say it makes it seem like criminal activity. I have no need, desire, or obligation to post on TECHWR-L. I may have asked some simple questions four years ago, but I am sure we all have had days like that and I am also sure we have all begun projects that required some input or feedback from the editing community. The worry here is that people who do have legitimate questions may hesitate to post them on TECHWR-L if they know they might be criticized for their posts.
I post when I need to and I do use my signature to promote my service as everyone does. I use links in my posts to show people asking questions about where things are. You have me "pegged"? I doubt that very much, but I can guess where you are coming from. If you are upset because you did not receive any work from EditFast, then please remember that EditFast has no obligation to provide work to any editor at any time and makes no guarantee of work. Clients choose the editor they wish to work with. I have no control over who they choose, except in a very general way.
Once again you are misinformed. Freelancers are free to charge what they wish to charge. When creating an estimate for a client the freelancer sets his/her rate according to what they would feel comfortable earning for the project. EditFast takes no money from the editors. The client pays EditFast whatever EditFast charges its clients. That negotiation is between the client and EditFast. EditFast pays the freelancer whatever the freelancer charges EditFast. Yes, EditFast makes money from each project... of course.
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Your profile has not yet been activated because it is not complete and contains spelling errors. (I don't usually say things like this in public but I think you have set yourself up as a target so I am going to take a shot.) I sent you a notification of this and gave you a chance to fix it up, but I have not received any reply. You should be aware that, generally speaking, I do not give even one "chance" to editors who submit profiles with errors on them or send me email with grammar or spelling errors. In this case however, I am worried that if I remove your profile there will be repercussions. You are free to log in and make the necessary changes at any time, but I would prefer that you removed yourself.
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I can understand why you would want to maintain standards about membership, but I'm not sure I understand why you can't disclose up front the fact that paid membership is available for those who pass your editing tests.
Surely it's possible to structure your membership to ensure that only those who have passed the requisite tests are given the relevant PayPal details (or at least make clear that it is only open to those people offered membership)?
As it is, I can understand why some people may feel (rightly or wrongly) a little mislead to pass your test and then find that there's a paid listing option that they didn't previously know about.
Are you able to tell us how much your paid option costs and exactly what sort of additional promotion editors taking this option could expect?
MM
There is no intent to mislead and no nefarious operation behind any of this. I am open to suggestions and questions at any time. I originally created EditFast to give the overflow of work I was receiving from my clients to qualified editors. EditFast has grown since then, but the goal is still to provide as much work to my editors as possible. Yes, I make money from EditFast, but aside from maybe $40 per month from a few memberships, editors do not pay anything and are free to set their rates at whatever they feel comfortable with. It is free.
The membership option is explained in detail on a public page here:
http://editfast.com/english/editpops/options.htm#membership1
and is mentioned here:
http://editfast.com/english/editor_system.htm
and here:
http://editfast.com/english/freelance_editors_benefits.htm
Projects are given to the editor chosen by the client whether the editor has a free or a paid membership as long as that editor responds. If not, then the project is given to another editor.