Can you tell the difference?
No overpriced copywriters were harmed in this test
Recently an independent study was conducted, with the intention of comparing Copify to a freelance copywriter.
Speed
The study found that Copify came top on speed, taking just 5 days to return a 300 word blog post, while the freelancer took 10.
Cost
The Copify content cost just £15, compared to a staggering £150 for the freelancer.
Quality
On the subject of quality, the scores were tied, with both posts being awarded 9/10. So, in the interests of fairness, we’ve decided to open up the debate to the great British public.
Here is the brief which was supplied to both writers:
Word Count: 300
Audience: This article will be aimed at Internet professionals and webmasters that may already be using IE9 or thinking about trying it.
Content: The article should review Internet Explorer 9 with a focus on its performance and functionality for web users and developers. The article should make comparisons with other browsers that are available such as Firefox that are currently seen to have stronger developer ecosystems and stands compliant features. The article should give a consensus of opinion on whether the release of IE9 will be a threat to its web browser rivals.
Tone/Style: This should be objective, engaging and informal in tone.
Below are both blog posts, have a read and let us know which you prefer:
Blog post A
Internet Explorer 9 Beta – Is Microsoft Back in the Browser Race?
Internet Explorer 8 was much maligned by developers, and for good reason. So why is the beta release of Internet Explorer 9 creating such a buzz? Because it seems Microsoft have listened to our many complaints and have finally created a browser that can stand toe-to-toe with its main rivals, Firefox, Opera and Chrome.
With a new Document Object Model, new JavaScript engine (Chakra), and hardware accelerated video and graphics IE9 is considerably faster than all previous versions. Its high scores in the Acid3 test have surprised many, and confirm that IE9 is now able to compete with its rival browsers.
Of course, IE9’s high Acid3 test score is largely thanks to its support for modern web standards. Microsoft’s test centre results show that its compliance with web standards exceeds that of all of the current browser versions, with CSS3, DOM levels 2 and 3, SVG, ICC colour profiles and HTML5 all supported. Of course, it could be argued that this level of HTML5 support is premature, as currently, many features are easier to integrate via plug-ins.
IE9’s development environment is also a welcome addition, with a Console for script testing, CSS editing, JavaScript profiler, and a network traffic inspector. At last, we can test and debug our pages without third-party applications.
When compared to the current generation of browsers, IE9 appears to be competitive, but the real issue here is Microsoft’s update strategy. With IE9 tied to Windows 7, it is going to be unavailable to a large percentage of current PC users – around 55% of PCs run on Windows XP according to http://gs.statcounter.com. With rival browsers releasing multi-platform updates far more frequently, it can only be a matter of time before IE9 is lagging behind the pack.
So the day when you can develop a single web solution that works in all browsers could still be some way off. But with the release of IE9, at least that day is somewhere on the horizon.
Blog post B
IE9 Beta: A lean, mean browsing machine
Gone are the days when Microsoft held the dominant position in the web browser market. With fierce competition from the likes of Mozilla’s Firefox and Google Chrome, the stakes are now higher than ever.
Enter the revamped Internet Explorer 9 Beta, the software giant’s hotly anticipated attempt to lure back surfers. Microsoft is claiming that this is their best browser yet, but does it live up to the hype? Let’s find out…
Future proof
IE9 Beta is HTML 5 compatible and is quick, very quick. Assuming your graphics card is up to scratch, it allows for development and the viewing of graphic-intensive sites like never before. Watching videos is also much smoother than on Firefox and Chrome and the improvements are obvious to even the most non-techy of internet users.
Less cluttered
In terms of layout, IE9 Beta is a much less cluttered browser than its predecessors. This may, however, take some getting used to when it comes to finding tools. The menu and favourites bars are hidden by default, with tabs to the right of the address box, similar to those found in Chrome.
Faster searching
Gone is the search box, replaced by a multi-purpose address bar. This searches bookmarks and browsing history, as well as returning results from your chosen search engine (changeable in a drop-down menu). This means that finding things is a much faster process than in previous versions. Further simplification comes in the form of shortcuts to links or favourites, which can be pinned to the task bar for easy access.
More secure
Microsoft have ramped up security, with the new ‘Smart Screen’ download application feature identifying any suspect files. Privacy is also a focus, with the ability to block elements of web pages, such as those that gather browsing metrics.
Summary
IE9 Beta may not be a revolutionary development in the world of web browsers, but it’s certainly a step in the right direction in taking the fight to Google and Mozilla.
Which do you prefer?
By a long shot for me its post B, post A is very technical, but imo doest meat the brief in comparing it to other browsers. Also Post B’s structure and layout is much more web friendly by being broken down into more readable segments.
Post B for me. I prefer the layout and style used!
Pingback: Tweets that mention The Copify Doorstep Challenge | Copify Blog -- Topsy.com
Post B is better structured and laid out correctly with easy reference points.
Dave
This was great ideaa, to set up a comparison and at least get some engagement going – get us to think about what we write – B for me all the way – the article addresses a wider audience, the writer shows they know about technology but are not overwhelmed by it, appreciating their target market audience and a snappier headline
Neither explicitly compares IE9 to other browsers. Both half mention them in passing, but don’t actually show that IE( is stronger than Mozilla here, or weaker than chrome there. Finding 50 words to say “While IE9 lackes Mozilla’s add-ons, it is significantly more stable than Safari…” or similar.
Personally though, I’m bucking the trend with post A for the following reasons:
It meets the brief on audience. “This article will be aimed at Internet professionals and webmasters” – A tells us about acronyms that IT professionals will understand and appreciate, B uses terms like “non-techy”.
It meets the brief on content. “review Internet Explorer 9 with a focus on its performance and functionality” – Both show where it is functional, but only A shows where it isn’t.
So it’s A from me. Not for layout and style (both are good IMHO), but because it meets the important bits of the brief.
Post B is far better.
But all that tells us is that one particular copywriter has delivered a better result than another. It doesn’t reflect the advantages of a freelance writer over a Copify writer. There are probably freelance writers out there who could have made the article even better.
As for the price, well I’m sorry, but we’d never get anyone into our agency who charged £15. You’re in cuckoo land expecting them to live on that.