Careers

We're looking for a freelancer with t-crossing skills and a feel for fashion.

Freelance ecom Content Researcher

Variable 10-40 hours per week starting mid-late July

$45 / hour

We’re looking for contract ecom content researchers who can devote 10 or more hours a week to help us transform raw product data into concise bullet-point descriptions. This helps our writers write creative, accurate copy, and also helps online shoppers confirm details about products they’re buying. Studies like this show that getting these details right helps both to reduce returns and build trust in a brand.

As a contractor for Thread, you’ll be part of a team of content researchers, writers, editors, proofreaders and project managers who are here to support each other, answer questions and provide useful feedback. We mostly work remotely, so we lean heavily on tools like Slack, Zoom and email. The work has a seasonal rhythm to it, with some ups and downs in quantity.

Here’s how some people who have done the job describe it:

“We turn raw data into useful information, so the writer can turn that information into fun, effective product copy.”

“We put product details into a standardized format, drawing both from information the client provides directly and from several databases. We also communicate upstream when information is missing or potentially contradictory.”

“We distill information from lots of sources into a compact, perfect little gem.”

Required skills and experience

• 2-3 years editorial background (e.g., writing content, copyediting, fact-checking, data wrangling, etc.).
• Experience working with editorial style guides and the ability to keep different clients’ preferences sorted.
• An affinity for focusing in on the details …
• … and also the ability to zoom out and see the forest.
• Curiosity about far-flung topics, like what in the world “PA” means when it describes fabric.
• Excellent written US English. Familiarity with UK (British) English is a plus.
• Clear and professional email and interpersonal communication skills.
• A tolerance for gray areas and a desire to sleuth out the right details from multiple, sometimes conflicting sources.
• Ability to make decisions on the fly; willingness to ask for the input of your team, and understanding when that’s a good idea.
• Ability to work independently and meet deadlines.
• A willingness to tackle big and small problems.
• Working knowledge of the Microsoft suite (Excel, Word, Powerpoint) and Google docs.
• Willingness to learn new technologies, e.g., Thread’s web-based collaboration tool (Talkoot) and clients’ web-based information sources.

In a nutshell: a keen ability to compile information from a variety of sources, and turn that information into clear, concise, readable bullet points for e-commerce.

Things we’d like you to do:

• Craft consumer-facing ecom bullet points from raw data coming from multiple client sources.
• Engage your curiosity about the projects you work on, so that you can contribute ideas for how to improve our processes and deliverables.
• Practice critical thinking that puts the client and consumer first.
• Hunt for missing information as needed, following protocols we’ll explain.
• Make judgment calls for things that are knowable, and ask questions for those that aren't.
• Work with conflicting, missing or partial information at times, and know what to do — or not to do — to complete your part of the job.
• Keep track of and work with a variety of internal style guides.
• Review your own work as you complete it for overall quality control.
• Inform us of changes to your availability or schedule asap.

Equipment / software needed:

• An up-to-date computer running OS X or Windows 10+
• Reliable internet
• Video conferencing (Zoom) for training and briefings
• A Google account (to access Google Drive, Docs, Sheets)
• Not required, but recommended: a larger monitor screen or two screens. You’ll be referencing multiple databases, documents and images as you work, usually at the same time. It’s possible to do the work on a smaller laptop screen, but not ideal.

A bit about Thread: Thread is a small yet mighty writing studio based in Hood River, Oregon, with folks in Portland and other cities. We specialize in verbal identity, narrative branding, content marketing and copywriting. Over the past 10+ years, we’ve helped a bunch of brands tell their stories, including adidas, Burton, Carhartt, Danner, KEEN, Reebok, Rossignol, Smith, Tofurky, Twitter and lots more.

Thread’s building a more diverse team: Thread is an equal opportunity workplace. We bring our weird, wonderful, whole human selves to our work. We will rely on your unique voice, background and perspective to help us create better work and a stronger team.

If this sounds exactly like you (or 80% like you), please apply using this online application. Please direct questions to jobs@threadcreative.com. Thank you!

Questions?