All About Direct Requests
Kibin users have the ability to directly request the editors they enjoy working with the most. This benefits you because, rather than having to compete for papers in the editing queue, you get first dibs on the document, no quick-draw clicking necessary!
To receive direct requests, you must make sure that your email and/or cell phone number are input correctly on the contact settings page. Sorry, but text alerts do not work internationally. :(
Direct Request Notifications
When a user requests you, you will receive three forms of notification. So long as your alerts are turned on, it should be pretty hard to miss a direct request!
1. The first form of notification is on your Kibin dashboard. When you receive a new direct request, your dashboard will show a new document highlighted in red (or you might think it’s pink), but in either case it will look like the screenshot above. When a document looks like this, no other editors can see it. It’s yours for the taking! Simply click the green “Download” button to save and edit the paper. Clicking “Download” secures your document and gives you the option to "Cancel" or "Finish":
2. The second form of notification is a text message alert to your cell phone (assuming you have provided a cell phone number in your settings and you're not an international editor). The alert you receive will look like this:
To secure your direct request document via text message, simply reply to the message as indicated. Replying with a Yes code will secure your document; replying with a No code will release your document from your queue.
3. The third form of notification is an email alert that looks like this:
This alert is similar to the text message, except here you have to click the corresponding link to accept or reject the request. Replying to the email will not work to secure your document.
Locking Direct Requests
You have a limited amount of time to respond to your alerts and secure your direct request document. We allot 10% of the total document clock as time for you to respond to your request. So, for example, on a paper with a three-hour clock, you will have 18 minutes to respond, and on a paper with a six-hour clock, you will have 36 minutes to respond.
Users can also direct request two editors for documents with turnarounds longer than 12 hours. They are presented with the option for a first choice editor and an alternate editor. Both editors will still be given 10% of the total time to accept the editing order, so the clock will -- at the most -- have 20% of the turnaround time expired if a two-editor order hits the general queue. (Check out "What do users see when making a direct request?" for additional context on the types of direct requests users can make and what that means for you.)
However you choose accept your direct request, don’t forget that you have agreed to edit this document. It’s now waiting in your queue for some love and attention!
A note about direct request etiquette
It is best to respond to any direct request as soon as possible and practice direct request-iquette. In most scenarios, the document hits the general queue once the allotted time is up, and then the Hunger Games ensues. Be sure to snatch up your request as quickly as possible to make sure time doesn't run out!
On the other hand, make sure to respond in a timely manner if you know you won't be able to accept a request. There could be an alternate editor requested on the document if the turnaround is longer than 12 hours. Help a fellow editor out and give them more time to complete the edit if you can (this goes for orders that go to the general queue as well!). Users also have the option to cancel their order if their chosen editor is unavailable. If you know you won't be able to take on the request, it's better to let the user know sooner rather than later so they can arrange a time to resubmit if needed.