If you’re thinking about offering research services on Genlighten for the first time, you’re probably wondering how the Genlighten website works. In this blog post, I’ll walk you though it from the provider side with a quick summary of the steps involved.
Create a Research Offering
You can find a detailed description of how to post research offerings in a previous blog post titled Five Steps to a Successful Lookup Offering
Watch for Email
When a client requests your services, an email with the subject “Genlighten: New lookup request from” will arrive in your inbox. Please make sure the email address you have listed on your Genlighten account is current and typed correctly so those messages are delivered to you.
Accept or Decline
Review the information the client has provided, message back and forth, if necessary, and accept or decline the request. I usually send a quick note when I accept to let the client know what the likely turnaround time will be.
Do the Research
If a request involves multiple steps, I often upload documents to the report page for safe keeping and keep my notes in the report box. Clients aren’t able to view the report page if you haven’t selected “found” or “not found.” (Do that as a last step.)
Create the Report
Return to the request page and create a three-part report. Upload image(s), type in your report text, and select “found” or “not found.” You can use HTML to format your report, if you’d like.
Charge the Client
Once you’ve saved the report with all three parts completed you’ll be returned to the request page and a “charge client” button will be visible. Edit the report, if needed. When you’re ready, click the “charge client” button to finish the request.
Let the Site Notify Your Client
When you click the “charge client” button an email is automatically generated to let your client know that the research is finished. The email contains a link back to the request page so that he or she can read your report and view/save the images you’ve uploaded. You can continue to message back and forth on the request page and you can also edit the report, if needed.
Get Paid
Your account will be credited with your fee minus our commission when you click the “charge client” button. Funds for new providers are held in escrow for seven days but that period can be shortened or eliminated for providers who have stellar feedback. (If you’re a five-star provider, feel free to contact us about that.) Available account balances can be transferred to your PayPal account by clicking the “Payout” button.
