Tweet

Whether you’re a client looking to contract content, a content agency, or an independent freelancer doing the actual creation, there are some simple questions that should be brought up at the onset of a project. By asking these simple questions, you can avoid unnecessary revisions and a piece that just doesn’t jive with the company’s desires.

Some simple points to consider before writing begins:

1. What is the tone of the piece? Are you looking for a more formal piece? Informal? Conversational? Emotional? Academic?
2. Tenses and point-of-view should be clear.
3. Who is our target audience? What do they care about?
4. Should we mention the company (and products/services)? Some clients want a marketing heavy piece, while others want general information that will add real value to their site and for their readers, or simply increase search ranking.
5. What main points do you want the reader to walk away with after reading the piece?
6. So what? What makes the company/product/service unique? Is there a story to share?
7. Are there any links that should be included?
8. What common challenges do your users face regularly? What types of feedback do you get from them?
9. Is there an example of a piece of content that you like and would like the piece to reflect this style?
10. Are there images that need to be included?
11. Is there any background information to send to the content creator?
12. Should the piece include a call-to-action? What do we want the reader to do after reading this piece?

Some of these basic questions will only need to be addressed at the beginning of the content relationship. We find that after one or two pieces of content, the “feeling-out” process becomes a seamless experience for both parties. The more content you create, the more the content experts can learn about a company’s values and goals and better incorporate them into future pieces and unfold a great story.

But, if you’re just getting started, use the simple checklist below to avoid something you don’t want.

Tweet