by Pamela | Oct 13, 2014 | Small Business Marketing, Website Content
Photo courtesy of seeveeaar (CC No Derivatives)
If you’re considering website content writing services for the first time, you may not know what to expect. While each content writer or service provider will have their own processes and requirements, here’s what you can expect when outsourcing website content writing: benefits, communication, and commitment.
Benefits of Using Website Content Writing Services
You’ve hired a content writing service for a reason, and you should expect to benefit from that arrangement. Below are a few of the benefits you can expect:
- More time to focus on other areas of your business. Writing takes time, especially if you have a big project or require regular content. It takes even more time if you’re a perfectionist, a procrastinator, or unsure of yourself.
- Content that communicates your message appropriately for the medium selected. Not sure how to format a white paper or write a blog post? Let the pros communicate your messaging using the right medium and format.
- Timely and professional service.
Keys to Success: Communication and Commitment
- A good writer who understands your company, your customers, and your goals. This may involve several phone calls, email exchanges, filling out a questionnaire, sharing examples of websites like yours, and so forth.
- Guidelines. Your content writer will need guidance from you. For example, do you prefer a fun, lighthearted tone written in first person or would you rather have the writer use a more academic approach? Do you prefer short, 200-words-or-less pages or longer pages packed with information?
- Commitment. Commitment runs both ways. You deserve a writer that’s committed to making your project a success. At the same time, most website content writing services want you to be as invested in the process as they are. Writers understand that you’re busy, but they often need your input before they can begin. If you’re committed to making your next website content writing project a success, be prepared to supply your writer with the information needed to understand your company, customers, and goals along with any other specific guidelines.
- A deposit. Most website content writing services require a deposit to begin and then the balance due upon completion. This common arrangement shows the writer that you are committed to the project’s success and will not disappear once the work is complete. If you work with a reputable content writer, you shouldn’t have to worry about the writer taking the money and disappearing. If you’re not comfortable with such an arrange, use PayPal or a third party escrow service. Another option is to start with a smaller project with a smaller deposit requirement. Most website content writing services will be happy to work out a series of smaller deliverables and corresponding payment dates if that makes you more comfortable.
- Revisions. When your content is delivered to you, read it promptly and communicate any change requests you may have with your content writer promptly. Writers are used to revisions. Minor changes are expected and usually included in the total cost of the project. Changes in scope or direction after the fact, however, may result in additional charges.
As you can see, outsourcing website content writing can be beneficial, and success comes from two-way communication. Start that conversation by contacting Celestial Content Services.
by Pamela | Oct 4, 2014 | Website Content
Last year, I switched from Windows to Mac and immediately faced a huge dilemma: Microsoft Word or Apple Pages? Having used Word for decades, I knew it inside and out. I also knew the Mac version would be just different enough to mess me up. Pages looked okay, but I found it frustrating. As I searched for the perfect word processor for my writing business, I stumbled on Scrivener.
What the Heck is Scrivener?
Photo courtesy of Joe in DC(CC No Derivatives)
I like to call Scrivener a beast of a word processor because it is. It’s intimidating with all of its panes, toolbars, and hidden features. It’s not super pretty, either. In fact, it’s kind of ugly. The learning curve is steep. The more you use it, the more beastly it becomes.
That said, Scrivener is beastly in a good way. It’s a shape-shifter, transforming into whatever you need it to be. For example, if you want a clutter-free writing environment, Scrivener has a “composition mode” which transforms the beast into a thing of beauty.
Many writers use Scrivener for their manuscripts and screenplays, and I can see why. Me? I use it for all of my website content writing projects.
How I Use Scrivener for My Clients’ Website Content Writing Projects
Each client gets their own Scrivener file. This allows me to keep everything related to a single client in one place including:
- Current website content writing assignments
- Proposals
- Special instructions
- Notes
- Research
- Bibliographies
- Content style guides
- Marketing personas
- Templates
- Completed assignments
- And more…
For agency clients, I create individual folders and subfolders for each of their projects and/or clients. This keeps everything neat and organized, yet all of their project work is located within a single file.
How I Use Scrivener for My Own Website Content Writing Projects
Whether writing a blog post like this one for my own website or creating a marketing plan for my business, if it involves words, it involves Scrivener! My marketing plan is in Scrivener, my ebooks are in Scrivener, assignments for courses I’m taking in are in — you guessed it — Scrivener.
One of my favorite features is the ability to change each folder’s icons. I used to use the status field to mark projects as either to do or complete (and I still do). Now I change the icon to either a checkmark (complete) or the information alert (to do) so that I can see at a glance what needs my attention.
I also love the word count target feature. For example, right now I can tell I’m getting close to my target. I set a word count target for everything I write in Scrivener and monitor it regularly.
These are just a few of the dozens of features I love. Scrivener is a beast, but it’s also a beauty. I will never go back to a regular word processor.
by Pamela | Oct 2, 2014 | Content Marketing
Millennials trust user-generated content more than they do professionally-written web content
I just read an interesting article about millennials and trust on the GetSpokal blog.
According to the blog post:
This is a fantastic discussion about how millennials perceive professional web content. They don’t trust it because they know marketers have something to gain from it. It makes sense. The author suggests several ways to build trust including: open communication, transparency, interaction via blog posts and social networks, creating quality web content, and even being environmentally conscious.
Here’s a key takeaway about quality content: it’s not about how wonderful your company, product, or service is; it’s about what’s in it for the reader. We’re all a bit selfish that way, millennials, gen-Xers, and baby boomers alike: we all want to know “What’s in it for me?”
Re-framing Features into Benefits
So, while you’re thinking about how wonderful your company, product, or service is (in other words, all of your great features), re-frame those thoughts into benefits to your customers. How can they benefit from your awesomeness?
For example, if you sell designer shoes, you could write web content that discusses the features of those shoes: brand name, pretty buckles, high tech materials, and so forth. But, what do all those features really mean to the customer? Does the brand reflect the customer’s values? Will they feel proud to be associated with that brand? How will they feel when wearing those shoes? How do the high tech materials make the shoes more comfortable or durable?
Incorporating User-Generated Content
From there, you could incorporate user-generated content such as online reviews, testimonials, or comments. Give your customers a voice and then be available to respond. Incorporating user-generated web content can contribute to your trust building efforts as well as serve as social proof that you’re delivering.
Millennials will likely approach your web content warily. They don’t trust you yet. How will you earn that trust? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
www.getspokal.com
by Pamela | Aug 7, 2012 | Website Content Theory
As a website content writing company, Celestial Content Services is in the business of selling words. Not just any words but words that communicate your specific message. While we sell words for a living, those words don’t just appear out of thin air…
They have to make sense. They have to convey your unique message. They have to resonate with your customers. They need to be structured just so. They should be spelled correctly.
They can’t intrude or call attention to themselves. They shouldn’t cause readers to stumble over them – or worse, cause them to stop and ask “huh?” They need to appeal to readers on an emotional level. Sometimes, the words should show a little spunk, a little personality so to speak; other times they need to be objective and authoritative. Words may need to refer to higher authorities and cite them accordingly.
In addition, words must be popular. They must cater to the demands of search engine users and the engines that serve up results. Keyword phrases aren’t always natural sounding, yet they must be worked into the website content without sounding contrived.
Words can generate traffic. They can inform. They can reassure. They can incite emotions. They can set the pace. And they can prompt readers to take action – if they are crafted with all of these conflicting requirements in mind. Creating effective website content isn’t easy because a single word isn’t a just word. Each word is a cog in complex machine.
Celestial Content Services understands how to string the right words into sentences that make sense both to readers and search engines. We speak to readers first, search engines second. Contact us today to learn more.
[contactform email =”pamela@celestialcontentservices.com”]
