Content marketing requires considerable energy and effort to do properly for one company, let alone five, ten, or 20 different content marketing clients. It's no surprise that digital marketing firms are increasingly turning to outsourced agency content solutions.
But with so many potential sources for content, it can be difficult to decide where to turn. If you've been looking for a way to ease the burden of consistently producing quality content for multiple clients, here are three things to keep in mind as you compare agency content solution options:
1. Communication
Whether you are working with a freelancer, content agency, or a crowdsourced platform, it's critical to consider the quantity and quality of communication you'll have with your content supplier. Before they start working on a content creation project, they'll need to communicate with you to understand the finer details. In some cases, you'll be able to speak directly to the writer; other times, you will work through an account representative or agency owner. No matter what specific type of communication you have with your content source, it's critical that key ideas relating to the project can be conveyed easily. Make sure there is a direct channel for them to provide you updates and check in with you on the project, whether it's e-mail, Slack, phone, or a content marketplace messaging system.
Related: How to Know When You Need an Agency Content Solution
2. Timeliness
Wherever you source them from, agency content solutions must stick to the schedules and deadlines you set. Working with multiple clients and keeping them all on track while building in time for approvals, revisions, and other common content issues is an immense challenge. The headaches that come from getting off-track with your content schedule are not worth the money you might save by using a less reliable provider. If you choose to source your content from a marketplace, you may be able to set your own deadlines that writers will have to adhere to, unless they request an extension.
3. Cost
The price for quality agency content solutions or content creation platform is a much-debated topic. As cliche as it might sound, content follows the old adage: You get what you pay for. There are exceptions, but you have a much better chance of getting high-quality content when you are paying a reasonable rate. On content marketplaces and freelance job sites, you'll be able to choose from a range of prices broken down by word or by hour. Expect to pay at least 5 to 10 cents a word for quality content on writer marketplaces.
In most cases, if you only have a small amount to invest into a brand new outsourced content project, you are better off working with a platform that allows you to audition multiple writers. This way you don't run the risk of committing to a single new source for content that doesn't end up working out for the project.
Related: Questions to Ask When Hiring A Content Agency
You may find it necessary to experiment with several different providers of agency content solutions before settling on a specific source. As new projects come up, you'll sometimes need to work with other sources that have expertise in a specific field.
Though it may take some time to select the right one, a reliable outsourced content solution can help your agency grow by servicing more clients at a time. To learn more about choosing agency content solutions, check out our white paper, "Content Writing Outsourcing vs. In House Writers."
