Hey guys,
Ive just spent some time browsing over the forums and it seems that a lot of freelance designers are facing issues when trying to get content from clients. As we all know, this part of the project is crucial in order to complete the overall process. I thought Id share this document with you all, in a hope that you may find it useful.
This is a “request for content” letter, which I use within my own web design business. Ive found that clients are more responsive to actual mailed requests rather than simple emails.
This isn’t a request for content letter. It’s a form letter which could just as well be for collection of payment, a borrowed book, or tracking down an errant shipment of pilfer grommets and boxcar prongs.
This is a generic form with a search and replace to insert the string “content.” Nothing more …and quite a lot less.
And the worst of it is it’s content poor. If you’re trying to convince the reader how important content is to the development effort, you couldn’t go more wrong.
First explain you develop around content, not in spite of content. Want a recipe for content hassles? Then practice content irrelevant website layout design. Stop using lorem ipsum for starters, that’s a root cause signaling the content can show up whenever.
If you’re a CMS based web shop, it’s obvious – no content, no CMS. Period.
Use case histories, not thumbnails of a pretty skin. Again, use your web site to make your life easier when you start working. Most cement in place all the future difficulties they have with clients.