I've worked with several clients so far for designing their small business web sites and brochures mainly. No matter how I explain it several of them often basically expect me to write out their whole site myself even if I know nothing about the topic. I'm designing a small site for a construction company and the guy can't seem to get it through his skull no matter what I say that he needs to come up with the content so I can put it in. Instead he keeps going into great detail about how certain construction processes work, how to make cement just right, yadayadayada. All this useless crap that I have no knowledge of and he somehow expects me to become a construction expert over night and write his whole website for him. All too often are client projects being delayed because the client is too slow or doesn't understand that this thing is a two way process of me designing and coding and them giving me the content. I can help 'em along the way and suggest stuff but really I don't know anything about old folk's homes, solar panels, construction or whatever your business is so I can't write it for you. HOW in God's name do you avoid this? I've got good clients. Then I've got ones that expect a huge, original, high-quality site in one week on top of that they don't give me content. I can forgive people who think good non-small sites can be done within a matter of hours since not everyone knows what goes into making a good, original, not tiny site but not people who want me to write their sites. Am I missing something? I don't have much experience and work with a lot of other people currently.
I've had this once, typically the way I do it is I just ask them to write up what they want in like the "About Us" pages in a Word document. I put it in for them since that is just a two minute, or less, process. If I were you, I would just sit him down and say that you don't know enough on the topic or even feel comfortable providing the content for his website. You would rather him do that and you can add it in there for him.
I get it loads. Just explain you're a designer - give them the page heading (that you've hopefully talked through with them!) and ask them to write a few paragraphs about each one in a word document. I've I've been paid enough, or like the client, I'll usually read them through as I stick them on the site and just make sure they make grammatical sense and are spelt correctly. Before the site is live, get them to go over it and read it all again. Tell them they can make any changes then, and you'll only make it 'live' when they give the go ahead. Usually works for me.
I either really stress the point or hire a copywrighter to do it for me for cheap and tell the client how much extra it will cost him (copywrighters fee + the time you spend on finding one).
I have done it before. I do get stressed out because I'm a designer and not a very good writer. Plus if you have no idea about their "business".For example: like... selling phones. You can't really come up with much to write if you don't know anything about it, or what to write for their customer services or about us. BUT I have deal with a business that needed a small website so I do not need to write THAT MUCH. It's just another way to charge them more for the time to write the contents. just do a little search and you're all set =) Like sunlust said, just hire someone to do it.
SL - I've never thought to hire a copywriter. You're in the UK, right? About how much do you expect to pay for how much copy? Cheers for the idea! Good work!
It all depends on quality, some copywriters I know are expensive, however the copy is worth it, one site I've just used a copywriter with has a 45% conversion rate from Adwords. That was about 250 words and cost £25, however I've had 500 word articles written for £2 each.
It depends mate: - what topic - how long articles - how many words etc etc, Now, if you want to talk, contact me through my profile or something mate, cos I'm back at work now.