50 Ways to Get Web Site Content From Clients

One of the biggest pains in web design and development projects is getting the content you need. Content is no simple task. It needs to professionally crafted in a fashion that will communicate a meaningful message to visitors. The big problem, though, is that many web design clients just don’t deliver content at all. Or, at least not in a timely manner.

Below is my list of the top 50 tactics I use to assess the need for content, collect the content and communicate with the client about the content. This list has helped me finish more projects on time and develop web sites that not only look good, but deliver a strong message as well.

1. Determine content needs before engaging project
2. Use a questionnaire to probe client needs
3. Review client’s print literature
4. Discuss content with client before starting project
5. Build an inventory of existing print and web content
6. Develop wireframes pinpointing what content is needed where
7. Guide the client on how to properly create web content
8. Help your client delegate content responsibilities to the right parties involved
9. Set your client up in a project management system
10. Establish content milestones
11. Have the milestones send automatic reminders before the due date
12. Tie specific outcomes to the completion of content
13. Create an ongoing, online discussion revolving around content
14. Show the client examples of other, similar web sites with strong content
15. Actually call the client to remind them of content needs
16. Develop a sitemap and highlight areas where content is needed
17. Develop a web site prototype shell with sample content so clients can visualize what the content will look like
18. Help the client schedule specific times to work on content
19. Determine whether or not a copywriter is needed before even creating the proposal
20. Have a good source of freelance copywriters you can call upon
21. Remind clients of the overall goals of the web site
22. Check in on the client’s progress
23. Brainstorm content ideas with the client
24. Help the client think like a web site user
25. Break content needs down into manageable chunks
26. Setup a meeting solely to go over content
27. Nail down the page structure before developing content needs
28. Make content development exciting for the client
29. Tie SEO benefits in with content development
30. Plan for the need of a copywriter even if not budgeted
31. Explain the time commitments needed for content to client before beginning project
32. Communicate with the client through their medium of choice
33. Make content relevant to each stage of the project
34. Show the clients results of strong content from other projects
35. Keep the client on task
36. Have the client voice out what they think should go on specific pages
37. Give the client specific, measurable and attainable content goals
38. Help the client visualize the end result of their efforts
39. Get advice from freelance copywriters in your social networks
40. Get advice from other web designers
41. Build content outlines so clients can fill in the rest
42. Use simple tools such as Excel and Word
43. Be realistic about the amount of content needed
44. Have the client agree to content milestones you set for them
45. Hold the client responsible for missed milestones
46. Keep the client motivated
47. Help the client see the ROI
48. Figure out what it really is the client wants to accomplish
49. Use the client’s truly desired end result as a carrot to finish content
50. Communicate through multiple mediums about the content

 How do you get content from clients?