Quality Assurance in Web Content Writing: Meeting the Client’s Expectations

When you get a huge workflow of content writing and the clients are diverse with varying requirements and expectations, how do you manage your output to ensure high standards are still maintained?

Content writers are normally hard-put to meet client specifications for their websites and this can create a lot of pressure for the writer. Add to that the challenge of competition and the need to attract clients who will pay for services rendered and you realize that just having the writing skill alone is not enough.

The ability to leverage your writing skills in the face of stiff competition is a great plus in this field of writing. There are many expert writers out there. You need to look for a way to stand out from the rest. In management circles there is a practice that maintains a high standard of production and it can be applied to the field of writing. That practice is Quality Assurance (QA).

Quality Assurance is simply the process of ensuring that products or services meet customers’ expectations. It normally constitutes a system of steps taken during the production process to maintain high standards throughout.

QA contributes to credibility, it increases customer confidence, and it enables a business to compete effectively on the market. In the context of writing services, QA means that there are certain measures put into place to ensure the highest standard of output for your business.

Originality of content

This may seem a little overstated as it has been mentioned in many articles but it bears repetition here due to its overriding importance. Even though some clients may fail to mention this among their list of requirements, good content must still be original in order for it to appeal to customers and readers alike.

Original content is fresh, engaging and provokes new thoughts in the minds of readers, leading them to take actions, such as: commenting, clicking through to the sales page or simply sharing on social media.

Accuracy of information

Visitors to a website often rely on the authenticity of the site’s information. Content writers therefore must ensure that they do adequate research on their topics before submitting them, otherwise they lose credibility as writers, and also compromise the integrity of the site they are writing for. Quoting sources and including details, like citations and dates, are critical ways to render accuracy in your text. Using current information will enhance the quality of your articles.

Appropriate style

Depending on the target market of the site, the articles you write will always have a style applied to them. In many cases, the style required will be indicated by your client and it must be adhered to, but even when not directly requested by the client you have to determine the style appropriate for the article. However, I have found that it is always wise to ask the client for details instead of assuming that your personal judgment will be acceptable.

Using the right keywords in the right places

Keywords are vital content writing tools and their importance can never be overemphasized. Yet, knowledge of how, where and when to use the researched keywords is even more important. Gone are the days of stuffing articles with lots of keywords; that no longer yields the best results.

Using the right keywords in the best positions within the article requires a strong knowledge of keyword research tools and how to apply them for maximum advantage. Your keywords need to produce value for the site you are writing for and this is what will keep the client on your side.

Do you have a quality assurance process in place for you work? I’d like to know how you quality check your writing to make sure it’s on target for your clients.

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