Your post covers all the intricate details. It deals with the problems encountered while making a big web project. Content templates do help up to some extent. The tips you have put will surely help speeden up the things. Thanks!
Before reading this article, I had never heard the term ‘content template’, but I think it’s a great idea. I will definitely recommend this article to the web designers and copy writers I know.
This concept is fantastic, and it makes sense as part of a seamless content-gathering process for web projects.
I’d be interested to hear your thoughts, however, on a what is certain to be a taboo subject: writing content without the guidance of a specialist.
How do you see a content template working (if at all) inside small web projects where the client writes everything?
As part of a small company, I serve as one part project manager, one part information designer, and one part aspiring front-end developer. We can claim there’s no room for a copy writer, but that would just be a serious flaw in our logic. As a temporary solution for gathering quality copy quickly, could something like a content template help to achieve decent results, even without a writer or specialist?
There are some great tips out there, We always tend to use a good writer that helps out our customers to create good content. Content templates is a great technique we definitly can use !
You have provided some real good information! This is like creating wireframes for content. One of the most important things in writing content for websites is consistency. This goes a long way in ensuring a nice look and feel on the website and also earns brownie points with the search engine crawlers.
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anne643
I’ve been writing and working in web in different kind of tasks for how many years but I Don’t have really this kind of brilliant strategy.. I thought my skills and knowledge are enough to use..SO I am very thankful that I’d read this article. You have taught me so much. Again Many Thanks!
We always have problem when it gets to the content. It always delay our projects. On top of that, clients do not understand the importance of quality of the content. All they focus on is the Design Work. Extracting the info for writing the content is extremely difficult job. I think this article is very helpful but the same Content template can not go for all the clients.
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pippaosullivan
Thanks for the great post – I have been using something very similar for government & non-government web-writing roles to help structure the sites content for clients big & small.
A few little additions I find useful (obviously some aren’t needed in different circumstances)
1. Versioning control – Putting a version table in the front of the document and/or tracking changes helps keep everyone on track to where the content has currently evolved to. Often in larger corporations (or government) the content will change hands multiple times and undergo multiple revisions – without some revisioning history it can be very difficult for the end developer to finally insert all the content in it’s most present version.
2. Media Tracking – I usually put another field at the bottom of the content document for the client to list any nessecary media & files that need to be included inline or linked externally with the content. Depending on your styling, I usually get the client to make notes in a different font colour or in [ ] square brackets (to differentiate between normal bracketed content) letting the developer know when a PDF/File needs to be downloaded or an image inserted. The client then lists all files/images/media to be included on that page at the bottom with the filenames, image/file descriptions. The client then collates all media onto a CD/Zip archive and sends through. Makes it so much easier to make sure all media & files are included in the page.
I’ve used the spreadsheet option too – excel can be great for basic wireframing and the linking to multiple sheets can also give the client the feel of actually “clicking” through the site and the ability of the content to flow through the pages in a sequential manner.
I’d be interested to people’s favourite writing for the web guides & blog writing guides, I often send through a few URL’s to the client as many will have had no previous web-writing experience.
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pippaosullivan
Far from it. I have found content templates to be even more useful to small to medium enterprises who have no large marketing or communication departments.
It helps if in your initial meetings between your designers/account managers and the client you focus 25% of even half the meeting explaining and emphasising the importance of content and the fundamentals of writing for the web.
Many of these clients have paid no thought to this or even know they need to, and the experience and professionalism this exhibits to your client strengthens your relationship and gives you a more successful end result than if you “design” your site and then dictate to your client where and how the content should fit.
The early adoption of “content is king” also prioritises the need for the client to pay attention and spend time collating, editing and reviewing their content before publishing, an attitude which helps immensely down the track when trying to chase content and media in the final stages of the project and keeping your go-live dates on target.
I work at a small firm and we do not have the luxury of one dedicated person to retrieve and manage content. Being so small as a firm, my troubleshooting of our workflow is hindered and not addressed as frequently as I like. I’m glad you wrote this article because it’s a need I’ve seen at this firm for a long time. The usual process is we request information from a client with no guidelines and the content that is sent back is almost always less than desirable. One page will have one sentence of copy, another five paragraphs.
I plan on taking your advice and working on some “general” content templates and then customizing them appropriately for each specific project’s needs. I hope this will help our firm’s content gathering from clients and keep it organized but most importantly useful.
Just when you think no one “gets” what its like for the managing directors, etc…out there who actually care what kind of site they are putting out, as well as standing behind. Just when you think empathy to be a lost cause that suddenly turned into some kind of inside joke you have yet to be let in on. Just when you think you’re the only one who understands that the content is the single, most important factor, that determines whether the site is set up to be a failure or a smashing success that you feel is worthy enough to put your name on. Just when you think you’re alone, you read an article like this, and you feel…….heard. And amazingly enough, hope is renewed again.
This is a great idea. I have developed some templates that I use for posting to my blog. It saves time and makes the process easier. Not the same as what you are suggesting, but usefl nonetheless:
Small correction to the first sentence of the last paragraph in the ‘Content Templates to the Rescue’ section:
Currently reads, ”… if your project doesn’t have a dedicated content specialist, the templates can produced by information architect, project coordinator, or other person who is in charge of your content.“
Should read, ”… if your project doesn’t have a dedicated content specialist, the templates can be produced by an/the information architect, project coordinator, or other person who is in charge of your content.“
Now, with that out of the way, I can tell you that I love this article. As someone who frequently collects information from sales managers who’d rather eat thumb tacks than write more than one sentence at a time, I appreciate your straightforward approach to prying content from their little brains. (I say this with all due respect to said managers, of course.)
Also, I’m a sucker for any reference to the Turbo-Encabulator.
25 Reader Comments
Back to the Articlewebsolutions
Your post covers all the intricate details. It deals with the problems encountered while making a big web project. Content templates do help up to some extent. The tips you have put will surely help speeden up the things. Thanks!
Caitlin McAuliffe
Before reading this article, I had never heard the term ‘content template’, but I think it’s a great idea. I will definitely recommend this article to the web designers and copy writers I know.
Thanks!
maddyzero
Thanks for your insight, Erin!
This concept is fantastic, and it makes sense as part of a seamless content-gathering process for web projects.
I’d be interested to hear your thoughts, however, on a what is certain to be a taboo subject: writing content without the guidance of a specialist.
How do you see a content template working (if at all) inside small web projects where the client writes everything?
As part of a small company, I serve as one part project manager, one part information designer, and one part aspiring front-end developer. We can claim there’s no room for a copy writer, but that would just be a serious flaw in our logic. As a temporary solution for gathering quality copy quickly, could something like a content template help to achieve decent results, even without a writer or specialist?
Microdesign webdesign
There are some great tips out there, We always tend to use a good writer that helps out our customers to create good content. Content templates is a great technique we definitly can use !
Maneet Puri
You have provided some real good information! This is like creating wireframes for content. One of the most important things in writing content for websites is consistency. This goes a long way in ensuring a nice look and feel on the website and also earns brownie points with the search engine crawlers.
anistock
I love workflows and templates as they give structure and green/red flags in discussion process.
This is a great tool and our team have looked at using it along with the other tools they use to guide content development, also use Drupal.
Workflow cuts down on time wastage not to mention resources
anne643
I’ve been writing and working in web in different kind of tasks for how many years but I Don’t have really this kind of brilliant strategy.. I thought my skills and knowledge are enough to use..SO I am very thankful that I’d read this article. You have taught me so much. Again Many Thanks!
Toronto Web Design
We always have problem when it gets to the content. It always delay our projects. On top of that, clients do not understand the importance of quality of the content. All they focus on is the Design Work. Extracting the info for writing the content is extremely difficult job. I think this article is very helpful but the same Content template can not go for all the clients.
pippaosullivan
Thanks for the great post – I have been using something very similar for government & non-government web-writing roles to help structure the sites content for clients big & small.
A few little additions I find useful (obviously some aren’t needed in different circumstances)
1. Versioning control – Putting a version table in the front of the document and/or tracking changes helps keep everyone on track to where the content has currently evolved to. Often in larger corporations (or government) the content will change hands multiple times and undergo multiple revisions – without some revisioning history it can be very difficult for the end developer to finally insert all the content in it’s most present version.
2. Media Tracking – I usually put another field at the bottom of the content document for the client to list any nessecary media & files that need to be included inline or linked externally with the content. Depending on your styling, I usually get the client to make notes in a different font colour or in [ ] square brackets (to differentiate between normal bracketed content) letting the developer know when a PDF/File needs to be downloaded or an image inserted. The client then lists all files/images/media to be included on that page at the bottom with the filenames, image/file descriptions. The client then collates all media onto a CD/Zip archive and sends through. Makes it so much easier to make sure all media & files are included in the page.
I’ve used the spreadsheet option too – excel can be great for basic wireframing and the linking to multiple sheets can also give the client the feel of actually “clicking” through the site and the ability of the content to flow through the pages in a sequential manner.
I’d be interested to people’s favourite writing for the web guides & blog writing guides, I often send through a few URL’s to the client as many will have had no previous web-writing experience.
pippaosullivan
Far from it. I have found content templates to be even more useful to small to medium enterprises who have no large marketing or communication departments.
It helps if in your initial meetings between your designers/account managers and the client you focus 25% of even half the meeting explaining and emphasising the importance of content and the fundamentals of writing for the web.
Many of these clients have paid no thought to this or even know they need to, and the experience and professionalism this exhibits to your client strengthens your relationship and gives you a more successful end result than if you “design” your site and then dictate to your client where and how the content should fit.
The early adoption of “content is king” also prioritises the need for the client to pay attention and spend time collating, editing and reviewing their content before publishing, an attitude which helps immensely down the track when trying to chase content and media in the final stages of the project and keeping your go-live dates on target.
Jesse Brack
I work at a small firm and we do not have the luxury of one dedicated person to retrieve and manage content. Being so small as a firm, my troubleshooting of our workflow is hindered and not addressed as frequently as I like. I’m glad you wrote this article because it’s a need I’ve seen at this firm for a long time. The usual process is we request information from a client with no guidelines and the content that is sent back is almost always less than desirable. One page will have one sentence of copy, another five paragraphs.
I plan on taking your advice and working on some “general” content templates and then customizing them appropriately for each specific project’s needs. I hope this will help our firm’s content gathering from clients and keep it organized but most importantly useful.
NewMediaGenius
Just when you think no one “gets” what its like for the managing directors, etc…out there who actually care what kind of site they are putting out, as well as standing behind. Just when you think empathy to be a lost cause that suddenly turned into some kind of inside joke you have yet to be let in on. Just when you think you’re the only one who understands that the content is the single, most important factor, that determines whether the site is set up to be a failure or a smashing success that you feel is worthy enough to put your name on. Just when you think you’re alone, you read an article like this, and you feel…….heard. And amazingly enough, hope is renewed again.
Thank you for posting this content.
Cogentos
This is a great idea. I have developed some templates that I use for posting to my blog. It saves time and makes the process easier. Not the same as what you are suggesting, but usefl nonetheless:
cheers
Tony
Melanie
Thank you so much for this! It’s terribly practical. It’s one of those CS details that I was in dire need of. Kudos.
Hey Jessi Bee
Small correction to the first sentence of the last paragraph in the ‘Content Templates to the Rescue’ section:
Currently reads, ”… if your project doesn’t have a dedicated content specialist, the templates can produced by information architect, project coordinator, or other person who is in charge of your content.“
Should read, ”… if your project doesn’t have a dedicated content specialist, the templates can be produced by an/the information architect, project coordinator, or other person who is in charge of your content.“
Now, with that out of the way, I can tell you that I love this article. As someone who frequently collects information from sales managers who’d rather eat thumb tacks than write more than one sentence at a time, I appreciate your straightforward approach to prying content from their little brains. (I say this with all due respect to said managers, of course.)
Also, I’m a sucker for any reference to the Turbo-Encabulator.