Tutorial: How To Outsource Content to India
Lesson 3: How Can I Select a Vendor in India?
chillibreeze writer — Trixie Asirvatham
There are several service providers that offer content development services from India . You can find them on the Internet. However, zeroing in on a single one can be a difficult task. Here are some suggestions to filter out the rest.
Find out if the vendors you are evaluating put their writers to work on their own projects/sites. Did the content persuade you to try their services? Did it attract you to their site? If so, you can be reasonably assured of quality in their content writing for you.
Read the articles on the vendor’s website. You can get a good idea of writing quality - substance, style and flow from the site.
Ask the vendor to give you references of other customers who have used their services. Get feedback from them about the process, the reliability, the quality and commitment to deadlines that the vendor assures.
You can also check out the websites of clients for whom the vendor has specifically created content. Remember that many clients provide their own content while developing websites. Don’t get carried away by the content on all the sites you see on the vendor’s portfolio.
Try to evaluate the diversity of the team. What areas of writing can they deliver? Some companies may only have a few writers able to write in a narrow band of topics, styles and substance. This may be fine. It depends on your needs.
Check on costs too. But don’t get stuck on getting the “lowest price”. Rather, look for a vendor that provides complete solutions, gives you suggestions and adds value to the content development process.
What is the track record of the vendor? How long have they been in business? What is their experience in providing content? What is the depth of their knowledge on the topics you would like them to write about?
There is no hard-and-fast way to select the right vendor for you. Finally, you have to take the plunge and try them out. We recommend getting to know a vendor by starting with a pilot project.
What can I tell from the vendor’s website?
The vendor’s website is an important piece of information that gives you cues on how the vendor works.
Process: Does the vendor have a systematic process (Read Tips and Checklist for Content Writers) to assure a high standard of delivery? Do they have a questionnaire that helps you detail your requirements?
Is the site alive?: Does it show creativity and commitment?
Quality of content : How well is the content organized? How clearly does it communicate the central thought? Does it have a consistent style and smooth flow?
Quantity of content: This might be an indication of the vendors passion for content. A good company will just love putting up loads of content.
Original content: Does the vendor assure you that their content is original? This is a huge problem in India and one that needs to be discovered before you start with them.
Payment method: Does the site give clear instructions and options for payment?
Feedback from clients: What do clients say about the vendor’s services?
People behind the website: Can you learn about the character of the people involved?
Response time: When the vendor is contacted from the site how long does it take them to respond. This is an indication of the service that you will get.
Mentoring: Do they mentor young writers? Are they bringing out the potential of young writers? Do they have a place to network or recruit best writers?
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