You already know it: consistency is king in the case of content marketing. And it doesn’t matter if you’re a solopreneur outsourcing content or a large organization with a dedicated content team. It’s extremely important to establish clear, comprehensive content guidelines.
No, these guidelines aren’t only a defined rulebook. You can also consider them as the roadmap for your external article writing service. The guideline is what makes sure every piece of content resonates with your brand voice and meets quality standards!
So, what exactly should you include in these essential guidelines? Let’s dive into the must-have things that empower your writers and elevate your content strategy.
Must-Haves in Your Content Guidelines
The Welcome Packet
Think of the welcome packet as your professional article writing service’sonboarding experience. This is their introduction to your brand, your mission, and the exciting journey you’re about to embark on together. It should be almost engaging, informative, and make them feel like a valued member of your team from day one.
Since this welcome packet is the first impression in it, don’t forget to include the following:
- A warm introduction or personal message from you or your content lead.
- Company mission and values
- Team introductions (if applicable)
- Communication channels
- Key contacts
- Payment terms and procedures
The Editorial Process
A well-defined editorial process removes the guesswork and ensures a smooth content flow from conception to publication. Your affordable article writing serviceneeds to understand the journey each piece of content takes. To demystify the workflow, inform your writers about:
- Content ideation
- Assignment process
- Draft submission
- Review and feedback cycle
- Revision expectations
- Approval process
- Publication schedule
Brand Style Guide
Your brand style guide is arguably the most critical component in the content writing process. It dictates the personality, tone, and overall aesthetic of your written content. This ensures a unified brand across all platforms.
In your brand style guide, include details regarding:
- Tone of voice
- Vocabulary
- Grammar and punctuation
- Spelling (American or British English)
- Formatting
- Call to action guidelines
- Referencing and citation
Visual Guidelines
A correctly branded picture is worth a thousand words!
While your content writing service in India primarily focuses only on text, understanding visual guidelines is also one of the essential things you have to know. Particularly for creating content that integrates seamlessly with imagery and other multimedia. This helps them conceptualize the complete content experience. Make sure you mention the following:
- Image types (stock, custom photography, illustrations)
- Image style and mood
- Sourcing images
- Image dimensions and file types
- Alt text guidelines
- Video and infographic integration
Content Brief
This is the blueprint for each piece of content. For every assignment, a detailed content brief is non-negotiable. It provides your article writing services in Indiawith all the specific information they need to produce an effective, targeted content piece.
The following information is what a writer needs from you:
- The core subject and a working title
- Purpose or goal of the content
- Target audience
- Key messages or takeaways
- Specific keywords to incorporate for SEO
- Word count
- Reference materials or competitor examples
Persona Details
For writing any content, it’s important to know who you’re addressing it to and how you are focusing on them. So, to truly connect with your audience, professional content writing servicesneed to understand who they’re talking to. Detailed user (or buyer) personas bring your audience to life. Here’s what to include:
- Demographics
- Psychographics
- Online behavior
- Communication preferences
Product or Service Information
The nitty-gritty details of your brand can make all the difference and make you stand out in a saturated market. However, even if you hire the best content writers in India, like Content Freelancing, they can’t write effectively if they don’t have an idea and don’t know the details. How can they promote something they don’t understand? So, provide them with comprehensive information about your offerings. Let them know about:
- Product or service overview
- Key features and benefits that make it stand out
- Target customers
- Unique selling propositions
- Pricing (if relevant)
- Success stories or case studies
- Common objections and how to address them
Industry Resources
How can your content stay ahead of the curve? It can be done by equipping your writers with the tools and knowledge to become industry experts. Providing access to relevant and related resources helps them research thoroughly and generate insightful, authoritative content. Here’s what you should include:
- Industry news sites, reputable blogs, and publications
- Competitor analysis
- Thought leaders or influencers
- Glossary of industry terms
You want your writers to become the true extensions of your brand. So, you need to empower them by diligently crafting and continuously refining these content guidelines. Provide them with the clarity, tools, and knowledge they need to consistently produce high-quality, on-brand content that drives results.
So, go ahead and invest in your guidelines because that’s how you assure your content strategy’s success!
