{"id":16719,"date":"2018-05-30T10:00:38","date_gmt":"2018-05-30T14:00:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/crowdcontent.com\/blog\/?p=16719"},"modified":"2019-10-18T10:44:33","modified_gmt":"2019-10-18T14:44:33","slug":"how-to-find-a-trusted-content-partner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.crowdcontent.com\/blog\/content-marketing\/how-to-find-a-trusted-content-partner\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Crucial Questions for Finding a Content Partner You Can Trust"},"content":{"rendered":"

Marketing is a team effort. No matter how talented your crew is, they may not have the bandwidth or the manpower to adequately deal with high-volume content projects.<\/span><\/p>\n

Finding a trusted content partner is a crucial part of unlocking a brilliantly successful future, but zeroing in on the right contractor is harder than it seems. You\u2019re about to put your brand\u2019s image and online communication in someone else\u2019s hands. Do you know if you\u2019re making the right decision?<\/span><\/p>\n

Some <\/span>91 percent of B2B marketers use content in their strategies<\/span><\/a>, and 85 percent of B2C marketers do the same. Of those few marketers not currently incorporating content, 54 percent have plans to launch soon. Content marketing is hot, and where there\u2019s heat there are tons of agencies and platforms eager to get a cut of the profit.<\/span><\/p>\n

The key to wading your way through the noise and finding a content partner you can trust is knowing what questions to ask and what answers will likely serve you best.<\/span><\/p>\n

[ctt template=”4″ link=”d7_4j” via=”yes” nofollow=”yes”]Here are the 6 questions you should ask before hiring a #content partner. [\/ctt]<\/p>\n

1. What is the Production Process?<\/span><\/h2>\n

There\u2019s an old saying that advises \u201cyou don\u2019t want to see how the sausage is made,\u201d but this is one time that a behind-the-scenes peek does a body good. You need to know how your content is being produced and who is managing the project while it\u2019s in progress. Is a 20-something recent grad with little to no practical experience in charge of your account? Or is it an expert editor with a flair for content strategy and an eye for detail?<\/span><\/p>\n

Project managers who are familiar with both the writer and client side of things are better able to convey instructions, interpret feedback, facilitate an efficient and effective onboarding process, anticipate needs and make recommendations when appropriate.<\/span><\/p>\n

More from Meghan: Holder of the Content Marketing Budget? Here are 3 Awesome Ways to Spend It in 2018<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

2. Does the Prospective Content Partner Have Any References?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Looking for a content team with big-name experience? Everyone and their dog says they\u2019ve worked with the biggest Fortune 500 companies, and sure, that <\/span>seems<\/span><\/i> impressive, but in what capacity did they serve? What kind of content did they produce? Is the relationship current? If not, why did the contract end? Did they mess it up?<\/span><\/p>\n

You ask your in-house hires for references alongside their resume, so why wouldn\u2019t you expect the same credential check and character testimonials from the company about to get custody of your content? Ask for the contact information of a couple current clients (some may subject to an NDA agreement, but not all of them), and you\u2019ll find answers to all your burning questions.<\/span><\/p>\n