Whether you're a business owner or a freelancer, you must associate yourself with the right people.
While the building of a company brand may be directed by the owner of a business, there are likely to be many hands in the mix. Getting a business up and running online requires multiple tasks, many of which are likely to be delegated to outside players with expertise. Any company you work with has the potential to help or harm your future. You can eliminate many of those obstacles by vetting potential collaborators and choosing the right agency.
Let's use the writing world as an example. There are many companies that offer freelance writing jobs online, and when you're looking to get your feet wet in the world of content creation, or you need content for your company’s website, any one of these agencies may seem like a good place to start. Before jumping in with a freelance writing agency, though, it's essential to research that company’s reputation.
For a few years, Demand Media was a top player in content creation, churning out content for sites like eHow, LIVESTRONG, and even USA Today. Then, they started earning their reputation as a content mill that creates bad and pointlessly redundant content for the sole purpose of generating website traffic, and, as of October 2013, were still on a steady decline.
When a company like Demand Media takes a fall, working for them no longer looks good on a writer’s resume and companies involved with them may need to explain themselves to future partners. Do your due diligence and research the reputation of agencies before signing, with an eye toward a sustainable future.
Website content doesn’t have to be 100% original to be useful to visitors. Curated content - content that has been posted on other sites, or has been written for the express purposes of being posted on multiple sites - has become a popular means of regularly updating a blog or website.
There are many pitfalls to using curated content, though, that must be into consideration. If content is simply copied and pasted, that is outright plagiarism, and will, rightly, earn you a reputation as a content thief. Effectively curating content involves creating enough original content to add value to the content you plan to repost, and then linking to the content so the original source gets the credit. The right agency will know where to find the best curated content for your company’s area of expertise and how to use it without repercussion.
Freelance writers should be especially concerned when it comes to a company’s reputation where it involves curated content. As a writer, you know what it would feel like to have your work stolen or used without your consent, and you certainly don’t want to align yourself with a company who has no respect for other writers.
At Artisan Talent, we are dedicated to our reputation of keeping our clients and our freelancers satisfied with the content we provide. If you’re ready to dive into the world of quality content creation and curation, contact us today to learn more.