5 Reasons Why We Don't Believe in Content Samples

Requesting content samples - is it truly a good approach to assess the quality of our work? Read on to find out why we don’t fully advocate this method.
5 Reasons Why We Don't Believe in Content Samples - iGaming Content Services

In This Article

In one of our previous blog posts, we discussed our reasons for not publishing testimonials on our website. This time, let’s look into the topic of content sample requests. 

We receive requests for content samples in approximately 20% of our content creation inquiries and occasionally for translation, localisation, and link-building inquiries as well. However, as content creation is our most common case, we will be focusing on it in this article.

The idea with requesting content samples, as far as we understand, is to make sure that we have experience producing content that is similar to what is required by the client. While this approach could be useful when evaluating freelancers, we do have a different perspective when it comes to getting content sample requests as an agency. 

Here are the reasons why. 

1. Every Project Is Unique

When we begin our relationship with a client, it all starts with understanding the project scope, the needs and the expectations. Trust us, we want to do the client onboarding process efficiently.

We are all about production, and this initial stage is in no way a fluffy sales pitch that would waste more of your valuable time. Our goal is to minimise the time spent on delivery moving forward and to ensure that we understand all the aspects of your project. 

Even if we provided samples, these would be missing crucial context regarding the previous client’s needs since it would be inappropriate for us to share their initial guidelines and briefs. And even if we did, it would be inefficient to spend hours analysing how well the content follows the guidelines provided. 

We understand how important it is to ensure that your expectations can be met before placing an order. However, every project is unique, and we believe there are better ways to judge our suitability for your projects.

If you have concerns about the quality of our work and need reassurance, we often deal with this by completing a small test task. This way, you can assess the quality of our work for yourself and make an informed decision about whether to proceed with us.

2. It Is Nearly Impossible To Prove Who Produced The Samples

Another disadvantage of using samples is that it is impossible to definitively prove who actually produced the content. If you request samples from several agencies, it’s entirely possible that our competitors could provide you with links to content produced by us.

What you receive from agencies or freelancers when you request samples is their idea of what they deem to be good content on the requested topic. And, of course, it is cherry-picked to show them in the best possible light.

3. Challenges with Sample Quality Assurance (QA)

Let’s assume for the moment that you’ve been provided some content samples by an agency. If these samples are written in languages you aren’t fluent in, you will need to request a QA check on them with a native speaker. There are two ways to go about this:

  1. Ask the opinion of your native colleague or friend. The feedback will be very subjective and depend on many factors, as this colleague/friend might not have enough insight. Some might want to prove their expertise internally and criticise every single thing. Others might not care at all. On the flip side—they might be too demanding, expecting journalist-type content when the sample is a slot SEO review.
  2. Ask another agency, in-house content team or freelancer. Needless to say, this approach creates a conflict of interest, where any samples would be received negatively most of the time.

Of course, the same issue also applies to our preferred approach of using test tasks. However, with test tasks, we can provide you with content samples written by 3-5 different language specialists, and you can select the best one.

4. Every Writer Has Their Own Style

When we start working on your content creation project, we tend to assign it to dedicated writers—even for sample requests. And as each writer has their own writing style, it’s quite impossible to define a baseline quality of content with just samples written by different people.

As one of the more well-established iGaming content agencies, we produce millions of words every year with hundreds of language specialists - so we are confident in our ability to find the people most suitable for your project. 

5. We Respect NDAs

In many GEOs, there is a clear problem with us not being able to send samples due to signed NDAs. This is a common practice for us to keep our partnerships confidential. 

Conclusion: We Prefer Serious Relationships

We want to create meaningful and long-lasting relationships with our clients, and it all boils down to building mutual trust and investing time into producing great quality content. 

Our mission is to save you time and make life easier for you. So believe us when we say that it is well worth allocating a small budget of circa 200 EUR for a few test tasks, especially if, as in the case of most of our clients, you are planning to invest much more heavily once you’ve vetted us.

Don’t get us wrong. Sometimes, we do provide samples, and we understand sometimes it can’t be helped and is out of your hands. Regardless of the reason, we believe there are better ways to assess the capabilities and the quality of our work.

Come have a chat with us, and let’s see how we can bring value to your iGaming business!  

You may also like:

5 major iGaming markets to look out for in 2025 - iGaming Content Services
Blog

5 Major iGaming Markets to Look Out for in 2025

From Nigeria's regulatory shifts to Brazil's newfound certainty, explore where the future of iGaming is heading in 2025 and how businesses can seize these emerging opportunities.
Read More
IGC - The History of Our Imperfect Acronym
Blog

IGC - The History of Our Imperfect Acronym

How did “IGC,” a simple acronym of our company name, come from a slightly elaborate origin? Read on to find out more.
Read More
Top Criteria to Look Out for When Hiring an iGaming Writer - iGaming Content Services
Blog

Top Criteria to Look Out for When Hiring an iGaming Writer

One writer fits the budget, one is an expert within your niche, and another can deliver content in 2 days. Which one should you hire? Let’s find out.
Read More

Let's Get Started

Main Contact Form

If you are seeking information or a quotation, fill in this form and we'll get right back to you. Please use your business email address.

If you are interested in writing/translating for us, please click here to register instead of using this form.

crossmenuchevron-down