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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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!