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I used to work for a small web agency. Clients would buy websites all the time without having a clue what the content was going to be. Occasionally I'd say "We

I used to work for a small web agency. Clients would buy websites all the time without having a clue what the content was going to be. Occasionally I'd say "We can't start work until you provide us with content." Most times it was a deal killer: the client wouldn't sign the contract unless they saw the design first. In other cases, the client would promise to find content, but never deliver. I can't tell you how many blank websites we billed out after waiting for months with no content. Because clients dragged their feet on getting us content, most of our sites had to use placeholder texts. The client would delay content until the last minute. Then, as always, we'd get some shitty word document with content that didn't fit into our design. Text was crammed into places it didn't belong. Feature boxes were created for content that didn't exist. A design disaster. But clients loved it. And it got contracts signed. If you're a freelance designer, team up with a good copywriter. 10% of the time, the client will agree to have their site written by a professional, you'll get content on time, and everyone will be happy. The other 90% of the time, the client will try to save money by writing it themselves. They will either write an indecipherable crap-pile, or absolutely nothing. These are the clients that pay your salary. And that's why placeholder text will always exist.

jdawg77 12y ago
The only scenario you forgot to outline is when the CEO of the company that hires the small agency writes the content. Sometimes, this can be great - if that CEO is also an author, has years of copywriting experience and say, has sold tens of thousands of books. Usually, that's not the case. Then the CEO hires the design agency, who wisely uses Lorem Ipsum or similar. Then, you might have an internal marketing manager who knows the CEO's copywriting skills suck. The agency also knows this, but, because it's a "Startup CEO," who's got some BS claim to fame, they write it anyway. Screw the people who say the CEO's copy sucks, etc. Do you know how that scenario plays out? The board steps in, if they have any brains, and fire the CEO who can't copywrite but insists on wiping their arse with the whole thing. In this scenario, too, the agency simply takes the money and watches, waits for the internal marketing manager (usually, the guy who hired the agency) to get a new job or get fired. Then, the startup goes down in flames. The best part? The agency still got paid. Sometimes, you can't save a client from driving themselves over a cliff. Take the money, smile, do the right thing and give them the best possible advice. But, don't sit still and do zero whilst the company drives themselves off a cliff. Especially when they pay you all the way down until they combust.
RobertKerans 12y ago
I work for a very large company, and have worked both freelance and in-house previously, and I can count on, ooh, maybe two fingers the times I haven't been in the situation. Unfortunately never had access to a copywriter, just access to endless frustration. (Also, re the op, on-subject placeholder text works far better than Blokk, it's not particulary likely that you won't have at least an inkling of the subject of the design being undertaken)

jdawg77 12y ago

The only scenario you forgot to outline is when the CEO of the company that hires the small agency writes the content. Sometimes, this can be great - if that CEO is also an author, has years of copywriting experience and say, has sold tens of thousands of books. Usually, that's not the case. Then the CEO hires the design agency, who wisely uses Lorem Ipsum or similar. Then, you might have an internal marketing manager who knows the CEO's copywriting skills suck. The agency also knows this, but, because it's a "Startup CEO," who's got some BS claim to fame, they write it anyway. Screw the people who say the CEO's copy sucks, etc. Do you know how that scenario plays out? The board steps in, if they have any brains, and fire the CEO who can't copywrite but insists on wiping their arse with the whole thing. In this scenario, too, the agency simply takes the money and watches, waits for the internal marketing manager (usually, the guy who hired the agency) to get a new job or get fired. Then, the startup goes down in flames. The best part? The agency still got paid. Sometimes, you can't save a client from driving themselves over a cliff. Take the money, smile, do the right thing and give them the best possible advice. But, don't sit still and do zero whilst the company drives themselves off a cliff. Especially when they pay you all the way down until they combust.

RobertKerans 12y ago

I work for a very large company, and have worked both freelance and in-house previously, and I can count on, ooh, maybe two fingers the times I haven't been in the situation. Unfortunately never had access to a copywriter, just access to endless frustration. (Also, re the op, on-subject placeholder text works far better than Blokk, it's not particulary likely that you won't have at least an inkling of the subject of the design being undertaken)