Having a bit of a conflict with a client at the tail end of a long, long project today… Part of the issue is that this client is upset about how much review and copyediting he’s had to do.

I’ve found that the majority of clients, probably 2/3 or more, don’t realize that they’re going to be required to provide written content to me in the course of their web design project. I’m not sure where this mistaken belief comes from, because most web sites I’ve seen have some amount of content (<sarcasm>) but as a rule the more complex or obscure their business, the less I’m going to be able to write on their behalf. I’m willing to take a stab at any topic, but I’m not a _______ (insert your favorite technical specialty here) and won’t pretend to be.

It’s important to me that content be accurate and credible (it’s important to Google too, btw). When my client is an expert in his/her field, they will write for me, whether that’s a talent of theirs or not. I can clean up bad writing, but I’m not going to pretend that I’m an authority in a complicated field with which I have little or no familiarity. It’s just not an efficient use of my time or the client’s money.