Jasz
VIP Contributor
If you're a writer, there's a good chance you've been asked to take on a project that's so outside your niche that you don't know where to start.
It's tempting to just write the content anyway—just as long as it gets done.
But that's not the best approach for your clients, for the businesses you're writing for, and for your own reputation.
When you take on a project that's out of your area of expertise, you have to spend time researching and getting up-to-speed on the topic before you can start writing. Ideally, your client will be paying you hourly or giving you a generous chunk of time in which to complete the project. But are they willing to pay what it will really take?
And even if they do give you enough time, are they really going to get the quality content they deserve? If you're an expert in children's toy reviews, but your client is asking for an explainer video about how to fund your first business venture, how confident can you really be in what you produce? Writing out of your comfort zone means spending more time fact-checking and trying to ensure accuracy than if it were within your area of expertise. Are they getting their money's worth?
It's tempting to just write the content anyway—just as long as it gets done.
But that's not the best approach for your clients, for the businesses you're writing for, and for your own reputation.
When you take on a project that's out of your area of expertise, you have to spend time researching and getting up-to-speed on the topic before you can start writing. Ideally, your client will be paying you hourly or giving you a generous chunk of time in which to complete the project. But are they willing to pay what it will really take?
And even if they do give you enough time, are they really going to get the quality content they deserve? If you're an expert in children's toy reviews, but your client is asking for an explainer video about how to fund your first business venture, how confident can you really be in what you produce? Writing out of your comfort zone means spending more time fact-checking and trying to ensure accuracy than if it were within your area of expertise. Are they getting their money's worth?