There seems to be an endless sea of website content providers out there, all of them able to 
make sure your website is at its best and consistently brings in customers. So, how do you pick the right one for you without having to go through dozens of search pages of endless content providers, hoping you pick the right one?
There is a system that you can implement to make sure that you're not wasting anyone's time, don't spend too much money, and have the best quality content out there. All you need to do is look out for these five features in website content providers and watch the magic roll in.
1. Content With A Plan
Content is more than just writing out coherent sentences and snappy titles, it requires extensive research, figuring out a buyer persona's pain points, using a little bit of SEO wizardry, and much more to make everything click into place.
So, finding a content provider that automatically knows how to make compelling copy with calls-to-action (CTAs) and other enticements should be a top priority. All content needs a plan, and the website content provider should already have a plan brewing when you contact them.
2. Looking Long Term
Whether you're dealing with an agency that uses dozens of content providers or a single freelancer, you need to be able to say to yourself, "Yes, I can see building a long term business relationship with this person." If not, then you might have to reassess what you want out of your content.
This is a two-way street, however: the content provider must be able to express a professionalism that signifies long term is okay with them, and you need to be able to do the same. Communication is key and finding a provider who is open means a much easier partnership.
3. No Bottom of the Barrel
Sure, it's tempting to try out those content providers that promise amazing content for pennies or others who outsource their work to other countries for the same promise. Unfortunately, that type of content is usually not high quality and will normally be "spun," meaning it was copied or plagiarized from elsewhere. That means your website will take a penalty from Google and be ranked lower, losing you money, or you could be potentially banned from the search engine altogether.
Take the time to map out a budget that accounts for higher quality content, which is normally in the hundreds of dollars and not in cents. A website content provider who knows their worth is always going to promise awesome results and deliver them.
4. Understanding Content Marketing
It may seem obvious enough, but sometimes those people advertising themselves as content providers don't have a lick of knowledge on content marketing, which is the base for quality website content and marketing (hence the name!). If they don't understand to keep your content cohesive, CTA-ready, and make sure everything fits into your content marketing needs, then you're going to have a big mess to deal with come deadline time.
That doesn't mean they need to have at least ten years experience, especially since the trend of content marketing is still so new. They need to have an understanding of what is considered quality content writing that brings in customers, and that could very well mean a younger 20-something or a freelancer who has been in the game for decades.
5. Solid Portfolio
All content providers have a portfolio they're proud to show off, so make sure you take a look at a prospective provider's portfolio to make sure you know who they have worked with. This may seem like an obvious thing to do, but many businesses don't take the time to research their website content provider and only look at prices. Make sure the portfolio shows off content that fits your own needs.
What are some other features you can think to add on to this list? Sound off in the comments!
image 2: http://www.kent.edu/english/writingprograms/writingminor/writingportfolio.cfm
