Knowing more about your client will improve your content
The Content Brief is essential reading before starting any job on Scripted, but the Style Guide is equally important.
Every Style Guide contains unique, important information about your client. Brand voice, preferred content styles, their website, and much, much more. In this guide, we'll cover where to find the style guide and how to use the information to improve your content.
Finding The Style Guide
Style Guides can be found in two different locations on the platform.
The first place you'll find the style guide is on every job card you'll see when you search for new work. We recommend reading this information before you claim a job on Scripted. Simply click the "Style Guide" text and it will unfold.
After you start the job, the Style Guide is available on the right side of the text editor for easy reference.
How To Use The Style Guide To Your Advantage
The content in the Style Guide is there to help you better understand your customer and write high-quality content. You may find the following information in a customer's style guide:
Website: We highly recommend checking out your client's website before writing content. Unless they specifically state that they're reworking all of the content on their website in the content brief, the information you find on their website will help you understand how they want to present themselves to readers.
Social Channels: Similar to the website, you'll learn a lot about how the customer is presenting themselves to their audience from their social media. This will assist you in mastering their voice.
Target Audience: Some clients will have very specific demographics they're trying to reach. This information can greatly impact the approach you take to the content, so be sure you understand to whom your content is trying to speak to.
Company Mission: This information will tell you what the client is trying to accomplish with their content.
Brand Voice: This is essential information, written by the customer, about the way they want to present themselves. If you find that the description here contradicts what you may have seen on the website or the content brief, don't be afraid to use messaging to ask questions!
Key Competitors: Knowing more about whom your client is competing with helps you understand their industry and bring their content up to standard.
Ideal Sample Content: This is content that your client loves or may even be content they've published in the past that they consider to be the gold standard. Read this thoroughly, studying the voice, style, and layout to incorporate it into your own.
Some customers will also add custom information to their Style Guide, which can act as a sort of "universal content brief". Be sure to thoroughly review it before beginning every job and you'll greatly increase your chances of turning in a perfect first draft!