Many site owners think of their web developer as someone who can do it all. While that’s flattering, it’s just not possible.

I’ve had many clients myself wanting me to not only develop their sites, but provide all the content as well. Most developers don’t write content because it’s not part of the development process.

Some might say they do it all, but odds are, they have a content writer on their team. If you need content written, which you will, look for a content writer, not a web developer.

Vastly Different Skillsets

Would you expect someone to be an engineer and ballet dancer? Probably not. Both require extensive training and practice. The same applies to developers and writers. Start talking to a developer about keyword density, Google friendly link-building techniques and the perfect length for blog posts, and you’ll likely be met with a blank stare. Ask them about the right plugins to use for optimal security and they’ll have a detailed answer waiting.

Creativepool describes the full extent of a web developer’s job. As you’ll notice, there’s no mention of content writing. Of course, the job becomes even more complex when you break down different types of expertise, such as WordPress and mobile.

Now, consider a content writer’s job. They have to put together words that describe a business in the best light while using the best possible keywords naturally so the almighty Google doesn’t penalise the site. They have to consider formatting, length of paragraphs, personality of the business/brand and much more. Above all else, the content has to be engaging and informative for readers.

Doing It All Takes Double The Time

Multi-tasking is a myth. Doing twice as much work in half the time doesn’t work. You might think it would be easy for your developer to write content in between creating one page and the next, but it actually takes twice as much work. Trying to switch between the two tasks back and forth only hurts the overall results.

In most cases, you likely want your site ready within a set timeframe. Unless you’re prepared to double that time, don’t expect your developer to do double duty. This is one of many reasons your developer asks you to provide the content, so they can insert it into your site and keep the project on time.

Backend Versus Frontend

If web development were easy, everyone would be able to do it. Though you don’t see what’s going on in the backend, it takes quite a bit of coding to create the frontend you see and use. While your developer is handling the extensive work on the backend, they don’t have time to worry about the content on the frontend. This is where content writers work with developers to create a finished project.

The writers prepare the content to give the developer a better idea of your site’s structure. While developers don’t write your content, they still need it early on for a better end result.

Quality Suffers Both Ways

When a web developer says they’ll do it all with no problem, they’re likely lying and you’ll get a website that barely functions with site content that’s low quality at best. Poor site development hurts your search ranking and so does cheap or low quality writing.

According to Ghost Blog Writers, there are plenty of copywriters out there, but focusing on the cheapest solution only leads to poor quality which hurts your site’s reputation. Trying to save money by asking your developer to do two jobs is just going to lead to a finished site with content that you’re ashamed of.

Let your developer focus on creating a high quality site and you focus on either creating content yourself or hiring a high quality writer to create the content for you. You’ll enjoy a higher ranking and more satisfied visitors as a result.

Conclusion

It’s not unusual for developers to be asked to write content as well. While doing it all would be wonderful, developers chose a career in web development. Copywriting just isn’t their specialty and that’s okay. With plenty of reputable and reliable writers out there, you can rest assured you’ll have an incredible website with content to match.

Want to hire an experienced developer for your website? Contact Darren at StuartMedia today for a developer who places all his focus on the site development. 

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