NOTE: I have updated the site mentioned here, so the topic doesn't really apply anymore. But it's interesting to think about...

Hi all,

I am revamping http://old.heritagelogistics.com/ into http://www.heritagelogistics.com/

I am satisfied with the new layout and style, the code passes validation, the PHP works, etc.

However...

You must agree that there is nothing there but a ton of text! I copied the page content verbatim from their old (current) site. I think this is a case of a small company trying to look well established by writing a lot.

So my question is, what role do we play as webmasters? Should we be responsible for editing content with our own descretion, when there is plainly too much text (who is going to read paragraph after paragraph of corporate-buzzword saturated hot air)?

Or should we just inform clients that they should think about trimming down the content, but leave it up to them? My clients are generally web-innept. They have no idea what's good, what's bad, what's new, what's "surfing the web in '95 on AOL".

-Ross

I think it depends on what the goal of the client is with the website. On one hand content can be good in the fact that it gives the SE's a lot of meat to sort through and may help define the site. Are the type of clients they are targeting going to want to know that stuff.

One thought I had is if they are trying to draw in a small bussiness owner that has no clue about "logistics" that perhaps they are missing the boat since I as a "clueless" viewer had no idea what they do. Perhaps that is what you are thinking also and in that case all you can really do is maybe suggest that to them.

I try not to edit content to much that is supplied to me aside from checking spelling and grammer. Even then I let the client know they are responsible for the content and if they send me something that is misspelled it may get on the site that way.