Online businesses are becoming more common these days since the internet has become so user-friendly. With the sea of online business and websites, how can online business owners use proofreading to stand out? This article discusses the importance of proofreading and will give you tips and ideas on how to proofread websites, how to find the correct proofreading service, and what to focus on when proofreading as a writer.
Proofreading works hand in hand with SEO (search engine optimization) to help business owners advertise their websites. First, we need to understand what proofreading is, and then we can delve into 5 tips on how to proofread content for an online business.
What is Proofreading?
Once a writer believes their work is ready for publication, it goes through the proofreading process. Proofreading is the act of checking text for errors before publishing or sharing content online. Five pillars hold up a proofreading foundation: spelling, punctuation, formatting, accuracy and originality.
Pillar One: Spelling
The first pillar covers the importance of spelling; it may seem like a minor section, but we will soon cover the importance and implications. It reflects negatively on you by telling readers that you do not care about your work and are therefore too lazy to proof check. Second, you do not know enough about the topic you are covering, and in turn, it becomes an unreliable source of the content because readers can no longer trust your perspective.
Potential solutions to solving spelling problems are to use spell check systems that allow you to check for spelling errors. However, to correctly proofread content, it is advised that a writer should go through the work slowly, a single word at a time, to make sure that spelling is correct. While spell-check systems can check for spelling errors, the system does not understand the context, so content should be manually reviewed.
Pillar Two: Punctuation
Punctuation goes hand in hand with spelling. Even if the spelling is flawless, the content will be difficult for readers to comprehend without a consistent and effortless flow. Therefore, it is better to have impeccable punctuation to allow readers to follow along smoothly. Before they know it, they will be consuming more and more of the content.
Clarity comes from the words used in sentences and how the punctuation is placed; where a comma is placed can depend on how the sentence presents to the audience. Make sure that every bit of punctuation in your work is deliberate and has a purpose. You can guide the readers in the direction of your point, resulting in a better understanding of your content.
Pillar Three: Formatting
No one wants to deal with the dreaded wall of text with no break or end in sight. Formatting is essential to any form of content because it represents the layout of your work and how it will be established; stick to the format because any deviation from the original idea will be noticed.
From a proofreading perspective, formatting allows you to quickly locate certain sections found in the content you have written. The separation of spaces, indents, and headings will give direction and make proofreading more straightforward and bearable. Formatting also creates a sense of professionalism that allows readers to appreciate the work put into the content they are consuming.
Pillar Four: Accuracy
This pillar ensures that the content or message matches what the text is trying to convey. By doing so, trust is built with readers, which creates confidence in your ability to be an authority on the subject matter. When proofreading, consider how accurate the content is and if authority on the subject is present.
If this goal is achieved, it is more likely that the website's audience will grow, which will mean more traffic. This will allow for the content to be portrayed as more reliable and trustworthy.
Pillar Five: Originality
It's important that content is original for search engines to index and rank it. If you have a website, then the first thing to do is make sure your site has unique content. This means having different articles on each page of your website with no duplicate text.
You can use Grammarly as an easy way to check originality, syntax, and spelling errors in any document before publishing it on your website.
5 Tips to Improve Proofreading Skills for Online Businesses.
1. Proofread Backwards
Proofreading backward forces you to look at the words instead of the paper's content. This will allow you to pick up on any mistakes that may have previously been overlooked. Make sure to recognize common errors made in previous publications or written work; focus on the most common mistakes and make proofreading simpler.
2. Focus on One Type of Mistake at a Time
The focus is on a particular issue and will allow for better proofreading. If you don’t focus on a single element, you may miss mistakes because the focus was drawn elsewhere. Your focal point can fixate on mistakes allowing for more concentration and better results when editing or revising your work.
3. Breathe, Take a Breath
Generally, it is a good rule to break from writing and proofreading, even if it is a short 15-minute break. Stretch the legs, make a cup of coffee, or get a glass of water. The idea is to allow you to disengage your mind from the topic at hand and come back with a fresh perspective.
4. Proofread Out Loud
This is often overlooked and is undervalued. Reading out loud focuses on the flow and fluency of sentences. It will be very apparent when something does not sound right. Pronunciation also helps with the structure of the verb tenses in your sentences and parts of speech.
5. Read Again and Again
Read your paper multiple times to double-check the content; do not be afraid to ask for help. Sometimes a different perspective is beneficial and can point out errors that were overlooked. Writers tend to keep their work to themselves and not want any other perspective. The problem with this is that you may be losing out on a different perspective that may improve your writing overall. Refrain from long sentences that can be misconstrued as “wordy.” Print out a hard copy of the work; it's easier to find mistakes when the mistakes can be circled, repeat the process, read the work and revise the content.
Should a Writer Proofread Their Content?
There is a strong sentiment that suggests that writers should not proofread their content because they are too close to their work. Writers spend numerous hours writing and often get to the point where they know the paper backward. They often overlook mistakes because they have read the work countless times. Spending so much time with a piece of work makes writers second guess themselves when they read through their work, and sometimes it comes out as a better piece. However, at other times it ends up destroying their work of art. So, the short answer is no, writers should not proofread their work.
Some writers do not have people to turn to; other writers can't afford proofreading professionals to proofread their work. So, what do these writers do? Some platforms allow you to proofread work and assist in the process, ensuring the focus is centered around common mistakes. By focusing on these mistakes, your skills will improve; it's also crucial for you to trust in your work and not second guess every word in every sentence.
The best thing you can do when proofreading is to go back to the fundamental of language and how sentences are formed. When the basics are brought to light, it is simpler to find mistakes. While you do so, remain objective. Being objective allows you to make changes without it feeling personal. When the writing is subjective, it's often difficult to make logical changes because feelings are involved. Be objective, use fundamentals, think logically, and have trust in the work.
Why Should Online Business Owners Proofread Their Content?
Online Business owners should proofread content to ensure that they can stick to a certain caliber of work. Proofreading offers insight into writers that may have plagiarized in the past or are currently plagiarizing work. Proofreading also acts as a protective barrier for online businesses where it can identify passive voice and offer a premium service for the website's audience.
FAQs
Should I Proofread My Website or Hire a Professional Website Proofreader?
It is generally advised against proofreading your own work because of how close you are to it. It often gets in the way of making objective and logical decisions. It is recommended that you find another to help in the proofreading process due to the objectivity a neutral person brings to the table. Paid proofreading professionals can be a route to take if you can afford it. Alternatively, you can ask a neutral person you may not know or a trusted colleague to review the content and give feedback.
What are Some Tips for Hiring a Proofreader for an Online Business?
Make sure to check the reviews of proofreaders to see if it is worth your while to spend money and time on a particular proofreading service. Request sample writing by sending a section of the project to multiple proofreading services and see which one comes back with a better review. Ensure that the chosen service is vetted and is reliable; many fake websites and services end up taking your money while providing less than average work. Lastly, if the price seems unbelievable, chances are it is. Professional proofreaders charge on average 1.5-3 cents per word.
Why Does Your Online Business Website Need to be Proofread?
It shows that an online business takes its work seriously, portrays professionalism, and allows for authority on subject matters. Proofreading a website will take advantage of SEO (Search Engine Optimization), allowing the website to be found easier. Online business owners can also be reassured that any grammatical errors will be rectified. This results in improved sentence structure.
Conclusion
To recap, online businesses are popping up worldwide, and there is one element that can help make a business stand out. This element is known as proofreading, which checks and fixes grammatical errors, phrases, plagiarism, etc.
There are five main pillars of proofreading that form a solid foundation for content. These pillars will help any business focus on the fundamentals of constructing good content and form the basis of how to proofread content well.
The best tips that can help online businesses through proofreading range from:
- Proofreading backward
- Making sure each word is read as a standalone
- Focusing on a single error at a time
- Make sure to take regular breaks between proofreading
- Read out loud to help with form and sentence structure
- Read through the content multiple times using the four pillars to reinforce the work
Remember, when push comes to shove, go back to the basics of language and grammar
From the words of a Spanish playwright:
“When something can be read without effort, great effort has gone into its writing.”
Enrique Jardiel Poncela
