11 proofreading tips for content marketers
Sometimes for content marketers it feels like creating the content is only half the battle. Then comes the proofreading and editing war.
I’ve worked with content marketers on extreme ends of the spectrum: those that obsess over every word choice and detail and getting them to publish even a quick-read blog is like pulling teeth, but then there is also that writer that clearly doesn’t care about what they write and it shows with the error-riddled content they publish.
Editing your work can be a daunting task, especially when it’s editing bigger content pieces like guides, ebooks, webinars, presentations, and so on; but, editing is a very important step to ensure you’re publishing quality content.
Before you hit publish on your next blog or landing page that has a downloadable guide, review these 11 proofreading tips for content marketers to confidently push your work live.
1. Take a break
You won’t be able to do your best proofreading work right after you’ve finished writing something. It’s still too fresh in your mind to edit it correctly. Take a break from your work or at least that specific project before opening it up for a proofreading session.
2. Read every word
I’ll lock myself in an office or conference room when it’s time to proofread as I like to read mine aloud (well, whisper it but you get the idea). Reading out loud slows me down and I make sure I read every. single. word. I also make sure to take a pause at commas or do a full stop on periods or exclamation points.
Proofreading requires concentration to do it right so avoid distractions like music, the TV, or chatty coworkers. Printing your work can also help you see it in a new light and make it easier to spot problems or misspellings.
3. Read it backwards
If you’re proofreading your own work your mind will start to finish the sentences or skip over problems automatically as it knows the content already. By reading it backwards, you’ll slow down and have to read everything as it’s new to your brain and you can’t make logical assumptions about what word will be next.
4. Look for common mistakes
A few Christmases ago, my husband got me a great mug that explains the differences between their/there/they’re and the its/it’s word choices that seems to trip a lot of people up. Homonyms are the same way (compliment/complement) and should be triple-checked.
I can’t even count how many brochures or restaurant menus I’ve wanted to rip up because they chose to use an apostrophe to make plurals. Pay close attention to these small, but surprisingly common mistakes that spell-check won’t always catch.
5. Find repeated phrases
We all have a few phrases we rely on when writing but we shouldn’t be repeating them ad nauseam in content marketing pieces. If at first glance you see two or more paragraphs starting with the same word or phrase, strike it out or make a note for the writer (or you) to go back and rewrite.
6. Verify spellings
If you’re writing about people, brands, or products, make sure you verify you’ve spelled everything correctly and capitalized all the right words.
7. Confirm details
Things like dates and event details are easy to confirm with a quick search and you wouldn’t want to publish something that has wrong key information.
8. Remove placeholder text
When working with designers, I’ll use placeholder text to denote where I want an image or call-out box of information and sometimes those bits of placeholder text make it into the first draft. Luckily, a proofreading session lets me highlight that and it’s taken out before it goes to print. Make sure to scrutinize your work for any placeholder text or lorem ipsum that may have been left behind.
9. Revise headlines
After reading through the work I’ll sometimes go back to my headline or subheads and make sure they still work with the content as a whole. If you have another colleague helping with proofreading, ask them to craft an additional two headlines to see if there are any improvements you could make on the current draft’s headline.
10. Proof the format
When proofreading, I also like to make sure the overall format and layout is working for the piece. Maybe there’s a paragraph that would be better broken out into bullet points, or a section of text that could be summarized in an infographic to add images and break up the text.
11. Answer these questions
Finally, after the first read-through, you should answer these questions to find additional edits or suggestions for the original writer, even if it’s you.
- Is the content informative and valuable?
- Am I answering a question or educating my target audience with this content?
- Is the content in the right order?
- Is it written in the brand voice?
- Could I simplify my points or word choices?
- Is there a story or reason a reader should continue past the first paragraph?
- Does the piece need to go through optimization for SEO purposes?
- Is this content shareable?
What’s the best proofreading tip you’ve found? Share in the comments below or on Twitter!
