It goes without saying that proofreading is a fundamental part of content production of any kind. Almost all mistakes, whether they be grammatical errors, spelling errors, or plain nonsensical sounding sentences, can be avoided. Producing lazy content can have a substantial effect on your businesses renown. I’ve found 5 tips to assist in avoiding errors that enable you to output perfectly written content for all to see, whilst maintaining a reputable name.
Take a break from your work, to then come back to it with a refreshed mind
Now this is an important factor in all proofreading. After hours, days or weeks of writing the same document, it can become a monotonous task for you and you unintentionally lose focus. Taking a break from your work and coming back to it with a fresh outlook can help you spot discrepancies within your text much faster and with more ease. When you’ve grown accustomed to your text your brain will start to jump over words, forget correct grammar and not spot sentences that have started to sound repetitive. It’s also a good idea to read through your text slowly. Read it letter by letter to ensure it reads smoothly and no letters are in the wrong place. Although it may take longer, it is definitely a more effective way to review and change your own errors.
Rule of 3!
When you’ve typed your copy, it’s easy to skim over the text when proofreading. It’s an effective method to adopt the “rule of 3”, which means two additional people will proofread your copy. No matter how good of a writer you are, there will always be little mistakes in your content. By having 2 additional pairs of eyes read over your text, it is more likely to spot mistakes you’ve overlooked. After completing your initial copy and proofread it yourself, pass it to the second person for a proofread. After that then pass it on to your third proofreader for your final outcome. It’s a near foolproof method to eliminate errors and to maintain your brand image and reputation.
Read your text aloud
Naturally, when you read aloud, you force yourself to slow down. This is a helpful tool in acknowledging and understanding each separate word within your content. You’re unable to skim the text as you would reading in your head, which allows you to notice inconsistencies within your work. If you have a friend or family member around, ask them to read your work aloud. This way, you can listen carefully to your content without the distraction of also reading it at the same time. If you’re an auditory learner, rather than a visual or kinesthetic learner, this is the best option for you!
Re-check your facts, figures & statistics
As well as re-checking your spelling and grammar use, re-checking facts, figures and statistics is crucial. Your trustworthiness is reliant on you providing true, accurate and dependable information for your audience. It can alter your audience’s perception of your business if you give misinformation and this could be fatal to your business’s name, reputation and brand image.
Make sure hyperlinks, phone numbers and email addresses work
Links to other websites, phone numbers and email addresses are usually referenced in content. It is vital that all the hyperlinks you provide work correctly and take your reader to where they need to be. Be sure to double check hyperlinks, both websites and email addresses, by clicking and opening them before publishing your content. Also call any phone numbers to make sure they are valid and correct.
This 5-step strategy will advance and broaden your proofreading skills. It should teach you to find the importance in taking time out to improve your content and to publish your best work at all times. If you’d like more guidance around your own business content strategy, don’t hesitate to get in touch with one of the team at Mint Content. We’re always happy to help.
