Real, good quality proofreading goes way beyond ‘just’ checking for spelling mistakes and errors with grammar.
A decent proofreader will also take the time to review the text to make sure it’s completely accurate, with all the right information, facts, and figures in it. It’ll be checked to ensure it's clear and concise, that the writing is easy to understand, and isn’t overly complex.
The style and tone will be analysed to ensure it’s appropriate to the audience it’s intended for and that it aligns with the correct tone of voice. It’ll be checked for consistency and to make sure that all the right formatting styles, punctuation, and spellings are applied properly throughout the content.
It’s one of the best ways to maintain a positive brand image and gain success as a writer.
What are the ways proofreading services improve ROI?
Any writer worth their salt will check their writing first of all with their own eyes, but then follow up with decent proofreading software like Grammarly or tools such as Copyscape to make sure it’s as accurate as possible.
However, there is nothing like having a second set of human eyes look over what you’ve written, to ensure consistency and clarity. Professional proofreaders can give you a significant ROI on your copywriting for the following reasons:
Communication without errors: It doesn’t matter how meticulous a writer you are, typos, grammar errors and minor inconsistencies can get overlooked. A professional proofreader can look at text with fresh eyes and spot the minor mistakes that others might miss.
Clarity and conciseness: Impact in copywriting is everything. A proofreader will help achieve this by finding and getting rid of unnecessary words, phrases, and statements that might muddy the message you’re trying to get out.
Gives your work credibility: Content published without errors gives your writer's image credibility and professionalism. If you consistently publish writing full of errors, your audience won’t trust you.
Increase your sales and revenue: A great proofreader can make sure the copy that you’re writing is clean, crisp, and compelling. That, in turn, will help drive sales to you (if that’s your bag) and increase your revenue and site traffic. It can be as simple as refining your site content, editing blogs, or making sure your marketing copy is beautifully presented so it has as much impact as possible.
Money and time saving: Even though there might be an initial outlay for proofreading services, ultimately it will be worth it as it can save you both time and money in the long run. You can free up the editing time you would have spent and use it elsewhere, leaving someone else to make sure all the ‘i’s are dotted and t’s crossed’.
What factors influence how you choose a proofreading service?
With all this in mind, how do you select a proofreading service to get the best ROI for your copywriting? There are a few key factors to consider:
Think about their experience:
Opt for a proofreader with lots of valuable experience and who has worked in the same areas you have, or has requisite industry expertise in the right field for you.
What services they offer:
Always check to see exactly what services they offer, and if there are any add-ons you can ask for such as editing and formatting for different types of publication. Talk to them and make sure they’re completely comfortable working within your parameters and with your documents and the software you choose.
Check their testimonials and work experience:
See what work they’ve undertaken in the past and look for good client reviews and testimonials that highlight their strengths and weaknesses. If someone has consistently high ratings and great reviews from a wide range of clients then that’s a great sign.
Competitive pricing and turnaround time:
Your budget is also a key consideration. You want quality and consistency, but someone who operates competitive pricing with decent turnaround times. A great proofreader will have reasonable work times and offer great value for money with no hidden fees or charges you weren’t expecting.
Final thoughts and key takeaway:
Careful consideration needs to be exercised when you’re thinking about engaging a proofreader to improve your copywriting ROI. Written work that is carefully and consistently checked by a professional proofreader can have a big impact on how your copywriting fares, whether for your website, a book, or other professional outlets. As a writer, you want people to trust you, believe in what you say, and add value to people’s lives. Ensuring that whatever you produce is properly proofread and meticulously checked is one of the key cornerstones of becoming a copywriter with clout.
