4 Tips to Better Proofreading!

4 Tips to Better Proofreading!

By Cathy Kessler

Cathy Kessler

But, as you begin to read through the copy, you see repeated sentences that look like the title of this article! You find typo after typo - misspellings, words used in the wrong context, and very obvious grammatical errors. All of a sudden, your image of this company begins to wane, and you wonder if you should give your business to an organization that appears to have such little attention to detail.

Questions float through your mind. Will this company give me the same lacking attention to detail that they gave their site? Will their service be as unprofessional as their sales copy? Hmmm. Makes you stop and think, doesn't it?

The image you set forth with your website goes a long way. Having misspellings or typos in your copy (or your eBooks, reports, or other documents) does not simply state that you can't spell. It puts forth a message that you don't care. It damages your image tremendously.

There are many reasons mistakes happen.
The two most common are…

~ being so familiar with the text that you read what it is supposed to say and not what it actually does say, and

~ getting in too big of a hurry to get the text from your word processing program to your Web design program or eBook.

Both will have a negative impact on your image and your sales.

So what do you do about it? There are several things that can help prevent mistakes in type. Focus on these tips the next time you write, and I'm sure you will see an overwhelming improvement in the quality of your text.

1. Write one day - read the next. ~~ When you write something new, allow it to "simmer" for awhile. Give your eyes a break. Set it aside and don't look at it for 24 hours. When you come back to the piece "fresh," you will no doubt spot many errors that you would have otherwise overlooked.

2. Print it. ~~ Reading from a lighted surface (your computer monitor) causes a great deal of eyestrain. Print out your piece on paper and proofread it. You will have a much easier time seeing the words.

3. Read one word at a time. ~~ We often have a tendency to read whole sentences; however, when you proofread, you should make a point to read each individual word. Oftentimes, using your finger to underline each word as you read helps call your attention to mistakes.

4. Hire a pro. ~~ If you are short on time or simply don't have a knack for the English language, hire a professional to help you. It will be worth the money to ensure your website visitors or eBook readers aren't turned off by what appears to be carelessness.

Producing written works full of mistakes sheds a bad light on your business; however, giving your text the same regard you give design elements can greatly increase confidence - and ultimately sales - from your prospects and current clients.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Cathy Kessler is the President of Business Proof Reading. Do you have books, eBooks, articles, newsletters, or other documents that need to be proofread? Visit Cathy's site to learn how to be typo free today!

Now that you know 4 secrets to better proofreading to help improve the professionalism of your work, you are ready to read the related

Making Your Website Sell articles below:

Choosing a Domain Name
Websites with a Big
Company Look and Feel
10 Costly Web Site Mistakes
Branding on your Website
7 Essential Web Maintenance Tips
4 Tips for Better Proofreading

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