10 Proofreading Do’s and Don’ts for Content and Research Marketers
As a content or research marketer, you play a critical role in furthering your company’s message by creating valuable, creative, and engaging content that converts and resonates with your audience. To be successful, you must create concise and compelling content. You must spark curiosity, offer a solution to your audience, and convince them they need the product or service you’re offering.
Proofreading is an integral part of content and research marketing, removing spelling or grammatical errors that could detract from messaging. If you’re searching for ways to improve your content quality, integrating these ten proofreading do’s and dont’s will help you create valuable, impactful, and intriguing content for any niche.
1. Do Pay Attention to Detail
As the saying goes, “the devil is in the details,” so you should pay close attention to ensure your audience can clearly understand your messaging. When reviewing your content, pause at each period, comma, quotation mark, apostrophe, etc., to ensure you’re using them correctly. This tip can also be a lifesaver for common grammatical errors like its/it’s and their/they’re/there, which can immediately make your writing sound uninformed if used incorrectly.
2. Don’t Obsess Over Drafts
As a marketer or researcher, it’s easy to become obsessed over your drafts, continually rewriting your content over one or two errors. Soon, you have multiple drafts and have effectively lost sight of your goal. While revision is important, don’t fall into the trap of perpetually drafting, failing to deliver your content on time.
3. Do Proofread Backwards
Proofreading backward is a favorite tip among professional editors since it gives you a unique perspective on your writing and helps you spot mistakes you may not have noticed previously. Some of the most common errors you’ll find include:
- Overused words
- Unclear sentence structures
- Overly complicated paragraphs
While it takes time, this slower pace can become a time-saver, limiting the number of rewrites in the long run.
4. Don’t Second Guess Your Abilities
Self-doubt is one of the most damaging traits a content or research marketer can have since it makes you question your instincts and stops you from taking risks. During proofreading, second-guessing your abilities can make you question your knowledge of correct spelling and grammar, often preventing you from writing higher-quality, impactful content. Being confident in your knowledge will give you the assurance to proofread without fear, which is an invaluable tool that will help you succeed.
5. Do Verify Spelling
One of the biggest mistakes you can make is to misspell the name of a person or company. Double-check the spelling of all proper nouns to ensure your content is correct. Examples include:
“McEarys” instead of “McEary’s”
“Copy blogger” instead of “Copyblogger”
“Miller & Olson” instead of “Miller & Olsen”
A final spelling check is an essential part of proofreading and one you should never overlook.
6. Don’t Delay Publication in Search of Perfection
Marketers must create content without errors, but perfectionism can delay deliveries. Even error-free content may be clunky or ineffective. However, effective content can sometimes contain errors. For example, the following colloquial terms and structure may be flagged by spelling or grammar checks, but still be effective:
- Slang
- Sentence structure
- Paragraph structure
- And more
7. Do Scan the Starting Words of Every Paragraph
Marketers may fall into habituated writing patterns, using the same phrases or structure. This can create content that seems monotonous and unexciting. Scanning through your writing to ensure your paragraphs and subheadings start with different words is a subtle yet effective way to make your content more dynamic.
8. Don’t Overcomplicate the Text
You may be tempted to elevate your writing with erudite terms. However, effective content reflects the way that your target audience speaks. Each project should have its own tone and voice, connecting with the reader and compelling them to learn more. Avoid simply using big words to sound intelligent; instead, focus on creating concise messaging that will connect with your audience.
9. Do Use Editing Software or Editing Service
Editing software or a professional editing service (like EdiPro) can be a marketer’s best friend. They offer many features, including language selection, tone, and more, directing you to customize your content for your target audience.
10. Don’t Underestimate Your Content’s Power
One of the biggest mistakes you can make is underestimating your power as a marketer. When creating content, your words and data come alive, sparking the reader’s interest and compelling them to take the next step. By developing a deep respect for what your content accomplishes, you will have a greater appreciation for the necessity of the proofreading process and take the time to ensure it’s done correctly.
For those in the medical and health science fields, EdiPro offers expert editorial and copyediting help for a wide variety of products, including:
- Webinars
- Marketing brochures
- Journals
- eBooks
- Educational courses
- Press releases
- Online or print advertising
- Case studies
- Articles for publication
- Technical documentation
- Presentation materials
When you choose EdiPro, you have access to expert editors and proofreaders with advanced professional and educational experience, so you can trust your content is clear and concise before publication. We believe in treating our customers right, which is why we offer live customer service, traceable editorial changes, competitive turnaround times, and comments and queries for resolution, so you can have confidence knowing we have your back. When quality matters, turn to our editorial services for those in the medical and health science industries.