Content Editing For Beginners

You know you need to be producing valuable content on your website. For many of our clients, this looks like regular blog-style articles.

Publishing new content regularly on your website shows Google that your site is still active, and valuable. It also helps establish you as an expert in your field.

This leads to improved search engine rankings, allowing your website to land in front of more potential customers.

Consistent content publication also gives you valuable information you can easily share with current and potential customers using social media, email marketing, and other methods.

Content Writing + Content Editing

You really can’t have one without the other. Content writing and content editing are essential, no matter what type of content you’re writing. 

All written content needs to be edited and putting it through a solid editing process helps ensure your content is not only well-written but optimized properly for SEO and consistently represents your brand and tone.

Content Editing Is Not Proofreading

It can be confusing, as many people use “content editing”, “copy editing”, and “proofreading” synonymously. Let’s break down the differences between these three.

Proofreading

One of my favorite tools to use for proofreading is Grammarly. I know I’m a solid speller and catch most grammatical errors, but I love having Grammarly as a backup.

It’s also a great tool for beginning writers and editors, as it takes the stress out of proofreading.

You can try the free version (I like the Google Chrome plugin), or pay for a premium version.

Copy Editing

This is similar to proofreading, but it happens after your initial proofreading for spelling and grammar errors. Copy editing mostly focuses on the formatting and style of your written content.

Content Editing

This editing process should happen AFTER copy editing and proofreading. This process focuses on the flow, readability, quality, and cohesiveness of your written content.

5 Content Editing Tips For Beginners

If you’ve never broken down your content writing and editing process before, it can seem a bit daunting. Start with these five steps and adjust the process as you need to.

1. Understand The Piece You’re Editing

Is it a short social media post? Is it a long-form blog article? Maybe it’s an email designed to promote a new product or share valuable information with your client base. 

Understanding the purpose of your content along with the method used to share it sets the stage for successful content editing.

2. Confirm The Style

Does your business have a style guide detailing the way specific types of content need to be formatted before publication?

Some do and some don’t so make sure you check before beginning the content editing process.

3. Prioritize Edits

Read through the entire piece of content, noting any obvious errors that may have slipped by the initial proofreading and copy editing process.

Make sure any headers and other design elements are formatted correctly before moving deeper into the text.

4. Read Through Content More Than Once

When I’m in the content editing phase of a project, I read through it a few times to make sure I catch everything I need to. My first read-through is as I explained above, catching any obvious errors.

Next, I read through it to check the flow of the written content. Does it make sense the way it has been organized? Does each section naturally flow into the next? If sentence structure is unclear or repetitive, this is the time to fix it.

5. Check Readability & Add Polish

Break up run-on sentences, replace words that are difficult to understand with simpler options, and remove “fluff” words whenever possible to bring clarity to your writing.

Finish your content editing process by polishing the headline, making sure your keyword is included the way it should be, and read the content one more time from start to finish to make sure it matches the voice of your brand.

Content Editing Resources

There is a lot of information out there about the best ways to handle content editing.

Some of my favorite resources for beginner content editors are linked below.

• Hubspot: Ultimate Online Editing & Proofreading Checklist
• Hubspot: Grammar Checker Options (Grammarly plus 8 other options)
• Grammarly: How To Edit Any Type of Writing
• GatherContent: Content Editing: How To Do It Like A Pro

Need Content Creation Help From The Professionals?

We love working with businesses to help them reach their goals, including clients who need help producing consistent, engaging, professional content.

Content creation and copywriting are crucial to having a successful online presence and attracting the business you need to grow.

If you’re ready to make content creation and digital marketing a breeze this year, click below to start a conversation with us today!