Crucial Tips To Succeed In Online Proofreading Jobs
The internet now offers great opportunities for anyone seeking to earn extra income. Online writing has emerged as one of the fastest growing industries which has spawned other areas of work such as editing and proofreading. If you understand the rules of English grammar, proofreading is a great way to supplement your income. Instead of only looking for an online writing job, you can specialize in proofreading and editing to create a stream of income.
This article highlights some of the most important things you need to remember to succeed in online proofreading. Keep reading.
Understand What Proofreading is All About
Most writers confuse proofreading with editing. Such confusion arises because most clients offering freelance editor jobs actually require a proofreader. While editing looks at the bigger picture in a text including structure and flow, proofreading entails a narrower examination of a piece of work.
Proofreading is professional practice to ensure there no spelling, grammatical or typographical errors. Simple mistakes that even a grammar checker can miss are not lost on a proofreader and this will be your new line of work. You have to go through a text with a fine toothcomb to eliminate any embarrassing grammatical errors.
Understand Available Jobs
When starting out in freelance writing jobs remote as a writer, editor or proofreader, you will have to pick any job that comes your way. It is the best way to understand the industry and grow your reputation. However, with time, you need to narrow down on a specific area of focus to start growing your online proofreading career.
Some of the content types you can choose include student essays, online articles and blog posts, legal transcription, self-published novels, user manuals, press releases, newsletters, academic papers, contracts, e-books, resumes among others. As you continue working, it becomes easier to move into a specific field which is interesting to you or where you have a better understanding of the content.
Learn the Skill set Required
Most people jump into the freelance writing industry without doing enough research only to get disillusioned. To succeed as a proofreader, it is advisable to review your job description and understand the kind of skills you need.
For a start, you need excellent digital skills, a keen eye for detail, excellent grammar skills, patience, organizational skills, self-motivation, and good concentration among others. Proofreading is a tedious process and you need patience and a hawk-eye to catch any errors on a text.
Learn Where to Find Proofreading Jobs
When starting as a proofreader, look for job boards focusing on freelance editing jobs onlineand you will most likely find clients looking for proofreaders. You can also advertise your services on job boards, lookout for proofreading gigs on social media, create a good profile on LinkedIn and apply for a job from online writing and editing companies. You can also create a blog to build your reputation as a professional proofreader and share important tips on writing, editing and proofreading in your niche.
Keep Learning
To succeed in online copywriting jobs, editing and proofreading, you have to keep learning. Look for online resources, courses and tools to improve your career and follow gurus in this line of work.
Go ahead, start looking for the best proofreading gigs and use these tips to grow your career.