What are the benefits of working with an editing service?
In today's connected world, businesses are publishing a growing amount of content, across a number of different platforms, in order to demonstrate their expertise and explain to potential customers what they can offer.
With employees facing huge demands on their time, many companies now turn to an outside editing service for help.
By working with an external editor or proofreader, these businesses can make sure that their documents are polished and error-free, and reflect the public image the company wants to project.
But why else do companies outsource this work? In this article, we look at some of the reasons customers typically use an editing or proofreading service – and the benefits of doing so.
Five benefits of using an outside editing service
1. A fresh pair of eyes. If you've been working on a document for some time, it can be easy to overlook spelling and grammatical errors. This is true even if you've been collaborating with colleagues; once you've been involved in drafting a document it's actually harder to spot mistakes.
An outside editor or proofreader can provide a fresh, independent perspective, helping you to avoid awkward phrasing and track down those elusive typos.
2. Support on demand. Employing a full-time editor or proofreader isn't a realistic option for many companies. Not only is there the additional cost, but you'd need to be generating a significant number of documents to justify such an appointment.
Another option is to use an editing or proofreading service, sending them your company documents for review as and when they're ready. There's usually no commitment – ideal if you're just starting out or you're not sure how often you'll need help.
Best of all, if you don't have any work for them, you don't have to pay them! This can prove a lot more flexible than having a full-time editor or proofreader on your team.
3. Confidence and peace of mind. If you need to deliver an important document to your boss, it can be hard to know when to stop tweaking your draft and click 'Send' on that email.
By sharing your document with an external editor or proofreader, you can ensure that your draft makes sense, your message is clear and you've chosen the right words for the job.
You'll also have the peace of mind that comes from knowing you've avoided those careless mistakes likely to distract and annoy your more discerning readers.
4. Speed. Sometimes, when things get busy, it can take a while for colleagues to review your draft.
By sending your most important documents to an outside editing service, you can help to cut these turnaround times and deliver your final work more quickly.
For example, you might ask an external editor to review your initial draft, before sharing the edited document with your boss for a final review or approval.
5. Consistency. For many companies, it's important that their documents deliver a consistent and distinctive brand voice. Such consistency can help to set customer expectations, build your credibility and differentiate you from competitors.
But if ten different people are writing your documents, it's hard to maintain this consistency.
By using an editing service to review your work, you can ensure that your documents communicate your message effectively and, in the process, deliver a consistent and professional image of your business.
How an editing service lets you focus on what you do best
Whether you're trying to raise awareness of your services, communicate more clearly with customers or persuade potential buyers to try out your business for the first time, there are a number of benefits to working with an editing or proofreading service.
An outside editor can save you time, provide support on demand and give you a fresh perspective on your business writing. They can also give you that extra confidence that your documents are engaging and error-free. For many companies, that peace of mind alone can be priceless.
If you're looking for editing and proofreading support for your business documents, then we may be able to help. Please feel free to contact us on editing@human-communications.com, or get an instant quote for your first document.
You might also like:
- What should I know before submitting my first document for editing or proofreading?
- How much will it cost to have my document edited or proofread? [Links to our online quote tool]
- How and when can I pay for editing and proofreading services?
- Business editing – 4 situations where it can help your company