The majority of business owners will be aware that in order to make the best impression upon their customers they need to ensure the quality of their written documents and online content is of the highest quality and this is the main reason which many use when discussing their reasons for using proofreading services.
With more competition than ever for new and established businesses, and therefore more reason to make the best possible impression, it is essential for any business employing an individual or company to proofread on their behalf to ensure that they have found the best person for the job. With this in mind, there are a number of factors and considerations which people should take into account before they employ anyone to proofread on their behalf.
Experience
Getting a second opinion to assess whether a piece of writing contains correct spelling, grammar, punctuation and is set out correctly is one of the best ways for any writer to ensure the quality of their work. However, there is a huge difference between a second opinion and an expert opinion. Many people think they are aware of the rules of grammar and setup of documents when in fact they are not. It may be the case that rules have changed since they were taught or that their information was wrong in the first place but the difference between a professional proofreader and a non-professional is the training and experience which allows the professional to guarantee their results.
Quality
This experience, together with any associated qualifications, gives the customer or client an indication of the quality which they can expect to receive from the proofreading service, however, the proofreading company’s own literature, written content and any website they have are a much better indication. It stands to reason that if this does not indicate quality then the proofreading services of the business in question may not be of the desired quality.
Services on offer
Not all proofreaders are created equally and some may offer a more “full” service than others which might include editing, suggestions for alterations in tone and pitch and even suggestions for improving the call to action or SEO content of a document. It is essential therefore for businesses to ensure that the proofreader they are employing is able to offer the level of service they require.
Portfolio/Examples
Many businesses who are debating whether to use the proofreading services of a particular provider find that seeing an example of their work is an invaluable tool. They may choose to see a before and after example or testimonials from previous customers in order to assess the quality of the service and the dedication they are likely to receive.