The Proof Is In The Content
Think back to a time you read the news, and there it was — a typo glaring into your soul. You probably broke into a cold sweat and couldn’t complete the story because nothing mattered any longer and words no longer held meaning. Perhaps nothing so drastic, but your news certainly lost credibility with that single fault.
It’s not just news. It’s everywhere. And if you want to succeed in this world as a credible source, proofreading is in order. Typos are inevitable. But that doesn’t mean they can’t be slain before they ever damage your reputation. And with that in mind, let us go over the reasons it’s vital to proofread all your content.
Credibility
In whatever you do, you want to be the leading expert. Experts don’t fumble or make errors (of course we know this isn’t true. Rather experts correct their errors and take precautions to come across with an air of professionalism).
The last time you saw a typo, whether it was in a novel, newspaper, brochure or some other form of media, you probably immediately felt a bit distracted and less trusting of the source. You’re not the only one — everyone feels the same way. Don’t lose credibility amongst your audience over carelessness.
Clarity
Errors are distracting and can take away from your message. Convey your message to your audience as clearly as possible to increase the likelihood of converting them to patrons. Aside from writing concisely, double-checking your work for any errors, whether they’re grammatical, punctuational, misspellings or something more extreme, like confusing sentence structure, will allow you to optimize your message and connection to the reader.
Reputation
As mentioned, clear, error-free work allows you to build a trustworthy reputation and a loyal audience. Your reputation is one of those snowballing factors that affect every aspect of your brand, and it’s not the place to allow for any missteps. Especially not ones that could have been prevented if you’d just double-checked to make sure you were using the correct there/their/they’re or fact-checked.
Professionalism
Professionalism is the whole package. Credibility, clarity, and reputation all add up to how you’re perceived as a professional, and whether you’re worthy or not of your audience’s trust.
Is your message complete? Follow A Proofreading Style Guide
Most importantly, proofreading your work shines a light on whether or not you’ve covered everything you want to convey to your readers. Maybe you missed a key point in your message. Without proofreading, you would have no way of knowing.
Proofing your own work can sometimes be a challenge. Get a second pair (or even third or fourth) of word-savvy eyes on your content so nothing slips through the cracks and your brand is protected. At the end of the day, it’s all about your brand image, and how your audience sees you. Upholding that perception is worth a quick proofread.
