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Proofread Your Business Blog Posts and Get More Subscribers in 5 Steps

June 30, 2011 By

Many bloggers’ goal is to get more subscribers.Photo Credit – Flickr: Brero

You want to communicate your message to a large audience and attract readers to what you have to offer.

In order to gain readers’ trust so that they have a consistent interest in your writing, you need to make every blog post unforgettable.

Mediocre posts perpetuate the notion that blogs are still LiveJournal musings about the incredible English muffin that you had for breakfast, rather than a serious medium for self-publishing.

A thoughtful, complete blog post has certain characteristics regardless of its length (which will vary depending on your topic).

Even if you don’t have a lot of time to proofread your business blog posts, here are five questions to ask yourself before you publish. Satisfy each of these elements to bridge the gap between writing that makes an impact and text that gets ignored. [Read more...]

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Filed Under: Business, Freelance Proofreading, Marketing, Online Proofreading Services, Productivity, Self-Publishing, Writing

Why You Won’t Find My Online Proofreading Services on Facebook

June 23, 2011 By

Online Proofreading Services. Photo Credit – Flickr: richliuI have 0 friends.

On Facebook, that is—because I don’t have a personal profile or a Fan page for my online proofreading services.

This admission usually generates puzzled facial expressions and a flurry of condescending questions.

“Aren’t you an online proofreader?” “You can’t possibly be serious about your online business if it’s not on Facebook?!”

Look at it this way: I’m a freelance proofreader and editor. Writers don’t like me.

When was the last time you liked someone who pointed out your mistakes?

But I’m supposed to set up a Facebook Fan page for my business that corrects mistakes and expect you to “Like” it? Hmm … [Read more...]

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Filed Under: Business, Freelance Proofreading, Marketing, Online Proofreading Services, Pop Culture, Writing

What Your Small Business Can Learn from an Old Man, a Little Boy, and a Donkey

June 16, 2011 By

Small Business. Photo Credit – Flickr: magnusfranklin“How exhausting is it being you?” a friend recently asked me over coffee.

“Extremely,” I replied.

Interestingly enough, he wasn’t observing that I’m burned out from my Revision Fairy® Small Business Proofreading Services duties.

I know that I need to get a good amount of rest (even if it’s during unconventional sleeping hours), eat a proper diet (that sometimes includes Chicken McNuggets), and exercise regularly (by taking walks and dancing around my apartment).

His question stemmed from my tendency to over-think everything.

I fixate on ideas, stories, and situations. If you’re a small business writer or entrepreneur, you probably do the same thing. [Read more...]

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Filed Under: Business, Marketing, Writing

Self-Publishing in the Age of Weinergate

June 9, 2011 By

Self-Publishing, Weingergate. Photo Credit – Flickr: Tony the MisfitLadies, I’ve got a scenario for you.

You’re leaving a cocktail party where you just spent the evening talking to two men.

One of them is a HarperCollins-published author, and the other has an online business where he writes a blog and self-publishes ebooks.

If you were asked which one of these men impressed you the most, what’s your natural inclination?

I’d say the man who writes for one of the top U.S. book publishers would probably be the winner.

Social status and finance aside, on a basic level, the traditionally published author grabs your attention because his work is validated—it got a gold seal of approval from a publishing company.

Simply put, self-publishing is still looked down upon because anyone can do it. [Read more...]

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Filed Under: Business, Current Events, Self-Publishing, Writing

How Making Mistakes Gets Me Hired As a Freelance Proofreader

June 2, 2011 By

Freelance Proofreader. Photo Credit – Flickr: jasmeetIf you hire a freelance proofreader to catch your writing mistakes, why would you want one who makes them herself?

It seems counterintuitive.

When I began offering online proofreading services, I was afraid to write anything other than copy on my bare bones (but meticulously crafted) Web site. I thought that the only way to keep my freelance proofreader reputation spotless was to avoid producing content.

The idea that I might make a typo or some sort of grammar error for the public to see was too much to bear.

You’re probably already thinking what took me months to realize. [Read more...]

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Filed Under: Business, Freelance Proofreading, Marketing, Online Proofreading Services, Writing