Business editingWhat I do > Business editing | Editing web content | Editing for publishers | Developing style guides | How I do it
Why would a business use an editor?When your customers and prospects are reading whatever you want to say about your business, you need them to focus on the meaning of your message. They should be able to understand and absorb each sentence quickly and at the first attempt – otherwise they can easily lose interest and look elsewhere.
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If you want your written communications to work for you, they need to be:
It's easy to fall into common traps, such as writing too much, using your own jargon rather than the customer’s language, using ‘big’ words to try to make a good impression, and not using a consistent style. Also, errors won’t help your credibility: poor spelling or grammar is often a turn-off for potential customers (more on this here and here).
If you’re a marketing, communications or PR firm, all of the above also applies to material that you write on behalf of your clients.
Your internal communications also need to be clear, succinct and easy to follow. Otherwise, your staff or colleagues will collectively waste hours trying to understand them, and will waste both their time and yours by asking for clarifications.
Professional editing can be a great help with things such as:
- clear
- concise
- consistent
- easy to read
- well suited to your audience.
It's easy to fall into common traps, such as writing too much, using your own jargon rather than the customer’s language, using ‘big’ words to try to make a good impression, and not using a consistent style. Also, errors won’t help your credibility: poor spelling or grammar is often a turn-off for potential customers (more on this here and here).
If you’re a marketing, communications or PR firm, all of the above also applies to material that you write on behalf of your clients.
Your internal communications also need to be clear, succinct and easy to follow. Otherwise, your staff or colleagues will collectively waste hours trying to understand them, and will waste both their time and yours by asking for clarifications.
Professional editing can be a great help with things such as:
- promotional material: brochures, leaflets, flyers, catalogues, website content, blog posts, product descriptions, fact sheets, guides, advertorials, press releases, mailshots
- magazines and newsletters
- business documents: reports, plans, reviews, proposals, bids, tenders
- internal communications: training documentation, staff memos/emails.
What I can do for you
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This is where my business editing service can help you. I can bring clarity and a sense of smoothness to your writing. I’m trained and experienced in the art of checking for errors, inconsistencies, ambiguities, and wording that can be improved. I’ve edited a large number of business documents, and I know how to spot business-speak, jargon, superfluous words and unnecessarily long ones. I also know how to fix these problems.
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‘Graham’s work has consistently been accurate, comprehensive and insightful. His can-do attitude and efficient approach make him a valuable asset to any publishing enterprise.’
Editor, B2B content marketing agency |
I can do any or all of the following, according to your needs:
If you’re aiming at a wide or non-specialist audience, plain English can make a big difference to the impact your content will have. I can help with this: just mention it when you’re asking for a quote, and I'll include it, perhaps as an optional extra.
If you produce a designed publication, such as a brochure or client magazine, I can copy-edit the content before it’s converted into its final format for publishing, or proofread the formatted version afterwards.
I can help with your website content, including blog posts. Please go to the Editing web content page to find out about these services.
I can also help you to define a consistent style for your written material, by creating or enhancing a style guide.
(Please note: I don’t write content from scratch – for that, you’d need a copywriter.)
As an Advanced Professional Member of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP), with its code of practice, I assure you that I’ll respect the confidentiality and commercial sensitivity of any material you share with me. I’ll gladly sign a suitable confidentiality or non-disclosure agreement if you ask me to.
- Improve the clarity, readability and conciseness of your written material
- Make sure it’s suited to your target audience – this can include reshaping it into plain English if needed (see below)
- Make sure it follows a required style
- Fix errors and inconsistencies in spelling, grammar and punctuation
- Highlight suspected factual errors (although I don’t offer a full fact-checking service, I will report anything that strikes me as being potentially wrong)
If you’re aiming at a wide or non-specialist audience, plain English can make a big difference to the impact your content will have. I can help with this: just mention it when you’re asking for a quote, and I'll include it, perhaps as an optional extra.
If you produce a designed publication, such as a brochure or client magazine, I can copy-edit the content before it’s converted into its final format for publishing, or proofread the formatted version afterwards.
I can help with your website content, including blog posts. Please go to the Editing web content page to find out about these services.
I can also help you to define a consistent style for your written material, by creating or enhancing a style guide.
(Please note: I don’t write content from scratch – for that, you’d need a copywriter.)
As an Advanced Professional Member of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP), with its code of practice, I assure you that I’ll respect the confidentiality and commercial sensitivity of any material you share with me. I’ll gladly sign a suitable confidentiality or non-disclosure agreement if you ask me to.
If you think I could help you, please get in touch and tell me what you’re looking for. I can consider doing a sample edit, to help make sure we agree on what’s to be done, and to give you an idea of what my finished work would look like.
