As the business world and technology evolve, the internet becomes a big provider of work. Everything is now happening online and job prospects of all kinds are abounding more and more. As such, proofreading online is beginning to gain greater popularity among online freelancers seeking employment with a future. If you are looking for a liberal profession, you can earn money by proofreading.
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What is proofreading?
For the past two decades, promoters and business leaders have understood the importance of the Internet in popularizing their activities, whatever their nature. Moreover, they attach great importance to their electronic visibility.
The Internet makes it possible to open up to the whole world, but to have more visibility, it is important to produce quality content. The goal is to have a good referencing. Many website promoters and content producers therefore resort to the help of young proofreaders, whose task is to correct texts written by editors.
This is what proofreading is all about.
How to become a proofreader
There are many websites specializing in proofreading that you can contact online. Platforms are dedicated to this kind of activity where website promoters in need of proofreaders post requests with working conditions, the nature of the texts and the budget they wish to devote. In this case, you are on your account. It is a risky situation for you if you happen to come across dishonest people who refuse to pay you once the work is delivered.
If you are considering securing your job more, you can be recruited by companies specializing in this area. These are usually web writing agencies that need people to take care of the proofreading of written articles.
All interested persons can then respond to his offer. A private discussion allows both the proofreader and the promoter to have additional information on the service and, as far as possible, close the deal. In most cases, you are sent a test article which you must correct and return to prove your ability to do the job. This test allows the employer or promoter to assess your skills. In this regard, what are the ones you need to have to exercise this profession?
The skills to have to be a proofreader
No qualification is required for this kind of job. However, it is important to have certain qualities such as a satisfactory intellectual level, mastery of normative grammar and spelling and the culture of a job well done. In addition, you have to be awake and have an open mind. Concentration is also an essential quality because you must have the necessary seriousness to do a good job. You will have a competitive edge over your competitors if you know style guides such as MLA, APA, and the Chicago Manual of Style. Some tasks may require such knowledge.
Benefits of being a proofreader:
- There is a high demand for concealers, even for beginners. Thus, it will not be too difficult to find the job;
- The start-up costs of a proofreading career are very low; all you need is a computer and an internet connection.
- You can register on many correctional sites, so you will always be able to find work.
Disadvantages of being a proofreader
- You have to meet tight deadlines and if you mistakenly do too many projects at once, it can be extremely stressful;
- Proofreading is not suitable for people who require supervision to meet deadlines (or who procrastinate a lot).
- Some remedial jobs prefer those with higher education.
- Client research and work can be time-consuming.
How much money can you make proofreading online?
There are several factors that determine how much a freelance proofreader can make. Generally, you can make between $12-$20 an hour. Some companies or individuals may offer much more. When you make it a full-time job, you can quickly make a lot more money since this profession requires practically no investment. Other factors that may determine how much you make include the complexity of the document, your expertise, and experience level. Proofreading jobs can be charged per word count or by the hour.
Platforms for find proofreading jobs online
If you are interested in making money proofreading online, and you have the skills needed, here are some of the best platforms you can use to get your first online proofreading job.
Tools for proofreading
To be a good proofreader, you need to master grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc. But there are tools and resources that can help you get the job done faster and more accurately.
LanguageTool
LanguageTool is a service that allows us to check text for grammar, punctuation, and style errors. Suitable for finding and correcting most grammatical errors. The system has a spelling correction function and at the same time extensions for Google Chrome and FireFox browsers.
SpellCheckPlus
SpellCheckPlus is a free spelling and grammar checking site. You are encouraged to use the site at every stage of the writing process because when you correct an error, the program can identify new ones.
Scribens
Scribens is a powerful and free spelling and grammar checker. Scribens corrects many types of grammar errors and detects repetitions, repeating phrases, abbreviations, etc. It is available in English and French.
Reverso
Reverso is the all-in-one tool that provides you with high-quality translations and helps you strengthen your language skills seamlessly. Reverso can be used to enrich and expand vocabulary.
Conclusion: Proofreading as a reliable job
Proofreading is a reliable job that’s been around since the dawn of print media, and it’s a job that will continue to exist as the demand for content marketing grows. It won’t make you rich, but when you know how to become a proofreader, you can create a lucrative side gig for yourself.
This post is also available in fr_FR.