15 ESSENTIAL EDITING TIPS

Every Content Creator Needs to Know

Stefanie Flaxman’s

Has your brilliant content still not scored you that dream writing position, lucrative business partnership, or sweet recognition among your peers and target audience?

If you think your articles are top-notch, but there’s a lonely tumbleweed blowing through your barren website, it may be because you’re just a writer.

You heard me, Gloria. If everybody wants you, why isn’t anybody calling?

Once you create a blog or email newsletter, you need to also actively take part in its evolution.

While keeping diligent focus on your content production, you must also review your past choices, looking for ways to allow more readers to engage with your writing.

In other words, to become a stronger writer, you may need to think more like an editor.

In other words, to become a stronger writer, you may need to think more like an editor.

Here are 15 editing tips that will help you become a more effective editor-in-chief of the content you create.

Fall in Love with Your Website

Forget “like.”No one will be head-over-heels about your online space if you’re not thoroughly impressed with your presentation. Commit to making your site a masterpiece before you even think about your next post topic.

1

Turn the spotlight outward.Remember that a good About page is as much about your audience as it is about you.

2

Demonstrate authority.Display badges or testimonials that represent your expertise.

3

Tell them what you want.When someone arrives on your site, what do you want him to do next? Subscribe? Hire you? Collaborate? Explicitly state your website’s purpose as if it were a physical storefront.

4

Fascinate your audience.Educate and entertain in equal measure.

5

Vamp Up Your Editorial Strategy

Water the plant.Each edit you make to your text should directly contribute to your goals and content strategy.

6

Prepare (don’t plan).Structure your editorial calendar in a way that allows you to adjust your posting schedule if you get new ideas or need to fit in time-sensitive content.

7

Take out of the equation.If you’re preoccupied with “writing well” to impress others, you may feel pressure and get stuck. Concentrate on helping your audience instead.

8

yourself

Research what’s hot.Get the right visitors to your blog by finding and using the keywords they use when they search online.

9

Look in nooks & crannies.Can you provide additional information in new posts that enhances content you’ve already published?

10

Make Your Words Potent

Divide and conquer.If you truly serve a specific niche, you will exclude another group. It’s necessary. There should be certain people who hate your writing.

11

Outline major points.You’ll flesh out the details of your content when you write each line, but ensure posts are cohesive before you begin.

12

Learn language rules.Grammar can be boring, but what’s worse than boring? Losing readers because they don’t understand your writing. Your blog posts won’t be useful unless they’re clear.

13

Avoid word choice mistakes. Don’t carelessly write “effect” when you mean “affect.” Do you know the difference?

14

Everything is practice.Be proud of the work you’ve already completed and aim to get better. Don’t take anything you read or write for granted. It’s all a lesson.

15

Remember: you control the draft.

Drafts aren’t only rough versions of documents and manuscripts. Most creations are ongoing works in progress.

Remember: you control the draft.

Drafts aren’t only rough versions of documents and manuscripts. Most creations are ongoing works in progress.

Prioritize the changes you need to make, and then wrap a pair of horn-rimmed glasses around your face.

Remember: you control the draft.

Drafts aren’t only rough versions of documents and manuscripts. Most creations are ongoing works in progress.

Prioritize the changes you need to make, and then wrap a pair of horn-rimmed glasses around your face.

It’s time to grab your virtual red pens, my Editing Friends.

Remember: you control the draft.

– Stefanie Flaxman

If you want to reach your audience, they first need to understand your message.

Listen to Editor-in-Chief to learn more about the art of writing, updated for the digital age.

Listen to Editor-in-Chief