How can you revise and edit your content more efficiently?

The content should be grammatically correct. Try to use vocabulary according to the intent audience. Read the content multiple times to remove all errors. Keep the pieces of content connected.

The most efficient way to edit is proofreading aloud. Read your copy out loud slowly and enunciate each word. By doing this your ears hear errors your eyes don't see. Errors can go undiscovered when you read silently because your mind has the ability to process jumbled words and mentally correct errors. Reading aloud will also help you find spelling errors that spell-check cannot detect when the misspelling is an actual word. A common example is accidentally writing the word "form" instead of "from." This technique also enables you to hear poor grammar. It will help you find sentence fragments, run-on sentences, awkward or confusing sentences, poorly worded sentences, repeated words, passive voice, and more.

Writing, editing, and proofreading can be time-consuming. One way to save time and make the process more efficient is to place the data before actually writing the content. Let's say you are writing a blog on AI technology. You have checked various websites, white papers, and articles and have found points, terms, phrases, metrics, etc., that you would like to use. Start placing the data in the content sections where you feel they will work (intro, body, conclusion). This will help you create a skeleton of your blog, which will give you a clearer idea of what to edit, change, and/or delete. Once you are done with the data placement, then begin writing and editing your blog.

My checklist when making revisions typically includes answering several questions. ??Is this relevant to the chosen audience? ??Does it logically lead to the desired take-away? ??Does this content meet a current marketing goal? ??Is is easy to read and engaging? ??Is the information correct? ??Is it written correctly? ??Is the formatting in line with planned distribution?

Understanding the purpose and audience for your content is foundational in the B2B space. Aligning content strategy with business objectives ensures the right messaging reaches the right stakeholders. By prioritizing clarity, accuracy, and coherence, you're not only enhancing the value of your content but also strengthening business relationships. Leveraging a checklist or rubric is a proactive approach to maintain consistency and quality throughout the revision process.

I always put the final draft through Grammarly just to find the typos and other small errors that can be difficult to see after you've looked at a piece of content for so long. It won't find everything, but it can help you avoid the moment of panic when you notice -- after a piece of content has gone live -- a small but noticeable error.

I want to introduce some plagiarism checker here that I heard is so good to be used as an effective tool for revising and editing your content. The first one is Turnitin. This bad boy is like your online detective, sniffing out any copycats by scanning the entire internet and academic stuff for similarities. The next one is Plagiarism Checker X; Think of it as your trusty sidekick in the battle against copy-paste bandits. It's always on the lookout, checking the web and academic papers for any content doppelgangers. And the last one is Duplichecker. Your content's bodyguard, patrolling the online and academic world to keep your work squeaky clean from any sneaky copy-pasters.

I use a few tools, some built into MS Word as macros, in the Review tab: 1. Weasel Words: These are words or statements that are intentionally ambiguous or misleading. Here are a few: almost, about, around, can, closely, essentially, expect, feel, hope, lots, may, might, seems, etc. It also filters out: - Emotion words (angry, wished, happy, etc). - Filler phrases (again, for the purpose of, supposed, etc). - Passive voice (it was, there was, etc). - Specificity (a bit, a lot, usually, etc). - Directness (believe, think, try, etc). - Bias 2. Read Aloud (Alt+Ctrl+Space) 3. Check Accessibility 4. Acrolinx (great tool with plugins to Word or any Content Management System you are using).

There’s plenty of artificial intelligence tools available that help you check your grammar, usage, and even flow. Make use of those tools.

Content Revision & Editing Checklist with Tools: Spell Checking: Use spell check tools like Grammarly or Microsoft Word's built-in checker. Grammar Review: Tools like Grammarly or ProWritingAid can help identify grammatical issues. Readability Analysis: Tools like Hemingway Editor can suggest improvements for complex sentences. Plagiarism Scan: Ensure originality with tools like Turnitin or Copyscape. Style Guide Adherence: Familiarize with guides like AP Style or Chicago Manual of Style. Vocabulary Enhancement: Use online dictionaries, thesauruses, or tools like Power Thesaurus. Avoid Repetition: Utilize synonyms and antonyms tools. Manual Review: Always reread your content personally, as tools can miss nuances.

One key tip to eliminate gaps in content: Close each heading with a subtle open loop. If you want the reader to read through every single section of your post, use the last paragraph of each H2 to create the need of knowing whatever lies in the next part. Add some mystery or leave an important question unanswered - pushing them to explore more. This can be applied to upcoming blog posts too if you're writing a series.

Revising to create a good content is important as it it helps in branding. Use of consistent content ensures that it creates better brand impact about the product or service in the social media platforms. Consistent revision ensures that the content is actually remains relevant as reference in the long run. Revising content about a topic as per situation or relevancy helps generate maximum visibility about the topic by encouraging discussions, as well as encourages questions and answers that can add great value to anyone interested about the topic.

My writing does not usually hit the page in the order in which it will be delivered. I might start somewhere in the middle. I might save the introduction until I’ve fleshed out the body. Often, I go back in and add additional sections. It’s very easy to get tunnel vision when writing sections independently. For this reason, I always wait a day to do my revisions. This helps me to come back in with fresh eyes to look at the piece as a whole rather than a collection of independent, but Inter-related writings.

Content Structure & Flow Checklist: Main Idea & Purpose: Confirm that your content aligns with its intended goal and message. Logical Order: Ensure content points follow a sequence. Transitions: Check if transitions between sections or points are smooth and clear. Support for Main Idea: Make sure all sections or points support or enhance. Outlining: Draft an outline before writing to structure your ideas and points. Mapping: Use visual aids like flowcharts or mind maps. Identify Gaps: Look for any missing information or points. Spot Redundancies: Remove repeated information or ideas. Check for Inconsistencies: Ensure there's uniformity in tone, style.

As an Instructional Designer, I may either write original content or work with content shared by a subject matter expert. In both cases, quality of the revision and editing depends on my understanding of the content. I follow these steps to revise and edit content: - Read the complete storyboard (i.e., all the content) or raw content twice or thrice - Know the objective of the piece - Review the structure and flow - Eliminate redundancies in words and thoughts - Break content into digestible chunks for clarity and readability - Simplify sentences - Run a spell check Note: I avoid writing assistant tools for content creation because a tool can only provide something basic, the writer makes the piece better or brilliant.

One of the key to become an exceptional writer is to have simplicity in your sentences. Using complicated and jargon heavy words can put your piece in a spot where audience can feel overwhelmed. Clear and straightforward sentences resonates better with readers, rather than unfamiliar words (which eventually will have to be googled). Every writer has a unique style and cannot necessarily be like someone else. Respect your style, maintain a consistency, and have continuous strive for improvement. It is also important for your personal branding. This is why most of the companies follow a style guide across their content. Simplicity and style can be achieved via tighter sentences and words. It provides a punchiness to your whole piece.

Simplicity should not sacrifice quality. Some people think that simple prose is unintellectual prose. I say it's the exact opposite. It's harder to write simple, direct sentences than it is to write fluffy paragraphs. Do not assume your audience has specific knowledge. Also, do not alienate your audience with technical jargon. Keep everything simple and the content will flow better than you think.

As a general rule of thumb, I keep all sentences under 20 words. I also make sure to keep the Time to Read metric to under 30sec per page. According to the Nielson Norman Group, viewers typically leave a website within 10 to 20 seconds. People have an attention span of eight seconds. A decrease from 12 seconds back in 2000, according to a Microsoft study. Human attention span decreases by 88% every year, which is shocking. This is easily proved with the advent of social media apps allowing shorter videos for users and creators.

I find it is helpful to drop official words - not just officialese (no, that's something different). As a communications designer, I find it helpful to put myself in the shoes of my audience who are not privy to the official designations for official documents. So while communication within the office would contain titles as "Migration Poll 2022", communication going out to the public would read "A survey on migration in 2022". Straightforward and easy.

When you know what you want to (or have to) write about, start writing. It's better to have a structure in mind or in paper, but if you can't decide that yet, start writing your ideas. Don't think that you'll remember "that brilliant idea that crossed your mind" later. Most probably you won't, but you will remember that you had it, and forgot it! Write it down. You can work on the structure, the language and the style later. Think of your audience. How can you impress them and get them to engage with your content? What images can you create for them to see when you speak, or when they read your content? How are you different from them, and what novel perspectives can you offer?

Emotional quotient (EQ) is the ability to understand, manage, and use your own emotions and the emotions of others. It is a critical skill for anyone who works with written content, as it can help you to create content that is both informative and engaging. When you are editing or rewriting content, it is important to be aware of the emotional impact that your words may have on the reader. For example, if you are writing about a sensitive topic, such as death or grief, you need to be careful not to use language that is too harsh or insensitive. You also need to be aware of the reader's emotional state. If they are already feeling emotional, you need to be careful not to add to their distress.

This has proved to be really helpful for me. I don't shy away from asking my colleagues to take out some time and read my articles and script. It helps me to get a second opinion and reflect on things which I might have missed. They may not be subject experts but their feedback does add value as I ask them to read it from a client’s view.

I’ve found that often the best ‘beta readers’ are a mix of genre-related professionals and dedicated target audience individuals, both who are non-affiliated with my work. In addition, I give them a time frame I need their insights back by as well as a set of specific questions I’d like for them to keep in mind as they go through it.

Reading out loud helps me catch awkward phrasing, typos, and grammar errors that I might miss when reading silently. It also helps me with the tone, to make sure it's resonating with my audience. But writing and editing tools are here to help identify common errors quickly, so I first use them.

Ensure you're writing for your audience, and not for yourself. Many writers will fall into the trap of writing someyhing they'd feel comfortable reading, while their audiences won't. An example - a writer creating articles for the fintech niche will often try to simplify their content. The audience in that niche expects pro jargon, and bounces away from articles that don't look like they've been written by thought leaders or industry experts. So familiarize yourself with the language of the niche. Adjust your verbiage, expressions, colloquialisms to what is expected for the industry you're writing content for. Potentially create a mini guide of DOs and DONTs for yourself, and check every content piece with the help of that resource.

To make your writing more concise, take "The 5% challenge." Here's how that works. You review your draft and challenge yourself to cut 5% of the word count -- without sacrificing style, flow, or important key points. You might not be able to get to 5%, but that doesn't matter. When you look for ways to tighten your text, your content almost always ends up better.

My favorite editing technique is to read what I wrote out loud. It's harder to do than it sounds because I want to rush through it. Since I know what I've said, I want to skip to another section. That's when I put the proverbial brakes on and slow down. It's also where I generally find a piece of phrasing that sounds off or a misplaced comma.

As someone who writes a lot in English, which is actually a third language for me after Greek and French, I find that reading improves my writing. I'll read everything, online and offline (books!). To edit, in English, I'll use online tools when necessary, and in every language, I'll use the technique of "sleeping over it": I'll let some time pass after I've finished the copy, and then check it again with fresh eyes. This helps me improve the flow and make the copy easier to access for the reader.

Using Generative AI Wisely Here are three tips for effectively revising content with Chat GPT: Enhance Creativity: Leverage Chat GPT as an advanced thesaurus to diversify your writing. Ask for 50 alternative titles for your blog, focusing on reader benefits. For example, inquire, "Generate 50 titles with reader benefits." Handle Technical Tasks: Utilize Chat GPT for tasks like word count and sentence variety. Keep in mind that grammar may require manual review. Afterward, re-read and refine your content for precision. Integrate Feedback: Harness Chat GPT to incorporate feedback received from others. Input the feedback and ask, "How can I integrate this feedback seamlessly?" Ensure your revisions align with valuable input.