How can you effectively collaborate with writers and stakeholders when editing content?

La collaboration efficace avec les rédacteurs et les parties impliquées lors de l'édition de contenu est essentielle pour produire un matériel de qualité. Voici quelques conseils pour faciliter cette collaboration : - établissement d'une Communication Ouverte en utilisant par exemple des outils de collaboration en ligne tels que les plateformes de gestion de projet ou les applications de messagerie pour faciliter la communication. - Clarifiez les Attentes dès le Départ - Inclure des directives avec des instructions spécifiques sur le style, la tonalité, la structure du contenu, les mots-clés à utiliser, etc. Cela garantit une cohérence éditoriale tout au long du processus.

Contrary to micromanaging details, trust your collaborators. Establish broad expectations but allow flexibility. Grant autonomy to writers, fostering creativity and ownership. Abandon rigid editing structures; let the collaborative process flow naturally, encouraging innovation and shared responsibility.

Establishing clear expectations is vital in collaborating on content editing. It's crucial to go beyond the basics of purpose, scope, and deadline and dive into understanding the tone and voice the content should convey. This ensures the editing maintains the writer's original intent while satisfying stakeholder requirements. It's also beneficial to set up a system for feedback that's constructive and specific, fostering a positive environment for creative exchange. Remember, editing is a two-way street – it's about refining and enhancing the content while respecting the writer's style and the stakeholder's vision. Effective communication here is key; it prevents misunderstandings and helps streamline the revision process.

If you're uncertain about your expectations, it can create confusion for everyone involved. In addition to what's mentioned, here are two more factors you should address upfront: Clarify Feedback Style: Besides the feedback format, delineate the tone and style expected. Foster a constructive, collaborative approach that encourages open communication while maintaining professional critique standards. Review Timelines: Discuss and agree on realistic review timelines for editing and revisions. Establishing a clear schedule helps manage expectations and ensures the timely completion of the editing process.

At the start of any content project you should set and agree expectations. However, this is never more important than when working with an agency. Assuming the number of rounds of ammends can lead to frustration, disappointment and unexpected increases in costs.? As a marketing professional you may not also be a subject matter expert, so this may inform the extent to which you edit. Admitting this is not something to shy away from! Your expertise is in marketing. Depending on the audience and purpose, reviewing content without deep knowledge can be valuable. Consider yourself the voice of the customer, acknowledge your role, and play to it's strengths. Identify your expert stakeholders and leverage their experience.

If you are leading content marketing for a global business consider your target audience and those you may inadvertently reach. Will a UK based executive balk at your article lovingly written in American English? Should you consider localisation of content and thus local style guides? It may not be worthwhile, but either way make a choice and stick to it. Consistency is key. Make sure any new marketeers, writers, subject matter experts, and agencies have your style guide before the project begins.

A content collaboration style guide is like a roadmap for consistency and clarity. It's more than just a set of rules; it's a shared language that aligns everyone's understanding and approach. A well-crafted style guide addresses grammar and punctuation and nuances of your brand's voice and tone, ensuring that every piece of content resonates with your audience coherently. It's also a dynamic tool, adaptable to evolving brand needs and industry trends. Importantly, a style guide empowers writers by providing clear guidelines, reducing back-and-forth and ensuring that stakeholders' expectations are met with precision.

Style guides can save you from making the same edits over and over. For example, stating whether to use sentence or title case for headlines, whether to use an oxford comma, and how to refer to people once introduced (First name? Last name? full name?) If you are still in the process of building your style guide, try recommending a standard like AP style so your writers have general guidance on common things like how to write a book title or movie, when to capitalize, etc.

Providing constructive feedback is an art form in content collaboration. It's about striking the right balance between encouragement and critique. When giving feedback, it's crucial to be clear and precise. Instead of broad statements, pinpoint exact areas for improvement and suggest concrete ways to enhance them. This method turns feedback into a valuable learning opportunity rather than a source of discouragement. Approach feedback as a dialogue, an opportunity for mutual learning and growth. This fosters a positive atmosphere where writers feel supported and stakeholders are assured of their vision being realized. Effective feedback transforms the editing process from a hurdle into a collaborative journey towards excellence.

A good editor doesn't micro-manage unless they are working with a not-so-experienced writer. If you are collaborating with a writer who is a proven expert in the respective field, take a step back and leave them to do their magic. Always grant your writer freedom - they are doing something with a purpose, not out of pure randomness, so don't be too pushy. In situations like these, the presence of the editor shouldn't even be felt. Otherwise, the content will suffer.

This can be tricky to navigate. My recommendation is to ask your writer how they prefer to receive feedback. Leaving comments or 'tracking changes' on a word document might be the most efficient way to review content, but it can also be impersonal for the recipient. A conversation ahead of sending a document needing major rework may be a more tactful approach. If you are regularly working with the same writer, explain the reasoning behind your edits. This allows the writer to adapt their style meaning future content will require fewer rounds of ammends.

When it comes to online writing collaboration, there are Google Docs people and there are Microsoft Word people. Each hate the other's preferred software. So try to choose the one at least the majority of the group likes.

Sin duda, estamos en la era de la cocreación para generar contenidos más relevantes y que integren diferentes ángulos para comunicar nuestra historia y propósito. Utilizar Google Docs, One Drive y otras herramientas colaborativas, nos permiten ir contruyendo juntos mejores contenidos, además de que es importante identificar vía social listening, aquellos fans y colaboradores que comparten ideas, opiniones o visiones distintas de como utilizan o resuelven una necesidad con nuestro producto o servicio.

Collaboration tools can be fantastic time savers, but only if everyone commits to using them properly. Make sure that the team is familiar, competent and has access at the start of your project. It may seem obvious, but there is no point taking the time to input your plan into your project management tool, if no one else looks at it. Collaboration is the key word here. Acknowledge that people have different levels of digital fluency, and take the time to upskill those who need it. A few hours spent training the team on a tool, can be a tremendous time saver over the course of multiple projects.

Editing can feel like death by a million cuts. It's extremely normal to find yourself frustrated with last-minute requests and endless review cycles. As frustrating as it may be, that's a sign that the editing process is doing its job! Re-frame your perspective of feedback as new information that you get to bring into the piece, and manage the process by re-setting expectations every step of the way.

Everyone has an agenda. Your stakeholder is likely to have business development top of mind, your legal reviewer wants to mitigate risk, and your writer may have an eye on their next assignment already. It is part of your job to manage and balance these agendas, and keep things moving. If you don't know what each person's objectives are, it can be very beneficial to find out and evaluate which takes priority. Consider yourself the voice of the client, or find find someone to play that role, and make sure that is top of the list. Keep an open mind and listen to the perspectives of others, but as the brand guardian always make sure your content hits the right tone for your audience.

Gathering feedback can provide valuable insights to make collaboration more effective and enjoyable. Areas to explore include: - ways of working as a team - collaboration tools - clarity and format of the brief - review, edit, and approval processes - expectations for turnaround times Creating an environment were feedback is encouraged is crucial to developing as a team. Being able to recieve feedback personally is a great start in building that, and is a skill you can learn. Rushing the process or being stressed about something else can lead to a lack of tact, consideration and cause hurt feelings. Make sure you and others are in the right frame of mind when inviting or providing constructive criticism or ideas for improvement.

Have systems in place. Your content production should follow a predefined strict pipeline comprised of different stages. From first draft, to a detailed required asset (like graphics) list, to a first round of editing, to a refining stage, and a second thorough edit, to a staging/preview phase before publishing. Set expected turnaround times, and keep track of bottlenecks in any part of the process. Writing is creative work, yes, but with scale, it needs to be managed as just about any other production line.

Build a positive working relationship with writers. A collaborative and respectful environment fosters a more productive and enjoyable editing process. Be open to feedback and revisions from stakeholders. Flexibility in accommodating their preferences helps build a collaborative relationship and ensures a final product that meets everyone's expectations. When presenting edited content to stakeholders, provide context for the changes made. This can include explanations for rephrasing, restructuring, or any substantial edits.

Know your writers—learn about their previous work and select writers aligned with your vision and goals. While individuals can excel independently, there are those who not only excel but also match your style. Editing content from individuals who align with your flow is easier than adjusting the style of those whose work requires significant tweaking

Use "we" language to be more collaborative and less aggressive with your edits. For example "We're losing the reader here, could we add an example to illustrate this point?" or "This cited study is 5 years old, can we find something from the last 1-2 years?"

When collaborating with writers and stakeholders remember that everyone is different. What may have worked well on your last project may not on this one. Learn about the team, what makes them tick, the ways they like to work and how best to collaborate. This is not always possible because of time constraints, and not all team members will be open to sharing, so always keep an open mind to adapting the way you work on the fly.