Why I was compelled to start a proofreading / editing business
Spelling and Grammar errors can REALLY HURT your business!
I am an avid reader of both print books and any interesting information on the net.
As I am also a previous honor-roll student in spelling, reading and English, my satisfaction and entertainment are often offset by my being forced to stop and re-read when I come across spelling or grammar errors!
Just today, when reading a continuing saga by one of my very favorite authors, I found myself having to stop and backtrack three times in one chapter.
This is in a series of books by one of the most famous authors on the planet and I know she has professional proofreaders and editors at her disposal and would most probably be amazed by how many typos, misprints and UHOHS! I have come across in the 30 books in this series, let alone the hundreds of other books she writes which are in another “niche” and not the ones I most like to read and collect.
Upon visiting some of the most professional and KNOWN business web sites, I have come across some glaring errors that amaze me with not being noticed.
When I have the time and inclination I have been known to drop the webmaster an email with free, friendly advice on fixing the UHOH! along with, of course, a compliment on the look of the site, information offered there, or something, but, in all honesty, fair or not, I more often have found myself just clicking away and looking elsewhere for my information or entertainment as it just does not seem professional and yes, I must admit, to ME, trustworthy if a big busy famous company cannot be more careful of their content.
What does this have to do with you and me? Well, I go to visit a lot of blogs, fellow biz sites and shop on the internet myself. If I find I am having to stop and backtrack or re-read to keep focused on what I am reading, I will rarely continue. Sometimes it is as simple as run on sentences, if there is no clarity and / or smoothness to what I am reading, it becomes “work” and I am not visiting web sites with the need for more work to do than I am already doing!
Since I already had a home based office services business, which I started in 1998, after taking a course in computerized medical office technology and transcription so I could learn to use a computer and find work once I learned the basics, switching over to Virtual Assistance office assignments is a perfect transition. And since I love editing my marketing ezine of 9 years, Rim Digest, and have spent the past year doing proofreading assignments when they came my way, it seems like the perfect way to help others have the most credible and easy to read Blogs, Web Sites, reports, books, eBooks and other documents, that we can achieve by joining forces.
I knew as soon as I heard about Virtual Assistance that this is something I would like to do, be proficient at and could make a worthy contribution with. As my preferences are doing the proofreading, editing and transcription assignments, although I can offer any number of business office services, these are the ones I am concentrating on.
Thank you for taking the time to read my post and may you have nothing but success!
Jan Tallent
P.S. Even best selling authors make mistakes in spelling and grammar, and no matter how many times they may proofread their writing they still may not catch their mistakes. Why not leave the editing of your English language material to me and be assured that it will be polished and ready to go when you need it? Visit: Tallent Agency Virtual Assistance now.
Tags: Editing, errors, fixes, grammar, Proofreading, spelling
