LJ Pond | Non-Fiction Editor & Proofreader

Writing for your business

What was the last thing you wrote for your business?

A social post?

An email to a colleague?

A refund policy?

It doesn’t matter what kind of business you run – B2B or B2C, product-based or service-based – being able to communicate effectively through writing is important.

The problem is that’s easier said than done for many hardworking small businesses. Time, budget and the right skills are all influencing factors.

Why should I outsource work to an editor?

I believe everyone can learn how to write effectively, and there’s support out there for you if this is your goal.

Sometimes though, you just need to get the job done. Maybe that’s because you just don’t have the time to spend on it. Maybe you’ve tried but you can’t get it how you want it. Or maybe you just don’t want to do it in the first place!

I work with a number of small businesses for exactly these common and completely valid reasons.

One client is a great writer but is so busy working IN her business that she doesn’t have the time to do the mammoth task of polishing her content before it’s published.

Another business has all of the content on the page but they find it difficult to make it sound professional, unambiguous and easy to read.

And another is dyslexic and finds writing uncomfortable.

Whatever their writing pain point, outsourcing their editorial tasks is a solution. Many of them also work with a virtual assistant or VA – an all-rounder to help with administrative tasks – but for writing-focused solutions, they work with me.

What can I outsource to an editor?

To give you some specific ideas of what you can outsource to an editor, here are three examples of things they can do.

Repurpose your content

Currently, there’s a big focus on repurposing existing content for maximum efficiency in your business marketing. If you follow me on Instagram or Facebook, you might have even seen another version of this article! Even if you use AI tools to help you with this, you still have the time-consuming task of editing the new version to align with your brand voice.

Enter your editor – skilled at rephrasing and polishing text that engages. And yes, they can do a better job than an AI bot!

Tighten your T&Cs

We all have tricky clients from time to time – the ones that push the boundaries and try to get a little more than what we’ve agreed to.

One way to deal with them is to be proactive and have super clear terms and conditions to direct them to, so you don’t end up spending precious time composing messages and emails in response to their requests (or, in some cases, demands!).

Editors are experts at honing in on ambiguous wording and suggesting clear alternatives so your terms aren’t left open to interpretation. Ask any small business owner if they regret having tight terms and conditions and they won’t tell you no!

Elevate your lead magnet

I love a good lead magnet and I even have a dedicated email inbox for them because I collect so many! But I’ve been majorly underwhelmed by many I’ve signed up for.

Your lead magnet is the first impression I get of your business. It tells me what you know, what your values are, and why you’re right for me.

But when your offering isn’t polished to a shine, it falls flat. Typos, unclear sentences, text that doesn’t flow – these make your audience work harder than they should. And when they have to work too hard, they quickly tune out and *poof* – that value you so generously provided may as well not exist.

Editors are trained to spot the tiniest of inconsistencies and errors as well as the big ones, so their eyes on your lead magnet will help you feel confident it’s the best it can be.

Next steps

There are so many other things an editor can do to benefit your business, so if you have something in mind but you’re unsure if it can be done, just ask! Many freelance editors offer a query or discovery call before you get started to make sure you’re both on the same page and you have the right expectations.

To talk to me about outsourcing your editing tasks, send me a message. If I can’t help, I’ll suggest someone who can!

Thanks for visiting – see you next time!

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