Deadlines, Deadlines, Deadlines
Aside from being accurate, meeting deadlines is the most important thing you can do as a freelance copy editor. Your clients rely on you to provide material in a timely fashion. Whatever deadline is agreed upon, be sure to include it in the contract or work-for-hire agreement you and your client have drawn up.
You can even improve your chances of getting more work if you present a completed project before its deadline. With a reputation for fast and accurate turnaround, your freelance career will surely improve.
What a Good Web Copy Editor Can Do For You
Many business owners underestimate the power of copy on their Web sites. While clever animation and other visual tactics may add pizzazz to your site, it is strong copy that acutally sells your product or service.
Invest in a good Web copy editor who can weed through unnecessary language that clutters up your site. Streamlining your message is the best way to increase traffic to your site and improve your business. It's the Web copy editor's job to do just that.
Copy Editors & Language
Copy Editors know your language! This is a job that almost requires you to have been the grammar snob in high school. Every good wordsmith has mastered the use of language.
Your ability to express yourself in words and punctuate correctly can make or break an entire ad campaign.
Versatility As A Copy Editor
A copy editor must be versatile. The ability to adapt to the specific requirements of each project is a must. For example, a job copy editing software programs obviously requires knowing a word processing program inside and out. Yet, familiarity with programs such as Quark also enables you to make changes in the layout of an article or advertisement if need be.
*A little knowledge goes a long way as a freelancer.
The Crowning Touch of Headlines
A quick way to check the skill level of a potential copy editor is to view the headlines in his or her portfolio. Believe it or not, writing effective headlines is a cornerstone of the copy editor profession. That is because a copy editor must sum up an entire piece in a few short words, all with a conscious effort to "sell" it to a reader.
So be sure to hire a copy editor who has experience in the fine art of headline writing.
Two For One
Does your company need a vast amount of copy editing done on a shoestring budget? Consider hiring an intern along with a freelance copy editor.
Refreshing Your Web Content
Consider how often your site needs to be updated when hiring a Web copy editor. Web sites must refresh to maintain the interest of customers.
Some Web sites need constant refreshing of content. Be sure to discuss the topic of refreshing and what the rates and deadlines are associated with this task.
The American Copy Editors Society
The American Copy Editors Society (ACES) is a professional organization of copy editors. It is dedicated to improving the quality of journalism and the working lives of journalists.
The ACES functions to improve the standards of copy editing and increase the value the news industry places on the craft. Primarily, it focuses on newspaper copy editing. However, it also welcomes all other copy editors, including students of the craft.
The Poetry of Advertising
Ad copy is not fiction. The best copy editors use language sparingly and effectively to communicate an advertising message.
Much like a poem, there is no room for excessive text. When there are too many words, the main point is lost. Keep ads lean and mean.
Copy Writers vs. Copy Editors
There is often confusion about the difference between a freelance copy editor and a freelance copywriter. The following pointers will clear up the confusion.
? Copy writers and copy editors are masters of language. Both use words to the height of their rhetorical power to send a message to an audience.
? Copy writers create effective and influential text. This, however, is where their job ends.
? A copy editor steps in to clean up, fact check and doctor copy to give the final product the necessary polish. This usually involves proofreading as well.