How To Find A Job As A Copy Editor
Posted on August 23rd, 2008
Jobs for copy editors may seem like they are hard to find, but really you can find them and you can do so with many of the qualifications you already have. But, if you do not have any qualifications, this may be the first step in finding the copyediting job that you have been looking for. Jobs in this field are available, but it takes a good, solid portfolio and set of skills to get them. Here are some things to get you going in the right direction though.
1. Education is the most important aspect. If you do not have the time or funds to go to college to get a degree in writing and proofreading, you may want to look for a home study course. Often colleges will offer these courses to those who need to learn from home. It could be a good step for someone looking for copy editing work.
2. Create a portfolio of your work. If you establish any work in the field add it to your portfolio. This could be a simple document with your work displayed in it. If you have not obtained any opportunities, why not create your own? Look for projects to complete voluntarily as well. Getting the knowledge and experience is the most important aspect.
3. Search for job vacancies on the internet. Whether you apply for them or not, you can still get a good amount of knowledge about what is being offered, what requirements are needed, and then, you can see how you fit into the mix.
For those who are developing a freelance business, it is wise to look for jobs that offer more than a one time offering. A solid relationship in the employment of a company can lead to other jobs down the line. And, when it is time to look at the next job vacancies, they may turn to you. In this field, it is important to apply, apply, and apply. Get your bid in on some posted internet jobs. Get your name out as being available. Give the best rate then work to a higher one with clients as your experience grows.
All of these things can lead to more work, better work, and outstanding employment opportunities down the line.
Visit http://www.FreelanceWritingResource.com for more Articles, Resources, News and Advice about Copy Editing Jobs.
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Tags: editing, freelance, home business, jobs, proofreading, work from home, writing
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Before You Begin Know What To Expect How You Can Make A Living Proof Reading From Home
Posted on August 21st, 2008
Proof reading from home is an excellent way to make money, right? How hard and challenging can it be to do some editing after all?
In fact it can be quite challenging to find a good quality proofreader that works from their house. This is due in part to the heavy demands it places on the individual and on their family. It is often more work than realized. Here, we will talk about the realities of proof reading from home.
It is not an easy job no matter where you do it. For those who proofread at home, it is even more demanding. Most that do are freelance agents that are building their own business. This too creates added stress and pressure on the situation. A proofreader needs to provide quality work for the client. It is important to provide a solid foundation of work to the client in order to maintain their business. For that reason, when you are proof reading you need to treat it like a job. You need to have a secluded area to work and you need to work. No distractions from children or the housework. You will need to devote all of your attention to the work at hand. That is mandatory.
Proofreading requires a great amount of knowledge and skill. The distractions of home can destroy any work that is done if it breaks the concentration of the individual.
Proof reading is ideal, though, to many individuals. If it can be done effectively, it can be an excellent source of income. It can be a full time or part time job, and needs to be taken seriously. And, for those looking to get into it, they will need to devote time to learning the skills needed. Then, it may work out for them to be the ideal setting for work and building a business.
Freelance work like this is hard to find and should be cherished when it does happen!
Visit http://www.FreelanceWritingResource.com for more Articles, Resources, News and Advice about proofreading jobs, working from home.
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How You Can Find Opportunities For Foreign Language Proof Reading Work
Posted on August 19th, 2008
For those who are fluent in another language, foreign language (ie non-English) proof reading can be a great source of income. It is a difficult area for those who are not fluent to get into though. That is because, in order to be a proofreader, you must be able to do several things. It is not just spelling errors that the proofreader needs to fix. There are many other things that they need to do. It is important, then, that those who are seeking proof reading opportunities have the skills necessary to get the job done correctly.
For those who can do this, they will be in demand and have repeated work.
Proofreaders have to read copy and correct any errors in punctuation, grammatics, and also in the spelling. But, most of the time, they also have to ensure that the flow of the piece is correct and that it makes sense. If the author can not convey their message correctly, it is up to the proofreading experts do it for them. For those who do non-English proof reading, it is important that they also know the ins and outs of the language. Many languages have different dialects that are spoken in different areas. For those who speak Spanish in the United States, it is often a dialect of those who speak it in Spain. For the freelance proofreader, it is important to know which type of dialect, if any, should be used.
For those looking to get into this field, they will find opportunities in translations readily available to them. From there, they will find those who need them to write in or edit pieces on their businesses. But by far the most important aspect that they need to have is a good foundation in the language.
Visit http://www.FreelanceWritingResource.com for more Articles, Resources, News and Advice about Freelance Proofreading Jobs.
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How Much Can You Earn Working As A Proofreader?
Posted on August 16th, 2008
Thinking of a career as a proofreader? Then you will most likely want to know about salaries. Are you hoping to hear that you will make thousands and thousands of dollars a month in this field? It is very possible that you will barely make a few hundred when you are first starting out. There is no guarantee of a paycheck in this field. If you do not provide quality work, you probably will not have many clients returning for repeat work. Proofreading as a career is hard, but when you get in the door, you may do fairly well. Proof reader salaries are not glamorous, but they can be fairly good.
To find out about salaries, you can look at any of the websites that offer postings for this line of work. It can be said that proofreader salaries are among the best in the writing field, but they are not going to make anyone a millionaire. In fact, the only way to know for sure what you will make is to get a job in the field. There are a couple things that can help you predict the level of qualifications that you have though.
First, proofreading salaries are based on qualifications. Have you been to school? Do you have a degree?
They are based on experience as well. Have you done any writing or editing in the past?
Freelance individuals may make slightly more than those who work for a company, but they also have to find their own work which can prove to be difficult.
Being an established proofreader can offer many rewards though, down the line. In this case, salaries are fairly good.
What also helps to make this career quite attractive is the wide range of interesting clients and work that can be found. The fact that many proofreaders and editors work from home can be an attractive feature. Many proofreaders see this as compensation for the limited salaries that they are able to command.
Visit http://www.FreelanceWritingResource.com for more Articles, Resources, News and Advice about Proofreading Jobs.
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Tags: editing, freelance, home business, jobs, proofreading, work from home, writing
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How Can Qualifications Help Your Proof Reading Career?
Posted on August 11th, 2008
For those who are looking for a career as a proofreader, it is important to have the right qualifications. It is important to remember that this is a proper job. It is not just an easy way to make some money from home. For those who are serious, it will require a lot of diligent work to get into the field. And, when they do, it will take time to build your freelance business to the stage where it is profitable. Nevertheless, here are some of the basic qualifications that you will need:
1. You may find it more than valuable to have a proofreading training certification. This can be obtained in a number of ways. You can get it from going to a college and taking the right courses. Or, you can find a number of colleges online that are accredited and can provide you with the training you will need. You can obtain this certification after completing a series of courses on the proper writing techniques and editing requirements.
2. Proofreaders need to be diligent people. This is because it is necessary to work and work at the piece until it is perfect. Sure this can be difficult as you do not want to rewrite the entire thing, but make slight changes to the copy. They need to work hard to establish this type of commitment.
3. One of the most important aspects to any good proofreader is their ability to be creative. The words need to be right, yes, but they need to be creative and flowing. Even though the proofreader doesnt write the piece, they still have to make the necessary corrections to it to insure it is properly worded.
When individuals set out to become a proofreader, they may want to build a freelance business in it. Becoming a freelance proofreader is an excellent way to make a living, but it takes hard work and dedication. The qualifications that you have will make or break them. You will need education but they will also need quality business skills as well.
Visit http://www.FreelanceWritingResource.com for more Articles, Resources, News and Advice about Freelance Writing Jobs. Copyright FreelanceWritingResource.com. All rights reserved. This article may be reprinted in full so long as the resource box and the live links are included intact.
Tags: editing, freelance, home business, jobs, proofreading, work from home, writing
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How Can You Find Out The Salary Of A Freelance Proofreader?
Posted on August 5th, 2008
How can you establish the earning potential for a new job? For example if you are looking for the salary of a freelance editor, how will you find this information? There are several ways that you can do this. However there is one determining factor that will cause you to be better or lower than the average you find. That is experience.
First, we will talk a bit about the salary of the freelance editor. Then, we will get into the qualifications that allow you to find where you can place yourself.
To find the information that you need about salaries look online. There are many websites that will actually calculate the average income from many positions. These websites can also tell you the forecasts for employment in these fields. You may look for jobs in editing and vacancies as well. To find them, just do a simple search. Or, look to your favorite job posting boards that have editing positions available. There you can see how much is being charged for each project and gauge your level of skill and experience accordingly. The websites that offer income information are free to the public to use.
It may not give you a good idea of your potential though.
In order to know your potential salary youll need to know where you stand in qualifications. For example, are you new to these opportunities? The less experience you have in editing, for example, the less you are worth. Also, in the proofreading and editing jobs that are available, youll need a good, solid knowledge of the way things work. Youll need certifications as well. If you have these and/or experience, your income potential is much higher than that of someone who doesnt. The websites that offer information on income levels in this sort of employment will gauge it by the level of skill, experience, and training required for particular jobs.
Simply being able to offer more of these aspects will put you in the position to make more income than others would.
Visit http://www.FreelanceWritingResource.com for more Articles, Resources, News and Advice about Freelance Proofreading Salaries.
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Tags: editing, freelance, home business, jobs, proofreading, work from home, writing
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How You Can Find Proofreading Jobs
Posted on August 3rd, 2008
Many people are looking for proofreading jobs but have really no idea how to find them! It gets to be very tiresome trying to find answers when all you can find is just another website that is selling the information. The good news is that there is a lot of advice available to those looking for this type of employment. Here, we will give some basic advice that will help you find a good way into the field. But, remember, proof reading is a serious employment opportunity. In order to make it work you will have to work for it.
For those looking for freelance proofreading opportunities, you will find them posted and advertised throughout the internet. People are looking for individuals who want to work hard and will provide them with quality work from the beginning. Heres the trick though. How will these people and businesses know that you are worth the time and expense? How do they know you have good quality proof reading qualities? They do not know. They need two things from you in order to choose you over another individual. They need samples of your work and they need to know that you have the right training to be a proof reader.
When you are looking for jobs remember to look for all sorts of opportunities. On many message boards, you will find postings for jobs that are for proof reading. To get them, have samples of your skills ready, have testimonials of your previous work as well. And, have the right amount of training to do your job well. Proofreading jobs will come to those who can prove themselves in these areas. To get started, do a couple projects for free or at a discounted rate. Prove yourself and your education, then the jobs will come. To start out, look online at those websites that people gather at to find skilled providers. By doing a simple search for proofreading jobs you will find some. You may need to pay for membership, but when you have access to that many opportunities, youll be happy you did.
Visit http://www.FreelanceWritingResource.com for more Articles, Resources, News and Advice about Freelance Writing Jobs. Copyright FreelanceWritingResource.com. All rights reserved. This article may be reprinted in full so long as the resource box and the live links are included intact.
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The 3 Most Common Mistakes Freelancers Make (& How To Remedy Them)
Posted on July 30th, 2008
Recently, I attended a conference given at my local Chamber of Commerce. It was entitled, How to Bring Your Business to the Next Level. The reason I mention it is that the speaker covered several points that tie in with the 3 most common mistakes freelancers make, outlined below.
1. Not Targeting a Market: I call this lack of freelancer focus. Do you drive without a destination? Probably not. Most of us know where we’re going when we get in our cars, on the train, on the bus. We have a specific destination in mind.
Because editorial and creative freelancing encompass such broad categories, it can be difficult to focus. Eg, writing. Huh? For what - magazines, e-zines, newspapers, websites, newsletters, brochures, direct mail, etc., etc., etc.
What type of writing for what sector? Legal, medical, technical, scientific, real estate, financial, general (what does that mean?), etc., etc., etc.
What type of client? B2B, B2C.
As you can see, your choices are endless. And, you may be talented enough to write in many sectors. However, you will have a hard time selling this to potential clients, and you will almost always be beaten out for assignments by those who specialize and have the body of work to prove it.
I know this first-hand. I owned Inkwell Editorial, an editorial staffing agency in New York City, from 1996-2004. When I was recruiting for clients, I ALWAYS chose freelancers who had a background in the discipline for the assignment. Why? Because clients demanded it and they made me look good. I mean, when you think about it, why would I choose someone who was a generalist when I had 15 or 20 just as qualified candidates who had years of experience in what I was looking for? It was a no brainer.
That’s why I’m adamant that freelancers should specialize. It’s not that you can’t go outside your speciality, but if you target a specific market, you build your client list that much faster and can service them better. Once you have your bread and butter clients, you can choose a secondary market - if you feel it necessary.
So, choose a niche market and focus all of your marketing dollars on it. Feel free to take other things as they fall in your lap, but give your chosen market your laser focus, eg, ad dollars, promotional efforts, etc.
2. Not Creating a Business Plan: Don’t shut down! Come back. Focus. Pay attention. This is not more corporate mumbo jumbo - I promise. I’m not saying spend 6 months to a year writing a 30-page document that has to be presented to a venture capitalist.
BUT, I am saying that you need the bones of a business plan in front of you. Eg, who’s your target market; how will you reach them; via which advertising medium; what servies will you offer; how much will you charge; how much will it cost you to provide the service (remember, as an editorial/creative worker, your product is time); what is your ad budget; how much will you need to reach your goals (eg, quit your job, bring in an extra $x/month)? All of these questions - and some more - should be answered.
Many freelancers fail at freelancing because they don’t do this type of detailed thinking before starting out. You can take one weekend and flesh all of this out and be done with it. Just be sure to write it down and REFER TO IT OFTEN.
3. Not creating a marketing plan. If you are building your business on the cheap, as many do just starting out, it will take much more time than you realize.
So, you will need to map out a plan of what you’re going to do on a daily, weekly, monthly basis to reach your financial goals. Trust, trust, trust me that if you don’t, you will make less money and become frustrated with what could be a wonderful career. It ALWAYS takes longer than what you think.
Doing even a scractch marketing plan will make you feel accomplished - especially if you are doing something every day to market your business. It could be as simple as writing one article a day, pitching 10 potential clients whose info you found on the web, submitting one press release a week.
Imagine if you did just the above, that would be five new articles, 50 client pitches and one press release - all in one week. Now, multiply this by four (a month); 12 (a quarter); 52 (yearly) and you can see how just garnering even a 2% response rate would net you 52 new clients a year (50 client pitches/week x 52 weeks x 2%).
I could go on and on on this topic because it can’t be repeated enough. Many freelancers think that they can just get a website, put in a marginal effort and things will happen. And sure, it will, but it will be in trickles, dribs and drabs.
If you want to make a real go of freelancing, treat it like a real business from the get-go, and you exponentially increase your chance of success.
2000-2050, Yuwanda Black. Yuwanda Black is the publisher of InkwellEditorial.com: THE business portal for and about the editorial and creative industries. InkwellEditorial.com offers first-hand freelance success stories, resume tips, editorial e-courses, advice on the business of freelancing, job listings and much more!
Tags: freelance writing, small business marketing, telecommuting job, work from home, write from home
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