10 Editing Tips to Improve Your Copy

After you've written your first draft, it's time to edit your copy. Here are 10 editing tips to improve your copy.

1. Check the content.

Look over your copy to check the content. Check for its persuasive power. Remove anything that doesn't belong in your copy. See if anything can be added. Arrange the material in the order you want.

2. Remove unnecessary words.

Check your copy to see if you've used any unnecessary words. Tighten your copy by removing them. This strengthens your copy and its selling power.

3. Read it out loud to check for awkwardness.

Read your copy out loud. See if it flows naturally. If you run out of breath when saying a sentence, the sentence is probably too long. Split the sentence into 2 or 3 shorter sentences.

4. Check for anything confusing.

If anything seems confusing, edit it to clarify it in your copy. If your copy is vague, add specifics. For instance, "Jim teaches at a university in a city," can be more specific by rewriting it as, "Jim teaches at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby."

5. Check for accuracy.

Check if your copy is accurate. Make sure you can deliver on the promises you make in your copy. Check for honesty. Make sure everything in your copy is true. Check if you have enough proof of your claims. Remove any hype.

6. Use your word processor's spelling and grammar checker.

This one's easy. Use your word processor's spelling and grammar checker to correct any errors you have in your copy.

7. Read your copy backwards to proofread the spelling and grammar.

Sometimes, your word processor's spelling and grammar checker may miss errors. Read your copy backwards to check for spelling and grammar. You may also catch errors you missed when reading your copy forwards.

8. Put it aside for a day or two.

After you're done revising, put it aside for a day or two. By then, you'll be able to see your copy objectively and catch errors you didn't see before.

9. Repeat the process until you have the final draft.

After you've put the copy aside and then revised it, put it aside again and give it another revision. Keep repeating this process until you're satisfied with your copy.

10. Have someone else read it.

Give your copy to someone else to read. That person will be able to catch errors you didn't see yourself. Make changes as necessary to your copy according to the feedback.

Apply these 10 tips when editing your copy. Your copy will be polished and improved to increase its selling power.

Francis Lui is a freelance web copywriter with web technical skills. To get FREE web copywriting and Internet marketing tips, sign up for his FREE newsletter, The Web Copy Letter, at http://www.francislui.com/.