Irrespective of whether or not the content material is in print or on-line, there’ll at all times be a necessity for proofreaders. Turning into a freelance proofreader would be the good resolution so that you can work from home. 
Every little thing we do as we speak appears to occur within the digital house. It’s all typed for us to learn. And, you probably have learn something these days, you might have observed grammatical and typographical errors. Hey, it occurs. However, it actually shouldn’t (even for me, and I admit that it nonetheless does every so often). Due to the rise in on-line advertising and marketing, articles, and web sites, the necessity for proofreaders continues to develop. It may be a profitable profession for anybody seeking to exchange or complement their earnings. However, you need to know the place to begin. That’s why I reached out to Caitlin Pyle, the proprietor and blogger behind Proofread Wherever. If you wish to enhance and even exchange your present earnings, freelance proofreading is perhaps the reply for you. Caitlin was capable of make greater than $43,000 in 2014 simply from proofreading. She has developed a plan to assist anybody seeking to both complement or exchange their earnings by turning into a contract proofreader. Learn Extra:
HOW TO BECOME A PROOFREADER ONLINE
WHO IS THE WOMAN BEHIND PROOFREAD ANYWHERE?
I began out working a 9-to-5 job as a receptionist at a busy courtroom reporting workplace again in 2009. I used to be so good at recognizing errors that courtroom reporters began calling me “Eagle Eyes.” As I moved up on the workplace, I began proofreading for courtroom reporters as a aspect hustle. In 2011, I parted methods with that agency however saved my proofreading shoppers. I’ve been alone ever since. As I gained expertise and received increasingly shoppers, I streamlined my proofreading methodology so I might work extra effectively. Finally, proofreading turned my major supply of earnings. My family and friends took discover and began asking me how I constructed my enterprise. I launched Proofread Wherever, after which later, Transcript Proofreading: Concept and Apply™, launched.
WHAT DO FREELANCE PROOFREADERS DO?
Folks (particularly bloggers and different enterprise house owners) are in search of passionate, detail-oriented proofreaders. Every time phrases get put into print, they must be proofread for accuracy. Somebody can write a weblog submit or a resume (or something, actually) and browse over it themselves, however they already know what they placed on the web page. That makes it tremendous straightforward to learn what you count on to be there somewhat than what’s truly on the web page. That’s when writers can overlook a misspelled phrase (suppose their as a substitute of there) or a lacking phrase. So it’s at all times good to have another person learn over your writing. I even have somebody learn my weblog posts earlier than they go dwell. Nobody’s immune! It comes as no shock, however my favourite kind of proofreading is proofreading transcripts for courtroom reporters (also known as authorized proofreading). Anybody who’s watched crime drama TV exhibits has most likely seen an individual sitting within the entrance of the courtroom typing away on somewhat machine. That’s a courtroom reporter, and so they’re writing on a steno machine. They take down phrase for phrase what everybody within the courtroom says. Their steno notes are was a transcript, which then must be proofread earlier than it’s handed over to the particular person requesting it. Transcript proofreading is a really particular area of interest and requires very detailed coaching earlier than proofreaders begin serving to out courtroom reporters.
WHAT ARE THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR FREELANCE PROOFREADING?
Surprisingly, it isn’t nearly being a whiz at grammar and spelling. It’s truly about having a very good work ethic. You might be in control of your individual success. Your repute will decide should you’re somebody within the proofreading group who shall be recognized in your excellent work ethic or somewhat as somebody who can’t be trusted to answer emails, return a high quality job, meet a deadline, and/or be trustworthy. An excellent proofreader likes to learn. You may be doing heaps (and LOTS) of studying. Should you don’t take pleasure in studying, you positively received’t take pleasure in sitting down and choosing up a 300-something-page transcript. You want a want to study and continue to learn. Should you’ve by no means proofread a transcript earlier than however suppose all of it already — and simply must know find out how to get shoppers — you’ll be in for a impolite awakening. Court docket reporters can odor inexperience from a mile away. Lastly, you do must be acquainted with fundamental grammar and spelling guidelines. You don’t should be good at them, however you probably have a tough time catching errors as you learn by way of ads or magazines and such, you’ll have a really troublesome time with transcript proofreading, and I wouldn’t suggest it for you. Oh – and yet one more factor!! Proofreading shouldn’t be a option to get wealthy rapidly by placing in minimal effort. Transcript proofreading is a lot of labor. Should you’re in search of a willy-nilly little “course” to present you some normal concepts on find out how to catch errors and make loopy money, this isn’t for you. Transcript Proofreading: Concept and Apply™ isn’t designed to chuck a gazillion individuals haphazardly out into the world to scrounge for shoppers. It’s there to equip severe individuals with the severe abilities wanted to carry out severe work.
IS ANY SPECIAL TRAINING REQUIRED?
Whereas theoretically, anybody might name themselves a proofreader and begin attempting to proofread normal textual content like time period papers, weblog posts, and the like, now that transcript proofreading for courtroom reporters takes a distinct type of talent set than normal proofreading. Transcript Proofreading: Concept and Apply™ goes in-depth on every little thing, from the very fundamentals of what makes up a transcript to find out how to proofread transcripts (you follow on over 3,000 actual transcript pages) to advertising and marketing specifics. Even should you’ve proofread different sorts of textual content earlier than, should you haven’t proofread a transcript earlier than, you’ll want particular coaching earlier than providing that as a service.
HOW MUCH MONEY CAN FREELANCE PROOFREADERS MAKE?
That is determined by fairly just a few elements. Transcript proofreaders cost by the web page, so your fee will depend upon how rapidly you may work by way of a transcript — and with what accuracy you are able to do that. Blasting by way of a transcript ultra-fast and leaving a great deal of errors in your wake received’t make you extra money in the long term as a result of it’s going to spoil your repute. It’s greatest to begin slowly and construct up pace. It additionally is determined by your targets. Do you need to give up your job and keep at residence? Some graduates of Transcript Proofreading: Concept and Apply™ constantly earn greater than $2,000 a month and might keep at residence with their youngsters. Others don’t need to give up their jobs however admire the additional money to repay debt quicker or have extra wiggle room of their budgets. There are college students making $4,000 and extra a month – working part-time. Others are making 6-figures yearly. It’s your enterprise. You determine how a lot you need to proofread. That type of flexibility is strictly what makes me so passionate concerning the work.
WHAT IF I TRY IT AND HATE IT?
Then be trustworthy however form to your self. You received’t know till you attempt, so if it appears attention-grabbing to you, give it a good shot. Don’t give up too early, however should you get into it and truthfully don’t take pleasure in it, that’s a very good signal it’s time to maneuver on. Some of us get began and LOVE each minute of it. Others begin and discover out it’s actually not one thing they take pleasure in. That’s why I break the coaching into ranges. College students put money into every stage as they go — not all upfront. So if somebody decides it’s not one thing she or he desires to proceed, then they’d merely not put money into the following stage of coaching. Straightforward! Now whereas there have been college students — and even graduates — who’ve determined proofreading simply isn’t for them, the data and confidence they achieve by way of the group and the coaching (particularly the advertising and marketing coaching) gave them the boldness to department out into different freelance abilities. Some follow proofreading however as a substitute of proofreading transcripts, they do different sorts of proofreading. Others discover a utterly totally different space of the freelance world they actually love, like transcribing or writing. We even encourage branching out as a result of extra abilities at all times translate to extra money.
WHAT DOES IT COST TO GET STARTED PROOFREADING?
You’ll be able to join my free intro course for, properly, free! It received’t price you a dime to see if proofreading transcripts for courtroom reporters is one thing you’d be focused on pursuing additional. Full disclosure: It takes a LOT of labor to study the ins and outs of this work, so that you received’t study every little thing you must know in a free week-long course. BUT it’s going to assist you determine if you wish to pursue transcript proofreading additional within the intensive course, and also you’ll get some glorious advertising and marketing ideas for normal proofreading. Should you do select to maneuver on with structured coaching, you’ll discover that in comparison with investing in a school diploma to begin a brand new profession, our on-line coaching is sort of inexpensive. Apart out of your coaching, we suggest an iPad (round $200 for a mini) and a particular annotation app we use (about $10).
HOW DO YOU FIND ONLINE PROOFREADING JOBS?
Fairly than spin your wheels attempting to determine find out how to get began by yourself, I like to recommend you’re taking a free course to get began. You’ll study extra about proofreading so you may determine if it’s a match for you or not.
ANYTHING ELSE OUR READER SHOULD KNOW?
Don’t second-guess your self. You probably have eagle eyes which can be at all times catching errors far and wide, transcript proofreading could be your area of interest. Self-doubt is without doubt one of the largest causes desires by no means make it to actuality. Time to do one thing about that!