Editing tips for bloggers

Posted by Katherine Thompson on July 16, 2008 at 9:21 AM

Paul Chaney has come up with a list of essential blog copywriting tips for any bloggers, reports practical ecommerce.

He states that a veteran magazine editor once told him: "Never edit your own stuff." However, with the rise of the independent blogger and rapid 24/7 news culture we sometimes have no choice.

Here are his key tips:

Use spellcheck. Chaney states, "if you're blogging for business, I think correctly spelled words along with the use of proper grammar is a non-negotiable." He also points out that a common error when creating web copy is saying "you" when the poster meant to say "your." Spellcheck will not catch that error.
Proofread the post using preview mode. Chaney says it is better to print your copy and proofread it that way. The main point being to proofread the posting.
Read the piece aloud. Chaney believes its, "another way for your brain to wrap itself around the text and insure it has a logical, readable flow."
Practice using acceptable style (AP style), but not at the expense of forsaking your own. Despite this Chaney says it is important to develop your own voice.

Source: practical ecommerce