Why Editing is Essential for Web Copy
Written by:
Chase Rief
Article Overview: We have all heard the infamous words, "First Impressions Matter". Perhaps nothing sums up the best reason that editing is essential for web copy. Stop and think about the last website that you visited. Did you notice something that was not quite right? Chances are if you did, it will stick in your mind for a very long time!
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Free Download - Why Editing is Essential for Web Copy By Chase Rief
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Why Editing is Essential for Web Copy
We have all heard the infamous words, "First Impressions Matter". Perhaps nothing sums up the best reason that editing is essential for web copy. Stop and think about the last website that you visited. Did you notice something that was not quite right? Chances are if you did, it will stick in your mind for a very long time!
Your Web Presence
Most businesses that elect to have a website created do so as a way to attract potential clients and/or employees. Because your website is in fact your "presence", it means that your corporate culture is often reflected in your web copy. If your web copy is full of typographical and grammatical errors then the first impression those visiting your site get is not going to be positive. Your web presence should speak for you this alone should be enough reason for having properly edited web copy.
The Message
If your web copy is loaded with mistakes (whether they are typographical or grammatical) then the message that people get when visiting is that you're lazy, uncaring, or that you haven't taken the time to follow up on a job you hired someone to perform. This is not the message you want to send to clients or to potential employees. Your web copy should reflect your professionalism and having properly edited web copy is the first step.
Proper Editing
There is nothing that can replace proper editing of your web copy. For those who hire people to create copy you should still be reviewing their work carefully for errors. Even a single mis-used word can have a negative impact on your website. In order to attract people proper editing of web copy should be done with an eye to the consumer of the information on your website.
SEO Editing
It is extremely helpful if when you are editing your web copy that you ensure that it is "SEO friendly". This can help make sure that you appear properly in search engines and that those who are looking for your products or services can find you.
The Domino Effect
We all remember the old commercials that said, "If you tell three friends, and they tell three friends, etc." then soon a product would be popular. Today, the internet is not only a tool where we go to find information, products and services; it is also a social venue for many of us. Just stop and think about how quickly the word can get out about a less than perfect website.
Summary
All of these reasons make it essential that your web copy is properly edited. We take pride in the products and services that we offer to the public. That alone is enough to make editing essential for web copy. Make proper editing of your web copy the first step in helping your online business thrive.
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Article Tags:
corporate culture,
domino effect,
first impression,
first impressions,
grammatical errors,
impressions matter,
infamous words,
job,
long time,
negative impact,
old commercials,
professionalism,
search engines,
sums,
uncaring,
web copy,
web presence
About the Author: Chase Rief
RSS for Chase's articles - Visit Chase's website
Chase Rief is a USC graduate with majors in both International Relations and Political Science, but he always harbored an interest in technology. Chase is a former employee of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Chase worked at a large online marketing firm where he felt the needs of smaller businesses were being overlooked. He developed Rief Media Inc. with the idea in mind of having one stop where clients could go to get all of their marketing needs met. Chase designed Rief Media Inc. to be the only company you need to help your business reach its full potential.
Click here to visit Chase's website

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Related Forum Posts
Top 19 Copywriting books
- 1. Ogilvy on Advertising. David Ogilvy. Wiley.
2. Positioning: The Battle for your Mind. Al Ries and Jack Trout. Warner.
3. The New Positioning. Jack Trout. McGraw-Hill.
4. Tested Advertising Methods. John Caples. Prentice-Hall.
5. How to Make your Advertising Make Money. John Caples. Prentice-Hall.
6. Guerrilla Advertising. Jay Conrad Levinson. Houghton Mifflin.
7. Direct Mail Copy that Sells. Herschell Gordon Lewis. Prentice-Hall.
8. Sales Letters that Sizzle. Herschell Gordon Lewis. NTC Business Books.
9. Herschell Gordon Lewis on the Art of Writing Copy. Herschell Gordon Lewis. Prentice-Hall.
10. Romancing the Brand. David Martin. American Management Association.
11. The Art of Writing Advertising: Conversations with William Bernbach, Leo Burnett, George Gribbin, David Ogilvy, Rosser Reeves. NTC Business Books.
12. Confessions of an Advertising Man. David Ogilvy. NTC Business Books.
13. My Life in Advertising. Claude Hopkins. NTC Business Books.
14. Scientific Advertising. Claude Hopkins. NTC Business Books.
15. How to Become an Advertising Man. James Webb Young. NTC Business Books.
16. The Lasker Story as He Told It. NTC Business Books.
17. Advertising Concept and Copy. George Felton. Prentice Hall.
18. The Copy WorkShop Workbook. Bruce Bendinger. The Copy Workshop.
19. Hey, Whipple, Squeeze This: A Guide to Creating Great Ads. Luke Sullivan. Wiley.
This should keep you busy for at least a year.
Enjoy!
Securing Financing
- This is a short article that a friend of mine put together. He's a business banker and it seems that he would be the right person to put the info together. He compiled it for inclusion in a book about opening a pizza shop. There could be some useful info here -
In order for a bank to even consider financing for a business loan such as a pizza restaurant, the first step is to have good personal credit. If you have previous credit issues that have lowered your credit scores, make sure you are prepared to either hear, “No”, or “Please explain this (these) credit marks.” If you have not demonstrated the ability to manage your own personal finances then most likely you will not have the opportunity to manage the financing from a bank for a business. When you make the initial contact with a bank, ask to speak to a commercial loan officer.
Other types of loan officers include consumer (think car loans) and mortgage (think home purchases and home equity loans). The commercial loan officer will be able to provide a list of things you will need to give him/her in order to consider the restaurant financing. Information required for a new business most likely will include the following:
Personal financial statement (Assets – Liabilities = Net Worth)
Personal tax returns (two years)
Business Plan
If leasing property, copy of the lease agreement
If purchasing property, copy of the sales contract
Personal History / Resume (may not be required but is very
helpful)
If an existing business, add the following to the list above:
Business tax returns (two years)
Copy of State Corporation Commission Certificate
Copy of Federal Tax Identification Number or Employer
Identification Number (EIN)
Copy of Articles of Incorporation (if corporation)
Copy of Operating Agreement (if partnership)
One common mistake a new business owner often makes with regard to financing is that one loan will cover all the financing needs. This is typically not the case and can lead to cash flow problems that could result in default on the loan, which is not what the lender or borrower want. In most cases, either two or sometimes three separate loans would be appropriate. For instance, if one is purchasing real estate then a long-term mortgage loan would be appropriate to finance that purchase.
However, the pizza restaurant may need to purchase equipment and have cash available monthly to meet payroll and purchase rolling inventory.
An equipment loan could take the form of a five or seven year loan with a fixed monthly payment much like a car loan. A line of credit, on which one would pay interest monthly on the outstanding balance, may be prudent for short-term cash flow purposes. All three should be addressed in the business plan and discussed with the commercial loan officer.
Chris
Re: What About A Cumulative Story
- [quote="mphcoach":39ybk1nj]You know how it goes, I start it off, say like this..
Copy and paste this bit and add yours next bit in (just wish I was getting the adwords share on this!)
[i:39ybk1nj]As Jenkins got out of the elevator on the 17th floor that morning, little did he know what was about to happen. He would never look at a skinny double latte the same way again.[/i:39ybk1nj][/quote:39ybk1nj]
[i:39ybk1nj]This was because staring across the hallway was his rival, the same person who stole his business idea and made millions all those years ago...[/i:39ybk1nj]
Need a book recommendation for writing better
- I'm always looking for ways to improve my writing skills, so I was just wondering if anyone could recommend a good copywriting or copyediting book?
I was actually thinking of reading "The Copywriter's Handbook : A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing Copy That Sells" by Robert W Bly [u:w3cg00nn]OR[/u:w3cg00nn] "The Copyeditor's Handbook: A Guide for Book Publishing and Corporate Communications" by Amy Einsohn. Would anyone know if these books are any good?
Thanks
Re: Don't read this unless... you want to help me!
- Hi Jamie.
I am a business coach as well and I think I can offer some insight. I think there is a wide spectrum of things people are being challenged with. Some of the common ones are Twitter Marketing, Social Media Marketing, Copy writing and personal branding. If you want to build your business you will need to Invest in yourself by reading books, attending courses/seminars. With the type of business you are in you are going to want to make yourself valuable to a wide variety of people with a wide variety of problems. I make an excellent living what I am doing but I never stop growing myself as a person and an entrepreneur so keep growing yourself, and over time your business will grow with you.
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