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Make
Money Finding Typos
by Liz Folger,
Bizymoms.com
Everyone has a passion for something. And
there are those among you who, when reading a letter, a book, an
advertisement, or a website, can find spelling and grammatical errors
without even thinking twice. You were born with a gift, and believe
it or not, this gift/passion can be used to earn cash.
 If
you've spent any time on the Internet, you know more and more Web
pages come online everyday. And you've seen that those pages hold
a great number of errors that practically scream for a proofreader's
attention. Bruce Noeske decided to make use of his talent for proofing
and editing websites, and figured out a way to make money as a result.
I was able to ask Bruce how he got started and if this was a business
others could start. Wait till you hear what he had to say!
Liz: How will a person know if they'd be good at editing and
proofing websites?
Bruce: Anybody who spots errors in writing everywhere they look
would be a good match for this career. People who are known as the
official or unofficial proofreader of others' writing at work, school,
or home would enjoy editing and proofreading websites. Those who
search the newspaper for typos are a natural for this position.
And I'm sure many people have come across websites that just hurt
their eyes, and wondered if anything could be done about it. For
some people, editing and proofreading come naturally. For others
it's a challenge. But if you get a real kick out of finding the
errors that others miss, you'll love being a website editor!
Liz: Do you need an English degree, or any certifications for
that matter, to start this business?
Bruce: Absolutely not! You need a good grasp of the English language,
but that can be learned without a degree. For many, it's a gift.
My own degree is in Human Resources Management, quite a far cry
from English or Journalism. In my eBook, I suggest a few ways to
obtain proofreading and editing experience and to get some kind
of certification. It's nice to be able to present some credentials
to prospective clients, but not an absolute necessity. The only
certification that's really required is a "certification of motivation."
Liz: How much does it cost to get a business like this started?
Can it be started for under $100?
Bruce: One could easily launch their own home-based website editing
and proofreading business for under $100, as long as we make a few
assumptions. The first and most obvious needs would be a computer
with an Internet connection. As long as you can surf the Web, you
can edit the Web. If we start calculating at that point, then yes,
startup costs can be below $100.
A few good reference books such as a dictionary and style manual
are required. Besides those, you'll need a box of red pens, highlighters,
and plenty of paper if you choose to print and mark up errors on
paper. Of course, those last items are not necessary if you decide
to do all the editing in your word processor. Both capabilities
are discussed in the eBook.
Setting up your own Web page is a good idea, and that's where you
might start running up some costs (not necessarily though, and the
eBook talks about that topic too). But bottom line? When I started
my business, I already had a computer, Internet connection, and
some dictionaries. So my cash outlay was in the neighborhood of,
well, zero dollars.
Liz: Is it possible to make a full-time income from this business?
If so, would it be something that could happen overnight?
Bruce: Full-time income? Yes. Overnight? No. A good editor can
make a very good income. To turn this job into a real moneymaker,
you need to do a LOT of marketing and that takes time, some studying,
a bit of trial-and-error, and a lot of motivation. But with millions
of error-laden websites out there in cyberspace, there are plenty
of opportunities for the serious website editor to find business.
Liz: How did you decide this was a good business to make money
at?
Bruce: Since I first began exploring the Internet in the mid-1990s,
I've watched in astonishment as more and more businesses established
their Web presence without regard to the less-than-professional
image they were presenting to the world. I believe that's because
many small- to medium-sized businesses see the Internet as a way
to advertise, but they don't have the expertise to do their own
editing. I saw the opportunity to offer them my services as a freelance
editor, and my business took off from there. The Internet is still
growing at a phenomenal rate, and I just can't keep up with all
the potential business out there. I'm only half-kidding because
realistically, there just aren't that many website editors, so I
don't have much competition. Until people pick up my eBook and start
their own businesses, that is. But there's plenty of room for all
of us in this market!
Liz: What's the biggest challenge in running this business?
Bruce: Establishing a niche! Liz, you always emphasize finding
your niche, and I'm in complete agreement! If a home-business owner
really wants to succeed, they have to define their own niche; really
focus it down. When I first started out, I targeted any and all
websites. No niche there; it was way too broad. Not surprisingly,
I didn't get very much business either. I tightened my target market
down slightly and did a little better, but I was still too unfocused.
It wasn't until I found a way to market my talents to a very specific
group of website owners that I became recognized as somewhat of
an expert and my business became successful. In my eBook in the
chapter titled "My Most Effective Marketing Technique," I describe
ways the prospective website editor can go about defining their
niche to really get the business going.
The best thing about operating within a niche is that all it takes
is one satisfied customer to get the ball rolling. One success will
lead to another, and so on until it really begins to snowball. You've
heard the expression, "Success breeds success." Well, it's really
true. My own business is now at the point where I have as much work
as I can handle, and can get more anytime I want just by continuing
down my list of targeted websites!
Liz: Any last words?
Bruce: I want to remind everyone that Bizymoms.com offers a Proofreading
chat every Monday evening at 7pm EST. All are welcome to come in
and discuss this fascinating business. We talk about both website
and regular, manuscript-based, proofreading and editing. We also
welcome questions and comments on the Freelance Proofreading message
board under Biz Ideas on Bizymoms.
For more information on how you can make money proofing websites
you can purchase Bruce's ebook, "Bizy's Guide To Website Editing
and Proofreading", click HERE
To order "Bizy Guide To Creating Success In Web Design"
by Jennifer Czawlytko, click HERE
Liz Folger
is Work-at-Home Mom Expert and author of, "The
Stay-at-Home Mom's Guide To Making Money", available at
The Light Keeper Bookstore. Liz has
also created a resource site for work-at-home moms at http://www.bizymoms.com.
When you visit don't forget to sign-up for the free Bizy Mom e-newsletter.
!
Copyright 2004
by Angella Kay.
Reproduction without permission prohibited.
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