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Editing web content is different than working with a manuscript, book, or even social media post, especially considering the rise of generative AI content.
Some aspects, like proper grammar, are the same. However, web content needs to engage the reader quickly and provide relevant information that’s on point for the reader and the search engines.
The goal is essentially to offer helpful content that keeps readers interested and supports the content marketing funnel.
Approach editing web content in an organized fashion to ensure that you are providing a clean and polished final product.
Let’s take a closer look at 8 editing guidelines for editors of online content, like blogs and articles.
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Before you take the time to edit, always check for AI-generated content.
You can sometimes flag AI content by observing a style that’s too uniform or lacking natural flow. It also tends to repeat specific phrases or concepts more frequently than a human writer and often produces an unusual sentence structure.
AI is often grammatically correct, but not conversational, which is what is needed for web content.
However, studies have shown that humans struggle to identify AI-generated content. So, for a reliable AI detection method, when checking content, use an AI detector.
Then, don’t forget to check for plagiarism as well. There are several consequences of plagiarism. So it’s essential to check for any duplicate content and cite any external material or sources properly.
With Originality.ai, you can check for AI and detect plagiarism at the same time to streamline the editing process.
Read the article thoroughly and determine if it follows the content brief and hits all the points.
Ensure it stays on topic and meets the goal outlined.
Some elements that are in content briefs that you should look for include:
The content must match these requirements and be maintained throughout the entire article. Next, check that the writer has given you the proper word count without any fluff.
Finally, during this part of the editing process, ensure that the article aligns with the website’s brand voice as outlined in the content brief.
Discover three content brief examples for web publishers.
The structure should be like a road map for the reader and allow them to follow the article more easily. It also helps the search engines follow the content.
Some elements you should watch for to improve readability include:
Check for large blocks of text that can be broken up into smaller chunks. Shorter paragraphs are more readable for mobile users.
Subheadings should vary between H2s and H3s (and flow naturally — H3s should offer more clarity on the subtopics within an H2).
The copy should be overall clear and concise, and it must be easy to understand. If it’s confusing to you, it’s confusing to the reader.
Get more tips on how to write for content clarity. Then, conveniently check text with the Originality.ai Readability Checker.
When editing web content, checking for SEO is a must in your review process. So, during editing, optimize the copy to ensure it follows SEO best practices.
Don’t forget SEO is about more than just keywords. Seo basics also cover aspects like internal linking and mobile optimization.
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Proper punctuation, grammar, and spelling are a must in web content.
Look for the glaring grammatical errors and correct them immediately. Change improper punctuation and syntax errors.
You’ll find it easier to read the text once the technical problems have been eliminated.
To make sure you don’t miss anything, conduct this check one sentence at a time, and then review your web content with a Grammar Checker.
Besides reviewing punctuation and syntax, you’ll want to scrutinize the article’s overall organization and flow.
Ensure you fact-check the article. If the writer cites sources, review them and their credibility.
Ensure there is supporting evidence for the claims the article makes. If statistics are used, check for links to credible sources. Essentially, you always need to consider where the information is coming from.
Fact-checking also goes hand-in-hand with reviewing instances of AI-generated copy, as AI can hallucinate and present incorrect information as fact.
Now it’s time to become the reader! This is also a best practice for writers who are self-editing their work.
Once you’ve read it, double-check grammar one last time before sending it to your web publisher or scheduling it via your CMS (content management system).
As an editor, you are ultimately responsible for the accuracy, clarity, and readability of the article you’re editing.
Besides readability for the user, you want the search engines to find the article and rank it.
Following an organized process will help you succeed at your editorial goals!
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Discover more editing best practices in our top guides:
