Make Money Finding Typos
MAKE MONEY
Make Money Finding Typos
Make Money Finding Typos
By Liz Folger
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 findspelling and grammatical errors without even thinking twice.
You were bornwith a gift, and believe it or not, this gift/passion can be used to earncash.
If you’ve spent any time on the Internet, you know more and more Web pagescome online everyday.
And you’ve seen that those pages hold a great numberof errors that practically scream for a proofreader’s attention.
Bruce Noeske decided to make use of his talent for proofing and editingwebsites, and figured out a way to make money as a result.
I was able to askBruce how he got started and if this was a business others could start.
Waittill you hear what he had to say!Liz: How will a person know if they’d be good at editing and proofingwebsites?
Bruce: Anybody who spots errors in writing everywhere they look would be agood match for this career.
People who are known as the official orunofficial proofreader of others’ writing at work, school, or home wouldenjoy editing and proofreading websites.
Those who search the newspaper fortypos are a natural for this position.
And I’m sure many people have comeacross websites that just hurt their eyes, and wondered if anything could bedone about it.
For some people, editing and proofreading come naturally.
Forothers it’s a challenge.
But if you get a real kick out of finding theerrors 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, butthat can be learned without a degree.
For many, it’s a gift.
My own degreeis in Human Resources Management, quite a far cry from English orJournalism.
In my eBook, I suggest a few ways to obtain proofreading andediting experience and to get some kind of certification.
It’s nice to beable to present some credentials to prospective clients, but not an absolutenecessity.
The only certification that’s really required is a “certificationof motivation.
”Liz: How much does it cost to get a business like this started?
Can it bestarted for under $100?
Bruce: One could easily launch their own home-based website editing andproofreading business for under $100, as long as we make a few assumptions.
The first and most obvious needs would be a computer with an Internetconnection.
As long as you can surf the Web, you can edit the Web.
If westart calculating at that point, then yes, startup costs can be below $100.
A few good reference books such as a dictionary and style manual arerequired.
Besides those, you’ll need a box of red pens, highlighters, andplenty of paper if you choose to print and mark up errors on paper.
Ofcourse, those last items are not necessary if you decide to do all theediting in your word processor.
Both capabilities are discussed in theeBook.
Setting up your own Web page is a good idea, and that’s where you mightstart running up some costs (not necessarily though, and the eBook talksabout that topic too).
But bottom line?
When I started my business, Ialready had a computer, Internet connection, and some dictionaries.
So mycash 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 verygood income.
To turn this job into a real moneymaker, you need to do a LOTof 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 therein cyberspace, there are plenty of opportunities for the serious websiteeditor 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’vewatched in astonishment as more and more businesses established their Webpresence without regard to the less-than-professional image they werepresenting to the world.
I believe that’s because many small- tomedium-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 tooffer them my services as a freelance editor, and my business took off fromthere.
The Internet is still growing at a phenomenal rate, and I just can’tkeep up with all the potential business out there.
I’m only half-kiddingbecause 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 ownbusinesses, that is… But there’s plenty of room for all of us in thismarket!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 tosucceed, they have to define their own niche; really focus it down.
When Ifirst started out, I targeted any and all websites.
No niche there; it wasway too broad.
Not surprisingly, I didn’t get very much business either.
Itightened my target market down slightly and did a little better, but I wasstill too unfocused.
It wasn’t until I found a way to market my talents to avery specific group of website owners that I became recognized as somewhatof an expert and my business became successful.
In my eBook in the chaptertitled “My Most Effective Marketing Technique,” I describe ways theprospective website editor can go about defining their niche to really getthe business going.
The best thing about operating within a niche is that all it takes is onesatisfied customer to get the ball rolling.
One success will lead toanother, and so on until it really begins to snowball.
You’ve heard theexpression, “Success breeds success.
” Well, it’s really true.
My ownbusiness is now at the point where I have as much work as I can handle, andcan get more anytime I want just by continuing down my list of targetedwebsites!Liz: Any last words?
Bruce: I want to remind everyone that Bizymoms.
com offers a Proofreadingchat every Monday evening at 7pm EST.
All are welcome to come in and discussthis fascinating business.
We talk about both website and regular,manuscript-based, proofreading and editing.
We also welcome questions andcomments on the Freelance Proofreading message board under Biz Ideas onBizymoms.
For more information on how you can make money proofing websites you canpurchase Bruce’s ebook, “Bizy’s Guide To Website Editing and Proofreading”at: http://www.bizymoms.
com/main/?
10000!0106 About the Author
Liz Folger is Work-at-Home Mom Expert and author of "The Stay-at-Home Mom'sGuide To making Money From Home".
Her book is available at your favoritebookstore like amazon.
comhttp://www.
amazon.
com/exec/obidos/ISBN=0761521496/bizymomsA/or by calling 800-632-8676.
Liz has also created a resource site forwork-at-home moms at: http://www.
bizymoms.
com.
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