Do you find spelling mistakes or grammatical errors in everything from packaging to social media posts?
Your keen eye might be a sign its time to start your own business as a freelance proofreader.
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If youre looking to boost your income this month, weve got just the thing for you.
Do Proofreading Jobs Still Exist?
If you assumed editing software orAI chatbotshave obliterated the need for proofreading services, youre wrong.
What Are the Qualifications for Freelance Proofreading Jobs?
Many proofreading jobs prefer industry-specific expertise and a deep understanding of the technical or academic writing processes.
Some freelance jobs may also require candidates to take aproofreading testas part of the app process.
How Much Do Freelance Proofreaders Make?
Salary.com puts themedian proofreader salaryat $58,681, while ZipRecruiter ballparks it at$57,520 per year.
Thats how it happened for Caitlin Pyle, the proofreading powerhouse behindProofreadAnywhere.com*.
Pyle wasnt yet convinced proofreading would be her best source of income.
But her eagle eye kept calling her back to proofreading.
Curious about how to start proofreading as aside hustleor freelance business?
Pyle shares her best advice.
*Note:Pyle sold Proofread Anywhere in 2022.
Whats your educational background?
Were you a word nerd as a kid?
I was always the one who people gave their essays to for proofreading.
I got my bachelors degree in communications at the University of Central Florida in 2009.
What made you change your mind from personal training to proofreading?
I really liked being able to make money on my own terms and loved the flexibility it provided.
I eventually realized while fitness training was fun, it was economically inefficient.
How do you hustle to find clients and get your work done?
At the beginning, I did a lot of contract work with one court reporting agency.
This agency still hands out my name.
I do get referrals from current clients, too.
With those two things combined, I really dont need to do much marketing of my own these days.
The work tends to market itself.
This is why you need me.
That leads to really happy clients and more work for me.
It did take some time to build up stamina to read as much as I do.
Not procrastinating plays a role, too.
I never, ever sit on work.
If I have work to do, I get it done as soon as possible.
If I let it sit, it can pile up fast, and I can get overwhelmed.
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How much does a freelance proofreader make?
Id say the average rate per page is about $0.35.
Well call that average some students may read faster or slower.
Its important to remember you are paid per page!
Have you ever been in a situation in which you had too much on your plate?
How do you balance your workload?
I have indeed been in a situation where Ive had too much work.
My first step is to communicate with the client and tell them I am swamped.
Or they will find someone else, or ask me to refer them to someone else.
Other times I simply say no.
Ive learned that time is just as precious as money.
What are your business costs?
Can you talk about some of the tools that have been worth paying for?
After that, theres really not much else to pay for, making it an ultra-low-cost startup.
Most of my students make back that investment in the first month or two, as well.
but I 100% recommend using one.
I use an iPad Mini 2.
My other optional (yet for me essential) expense is FreshBooks cloud accounting.
Ive been using it for over two years now.
It costs me over $200 a year, but I am so organized!
Invoicing and billing is so easy.
I cant believe I used to write invoices manually on Excel.
Remember proofreading skills are not the same as editing skills.
Separate legitimate proofreading jobs from scams.
The best online proofreading jobs sound amazing, with flexible schedules, sky-high salaries and no experience required.
Stick to freelance platforms with built-in safety nets.
Already have plenty of experience or taken a proofreading course?
You might be able to sign on with a proofreading website likeScribendi.
Build a base for repeat business.
To make serious money proofreading, you must create a repeat clientele base.
Broaden your skill set.
And there are plenty offree resources onlineto help you broaden your skill set.
Home proofreading jobs seem a little niche.
Is Your Paycheck Not Going As Far As It Used To?
We get it.Everythingis more expensive than it used to be, but your paycheck hasnt kept up.
When money is tight,these resourceswill help nearly everyone.
Kaz Weida is a senior staff writer at The Penny Hoarder covering saving money and budgeting.
