Did you know you can make a full-time income correcting punctuations, typos and errors in text? Did you know you can become a proofreader and make a full time income?
If you have good English language skills and know you’re (kidding, I mean your) grammar, you can make money working from home as a proofreader.
In this post, we will go over how you can become a proofreader online and talk to the popular Caitlin Pyle – a successful proofreader and an online entrepreneur who owns a multimillion dollar business
Caitlin has been featured on Forbes, Fox News and Business Insider for her story as well as helping others make money online. Let’s get straight to the interview and see what she has to say.
Want to become a proofreader? Grab this FREE TRAINING NOW.
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1. How did you get into proofreading online?
Proofreading was a part of my from early on. I realised I could monetize proofreading skills much later though. When I was studying abroad in Germany, fellow students took my help proofreading thesis.
After college, I began working as a receptionist at a court reporting agency and ended up proofreading court transcripts. In fact, I continued working for a few court reporters even after I went to study full time to be a personal trainer. EVENTUALLY, I realized that I can make a full-time income from proofreading, and the rest is history.
I wrote a book which went onto become popular amongst my readers and I decided to launch Proofread Anywhere to help everyone wanting to become a proofreader and make money online.
Now, my full time job is to help others land online proofreading jobs and work from home.
2. What is proofreading?
Proofreading is basically fine tuning a piece of content before it goes live. It is the last piece of the puzzle!
Proofreading comes after the content has been edited, copyedited and deals with checking for typos, double words (“the the,” “and and,” etc.), grammar, punctuation, spelling, and formatting issues. Remember – proofreaders do not change forms, rewrite sentences and make comments about word choices, para structure or fact-check.
3. What are some of the skills needed to become a proofreader?
Attention to detail.
A good proofreader is able to spot errors quickly!
They’ll have a natural ability for spotting errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation. You can always learn how to become a proofreader and upskill yourself to land high paying gigs and make more money. Besides this, you should also be able to communicate well with your clients and meet deadlines
4. Do proofreaders require any previous degrees or qualifications?
Happy news!
No, you do not need any English degree or any other kind of degree to become a proofreader from home. All you need is the willingness to work hard and proper training.
While there is no “official” training or certification for proofreading, Proofread Anywhere presents an amazing opportunity to learn about proofreading and make money without having to spend college-like fee.
I highly recommend everyone to take up a proofreading course before working with clients. In the freelancing world, good reputation matters a lot and bad reputation spreads like wild fire. You need to know exactly what you are doing before you start taking client work.
Besides that, there are several other compelling reasons to invest in proofreading training –
- While you may think your language and grammar skills are excellent, but languages evolve and there are so many styles that you may not be aware of (like Chicago style)
- Starting a proofreading business from home NOT only requires you to have proofreading skills but also business knowledge (Especially how to run an online business). Proofread Anywhere can help you with that.
- When you meet a dead end or need help, you will always have a mentor to guide you (without which it gets difficult to find all the answers)
Proofread Anywhere not only provides me (Caitlin) as a mentor but you also get access to a very supportive community of PA graduates as well as current students. Want to become a proofreader? Grab this FREE TRAINING NOW.
5. What is the difference between proofreading and editing?
I am so glad you asked this question. A lot of people who want to start online proofreading ask me this question.
There is a huge difference between proofreading and editing. Proofreading is the last step taken before the content goes live. The documents are already edited, copyedited, rewritten/restructured before it gets to the proofreader. A proofreader double-checks to make sure no grammatical and spelling errors slip through.
6. Is this course flexible and suitable for stay-at-home parents?
The course is a very flexible for stay-at-home parents. It is a self paced course actually! You also get lifetime access to the materials and training so you can work through it at your own pace.
7. How much can one aim to earn as a beginner proofreader?
It depends, like with every other online business.
It will depend on your skills, speed, hours you dedicate and how good you are with marketing your business. To give you some idea of what’s possible, I earned around $43,000 a year as a proofreader working part-time hours.
8. How thorough is Proofread Anywhere?
Proofread Anywhere courses are extremely thorough.They include practice essays, transcripts, tests you can learn with.
The course is designed to get hands on training proofreading content before you start working with clients
9. Are proofreaders in demand?
Yes, they are and the demand will not go anywhere.
With the rise in self publishing and blogging (eproducts), the demand for proofreaders is increasing everyday.
There are so many proofreading niches you can go with and none of them is saturated at all
10. What support do Proofread Anywhere students receive?
Besides the training material, you can access to a private Facebook group with fellow students and graduates along with me.
11. Final thoughts for those who are still unsure about becoming a proofreader
Proofreading is a great work from home option. If you are interested in and holds the ability to do it, you should totally go for it.
If you’re not sure if proofreading is the right fit for you, check out my free Intro to Proofreading workshop.
In this workshop, I cover
- 5 signs proofreading is a fit for you
- How proofreading can be your ticket to location independent lifestyle and financial security
- Easy ways to attract your ideal proofreading clients.
Want to become a proofreader? Grab this FREE TRAINING NOW.