I am finding TONS of inspiration as I look at all of your websites, there is so much variety, just among the ones I've seen. BUT - I just want to remind everyone to take the time to review (or have someone you know review) your website from time to time. There are quite a few websites here that have typos, and I'm SURE that's not how you want to be portraying yourself!

From experience, I know that editing myself is the hardest -- just today, I sat in a meeting with a group of 6 people, editing the 3rd edition of a transit map book, and we're STILL finding issues, in spite of the many hours we've spent on the book over the past 2 1/2 years! Frustrating, for sure, but so very necessary to keep scrutinzing ourselves...

Hope you'll all forgive me for the straightforward words!

M,

Great input, however not only should you edit for content but to see if the information makes sense to others. I have a group of business owners (not VA's) as my advisory panel. When I add new copy to anything I have them review it for grammar, spelling and if it makes sense.

Don't apologize for the straight words, sometimes they are necessary, and they are always welcome.

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Lee Drozak
My Office Assistant

Right on. Straightforwardness is very, very welcomed. I think we are all here to hear the truth. Yes, we love words of encouragement too, but definitely the truth is what matters.

I also nag at my hubby to take a look at anything I'm set to publish, and if someone else is around, I grab on to them too. It is really hard as you said to always notice typos or things that just don't make sense. They make sense to us because we know what we're trying to say, but to someone else it could be like what?

Great advice!

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Patty

Originally Posted by eXPERT Business Support

It is really hard as you said to always notice typos or things that just don't make sense. They make sense to us because we know what we're trying to say, but to someone else it could be like what?

Someone should write a blog post about that....

I agree, it's important to make sure it all makes sense. It's a great idea to get someone who doesn't really "get" your work to read it as they'll soon tell you if you're talking jargon!

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Bridie's Typing Services - specialising in transcription services
The professional's choice

Thank you for the reminder.

Sometimes I get so carried away with my thoughts, that I read what I think should be there. I am now more conscious of taking the time to go over my posts.

Did I get that right?

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Eunice
Savvy Corporate Planners+

I need to learn to STOP editing myself or at this rate I'll never get my website finished.

Seriously though, you are spot on with your comments and there is nothing worse than seeing a typo, especially given the type of services that most of us offer.

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Linda
Clockwise Virtual Assistance

I always get someone else to check over my work, 9 times out of 10 they will spot something I didn't

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Telephone Answering virtual assistant
alldaypa.com

Originally Posted by mdevries

I am finding TONS of inspiration as I look at all of your websites, there is so much variety, just among the ones I've seen. BUT - I just want to remind everyone to take the time to review (or have someone you know review) your website from time to time. There are quite a few websites here that have typos, and I'm SURE that's not how you want to be portraying yourself!

You know, Margretta, I feel like I've become a member of the "typo police." One thing I do if I see a glaring error is to contact the site owner and let them know.

Recently I had received a newsletter that I'm subscribed to and enjoy immensely. I had sent an email letting her know that she had misused a couple words (didn't use contractions that should have been used). Her response was, "LOL...You must be an English teacher ." It sure did give me a smile! I replied back that "I'm not an English teacher, just someone that did really well in school at English, spelling, grammar, etc. [...] I do offer copywriting, editing, and proofreading as services, but I don’t have any major (formal higher education) in English, just my built in radar, LOL."

Yesterday I contacted someone from here at VAF who has an ad here, and on her site, to let her know that I had noticed a typo. This fellow VA took no offense, thanked me, and the error was corrected. Very sweet gal!

I wonder if others go so far as to let folks know when they see typos, etc.? Or am I the only member of The Typo Police who actually lets folks know when an error is spotted?

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Jules, SunRise Virtual Solutions - WordPress Customization & XHTML/CSS Web Sites

lol! I am a little anal about things like that too... but have only occasionally taken the opportunity to contact the person unless I was already in communication with them. That is a great marketing/networking tool.

In psych class we learned the brain does not see our errors so see there really is a reason why we all have this problem.

Like so many of you -- I incorporate a little partner action/teamwork whereby we have each other to bounce different things off of, i.e. review, editing etc. I got in this habit in attorney's and doctor's offices years ago when we were reading property descriptions and medical reports, etc. Right now I am working as admin assist to teams who are in various stages of writing multiple training manuals for instructors -- wow talk about never-ending editing! The ability and the action never lose their importance!

Jules, I often wonder if people think I'm also a member of the Typo Police.

I can't help it, typos are usually the first thing that my eyes will notice. I have contacted several webmasters to let them know when I have seen something amiss but I have rarely heard back from them. That's OK, I figure not only have I helped them out but it also won't bug me if I revisit their site. Besides, I would want someone to let ME know if they saw an error that I had made, especially if it is on marketing material such as a website or flyer.

Good to know that I am not alone in wanting to help fix the world's typos

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Linda
Clockwise Virtual Assistance