Website copy editing, explained
Website copy editing is the process of reviewing and editing the words and language on your business or personal website. The aim is to remove errors and make the writing read clearly and naturally for an online audience.
My website copy editing page covers what’s included and how I work.
What does website copy editing cover?
Website copy editing covers all the public-facing writing on your site. The work enhances your main landing pages, including the home, about, product, service, benefits, pricing, and sales pages. It also edits and corrects your blog articles, newsletters, and anything else connected to your online presence.
When editing for an online audience, I:
Shorten and simplify sentences so your content is easier to read
Edit for shorter attention spans, since visitors tend to scan rather than read every word
Keep in mind the people reading on a phone or tablet
Edit to what your audience actually needs from the page
Sharpen your calls to action and the words around them
A business website is there to share what you do and present what you offer. My job as your copy editor is to make that message clear and professional, so the writing reads well for the people you want to reach.
Is website copy editing the same as copywriting?
No. A copywriter writes your website content from scratch; a website copy editor takes the words you already have and makes them stronger. If you have a draft, whether you wrote it yourself or had it written for you, copy editing is what turns that draft into clear, polished web copy. I edit your words and keep your voice, so the finished page still sounds like you.
Why is your own website the hardest thing to edit?
Your own writing is the hardest to edit, which is exactly why a second reader helps. It’s particularly difficult to edit your own website writing, as we all tend to gloss over simple mistakes when we’ve written the words ourselves. Even a highly educated or experienced writer benefits from a careful outside read.
What does a website copy editor actually change?
A website copy editor works at several levels at once. I look closely at your titles, making sure they’re accurate and clear, and at your subheadings, where there’s often room to bring in the right terms for how people search. Like every kind of copy editing, the work catches spelling and grammar errors. Above all, I shape the content so each page reads well and keeps your reader engaged.
How does website copy editing work?
The work runs in passes, from the basic errors through to a final polish. The first pass proofreads a draft of your content for the basics: misspellings, typos, grammar, and punctuation. From there I analyze the overall structure of the writing, check the language and word use, add clarity and consistency, and make sure the words flow together naturally. The final pass is the polish, where I work the copy until the page reads cleanly and draws in your audience.
Using the same website copy editor across your main website, related blogs, reports, guides, newsletters, and email campaigns helps you develop a clear voice that carries across all your communications. I treat this as a collaborative, long-term professional relationship, and aim to become a reliable part of your team.
What a project costs depends on the length of your content and the state of the draft. You can get an instant price for your project.
How do you choose a website copy editor?
Look for someone who specializes in web content and has the skills the work depends on. Website copy editing calls for a detail-oriented person with specific skills in analysis, grammar, spelling, and word usage. Ideally, your editor will also have real experience reading and editing web content, since editing for the web is its own discipline. Most businesses treat their website as an important channel, and a good website copy editor helps that website read clearly and look more professional.
Related: website proofreading is the proofreading side of the same work, the final check for errors once the copy is settled. For sales and campaign copy, see marketing copy editing.
FAQs about website copy editing
What’s the difference between a general copy editor and a website copy editor?
When you hire a copy editor, look for someone who specializes in the type of writing you’re developing. An excellent fiction editor won’t have the right background to edit the copy of a branded website. Website content has a specific job, and it helps when the editor understands how people read online and how search-readable structure works.
Will website copy editing help with SEO?
Website copy editing isn’t the same as SEO work, but the two support each other. Clear, well-structured writing with accurate titles and subheadings is easier for readers and for search engines to follow. I edit your copy so it reads well first, with how people find and scan a page kept in mind, rather than writing for algorithms at the reader’s expense.
How do I work with a website copy editor?
Once you’ve found the right editor for your content, agree a schedule with due dates and milestones, and keep communication clear and open. Provide a rough draft and be open to the edits and suggestions that come back. Editing is a back-and-forth collaboration that helps you arrive at the right end product.
If your website needs a careful, professional read, tell me about your project and what you’re working on.