Recently, more and more people are looking into freelance proofreading to make money, either as an extra source of income to be earned on the side, or as a main career. However, this can be a daunting prospect to consider alone, so it’s best to know exactly what you’re walking into.
If you are looking into working as a proofreader, one of the best ways to ensure that it’s the right job for you, and that you’re proofreading to a good enough standard to keep clients, is to take a proofreading course.
There are many of these courses available out there, but we’ll be looking at one site in particular, which has been gaining a reputation in the freelancing community. This would be Proofread Anywhere.
There may be affiliate links in this article. You can read more about this in my disclosure.
Frequently Asked Questions About Freelance Proofreading.
However, before looking into, a course designed to teach you how to proofread effectively, you may have questions about proofreading in general.
So, we’ll tackle some of the more common and pressing questions that people may have before making this step in their career, and whether proofreading is for you.
This is especially prudent if you’re planning on paying for one of the two premium Freelance Anywhere courses, as it’s important to ensure that proofreading is something you actually want to get into before spending any money.
Who can start a proofreading business?
Anyone with a sharp eye, a good knowledge of the English language, an internet connection, and a computer (a laptop or even some tablets will work) is able to start a proofreading business.
Some people believe that certain qualifications are needed, such as a degree or a certification, but this isn’t the case.
It is preferable to have a background in English, some qualifications would be more attractive to a potential client, but you can win work without them.
How can I become a proofreader?
Technically, it’s possible to jump right into a job board and try to find clients straight away. However, as with most business, repeat clients are what provide a stable income.
In order to work to a high enough quality to win these clients, it’s usually best to get some level of training or education.
Is there a demand for proofreaders?
This is a great question before you start any business, as clients are how money is made. Also, more and more people are looking into working as a proofreader, so it can seem as though the market is saturated.
However, even with more proofreaders out there, there is still plenty of work to find, especially for a skilled worker.
Is being a proofreader worth it?
This is a common question, as it can seem too good to be true to be able to earn money this way. Again, part of this comes down to you. If you can work quickly and skillfully, being a general proofreader can earn you up to around $50 an hour.
So, you probably won’t become a millionaire being a general proofreader, but you can certainly earn a comfortable living this way. So, whether you want an extra bit of income, or you’re thinking of working for yourself, proofreading is definitely a viable option for you.
What is the difference between general proofreading and transcript proofreading?
There are several different types of proofreading, but two that stand out are general proofreading and transcript proofreading. General proofreading is much easier to pick up. You’ll generally be working with novels or blogs, or other non-niche documents.
If you’re just starting out, it’s probably best to pick up some of these jobs. Transcript proofreading, on the other hand, is more technically minded as it works with the transcripts produced by court reporters. It’s usually more complicated work and will take more time to work through.
However, transcript proofreading has much more earning potential, because it’s so technical. The clients you work with are also more likely to return to you, as transcript proofreading is a more niche skill.
Is court transcript proofreading for me?
As has been said, this is a much more intensive type of proofreading that is more difficult. However, the benefits of going into this niche of proofreading aren’t to be ignored.
Regular clients are a must for a successful business of any kind, and because this is a slightly more specialized type of work, they are much easier to come by as a transcript proofreader.
You can earn more and spend less time looking for work. However, I would highly recommend going through a course which focuses on transcript proofreading before trying to work in this field.
CLICK HERE TO GET INSTANT ACCESS TO THE FREE WORKSHOP
Proofread Anywhere – A Scam or a Legitimate Course?
Proofread Anywhere offers training courses to both improve your proofreading skills and to win and keep clients. One prudent thing to consider is whether the courses offered on Proofread Anywhere are legitimate and genuinely helpful for the potential proofreader, or simply a scheme to take your hard-earned money.
So, you should be relieved to know that Proofread Anywhere isn’t a scam. The two (ish) courses on offer go into a lot of detail into the basics of proofreading and what is expected on you, as well as an in-depth guide on how to start working from home.
If you’re still unsure, that’s fair enough. Proofread Anywhere also offers two free introductory workshops to give you a taste of what you will be learning about.
Who is Caitlin Pyle?
Before you take on one of these courses, you might want to know who is actually teaching you. This is understandable. The founder of Proofread Anywhere is Caitlin Pyle. Caitlin started proofreading in college, using her natural sense for grammar to help others write better essays.
She moved onto proofreading court transcripts in 2012, and in 2014 started Proofread Anywhere as a blog. Since then, she’s decided to pass on her experience and teach others how to start a business as a freelance proofreader.
If you want to find out more about Caitlin and the rest of the team, visit their website at proofreadanywhere.com where she talks about her work and passion.
How Much Does Proofread Anywhere Cost?
There are several courses on offer, each for different prices. The two introductory workshops are both free, so I recommend checking them out before you jump into the paid courses.
If you do decide to try the paid courses, here are the prices of each of them and a short summary of what you’re getting for your money. The Proofread Anywhere website provides a much more detailed breakdown of exactly what resources are provided in the courses.
For general proofreading, there are two different prices. The ‘Ignite’ option comes in at a one-time payment of $497, which includes nine modules and four research guides. The modules walk you through the basics of proofreading, how to create a viable proofreading business, how to find clients and how to handle your workflow.
The second price is for the ‘Ignite Plus’ option, at $597. For the extra $100, you get a hand-graded exam, a certificate of completion and inclusion in several groups and listings for verified general proofreaders. Both of the options will also allow for lifetime access for the resources provided during the course.
There is also a course on Transcript proofreading. Unlike the Ignite courses, this one isn’t a one payment scheme. Rather, you pay for four different levels separately. In total, the full program comes to $1174, but you can save up to $230 if once a level is completed, you move onto the next immediately.
GET CAITLINS FREE 45 MINUTE COURSE PROOFREADING WORKSHOP AND GET STARTED TODAY!
The breakdown of the entire course works out as:
Beginner Basecamp
$77 for ‘Beginner Basecamp’, or the first level, which is a week-long introduction to transcript proofreading.
Jumpstart
$197 for ‘Jumpstart’, the second level. This provides all the resources for both the first and second levels for thirty days. The second level will help you learn to recognize common errors and familiarize yourself with court vocabulary. This is where you really get into the nitty-gritty of the course. The end of the second level will give you a 100-question test.
Next Steps
$400 for ‘Next Steps’. If the first two levels introduced transcript proofreading and got you started on what errors to look for, this third level gives you sixty days to learn how to correct and mark up transcripts properly and professionally. It will also give you plenty of practice to really hone your skills. You also still have access to all the resources in levels one and two.
Launch and Earn
$500 for ‘Launch and Earn’. This final level teaches you how to build up your business and successfully work with clients. With the final installment, you’ll have lifetime access to all of the resources in the entire four-part course. There’s another exam and advice about marketing and maintaining the mindset you’ll need to stay successful.
As I’ve said, this is just a very basic overview of what each course provides for the money you pay. The transcript proofreading course should take around two-four months to complete and the exams throughout mean that you, as a student, need to have mastered one level to be able to pay for the next.
This prevents someone from buying the whole course and then being unable to complete it. If you can, it’s much better to do one level after another with little delay, both to help you learn and to potentially save money.
Remember, you’re not just buying the courses for the period of time it takes to study them. With the general proofreading course and the entire transcript proofreading course, the materials are yours to keep.
Along with the resources included in the courses themselves, there are other books and guides on offer which can be very helpful.
Is Proofread Anywhere Worth it?
This is the crux of the issue really, whether it’s worth investing this money in this course or whether it’s a waste of money. The short answer is yes, it is worth it. Let me explain why.
For the money that you spend, you receive an incredibly detailed guide and workshop which teaches you not only the skills you need to be a competent proofreader, but just as importantly, the skills to run a successful business.
The courses are absolutely not a guarantee for a successful career in this field, but much of the work still need to come from you. But they do provide the skills and tools you need to succeed. Within months, these skills have helped many people earn back the money that they’ve spent on the course and then some.
This is the same principle with any educational course, you only get out what you put in. If you pay for the course but don’t do the work, then yes, it’ll have been a waste of money. But that won’t be due a flaw in the course, as if you do follow the course and work along with it, you’ll be well equipped to work for yourself in this field.
Also, the guides and workshops are yours for life. So anytime you need to top up on your skills, or look for tips in acquiring clients, you can do so.
Also, once you’ve completed some of the courses and proven a competent proofreader, you have the opportunity to be added to a list of proven proofreaders, which can be very helpful when finding clients.
Some have expressed disappointment in the relative lack of media included in the course, as most of the content is based in text. However, this seems to be a relatively subjective issue, some people learn better when watching videos or listening to speech, but others actually prefer being able to read the majority of the course. After all, proofreading is a reading and writing skill.
To conclude, there’s a reason that the programs available are so often referred to as ‘an investment’, because with the courses offered at proofread anywhere, you are investing in your own home business.