Experience Means a Lot

If you want to get paid to proofread, clients are going to want to see your experience. This can make it difficult for newbies to the proofreading field. One thing that you might consider is starting as a beta reader. This is a good job (paid or unpaid) for people who enjoy reading, as you get to read and critique other people’s work. This is a good way to build experience if you want to casually break into the market. Additionally, some people may request you to do samples to prove your abilities. While it is ultimately up to you how much free work you are willing to do, you generally should not do a proofreading job sample longer than 300-500 words if you are not getting paid for it.

How to Get Paid to Proofread

There are two options for professional proofreading—working with a company or freelancing. Some companies hire editors and other professionals to work regularly for them. This includes magazines, newspapers, and other literary publications. This is a great choice for regular work, but you must find the right company to give that work to you.

Alternatively, you can work from home proofreading as a freelance editor. Freelancing is a good choice for people who have not had success finding professional jobs. It allows a great deal of flexibility, since you ultimately choose which jobs to take and how many hours per week you want to work. This makes it a good side job to make extra cash. It also has the potential to become a main source of income.

Where to Find Proofreading Jobs

If you are going to freelance as a proofreader, then there are a few places you can begin looking for jobs. One option is to create a website and try to find companies this way. However, you’ll need a good marketing strategy to make others find your website. Alternatively, you could work on a writing platform or a website that connects you with other professionals.

Investing the Right Way

One thing that you should always be wary of is jobs that ask you to do free work or websites that make you pay a significant amount to use their services. These types of investment are not worthwhile unless you are going to get valuable experience that will help you as you become freelance proofreader.

If you are going to invest, think about what you are investing in. There are some websites that will require you to pay a portion of your earnings. These are better than those that make you pay upfront, before you have even generated any revenue and without the guarantee of work. Another option is to look for free resources. While you could take a freelance course for proofreading, it may better to look around on groups, forums, and video services to find information that can help you land jobs.

Should I Consider at Home Proofreader Jobs?

Before you start looking for ‘proofreading jobs near me’ on your search engine, consider the possibility of working at home. Many people in this line of work do so in their own environment, whether they have a home office or work from the comfort of their living room couch. If you want to work at home, this could be the perfect opportunity to break into the market and establish yourself.

Landing the best remote proofreader jobs is about building a strong online reputation. Know which services are safe and which are scams. Additionally, build a strong portfolio or ask about references when you are hired. By showing that you are capable of the job, you have a much better chance of being hired.