- va@virtuallyuntangled.com
- Monday - Thursday 7:00am - 3:00pm (CST)
Want Successful Proofing Every Time?
It’s hard to overstate the importance of creating documents that are accurate, attractive and polished. The editing and proofreading step in the process of preparing documents is vital. Keep in mind that the layout and visual aspects are equally as important as the text content within the document itself. When I was working full-time as a Graphic Designer the discussion that came about most often was about making the design process a “successful outcome” for both parties. Today’s post discusses one of the most important areas … proofing!
Experts acknowledge that the English language is a complicated, contrary beast. To start, let’s clear up what a proof is and the consequences of not reviewing your documents carefully … pull out that fine-toothed comb!
What is a proof?
Proofing is when the client checks the project to make sure there are no errors. Nothing is worse than sending a document to print (or in more modern-day formats … social media posting) and there are a ton of errors. Keep your eyes peeled for these top offenses:
- spelling errors (yikes)
- grammar errors (how embarrassing)
- wrong phone numbers/addresses (whoops)
What are the consequences?
This is a general rule for graphics designers, authors, bloggers and virtual assistants. Once the client has signed off and approved the design for print (or posting) any mistakes found after that is on the client. Sounds harsh, I know. But, it’s best to understand that the designer looks at the project for hours or even days, so they don’t always catch what a fresh pair of eyes may see at a first glance. A loophole to this rule of thumb … unless, you as the designer made a change after said approval … then admit your fault, make things right and move on. This is also equally hard when you’re so passionate about what you do but we’re only human Mistakes do sometimes happen even when why try are hardest to not let them.
After reading this you might still be thinking “so what, the odd mistake won’t matter”. But getting it right (not write or rite) is about creating a level of professionalism in your communications that translates to your business as a whole. So, proof carefully. For your sake and ours.
Like this blog post?
If you found today’s blog post to be exactly the type of inspiration and know-how you were looking for, we would be very grateful if you would help this post spread
by sharing the LOVE 
with it socially, emailing it to a friend or dropping us a comment with your thoughts. You never know whose life you might change.
Share on Facebook
Share on Twitter
Share on Linkdin
Share on Pinterest
Crystal Kordalchuk
Crystal is an artist, a writer, an organizer, a dreamer, a doer, and down-right proud of it NERD!.
Struck with a love for #AllThings creative at a very young age, Crystal dreamed of a life fueled by her passion for creating and bringing the stories and images in her mind into reality.
As she worked toward her dreams, she earned a diploma as a Computer Applications Specialist then another in Graphic Design and from there began to develop her extensive background in multimedia and the arts. She began her worked in the magazine industry as a layout designer and had a succession of design jobs thereafter. It was her role as a graphic/web designer that gave her the first real glimpse of her future. Soon she began a side job as a freelance designer while keeping one foot in the corporate world. A spark was lit! She turned her freelance gig into a full-time business combining design work with her other passion: creating organization from virtual chaos.
Crystal is one of the most organized individuals on the planet. She is by all means a Zen master of her crafts. She excels at helping others become “untangled” and provides her clients with tools to run their businesses smoothly while she takes care of the details behind the scenes. Thus Virtually Untangled was born. A successful business where her work as a top notch creative in graphic and web — with a twist of virtual assistant — married into one amazing place where clients can come with their virtual messes and become magically untangled. Crystal can always make sense of even the most unorganized chaos and offers a virtual detox of order and peace, so her clients can get busy doing the work that they love the most.
