Are Proofreaders Still Needed? 

While recent AI trends and grammar tools will claim that they replace freelance proofreaders, there are still plenty of reasons why AI simply can’t entirely replace humans. So, are proofreaders still needed in many publishing industries? Yes, professional proofreaders are here to stay!

Artificial Intelligence can’t (and never will) understand the nuances of language or grasp specialized industry knowledge like a human can. AI also can’t proofread sensitive or confidential materials, like legal documents, because sending confidential information to an AI chatbot is a breach of privacy and poses many security risks. 

Why Are Proofreaders Still Needed? 

Considering a career in proofreading? Then you’ve probably had at least one relative, friend, or family member put on their “tinfoil hat” and warn you that AI will soon be replacing proofreading (and humans) entirely *Alexa, play dystopian music*.

Although the rise of AI may seem alarming, rest assured that Morpheus won’t be at our doorsteps any time soon. Human proofreaders are still needed and will continue to be needed for years to come. 

We can also confidently say that online proofreading jobs, including entry-level proofreading jobs, will always be in abundance. Online proofreading platforms are even being created to this day, like our freshly launched Hire A Proofreader platform!

So, why are we so confident that proofreaders are here to stay? Here are just a few of the reasons:

AI Can’t Comprehend the Nuances of Language

While artificial intelligence can detect spelling errors and basic grammatical errors, it can’t understand the nuances of the English language like a successful proofreader can. 

For example, AI can’t accurately identify when a writer purposefully breaks grammar rules for dramatic effect — a technique that is prevalent in literary works. AI also can’t pick up on nuances in a piece of writing such as context-specific formatting changes, accents in dialogue, or jarring shifts in the tone or style. 

The creativity and nuances of language and culture will always be changing and affecting each other. The human context of writing, especially creative writing, just can’t be mimicked effectively by AI. 

AI Lacks Contextual Understanding 

Artificial Intelligence lacks the ability to truly comprehend the meaning behind what has been written. 

Unlike humans, AI can’t understand why sentences are phrased in certain ways, why the author has chosen to use those specific words, or why paragraph structures can vary. This means an AI tool may make proofreading suggestions that actually take away from the author’s intended message. 

For example, if an author is quoting Shakespeare and using Shakespearian English to make a point, many grammar and proofreading tools will flag the section or attempt to change it to match the form and format of the surrounding content. As a human, we understand that some breaks in form are referential or necessary for artistic license. 

AI Doesn’t Have Subject-Specific Knowledge 

Many professional proofreaders specialize in specific areas (aka proofreading niches) and spend years honing their knowledge. They often have degrees or have enrolled in online courses related to the subjects they’re proofreading and are well-versed in the relevant lingo and the latest industry happenings.

In comparison, AI lacks subject-specific knowledge and can only help with broad, general edits. It will never be able to catch as many mistakes as a proofreader, who specializes in the area, can. For example, a medical proofreader would immediately be able to tell if an author has spelled a medication incorrectly, while this could go completely undetected by an AI proofreading tool. 

Similarly, court transcript proofreaders are trained to work within the context of spoken-word testimonies and understand how spoken-word conventions differ from standard publishing guidelines. An AI tool would struggle to understand and correctly catch grammatical errors and context clues within the transcripts. 

AI Can’t Effectively Adapt to Style Guides 

Artificial Intelligence has some familiarity with style guides like APA and Chicago. However, applying them effectively is a whole different matter. Style guides have plenty of rules that are subject to debate, and whether to use or ignore these rules ultimately depends on factors like the client’s preferences and the written medium.

AI also can’t adapt to style guides that aren’t publicly available. Many companies, publishers, and clients have their own dedicated in-house style standards, which proofreaders must familiarize themselves with and adhere to closely. 

While it’s technically possible to teach AI software the rules of style guides it isn’t familiar with, most in-house documents like this are subject to confidentiality and cannot be shared online (cue our next point).

AI Can’t Navigate Confidentiality 

Professional proofreaders are often expected to review documents that contain sensitive or confidential information, particularly if they’ve specialized in a niche such as transcript proofreading where they must work with confidential court transcripts. 

These private documents should never be shared anywhere else, including on AI software, because there’s a risk of their information leaking. As AI tools that don’t retain user information are few and far between, legal and medical professionals simply cannot guarantee that confidential information will be kept private. For these professionals, it isn’t a question of preference, but a legal obligation.

Many clients also require you to sign Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) or other forms of confidentiality agreements, and using third-party AI tools puts you in breach of these legally binding contracts. (With this in mind, as a proofreader, it’s so important to consider the tools that you use while proofreading to make sure that you are abiding by your legal contracts.)

AI Can’t Elevate Content with Creative Suggestions

Providing creative suggestions is primarily an editor’s responsibility, but that doesn’t mean proofreaders don’t have to occasionally give their own input. For example, proofreaders often have to adjust formatting to improve clarity and coherency — something that requires creative thinking, a nuanced understanding of the intended audience, and knowledge of the author’s preferences.

AI can’t match the creative mind of a human in all its complexity, nor can it provide proofreading suggestions that are specifically tailored to the author’s needs like a human proofreader can. Part of creating a professional relationship involves understanding client needs and being proactive with suggestions and work that will fit expectations. AI tools simply cannot match this. 

The Evolution of Proofreading With Technology

While it’s clear that artificial intelligence won’t replace human proofreaders, that’s not to say AI won’t impact the industry. The digital age has already shown just how much new technological advancements can cause shifts in the way proofreaders work. 

Proofreaders now have the means to work remotely for companies and clients (as freelancers) all around the world. They also have access to computer-assisted software like spell checkers that help to speed up their workflow. 

The rise of the web has even caused a shift in the type of content proofreaders review. From social media posts, infographics, and website copy to self-published e-books and online newsletters, there are so many new forms that proofreaders must familiarize themselves with to keep up. 

Put simply: the proofreading industry is everchanging thanks to technology. Proofreaders must adapt and grow with these changes to stay relevant and competitive, and that includes adapting to the changes AI-powered technologies will continue to bring. 

Using AI to Help Proofreaders

“Learning to work with AI and appreciate its capabilities, rather than fear it, will truly help transform your career for the better.”

While it may seem intimidating, artificial intelligence won’t limit your opportunities as a proofreader — it can actually expand them! There are plenty of AI-powered tools that can enable you to proofread more efficiently — allowing you to free up time to find more clients, hone your skills, and expand your knowledge.

Some of the PA team’s favorite AI proofreading tools include:

• Grammarly: An AI writing tool that can help speed up your workflow by providing automated corrections, live rephrasing suggestions, and predictive content generation. 
• ProWritingAid: Another AI writing tool that provides real-time guidance and editing suggestions while you proofread. While both tools are similar, ProWritingAid does offer a more in-depth analysis of the actual writing. The tool provides detailed reports on aspects such as readability, sentence length variation, and consistency
• Hemingway Editor: An editing tool that detects and visually highlights clunky sentences, poor word choices, excessive adverb usage, and passive voice.

AI tools can also help with other more tedious, time-consuming work tasks, such as organizing your daily schedule (ClickUp) and managing invoices (FreshBooks). 

Our team has actually compiled a whole list of fantastic business tools that will help proofreaders improve their workflows! You’ll be surprised at the amount of AI tools that are out there and how helpful they can truly be. 

Just remember not to get too swept away by artificial intelligence. While AI tools can help you save time and work more efficiently, they aren’t perfect by any means. (Also, don’t forget to consider confidentiality agreements before using AI tools in your work.)

AI should certainly never be used as a replacement for human proofreading. As we touched on earlier, AI can’t read between the lines and pick up on the subtle nuances within content, nor properly cater proofreading suggestions to the author’s specific needs, style guide, and preferences. 

AI writing tools have also been known to provide inaccurate information (also called hallucinations) or “correct” mistakes that aren’t actually mistakes.

One of our team members tested out an AI editing tool today and was told that her own last name was spelled incorrectly!

Why AI Can’t Proofread Legal Documents

Legal documents often contain highly sensitive information that could have disastrous consequences if leaked publicly — think names, addresses, medical histories, convictions, and business dealings.

While many people believe that the information they submit to a third-party AI tool will be kept private, this is rarely ever the case. AI tools often collect their users’ personal data, including the content they submit. Just take a close look at ChatGPT’s terms and conditions, which you agree to the moment you use their services:

“We collect Personal Data that is included in the input, file uploads, or feedback that you provide to our Services… If you communicate with us, we collect your name, contact information, and the contents of any messages you send.” (OpenAI)

So, there’s always a chance that the content you submit to an AI tool will be shared publicly, whether by the organization directly or because of data breaches from malware attacks or bugs. 

In fact, leaks have already happened. A glitch back in 2023 allowed certain users to see the titles of other users’ chat histories. 

AI generative content tools also learn from input responses. This means that the content you submit will potentially be used by the AI software to answer future related queries others have. There’s no way to control when or how the software interprets and shares the information provided, and who will have access to it. 

And, even if the information is kept entirely private, you still shouldn’t rely on AI to proofread legal documents. AI tools can’t accurately adhere to legal style guidelines, navigate technical jargon, or fact-check information. 

What’s more, certain legal documents like court transcripts contain direct quotes from individuals. These quotes are usually written in a way that reflects the speaker’s tone, accent, and pauses — all qualities that an AI tool cannot pick up on and will wrongly detect as grammatical errors. 

AI tools also can’t comprehend court shorthand or identify mistakes created by computer-assisted translation (CAT) software. Only a trained transcript proofreader is able to identify these nuances.

ChatGPT Errors When Proofreading

We totally understand that it can be hard to believe AI isn’t going to replace professional proofreaders, especially with news headlines like “AI Apocalypse” making the rounds online.

However, you don’t have to take our word for it. ChatGPT has proved by itself why AI isn’t infallible and human proofreaders are here to stay! Below are just a few examples of ChatGPT missing the mark:

• Two New York lawyers were recently fined $5,000 after submitting a legal brief with fake court citations generated by ChatGPT.
• A recent study found that ChatGPT agreed with incorrect statements up to a ¼ of the time… And just recently, ChatGPT drew from misinformation and generated false answers about the presidential debate. 
• ChatGPT failed to give satisfactory answers to almost 75% of questions about prescription drug usage, with some of its answers even causing potential harm if the user followed the information. 

Here’s one for fun! Can you spot what’s wrong with this answer? (Reddit)

We’ll finish up with Chat GPT’s own opinion on whether AI will replace proofreaders: 

We gave ChatGPT the prompt: “Will artificial intelligence replace human proofreaders in the future?”

It answered:

“Artificial Intelligence will enhance and streamline the proofreading process by automating routine tasks, but it is unlikely to fully replace human proofreaders due to the complexities of context, nuance, and creative judgment that AI struggles to replicate.”

There you have it., Even AI, itself, isn’t convinced that it’ll replace human proofreaders in the future.

Feel free to share any other awkward ChatGPT fails that you’ve personally experienced or spotted online in the comments below!

***

When you’re ready to start your proofreading business, check out our General Proofreading and Transcript Proofreading courses! Each course provides an industry-respected proofreading certificate of completion, which you can show to prospective clients as proof of your training.

Not sure if proofreading is right for you? Check out our FREE webinar or our FREE 7-day course to see if you would make a good fit!

The post Are Proofreaders Still Needed? appeared first on Proofread Anywhere.

How to Stay Productive While Working from Home

Working from home gives us more flexibility and freedom in our day-to-day lives, but it also comes with its own challenges. Without the structure of a 9-to-5, and with distractions lurking everywhere (looking at you, Netflix), it’s easy to fall into some seriously unproductive habits.

…like searching How to stay productive instead of focusing on the task at hand. Sorry to call you out here, but don’t worry — you’ve come to the right place!

At Proofread Anywhere, we know making the jump to remote work can be an adjustment, especially if you lead a busy home life and are struggling to separate your “work” space from your “living” space. 

To help you achieve a better work-life balance, here are some insider tips for ramping up your productivity while working from home. 

How to Increase Productivity

Increasing your productivity isn’t just about setting Do Not Disturb mode on —  your environment, habits, and daily routine can all help your productivity flourish (or hinder it).

Tip #1 Create a Dedicated Workspace

Set up your workspace in a quiet area of your home, ideally where sunlight naturally floods through. You should also invest in some ergonomic office supplies, including a chair that’ll support your posture and keep back aches at bay. 

Sure, there’s something enticing about staying snug in your pajamas and taking your work calls from the comfort of your bed, but merging your workspace with your sleeping space isn’t conducive to your long-term productivity. 

Without a dedicated workspace, it’s increasingly more difficult to separate your personal life from your work life (and resist all the homey temptations around you, including that snooze button). 

A dedicated workspace helps you get into the right mindset for work and ensures you can easily hit the mental off-switch, taking your hard-earned siesta. 

Tip #2 Fuel Your Brain with Healthy Foods

Healthy foods can truly nourish your brain, giving you all the energy you need to power through your work and meet those tight deadlines.

Nuts like walnuts, cashews, and macadamia, and fish such as salmon, cod, and tuna are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which may help improve your concentration and memory. Other nutrient-rich foods to complement your diet include leafy greens, eggs, blueberries, and tomatoes. 

Caffeinated drinks like coffee and green tea can also help give you a burst of energy and keep your mind sharp. However, try not to rely too much on caffeine. Consuming anything in excess–especially too much caffeine–can leave you tired and irritated, tanking your productivity. 

Tip #3 Keep a Consistent Sleep Schedule

Go to bed and wake up on a regular schedule to keep your body clock in sync, and aim to get 7–9 hours of sleep each day. You should also ditch the caffeine in the evening, stop scrolling before bed, and filter out any disturbances with earplugs and blackout curtains. 

Studies show that a consistent sleep schedule can enhance your focus, improve your memory, and reduce stress — assets to seriously boost your productivity.

On particularly stressful days, take the time to practice some mindfulness and engage in calming activities, such as meditation or yoga.

Tip #4 Make Exercise Part of Your Daily Routine

You don’t need to spend hours in the gym every day sweating up a storm, but you should spend at least 20 minutes engaging in some form of physical activity daily. Take a brisk walk around the block, a quick dance session, or even some on-the-spot jogging. 

Regular exercise gives you more energy, which can help you feel rejuvenated and boost your mental alertness. 

How to Be Productive at Work

The tips above can help you stay productive in all areas of your life — now, we’ll share some techniques specifically tailored to maximize your productivity while working from home!

Break Down Large Tasks 

When you look at a large, challenging task in its entirety, it’s easy to become discouraged before you even make the first step. The end is just so far away, that the goal seems impossible — it’s the equivalent of climbing a mountain with no peak in sight!

Rather than focusing on the end goal, you can combat these overwhelming feelings by breaking down the task into smaller, more manageable ones. You’ll find it much easier to visualize each step (and see that peak!), and it’ll also give you a clear, achievable starting point. 

Reward Yourself

Don’t forget to reward yourself after every work task you complete. As remote workers, we don’t have colleagues around us to praise us for all our efforts! Rewarding yourself regularly gives you a strong sense of accomplishment and helps motivate you to keep up the good work. 

Try Time Management Methods

Time management methods are a great way to maximize your productivity and keep you on top of deadlines. They give you a clear schedule, ensure you prioritize daily tasks effectively, and help you stay focused.

There are several different time management techniques you can use to organize your WFH day, and each is better suited to a different need. 

Here are some all-time favorite time management methods at Proofread Anywhere:

Task Blocking

Schedule everything in advance and organize your day in time blocks of like-tasks (such as meetings, follow-up communication, and project time). Task blocking gives you a better sense of the time spent on task types, highlighting where you’re wasting hours on non-essential tasks.

Time Boxing

Similar to task blocking, however, you instead assign each work task and break period a specific time slot on your calendar. You schedule this in advance the day before. This strategy gives you full control over the day. Our project manager at Proofread Anywhere personally swears by time-boxing the night before — it reminds her to take her well-earned breaks the next day!

Day Theming

Dedicate a whole day to a particular task or personal goal, such as pitching to prospective clients. Perfect for those who struggle with multi-tasking. 

We recommend trying a few different methods to find out which strategy works best for you! 

Use a Productivity Timer

A productivity timer encourages you to focus solely on the task at hand for a set amount of time — usually 30 minutes to an hour — and then take a brief break before moving on to the next task. Repeat this strategy until you’ve finished the task.

We totally get it — regular breaks seem counter-productive. Many of our team members had this exact mentality when they began their freelance careers! But speaking from experience, regular breaks contribute to focus, give your brain enough time to recharge, and ensure you’re never overexerting yourself. 

There are various timer methods you can try, including Pomodoro, Flowtime, and Eat the Frog. We cover these in detail in our new mini-course, “Productivity Pathway” (more on this later!). 

Get an Accountability Buddy 

Working from home has many perks, but it can feel isolating at times without colleagues to boost your morale and push you to keep going. If you think your productivity would benefit from having someone around, consider reaching out to an accountability buddy. 

Accountability buddies can be anyone who helps you stay on track to meet your work goals. They check in on your progress, challenge you to push yourself further, and hold you accountable if you start missing your set goals due to bad habits.

Anyone can do — a friend, family member, or former colleague. You just need to reach out and ask for their support — we’re sure the person you choose would be happy to help and may even appreciate you being their accountability buddy too! You don’t need to meet your accountability in person. You can have video calls through software like Zoom or Skype instead. 

Invest in Productivity-Enhancing Tools

There are plenty of online tools that can help maintain a sustainable workflow, and many are completely free to use. Combining productivity-enhancing tools with your proactive efforts can help you unleash your full potential while working from home.

Some of the best tools for remote workers include Timely, ClickUp, and ProWritingAid. There are even AI-powered tools that can automate your repetitive tasks, allowing you to save your energy for more mentally demanding work.

For more helpful freelance tips and productivity tool recommendations, check out our freelancer resources and sign up for our Work-From-Anywhere newsletter! 

Understanding Toxic Productivity 

Improving your productivity is a fantastic goal to set, but it’s important not to get overwhelmed. Trying to be too productive and “do it all” can backfire, potentially leading to something known as toxic productivity.  

Toxic productivity is when you push yourself to the extreme to attain your (unrealistic) personal goals, often at the expense of other facets of your life. For example, you may turn down meetups with your friends in favor of taking on more work, causing you to neglect your social life and become isolated. Sometimes, you may feel guilty if you take time to practice self-care. 

This unhealthy mentality isn’t sustainable, and in the long term, it can be detrimental to your emotional well-being and lead to burnout, chronic stress, and depression.

Be realistic with your goals and always prioritize your mental health! A healthy work-life balance ensures you won’t burn out and will always feel refreshed, increasing your productivity in the long run.

Our Best Productivity Course

At Proofread Anywhere, we understand from first-hand experience just how difficult it can be to maintain a healthy work-life balance. However, you don’t have to navigate this transition alone — a dedicated productivity course can teach you all the tools, skills, and strategies you need to maintain a sustainable workflow. 

While there are plenty of great productivity programs online, our course “Productivity Pathway” is specifically tailored to remote workers. 

Productivity Pathway consists of 8 core lessons and an in-depth course book. You’ll learn all you need to know to enhance your productivity while working from home, from finding the right work-life balance to effectively incorporating time management techniques into your daily work routine. The course also includes “insider” productivity tips from veteran freelancers who were once in your very position!

For $247 you’ll receive unlimited access, including access to any future updates. The course also comes with a 14-day worry-free guarantee, meaning if you’re not fully satisfied with your investment you can receive a full refund within 14 days of your purchase.

Sign up for Productivity Pathway and start learning how to manage your schedule with ease!

The post How to Stay Productive appeared first on Proofread Anywhere.

Proofread Anywhere vs Knowadays (Which Is Better?)

Do glaring typos make your skin crawl? Are you the friend who always gets asked to check over resumes, assignments, and emails? Then you likely have what it takes to become a proofreader and establish a lucrative side hustle! 

You don’t need a literature or communications degree to become a professional proofreader, but you should have a good grasp of English. You also need a strong understanding of style guidelines, an eagle eye for detail, and stellar research skills. And if you enjoy reading, this could be a great gig for you!

An online proofreading course can teach you all the skills and knowledge you need at a fraction of the price of a degree. Several organizations provide online proofreading courses, but two of the most reputable are Proofread Anywhere — (yes, that’s us!) — and Knowadays. We’ll explain the courses both companies provide and their key differences to help you decide which is right for you. 

Proofread Anywhere Overview

Proofread Anywhere was initially established in 2014 by experienced proofreader-turned-freelancer, Caitlin Pyle. She created PA with a simple mission in mind: to teach others how to hone their proofreading skills and grow their own freelance business from scratch — just like she was able to do all those years ago. 

As pioneers of online proofreading courses, we specialize in proofreading while other companies simply offer it as one among many in their course catalogs. As the PA team is also made of graduates and proofreading experts, our courses are made by proofreaders, for proofreaders.

Since its inception, Proofread Anywhere has helped thousands of people from all backgrounds become successful freelance proofreaders. Proofread Anywhere is now one of the most well-known online proofreading organizations in the world, and its main courses — General Proofreading and Transcript Proofreading — are highly regarded in the publishing industry. 

Proofreading Courses

General Proofreading is designed for beginners wanting to build a freelance proofreading career, while Transcript Proofreading is perfect for those who want to specialize in a lucrative niche where you can read real true crime transcripts.

General Proofreading: Theory and Practice Course

Proofread Anywhere’s General Proofreading course contains over 70 lessons dedicated to teaching you the skills needed to thrive as a professional proofreader. The course covers the fundamentals, such as grammar rules and publishing style guidelines, plus plenty of practice materials to work through.

On top of all the essentials, the course offers guidance on how to self-market your skills and build a business from scratch. You’ll learn how to craft effective proposals, cultivate a professional reputation, and build a business website on a budget. You’ll even be taught the nitty-gritty of freelance tax processes and legal processes including contract creation.

What’s more, the course is updated regularly to keep students up-to-date on industry changes and new developments. As an example, there is now a dedicated Artificial Intelligence (AI) module showing you how to use AI-powered tools to improve your productivity while proofreading. 

Full syllabus available here.

Transcript Proofreading: Theory and Practice Course

Transcript Proofreading teaches you how to proofread legal transcripts that are transcribed by court reporters, meaning you’ll feel like a detective reading real criminal and civil court secrets.

The course contains more than 60 lessons, covering essential legal terminology and how to properly handle verbatim (spoken) records. The course even helps you become acquainted with common transcript technology, like CAT software. You’ll also be able to study using 50 REAL court transcripts (with privacy info redacted).

Similar to the General Proofreading course, you’ll also learn vital self-marketing skills and how to connect with clients in the legal field. The course takes 3 to 6 months on average to complete. You’re provided with worksheets, practice transcripts, quizzes, and resources throughout the program. 

Full syllabus available here.

Experience & Trustworthiness

Proofread Anywhere is a legitimate and trustworthy organization, but you don’t have to take our word for it. The experience of our fully-vetted team speaks volumes — our courses are currently run by expert freelance proofreaders who, combined, have more than 35 years of experience in the industry.

Our founder, Caitlin Pyle, is also a well-respected figure in the proofreading community. She has over a decade of professional proofreading experience and has been featured in reputable publications such as Forbes, New York Post, and Business Insider. 

At PA, we believe that all the nitty-gritty details should be accessible to students before any purchases or commitments are made. Information about our course fees, enrollment procedures, terms and conditions, and assessment processes is readily available on our website. We also have a dedicated FAQ page. 

Student Reviews

Most PA students only have good things to say about the courses. As of May 2024, Proofread Anywhere boasts over a hundred 5-star reviews on Trustpilot. 

In the reviews, students frequently praised PA’s business and self-marketing course content. Many noted they felt truly prepared to set up their freelance career after taking a course through Proofread Anywhere. Other students commented that the courses are digestible, organized, and packed with helpful freelance resources.

Knowadays Overview

Knowadays, formerly known as Proofreading Academy, is another reputable organization that provides online courses for eagle-eyed individuals. The UK-based company was established in 2017 and offers several courses in the publishing industry.

Knowadays is owned by Proofed, an online platform where you can hire vetted proofreaders and editors. Proofed was created by Kiran C., who at the time was a master’s student seeking to hire an editor to help polish up his thesis. Becoming increasingly frustrated at how hard it was to find high-quality editors, Kiran created a platform (Proofed) that made it easier to connect with reliable proofreaders and editors across the globe. 

Knowadays Courses

Knowadays offers two main courses for aspiring side hustlers: “Becoming a Proofreader” and “Becoming an Editor.”

The company’s course in editing teaches students how to bring out a written material’s full potential, including all facets of the editing process, common editing techniques, and how to work with client briefs. The proofreading course provides an overview of the basics of proofreading and teaches students how to refine their eagle eye. 

Other courses Knowadays provides include “Becoming a Freelance Writer,” “How to Fact Check,” “Becoming a Public Speaker,” and “Formatting in Microsoft Word.” 

Becoming a Proofreader

Knowadays’ “Becoming a Proofreader” course contains 78 lessons, each divided into 13 key modules. You’ll learn the rules of grammar, punctuation, and spelling, common publishing style guidelines, and how to use editing tracking tools.  

Knowadays approaches proofreading from a UK English perspective, but every course includes lessons on the differences between US and UK English.

Though you are “guaranteed” work with Proofed after getting 80% or higher on the final exam, many previous students have noted that the final exam instructions aren’t clear and that the final exam is extremely difficult to get through.

Some of the reviews on Trustpilot also note that Proofed is a job board and doesn’t always have enough work for all of the graduates.

Full syllabus available here. 

Experience & Trustworthiness

Knowadays has built a strong reputation over the years, and its team consists of established freelancers and professional tutors who have a wealth of knowledge and experience. Many of Knowadays’ tutors hold degrees (or equivalent qualifications). However, not all of these tutors are experienced in proofreading.

Student Reviews

Knowadays is also highly rated on Trustpilot and Students particularly praised the tutor support, affordable price, and listing on Proofed. Many students also felt the courses contained helpful practice-based exercises.

However, there are some reviews stating that Proofed pays below the common proofreading rates and doesn’t give proofreaders the opportunity to set their own rates. While graduates loved getting one job under their belt quickly, they also found that Proofed doesn’t provide regular work after their trial period and the course doesn’t provide any information regarding how to find clients outside of the Proofed platform.

Comparing Proofread Anywhere and Knowadays

Proofread Anywhere and Knowadays are trustworthy and have overwhelmingly positive reviews, which can make it hard to choose between them. We’ll highlight the similarities and differences between the two brands below, so you know exactly which option is better suited to your needs, budget, and learning goals.

Customer Support

Proofread Anywhere and Knowadays have received glowing reviews regarding their customer support. Students from both organizations claimed that their queries were typically answered within 24 hours and that the responses were helpful and detailed. 

Proofread Anywhere has a dedicated support email with responses coming no later than 24 hours after sending. All of PA’s customer service agents are graduates of PA, meaning they have hands-on experience with the courses and can accurately answer any of your questions or concerns. PA is also dedicated to not using AI chatbots because, well, we think they’re time wasters. And if there’s one thing we all want more of, it’s time.

Knowadays offers a live chat feature with some bot management. They are based in the UK, so if you are not in a close time zone, you may have a delay in speaking to a customer service agent live.

Refund Policy 

At Proofread Anywhere, we offer a “Worry-Free Guarantee” for both our General Proofreading and Transcript Proofreading courses. This guarantee allows you to try out your chosen course for 14 days, and if you decide that it isn’t right for you within this time, we’ll refund you without question.

Knowadays offers a 14-day money-back guarantee too. However, refunds may not apply if you’ve already completed over 50% of the course content so be sure to read the fine print. 

Value

PA’s General Proofreading: Theory and Practice includes a certificate upon completion and a hand-graded exam. General Proofreading students also have access to a Marketing Mastermind group.

Our Transcript proofreading course costs a few hundred dollars more than GP. While more expensive than our General Proofreading course, Transcript Proofreading is more technical and teaches students how to work in a niche with more regular clients.

Both PA courses offer extensive information about how to find clients and most graduates state that they are able to earn back the cost of the course within three months. Proofread Anywhere also offers the option to use Klarna or Afterpay payment plans to help students with a tighter budget.

Knowadays’ “Becoming a Proofreader” course costs a few hundred dollars less than PA courses, though if you purchase it with the Becoming an Editor course, you’ll receive a 15% discount on the overall price. However, if you don’t pass the final exam with a grade higher than 80%, you won’t be able to be listed on the Proofed job board which makes paying off the course much more difficult.

Both Proofread Anywhere and Knowadays offer regular discounts on courses. They also offer free “taster” workshops, where prospective students can get a feel of the training approach before they commit to a full course. 

You can check out these workshops here:

• Proofread Anywhere’s 7-day, free online course in Transcript Proofreading
• Proofread Anywhere’s free general proofreading webinar
• Knowadays’ “Becoming a Proofreader” free 7-day trial (unlocks access to two complete lessons)

Comparing Proofreading Courses

PA’s General Proofreading and Knowadays’ “Becoming a Proofreader” educate you on the nitty-gritty of proofreading and how to put your eagle eyes to practical use. However, they do have a few key differences to be mindful of. 

Main Focus

Both brands’ courses are specifically tailored to beginners without previous experience in the publishing industry. With that said, General Proofreading by PA includes lessons on building a freelance proofreading business from scratch and self-marketing. Some of our business-oriented modules include “Marketing Basics,” “Freelance Tax Guide,” and “Finding Clients.”

While the Knowadays’ Becoming A Proofreader isn’t as business-focused, the course includes modules on proofreading for specific niches, specifically in business, academic, and creative writing fields. 

Student Support and Community

Being in an online course can be challenging, so it is essential that courses include a vibrant student community to help you in your studies. 

Proofread Anywhere

Proofread Anywhere provides graduates and students access to exclusive course Facebook groups. In reviews, students praised these groups, claiming the ability to talk with fellow students truly helped them stay motivated to meet their goals, and many found this support network an invaluable part of the experience. Many graduates also find work through the PA graduate groups.

They also noted that the PA team is always on hand to answer any queries or concerns posted in the groups. Proofread Anywhere also offers students one-on-one discussions with tutors who are PA graduates. You can purchase as many sessions as you feel you require, and the tutor is fully vetted and professionally trained to meet PA’s standards, meaning you can rest assured you’ll be getting an expert’s advice. 

Knowadays

Knowadays provides students with free, real-time tutors who are available 24/7, though these tutors aren’t guaranteed to be experienced proofreaders and student reviews mention that their tutors are often unsure of the correct answers on exams.

Graduates of Knowadays’ course are also invited to an alumni group to share their success stories and support one another moving forward. 

Certificate of Completion

Proofread Anywhere students who earn a 90% pass rate on the course’s final exam receive a certificate of completion. After completing the final exam, a PA team member will reach out to share results and give advice if the exam needs to be retaken.

After passing the exam, the certificate of completion is signed by PA team leaders and can be shown to potential clients or employers as proof of training. Graduates are also provided with a completion badge that can be displayed on their resume and LinkedIn page.

Knowadays offers a CPD-accredited certificate to all students who successfully complete the course and pass the final exam. However, CPD is a UK-based organization and may not be recognized by employers worldwide. 

Course Length and Lifetime Access

Both Knowadays and Proofread Anywhere grant students lifetime access to all course materials and updates, meaning you can refresh your knowledge at any time. 

PA’s General Proofreading course can take up to three months to complete, on average, with the course content released over a few weeks. Knowadays’ “Becoming a Proofreader” course takes around a month.

Work Guarantee and Career Support 

Knowadays has a work “guarantee”, where those who successfully complete and pass final exams with 80% on both the “Becoming a Proofreader” and “Becoming An Editor” courses are invited to work for Proofed on a trial basis. However, many graduates have mentioned that there isn’t enough work after the trial period and that the Proofed pay rates are below the standard for proofreaders and editors.

Proofread Anywhere graduates are invited to create profiles on PA’s dedicated freelance job board, Hire A Proofreader where you can find freelance clients and job postings.

Proofread Anywhere’s courses also teach you how to establish your own freelance career and find clients independently instead of working for a specific company. This enables graduates to set their own rates and work as much or as little as they want.

Which Should You Choose?

Both Proofread Anywhere and Knowadays offer excellent value for the price, and each brand offers its fair share of perks. 

Proofread Anywhere provides:

• Authentic proofreading courses that were created by experienced proofreaders and include real-world applications and business information.
• A support team of PA graduates so you know that you are talking to real people with real experience.
• A thriving community of students and graduates that provide support during the course and help each other find work after the course.
• Free and reliable blog posts, freelancer resources, and newsletters.
• Specialized transcript proofreading training to help you study and work in one of the most lucrative niches.
• A team of experienced freelancers to genuinely want you to succeed.
• A free listing on the Hire a Proofreader job board.

Knowadays provides:

• A wide range of courses that range from creative writing to editing courses.
• 24-hour live chats with freelance professionals from around the world.
• CPD accreditation.
• Potential work through the Proofed platform after a trial period.
• Slightly cheaper prices.

The post Proofread Anywhere vs Knowadays appeared first on Proofread Anywhere.

No, you don’t need a proofreading business coach to become a successful proofreader. Our community of proofreaders and transcript proofreading course provide everything you need to get started as a transcript proofreader and become successful! 

How to Start Transcript Proofreading

Some online proofreading courses might suggest a proofreading business coach as a way to start your proofreading career, get clients, and advertise your proofreading services, but a coach is not necessary. With a transcript proofreading course, you get a certificate of completion that will prove to clients that you are a competent and certified freelance proofreader. 

In Proofread Anywhere’s, online proofreading courses we teach you how to correct errors, provide you with proofreading exercises, and explain the proofreading process. You’ll also learn the differences between proofreading and editing and how to sharpen your proofreading skills. After completing one of our courses, you’ll be fully ready to start a career in proofreading. 

Proofreading for Court Reporters as a Side Hustle

While general proofreading is great for most freelance proofreaders, transcript proofreading can offer a higher pay rate and more consistent clients. As most court reporters work regular full-time jobs and need regular proofreading, getting a court reporter as a client creates reliable part-time or full-time work.

You can choose to transcript proofreading as a work-from-home career, or just as a side hustle to make extra money. The choice is yours and the opportunities are endless! Want to learn more? Our blog has great resources on how to become a proofreader and how much proofreaders make.

If you want a deep dive into online proofreading courses, check out our courses page. For an introduction to proofreading, download our FREE ebook The Beginner’s Guide to Proofreading for Profit. 

The post Do I Need a Proofreading Business Coach? appeared first on Proofread Anywhere.

I get a lot of emails from people who desperately want to take one of my training courses and start their own proofreading businesses, but they just don’t have the money right now. So instead of trying to solve that problem, they think they will just never be able to afford Proofread Anywhere and that’s it.

Maybe they’re widows/widowers on a fixed income. 

Maybe they’re single moms struggling to get by on one income. 

Or maybe they’re military wives who find it hard to hold down a steady job because they move so frequently. 

They could even be swimming in debt and can’t see a way out of it.

I know it can be frustrating to find a way you can make money doing something you love, but you feel like you’re falling at the first hurdle because you can’t afford the training. 

That’s why I wanted to give you some out-of-the-box ideas for ways to earn extra money on the side that you can put toward the tuition fee. Not only that but I’m also gonna give you lots of ideas for ways to save money too. 

Where there’s a will, there’s a way! If you really want to change your life, don’t let a little thing like money hold you back. Go out there and make it happen yourself! 

Ways to earn extra money so you can afford Proofread Anywhere

Maybe you feel like you’ve cut your spending every single way possible, but you still can’t afford to save any money. That’s when you need to find ways to earn more. If you’ve got a bit of extra time on your hands, there are tons of ways you can earn extra money. 

Tip #1: Sell your stuff for a profit — or buy things cheap and sell high

How much cash do you have sitting around your house or in your garage in the form of collectibles, unused treadmills, old smartphones, or even cars that are just gathering dust?

My friend Robbie — seriously; he lives 30 minutes from me — earns more than $40,000 per year by buying in-demand items from flea markets and thrift stores at rock-bottom prices, then “flipping” those items for jaw-dropping profits. One time he bought, repaired, and sold a pair of jet skis and made a $17,000 profit! He and his wife Melissa have three young children and are able to support their entire family every month on just their flipping profits.

Flipping is something anyone can do! Robbie writes an awe-inspiring blog where you can learn more about exactly how he does what he does — including the exact apps and tools he uses to make it happen.

Update in 2020: Last year, Robbie and his wife, Melissa, earned $133,000 from their flipping business!

Tip #2: Do odd jobs

Everyone is busy these days! Some people are so busy with work and raising their families that they just don’t have time to get to odd jobs around their house. If you’re good with power tools, you could rake in lots of extra cash by helping people fix broken furniture. You could also paint rooms for them, organize their garage, etc. 

Charge a super reasonable $10 to $15 per hour to start. A large percentage of the general population can afford that. It’s especially a no-brainer if they can earn more than that $10 to $15 per hour in the time you’ll save them!

My top tip for finding clients is to post on your Facebook page that you’re available for this kind of work and ask people to share it with anyone they know who might need a bit of help. 

Here’s a basic script you can use. Feel free to tweak it as you see fit. Add or remove the services you want to promote. Customize it and go!

Friends and family in my local area: If you’re looking for help around your house or town, I’m available on an hourly basis. I run errands, do laundry, and take care of housekeeping chores. I can shop for groceries, organize files or photos, and help with other tasks around your house. My goal is to help you free up extra time in your day so you can enjoy your life more. If you or someone you know could use extra help like this, please let me know.

Tip #3: Mow lawns

Gardening is another thing that can get neglected when people get busy. If you’ve got a bit of a green thumb, you can make money by mowing lawns and pulling up weeds. Is there a bulletin board in your local area? Make up a quick flyer on your computer and stick that bad boy up there! And don’t forget to post on Facebook too. 

Tip #4: Clean houses

Are you a bit of a neat freak? Some people can’t stand it or just don’t have time, and they need someone like you to come in once a week to give their place a good clean. Depending on the area you live in, you can earn anywhere from $10 to $20 an hour. 

Tip #5: House sit

Here’s something you can do to either earn or save money. You can house sit for people in your own town while they go on vacation, or you can house sit for people while you’re on vacation instead of paying for a place to stay! When you house sit, you’ll be expected to watch over the home, bring in the mail, water plants, sometimes look after pets, etc. Trusted Housesitters is a good app to use to get started with housesitting. 

Tip #6: Walk dogs

This one’s for all the animal lovers. You know those people you see walking around your neighborhood with six dogs on leashes strapped to their waist? They’re dog walkers! Pretty badass ones at that to walk six dogs at a time. You don’t have to walk that many in one go to earn good money as a dog walker. It’s the perfect way to earn a bit of extra money while getting fit at the same time. You definitely won’t need a gym membership if you do this! 

Apps like Rover are a great way to get started in this industry. 

Tip #7: Dog sit

One step up from dog walking is dog sitting (or cat sitting). Some people don’t like the idea of leaving their dog in a kennel for a week while they go on vacation. They’d prefer to leave their dog with an individual they can trust. 

Tip #8: Babysit

Love kids? I’m sure many of you earned money as teenagers babysitting your neighbors’ kids when they went out. Why not do it again? Lots of parents need people to pick their kids up after school and watch them until they get home. And you can even sweeten the deal by offering to do tasks like ironing or cleaning the house for a little extra money. 

Tip #9: Rent out a room on Airbnb

Got an extra room in your house? You can advertise your room on Airbnb as little or as often as you like to make a little extra cash. This works especially well if you live in a touristy area. 

Tip #10: Rent out your car

Don’t need your car every day? Apps like Turo allow you to rent it out to people on a daily or weekly basis. What’s the point in letting your car sit in the driveway when it could be out there making you money?!

Tip #11: Become an Uber/Lyft driver

Another way to earn money during your spare time is to become an Uber or Lyft driver and bring people where they need to go. Apps like these make it super easy to earn money on the side. 

Tip #12: Deliver food/other items

You’re probably all aware that you get hired by apps like Uber Eats and get paid to deliver takeout to people. But did you know you can get paid to deliver other items as well? Apps like Postmates and Instacart allow people to order groceries to be delivered to their home. Postmates also allows people to order other things like food and alcoholic drinks. 

Tip #13: Work as an extra on TV/movies

Spend a lot of time watching Netflix? Why just watch it when you could be a part of it?! You can get paid to stand around in the background of TV shows and movies. All you need to do is sign up with an agency for a small fee, and they will email you to check your availability whenever they need extras. 

Tip #14: Be a mystery shopper

I’ve always thought this one sounds like so much fun! You get paid to go into a shop or restaurant, ask questions, and buy something. The company pays you for your feedback and covers the cost of the items you purchase. This is a good way to get some freebies as well as make extra money!

Tip #15: Pick up extra shifts

You don’t need to get a second or third job to earn extra money. You might be able to pick up some extra shifts at your current job. It might be worth asking your boss if this is an option. 

Tip #16: Ask for a raise

Even better, negotiate a raise without having to do any extra hours! If you’re a hard worker, make sure your boss is aware of the excellent work you’re doing and present them with reasons why you deserve a raise. 

Don’t raise your spending by the amount you got in your raise though! Set aside the extra money each month so you’re not tempted to spend it. 

Tip #17: Go for promotion

Maybe these few options don’t appeal to you because you’re trying to get out of your current job, not get more responsibilities or more hours! 

However, if you like your current job, but your end goal is still to work from home, it might be worth throwing your hat in the ring for any promotions that come up. You’ll earn more money that you can save up toward your end goal.

And taking on extra responsibilities is a good way to learn even more skills that you can transfer to your own business when the time comes. Mo’ skills = mo’ money!

Tip #18: Pick up a second job

Consider picking up a second job in the evenings or on weekends; for example, you could get a job as a server in a restaurant or as a salesperson in a retail store. 

It doesn’t have to be for long! If you can earn an extra $100 a week from your second job, you’ll have $500 saved up in just five weeks! 

Tip #19: Teach English online

Do we have any former teachers in the house? Or someone who’s good with kids? You can earn up to $22 per hour teaching English online to kids or adults. VIPKid is a good website to get started with this. (You do need to have a degree to get hired by VIPKid though.) 

Tip #20: Sell crafts at markets

Are you a good baker? Photographer? Knitter? Jewelry maker? You can make and sell an endless number of things at local craft fairs or farmers’ markets. There will be costs associated with this one as you’ll need supplies and you’ll likely have to pay for your spot on the day, but it can be a good way to earn extra income from your hobbies. 

Tip #21: Sell crafts online

Same as above but take it online. You can sell your crafts on websites like Etsy! Etsy will process the payments, so all you need to do is ship your items. 

Tip #22: Teach an exercise class

Did you know that I used to work as a fitness instructor? That was before I realized that being an introvert and a fitness instructor who’s around people all day didn’t mix. If you enjoy working with people and you’re a fitness junkie, you can earn money teaching an exercise class. Some classes you can teach include yoga, Zumba, jazzercise, etc. 

Ways to make extra money that require specific skills

Working from home and earning money online can be HARD. To be successful at it, you need actual skills, and you have to be willing to put in some time to build skills if you don’t already have them.

Maybe you already have some skills that you can use to earn money online? Proofreading may be your end goal, but you may already have skills in another area that you can use to earn money so you can afford Proofread Anywhere’s courses. 

Here are some high-paying ways you can use your existing skills.

Note: I only recommend these options if you are already skilled and trained in these areas!

Tip #23: Transcription

Transcription is the process of turning any audio or video content into a text document. It’s definitely one of those work-from-home options that you need to be skilled in to be successful. You may already have skills in this area if you did transcription as part of your day job for many years. My friend Janet Shaughnessy shares how she got into transcription in this post. 

Tip #24: Freelance writing

Writing is another arena in the work-at-home world where the sky’s the limit. Every business in every niche in every part of the world needs good quality writing to communicate with their audiences. Sales video scripts, SEO articles, travel articles, resumes, eBooks — the list goes on! Excellent proofreading skills are also a plus if you get into writing.

This mom makes $200,000 a year (no, I didn’t add a couple of zeroes to that figure!) as a freelance writer. 

My friend Gina also shares her top tips for getting into freelance writing here. 

Tip #25: Bookkeeping

Did you know you can become a bookkeeper without becoming a CPA? Yep — they are two different professions, and the market is ripe for skilled bookkeepers. Wondering how much a bookkeeper earns? This mom of two makes $60/hour working from home as a bookkeeper!

Tip #26: Virtual assistance

Because you can work in ANY market, virtual assisting is one of the best options for detail-oriented, skilled individuals looking for work-at-home job ideas.

A virtual assistant can earn up to $25 per hour (or more if you’ve got very specialized skills!).

Proofreading and virtual assisting fit very well together. You could start a virtual assistant business and add proofreading as one of your services once you’ve completed the training. Not sure if there’s demand for virtual assistants? I’m proof there is!

Ways to save money so you can afford Proofread Anywhere

I’ve been a saver since I was seven years old when my grandma opened my first savings account for me.

My friends like to poke fun at me because I know the exact price of everything I buy at Aldi, I shop with weekly flyers, and I use coupons whenever I can. I run searches for coupon codes for every online store. I only work out at home so I can save money on a gym membership.

Long story short? I’m really good at saving money, and I truly enjoy it!

But even for the best of savers, there’s always something more you can do to save money. Always. I’m learning new stuff all the time!

No one is the perfect saver, even if you started at age seven! So the tips and resources in this post are geared toward not the basic “save more, spend less” stuff you can find all over Pinterest, but the things that’ll take you to the next level.

Maybe even the things that’ll take you out of your comfort zone a bit.

Ready to challenge your savings habits?

So are you ready to get serious about saving towards your dream?

These are my best tips, resources, and free tools you can use to help “find the money” or save for just about anything — but especially for your self-improvement goals like up-leveling your skills and earning potential. After all, skills are the most critical factor for increasing your income.

I challenge you to go through this list and ask yourself: Am I really doing everything I can to save? Or is there something more I can do to reach my goals faster?

Tip #27: Trick yourself into saving

I recently signed up for a 100% free service called Digit, which securely connects to your existing bank account, studies your cash flow, and starts automatically pulling out affordable amounts each week based on that cash flow. It’s designed to help you save without even thinking about it! I’m so impressed with this service — and I’m excited to be setting money aside so I can treat myself in a few months to something I really want.

I recommend to ANYONE who wants to invest in something but think it’s out of their reach — just to see that it’s really not out of their reach. It’s the small amounts that add up over time that make those big things possible.

(I published a post about my own experience using Digit — check that out here!)

BONUS TIP: I’ve been using another free budgeting app called Mint to track all my income, expenses, and even my retirement accounts — which is smart to do if you’re freelancing! It even emails me each week to tell me how much I spent that week in comparison to last week. Talk about accountability, eh?! I love it when it tells me I spent less this week than I did last week.

Tip #28: Shop smarter

This one’s easy. We all have to spend money, and chances are, we all spend some of it online. If you could put a percentage of that money you spend back into your pocket, would you do it? That’s what I thought!

Ebates is an online referral service that enables anyone and everyone to get cash back on everyday purchases. Ebates will give you discounts, and you can stack coupon codes on top of it. I also love ‘the browser plugin, which auto-activates the cash back when you’re on participating retailers’ sites.

Then there’s Swagbucks. If you’re not already doing your Internet searches using Swagbucks, it’s time to get with the program! This neat search engine actually pays you just for using it. Run searches, watch videos, take surveys, and earn points you can . Proofreaders run searches for all kinds of stuff every day — to check spellings, case names, and to check addresses. And if you’re like me, you’re probably already watching tons of funny videos on Facebook, so why not get paid for it?

I also save a ton of money by buying only gently used clothes on Thredup which, on top of their rock-bottom pricing, always has a coupon code I can stack on top for even more savings.

Tip #29: Level up your grocery-shopping skills

This is something I think anyone can benefit from because there is always something more we can do to save money at the grocery store. I recommend Living On a Dime’s amazing eBook, , which features more than 1,200 recipes that are designed to help you save up to $10,000 a year on groceries. WOW! What would you do with an extra $10,000 every year?

RELATED: Living on a Dime’s groundbreaking book, 

Tip #30: Just eat… but eat cheaper

Probably the EASIEST way to save money grocery shopping is just to make more of your meals vegetarian.

GASP! Yes, vegetarian!

A lot of people believe eating meatless is expensive, but that’s only true if you replace your meat with expensive meat substitutes. BUT if you replace your meat with beans or lentils, you can save a ton of money — automatically! — because beans and lentils are incredibly cheap, not to mention packed with fiber, antioxidants, and protein.

It doesn’t have to be just a boring pile of beans on your plate, though! This list of 101 vegetarian freezer meals proves that eating vegetarian meals is not only cheap, it can also be delicious and save you lots of time too.

Tip #31: Meal plan

If going vegetarian isn’t quite your thing, there are still other options. Meal planning will help you cut down on food waste every week. 

Erin over at $5 Meal Plan designs weekly meal plans for your family and you. Complete with a grocery list, a menu, and recipes, ! She even has gluten-free menu options.

Tip #32: Bring a packed lunch

Eating out is crazy expensive! If you spend just $5 buying a takeout lunch every workday, you’ll spend around $1,200 a year! Why not pack your own lunch, and put the savings toward your dream to work from home?

Tip #33: Consider giving up your fancy iPhone

I gave up my iPhone in July and haven’t looked back. I still have an awesome smartphone with Project Fi, but I’m saving over $120 per month — just by not having an iPhone. That’s $1440 every year and, if I plan and save carefully, the money I save by not having an iPhone will grow to more than $21,000 in 10 years. HOLY COW. If that doesn’t convince you to give it up, I don’t know what will.

Here’s a copy of my October bill from Project Fi, just in case you think I’m pulling your leg. It’s $28.52!

Project Fi offers you the option of having a smartphone without a data plan, or with a data plan that includes only the data you actually use — starting at just $15 per month! If you work from home like me, simply use your Wi-Fi instead of data to save major cash on data charges. I use less than half a GB of data each month!

Can’t give up your iPhone or carrier? Then consider buying refurbished phones instead of new ones. My students use sites like this one to purchase certified refurbished iPhones and iPads for their proofreading businesses. ALL of my iPad purchases have been refurbished units. It’s such an easy way to save an automatic 15% or more on your tech devices, and you can sell your old ones too!

Tip #34: Pull the plug on cable

I have friends who lease new cars every three years, pay for everything on credit, complain about being broke, yet still pay $200 per month for cable TV. Seriously!?

I’ve never had cable. Ever. I used to watch Nickelodeon at my grandma’s house growing up, and my parents had satellite, but since I’ve been out on my own the last 10 years or so, I’ve never paid for cable.

I still watch TV, but I watch it on Amazon Prime (for movies and past-season TV) and Hulu (for current shows) instead. It’s a great bonus in addition to the free two-day shipping, and the iPad app allows you to download episodes to your device (!!!) so you can watch them without WiFi — great for flights!!

Did you know Amazon Prime also offers free streaming music?! I made a playlist for my high school reunion this year using all the songs I found in the Prime Music library.

Tip #35: Save up the money you receive as gifts

Got a birthday coming up? Why not be a bit cheeky and ask your friends and family for cash to put toward the course? I’ll bet that they’ll be relieved to be able to give you something you want and need rather than another beauty set or tie that will sit in the cupboard unused. 

Tip #36: Take part in a savings challenge

This tip is a great one for tricking yourself into saving. We all love to feel like we’ve accomplished something. You can make a game out of saving money by completing this $20 savings challenge. Who knew saving money could be so fun!

Tip #37: Wait at least 24 hours before you make a purchase

Are you an impulsive person? Don’t worry; lots of us are. We get shiny object syndrome and jump right into purchases before we even think about if we need the item. 

Waiting 24 hours before a purchase — especially large purchases — will give you time to consider if you need the item. You can ask yourself some questions like “Do I really want it?” and “Do I already own something like it?” If your answer is “Yes, I already have five pretty baskets that don’t even have anything in them,” then chances are you don’t need another basket. 

Tip #38: Negotiate your bills

Some people love calling up their service providers to get the best deal, and others hate it with a passion. 

You can try to negotiate pretty much all of your bills from your car and home insurance to your cell phone and cable package (if you don’t get rid of your cable like I told you to :-)). 

If you don’t like doing it, it might be time to suck it up and do it anyways. You can save hundreds of dollars a year by switching to a lower-cost provider (or threatening to switch so your current provider gives you a better deal). Unfortunately, loyalty to one company isn’t always rewarded, so if you can get a better deal elsewhere, go for it. 

Tip #39: Read personal finance books

Maybe you just need a little bit of inspiration to get you on the straight and narrow when it comes to saving money. Reading personal finance books and blogs will get you pumped up to find ways you can save extra money — and many will help you level up your money mindset! 

You can find my recommendations for personal finance books here and here. 

One more way you can afford Proofread Anywhere

Tip #40: Use a Payment Plan

We now offer payment plans for our General Proofreading course and Transcript Proofreading in countries where Klarna and Afterpay are available.

Your Takeaway? A Dollar Saved = A Dollar Earned!

Saving money isn’t a step down from earning money. Saving money, in my opinion, is equal to earning it. It takes skill to save money just like it does to earn it. A dollar saved is a dollar earned!

The way I see it is that each dollar you save, you can put those dollars back into your pocket — or towards something that will improve your life in some way. Onward and upward!

Looking for even more ways to save up so you can achieve your goals? GoBankingRates shares 21 more ways you can get extra money fast!

Popular Posts from Caitlin:

5 Ways to Work from Home (That Are Actually Worth Your Time)

15+ Work-At-Home Job Ideas for Detail-Oriented People

This Mom of 2 Earns $200,000 per Year as a Freelance Writer: Here’s How She Did it

Your Turn!

Are you looking to change your saving/spending habits so you can up-level your skills and earning potential? Got any tips to share? Comment and share your story below!

The post 40 Ways to Afford Proofread Anywhere’s Courses appeared first on Proofread Anywhere.

I’ve been targeted by the Better Business Bureau to pay for their ratings for years.

They’ve even sent me creepy mailings telling me things were unsatisfactory on my website (even included printouts of pages with markup!). They direct me to an application form that is nothing more than a profile setup page which, after I fill it out, requires a $465 payment.

They set themselves up as an authority when that’s not what they are at all. They’re a company with salespeople who suck at disclosing to the public that members with high ratings also financially support BBB.

I’ve always suspected they only care about the money, and it annoys me when I receive the occasional email asking me why I’m not listed — to know they could give me a low rating that essentially bullies me into paying for a good one is infuriating.

The stories in this article about companies being forced to pay $375 to raise their grade prove my suspicion… as do the other testimonials from business owners who share my feelings about the BBB.

I do not trust the BBB, and neither should anyone else.

The post Why aren’t you a part of the Better Business Bureau? appeared first on Proofread Anywhere.

Sorry — I receive requests for my time incessantly (often enough for me to sit down and write a FAQ about it :-)), and I’ve had to set some boundaries to preserve my own sanity.

My phone time is reserved for paying consulting clients and paying students only. I’m no longer able to give away my time for free. I’ll be honest, too: More than just a few people have promised me it’d be a quick 5-minute phone call, but it always turns into 30 minutes or more — and 99% of nearly everyone’s questions are answered on the website already. I’m not exaggerating.

But that’s good news, right? Since December of 2014, I’ve typed out hundreds of thousands, possibly more than a million words here on the site with the express purpose of answering ALL of your questions. If you go up to the FAQs section in the menu bar, you’ll see well-organized categories of FAQs. Dozens of them.

In general, it’s good practice to do lots of research before enrolling, and that’s a big reason why there’s so much to read in our FAQs section. If you take the time to read everything on the site, and your question is still not answered, you can always contact us at support@proofreadanywhere.com.

Conversely, if you do not take the time to read everything on the site, it’s probably not a good indicator that you have the time to take such rigorous courses as General Proofreading and Transcript Proofreading.  Being able to research and read a lot is part of the work involved in becoming an excellent proofreader. Reading the website is great practice!

If you enroll in the courses expecting you’ll have someone to talk you through them, that’s not going to work — the courses cost far too little to include one-on-one help for everyone — which is why the Facebook group, PA Proofreaders, is so awesome! Did you know that enrolling gives you lifetime access to that group?! It’s really a teeny tiny price to pay for access to such a wonderful community. My consulting clients pay a lot more than that for phone time with me, but frankly, I think the value of the group is priceless in comparison to a measly phone call! Years of information is stored in that group — all at your fingertips.

Note that the only thing off-limits for discussion in that group is the nitty gritty “how-to” details of marketing — meaning you cannot ask students how to get clients. Module 8 (Marketing) of the Transcript Proofreading course is protected under lock and key and reserved only for Level 4 students who pass all of the tests, quizzes, the midterm, and the final exams. General Proofreading grads have exclusive access to a separate marketing mastermind group. Grads are all well trained to reject any request for “How do I get clients” info from non graduates. But other than marketing, you can ask any questions about the course you want. Lots of students have already asked, “Is this course legit?” so you’ll be able to use the search feature within the group to read hundreds of posts from other students.

Recommended Reading:

Why Other People’s Success Doesn’t Determine Your Success

Can You Tell Me How to Get Clients for Free?

The post Can I call Caitlin, or can Caitlin call me? appeared first on Proofread Anywhere.

Whatever helps my readers and students doesn’t hurt me. If you look at it from a financial standpoint only, sure — I probably lose quite a bit of money when I send people away from proofreading. But the truth is, not everyone’s a fit for proofreading. Part of my job writing this blog is to help people find their fit in the work-at-home world — even if it’s not with me.

I also know that proofreading will not be “enough” for some folks. I don’t mean that it won’t be enough financially. They’ll make as much money as they want if they work for it (within reason — when you exchange time for money, there’s always an income ceiling). Some students just catch the bug for freelance work at home once they realize the possibilities and demand for other skills in the virtual marketplace. For example, ALL of my support team members are graduates of Transcript Proofreading. Some of them don’t do proofreading at all anymore because they prefer to do other types of virtual work.

So I consider it my duty to not keep my students and readers sheltered. I want them to know there’s a whole world of possibilities to earn income online outside of proofreading.

Is proofreading a good place to start? Absolutely. Is proofreading a good place to stay? Absolutely! If proofreading is what you love and you have no desire to branch out, that is 100% okay. But nothing’s wrong or bad if you decide you’d rather pursue a different avenue altogether or add on new skills — quite the opposite! You wouldn’t be reading this right now if I’d never branched out from proofreading and into blogging. Y’know?

My point is while you can stick with one skill, you’re not limited to one skill. That’s why I post so much about how skills are the key to creating income. Mo’ skills mean mo’ money. And I like to help you find your “jam” — that thing that makes you go YES. That is what I want to do. Then you go do it, and you love the life you create for yourself.

I love being a part of making that happen!

So what else is out there?

These are just a few of the options you have for working at home outside of proofreading.

• Bookkeeping (every business needs a bookkeeper — even mine!)
• (SEO, blog posts…)
• Transcribing (listening and creating accurate transcripts from audio and video)
•  (customer service, blog assisting, etc.)
• (digital marketing, web design, copywriting, sales funnels, etc.)

The post Why do you recommend other courses and opportunities aside from proofreading? Doesn’t that hurt you? appeared first on Proofread Anywhere.

One of the most common questions we get about the proofreading courses I offer here on PA is “What percentage of your students are successful?”

People want to estimate their own probability of success based on how successful other people have been.

And it’s a recipe for disaster. Why would someone else’s efforts determine your outcome?

Let Me Be Brutally Honest… Quality Matters.

Most of my readers on PA know I can be brutally honest. I write posts that strike to the core, that call people out, and I love giving whiners and complainers a swift kick in the pants when I feel it’s necessary.

I’m also brutally honest if I do not think you are a good fit for the courses. I am so intent on keeping the wrong people out. I don’t want unqualified “proofreaders” or lazy people leeching resources from students who are willing to work hard.

That’s why I put some serious exams in my courses. For instance, only students who pass the final exam in my General Proofreading course have access to our graduate directory. And in my Transcript Proofreading course, I changed the Module 5 Quiz into the Module 5 Midterm recently — from 10 questions and a 1-page quiz page to 100 questions and a 5-page transcript to proofread. Someone actually got mad at me for making the course more difficult. (This wasn’t the first time — that’s happened before on past improvements to the course).

The person accused me of making it harder just so fewer people can get through to marketing. I was like, “Uh, yeah, that’s exactly what I want to do — and you should want it too!” If you can’t pass the longer version of the test, you should be kept out of the marketing material. It’s only logical. You need to know the information on the test to do well in the industry. If you don’t do well on the test, then you don’t know that information… so why should I teach you how to market a skill you don’t have? 

I split my Facebook group, PA Proofreaders, into separate groups. Talk about marketing in the “big” group is off-limits because I know there are beginners in there lurking and waiting for scraps of info they can use to skirt taking the rest of the courses. I’ve seen it happen. Students have even reported getting PMs from newbies asking if they can learn from them instead of paying for the course. It’s ridiculous and sad.

Quite a few unqualified people still enroll despite my rampant warnings and matter-of-fact posts. And because of how difficult I’ve made the courses, only a much smaller number of students make it past the practice transcripts and/or exams.

Finding Clients is EASY Compared to the Work it Takes to Get That Far!

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: It’s harder to pass the courses than it is to find clients. Finding clients is so easy in comparison to actually getting good at the work itself.

Many people ask the question about how successful the average student is because they want to gauge how good the courses are — do they deliver? Are they legitimate? But here’s what it boils down to, if someone cannot or does not pass the courses for some reason, that says far more about the student taking the courses than it says about the courses themselves. (Although the mere fact that the courses are difficult enough that not everyone can pass does say quite a bit about the courses’ legitimacy, methinks.)

And that’s why it makes no sense to give any kind of “ballpark” figure on the percentage of my students who are “successful.”

Difficult = Good… Easy = What’s the Point?!

Now, if you’re asking the question to try and gauge whether or not the courses themselves are of high quality, then you’re asking the wrong question. The fact that lots of people enroll and not everyone can pass is a good thing and a very positive indicator of their quality.

You may enroll in one (or both) of the courses and at the beginning hope it’s easy so you can pass quickly, find clients, and make money — Warning: almost no one passes as quickly as they expect!! — but if the courses were easy, and everyone could pass and find clients regardless of their skill level, that would really stink for the people who were really good at this work, wouldn’t it? I’d be flooding the market with tons of people who think they’re qualified — but actually aren’t.

Keeping the courses difficult and continuing to raise the bar on student quality serves the industry. I’ve got a responsibility to at least try to keep the quality of proofreaders high.

And I try very hard. I have regrets that the first versions of my courses weren’t nearly as difficult as they are now. They were laughably easy compared to today’s versions.

I know that because of me, there are some underqualified proofreaders out there that’ve made fools of themselves AND made me look bad. I’ve also publicly addressed the community about many issues and criticisms and written posts busting some ridiculous myths about me. It is important to me that only correct information is shared about me and the courses, and shedding some serious light on the incorrect information helps people sort through fact from fiction.

Again, I can only tell you that far more students enroll than graduate — if that scares you and makes you not want to enroll at all, then you need to ask yourself why you’re choosing to base your potential for success on other people. It would seem to me that the question goes a little deeper than simply trying to vet a course that’s proven itself time and time again.

Quality Over Quantity

The bottom line is that I stand for quality, and I will always choose quality over quantity. I’d rather have a small group of highly skilled graduates than an enormous group of underskilled ones. So that means if someone chooses not to enroll in the courses at all because they think the courses are too difficult for them to pass and be “successful,” then well… I’ve done my job 

What’s going to make you successful isn’t some vague ballpark percentage of how many other proofreaders are successful. It’s not even a course that will make you successful. What’s going to make you successful is you. Your effort. Your skill. Your dedication. Your patience.

You.

The post Why Other People’s Success Doesn’t Determine YOUR Success appeared first on Proofread Anywhere.

We actually don’t offer discount codes regularly. So you won’t find any if you Google for them because they don’t exist.

We occasionally offer specials on bundles and other great offers for freelancers.

The best chance to be informed of any discounts we choose to offer in the future is by being on our mailing list. If you’ve watched the webinar  or enrolled in the free 7-day intro course already, then you’re on our mailing list until you choose to unsubscribe. But if you’re unsure, you can sign up via the form in our footer.

Why don’t you offer discount codes all the time?

The reason we do not offer discount codes regularly is because what we offer are courses in which you enroll, not products that you purchase. Furthermore, this is a course that is intended to provide you the skills that can earn you an income – so it can easily pay for itself in a few short weeks after completion.

A lot, and I mean a lot of work and money goes into running Proofread Anywhere and supporting our students.

Our tuition fees are what they are because of the value our team provides to support our students and graduates.

For example, we currently have a team of eight professionals (including graduates from our own proofreading courses) who provide lifetime support to our students — hand grading tests, answering forum questions, approving graduate profile listings in our new job board Hire a Proofreader, etc. And that doesn’t take into consideration the iterations, additions and updates we make to improve our courses – to which our students have lifetime access.

Providing that level of service isn’t cheap — quite the opposite — and we don’t receive any compensation aside from tuition, even though we include lifetime membership without recurring costs. We do this because our students have the best opportunity for success with comprehensive courses as opposed to just a digital download product that lacks ongoing support.

So rest assured that even without a discount code, you will get more than your money’s worth. So click here to learn more and enroll and we’ll see you on the inside!

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