How to Become a Content Reviewer (Skills, Education, Tips)

Become a content creator and turn your attention to detail and talent for fact-checking into a thriving career.

The need for quality content has never been greater than it is today. As data consumption grows, so does the demand for assessment and quality control. This is where content reviewers come in, ensuring that social media posts, blogs, and online magazines are accurate, readable, and tonally sound.

Let’s explore the skills, education, and experience required in the field. There are many ways to flourish in this dynamic industry and differentiate yourself from other equally important professionals.

Skills Required for a Content Reviewer

Strong Writing and Communication Skills

Strong writing and communication abilities are essential for a content reviewer. You must be able to spot discrepancies in the tone and meaning of the text and provide the writer or editor with clear and constructive feedback. Your comments should be detailed and practical, noting areas where the content could be enhanced or corrected, and recommending how to do so.

Related: How to Become a Freelance Writer

Attention to Detail

Attention to detail is another inherent must for a content reviewer. You will need to spot even minor factual mistakes in the content, such as double meanings and outdated practices. Detail-oriented professionals ensure that the information meets the greatest standards of accuracy, and assist brands in maintaining their professional reputations.

Understanding Industry Standards

Content reviewers must be well versed in industry standards, which outline content rules for specific industries like legal, healthcare, and finance. Keep abreast of the current news, trends, and practices within your niche and ensure that the content you review follows them to a T.

Knowledge of Content Management Systems

All content reviewers should familiarize themselves with content management systems (CMS), which are used in creating, managing, and publishing digital material. Understand the CMS used by the company or brand with which you work, in order to properly assess and make adjustments to the materials. You must be comfortable dealing with images, videos, and other multimedia that may be incorporated into your clients’ content.

Related: How to Become a Beta Reader

Education and Experience

A college degree is not compulsory for a content reviewer role, but having one pertaining to the field in which your clients specialize can set you apart from others seeking the same position. Your public portfolio can add a certain level of trustworthiness and authority to the content you review.

For example, a person with a law degree who becomes a content reviewer for a legal firm can ensure the proper usage of terminology and law application within the company. Similarly, a retired nurse could fall back on a career’s worth of medical terminology and experience to guarantee accuracy in health-related content.

If you aim to explore extra work opportunities online while leveraging your diploma, accreditation, or specialized knowledge, a relevant associate’s or bachelor’s degree is a must.

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Content Reviewer Pay or Salary Expectation

While ZipRecruiter reported that the average salary for a content reviewer job in the United States is around $78,000 per year, this number can widely fluctuate based on the variables outlined below.

Factors Affecting Your Content Reviewer Pay

• Industry: Your industry can significantly impact your content reviewer pay. For example, if you’re working for a social media platform, you may earn a different salary than you would while employed by a health or legal organization.
• Experience: As with most jobs, your level of experience is an essential factor when it comes to salary. Your prior experience as a content reviewer could help you command a higher salary than someone else who is just starting out in this field.
• Location: Your location can also affect your pay as a content reviewer. If you work in a major city, you may earn more than someone who is based in a smaller town. 
• Education and Certifications: If you have a degree or a certification in the niche in which you choose to review content, you can command a higher salary than someone without that education.
• Number of Clients: The more clients with which you can comfortably and professionally work, the more you can grow your income.
• Service Offerings: As you build your portfolio, attain certifications, and ultimately improve your skills, you can provide additional services to your existing clientele, such as copy editing and proofreading.

Content Reviewer vs Copy Editor vs Proofreader

When it comes to producing high-quality content, several roles are involved in the process, including content reviewer, copy editor, and proofreader. While all of these positions are essential in creating explicit, concise, and error-free content, they do have some key differences, as well as similarities.

Content Reviewer

Content reviewers examine the content from a high-level perspective. Here, your primary goal will be to make sure the information is factual and consistent, and adheres to the company’s tone and style guidelines. You are not responsible for grammar, spelling, or punctuation errors, but should instead focus on the overall meaning and accuracy.

These individuals are experts in their chosen fields, and may also be marketing professionals who ensure that the messaging is consistent with the company’s branding and tone.

Key content reviewer roles and responsibilities include:

• Reviewing content for accuracy and consistency
• Ensuring that the content adheres to company tone and style guidelines
• Making sure that the content meets the target audience’s needs
• Providing feedback to writers on how to improve the content
• Ensuring that the content meets any legal or regulatory requirements

Related: Get Paid to Read

Copy Editor

A copy editor ensures that the content is grammatically correct and readable, and adheres to the company’s style guidelines. Copy editors focus on technical aspects like spelling, punctuation, grammar, and syntax.

Copy editors work closely with writers to verify that the content is clear, concise, error-free, and appropriately formatted, and that any graphics or images are placed correctly.

Key responsibilities of a copy editor include:

• Checking for grammar, spelling, punctuation, and syntax errors
• Ensuring that the content is readable and flows smoothly
• Checking for consistency in style, tone, and formatting
• Making sure that any graphics or images are correctly placed and formatted
• Providing feedback to writers on how to improve the content

Related: Get Paid to Edit Papers in Your Spare Time

Proofreader

A proofreader essentially provides a line of defense before the final content is published. Proofreaders focus on catching typographical issues, misspellings, or formatting errors that the copy editor may have missed.

Proofreaders work independently. Their primary goal is to ensure that the content is error free before publication.

Key responsibilities of a Proofreader include:

• Checking for typographical errors, misspellings, and formatting issues
• Ensuring that the content meets the company’s style guidelines
• Reviewing the final version of the content before it is published
• Ensuring that the content is error free and ready for publication

Related: Proofread Anywhere Review

Differences and Similarities

The key differences amongst these roles lie in the primary responsibilities. A content reviewer focuses on the technical terms, depth, and accuracy of the topics discussed within the content. Copy editors go further into the technical aspects of the content, such as grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Proofreaders focus on catching any final errors the copy editor may have missed.

All of these positions do share some similarities; they work closely with writers to ensure that the content meets the company’s standards and guidelines. They should all have an eye for detail and strive to produce error-free content that meets the target audience’s needs. They also provide feedback to writers on how to improve the content.

Related: How to Become a Content Creator

Tips for Successful Content Reviewing

Establish a Legal Working Relationship

Maintaining a legal working relationship with your clients is crucial to your success as a content reviewer. This includes establishing clear and concise contracts, understanding intellectual property rights, and resolving any disputes that may arise between you and the client.

“You should have a contract for any service work you provide, so that you can enforce those terms should the need arise,” said Amira Irfan, business lawyer and creator of A Self Guru. “This will ensure that both parties are clear on their roles, expectations, and rights when it comes to the services being provided.”

Amira has more than a decade of experience as a business lawyer, and her Freelance Legal Bundle is the No. 1 resource for legal bundles designed to protect individuals and businesses.

Stay Up-to-Date On Industry Trends

Stay in the know about industry trends to ensure successful content reviewing. This means keeping current with changes and advancements in the niche you service, including new technologies, terminology, and changes in best practices. Stay informed to make sure the content you review is up-to-date, relevant, and aligned with industry standards.

To achieve this goal, follow industry blogs, attend industry conferences and events, and subscribe to relevant newsletters and publications. You can also use social media and online forums to stay informed about emerging trends and discussions within the industry.

Keep Your Certifications and Education Current

Your present education is key to providing accurate and quality reviews. Continue learning more about the topics you cover by taking relevant courses or workshops, enrolling in a certification program, pursuing a degree or higher education, or participating in online research groups.

If you are reviewing products, consider taking classes related to that particular area of expertise, like technology, engineering, or health sciences. This will help you provide accurate, in-depth reviews.

Develop a Style Guide for Consistency

Developing a style guide is crucial for upscale content reviewing. A style guide outlines the rules and guidelines needed to create and publish content, ensuring consistency across all content types and channels. Include details about formatting and style conventions, voice and tone, and other specific instructions relevant to your brand.

Work closely with writers, editors, and other stakeholders to identify and define the style elements that are most important to the brand. The style guide should be regularly reviewed and updated as needed, to remain current and relevant.

Related: How to Become a Freelance Journalist From Home

Maintain Good Relationships With Writers and Editors

Maintaining good relationships with writers and editors facilitates open communication, collaboration, and a shared commitment to creating high-quality content.

Establish clear communication channels, give constructive feedback, and show appreciation for the content creators’ work. Be responsive to questions and concerns, and be willing to collaborate in streamlining the content creation process.

Provide Constructive Feedback

Keep your feedback specific, actionable, and focused on improving the quality of the content. It should be delivered positively and constructively, highlighting both the strengths and weaknesses of the content and providing suggestions for improvement.

Carefully review the content and then give the creator clear and specific suggestions, highlighting areas where changes could be made to improve the quality of the content. The feedback should be delivered promptly and professionally, with a focus on collaboration and a shared commitment to creating high-quality content.

A Content Reviewer Can Naturally Improve SEO

While a content reviewer doesn’t need to specialize in search engine optimization (SEO), a job well done can naturally improve a site’s rankings and organic traffic. Google prioritizes content packed with Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness (E-E-A-T), so both the content writer’s and reviewer’s credentials are crucial. The content reviewer can add natural, industry-standard keywords and ascertain the facts of the subject matter.

Becoming a content reviewer can be a challenging, yet rewarding, career path. Maintaining ethical and appropriate online content is paramount as society becomes more digitized. Follow the steps outlined in this article to set yourself up for success as a content reviewer. With dedication and hard work in your remote content reviewer job, you can become a valuable asset in ensuring the integrity and quality of online content.

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