​One step in the writing process that many content writers dread is editing. You may think your piece of writing is perfect. You may also be tired of looking at it. Having a fresh pair of eyes look at your work can be just what you need to make a good piece of writing great.

Here are five tips to help you ask for feedback on your content:

1. Find The Right Person
You may be tempted to ask your best friend to review your work, but you know that they won’t provide any constructive criticism. They think everything you do is great and tell you so. This is why it’s important to choose the right person to provide feedback on your writing.

If you’re writing for a client, consider asking them to look over the content and provide feedback. This is especially important if this client is in a specialized field that you may not have much knowledge of like finance or law. However, this doesn’t always need to be the case.

A trusted colleague who is willing, to be honest with you is probably the best person to ask for feedback. Even if they don’t have knowledge of the subject matter, they can provide an actual reader’s perspective and provide that type of feedback.

2. Self-Edit
The last thing you may want to do is look at your content one more time. However, it’s essential to the editing process. It gives you an idea of what to ask for regarding feedback on your work.

Some things to look for when self-editing include:

• Grammar and Spelling Issues
• Continuity and Transitions
• Repetition
• Awkward Phrasing
• Passive Voice

Once you’ve looked through your content, you can then share it with the person you’re seeking feedback from. They will appreciate the time you’ve saved them by doing an initial self-edit.

3. Ask Questions
When you share your content with the person giving you feedback, don’t be afraid to ask questions. These can be specific like, “Do I repeat this word or phrase too much?” Think about what you observed while self-editing when coming up with these questions.

You can also ask more open-ended questions like, “Is there anything I could remove or change from this piece of content?” That way, the other person can give you their opinion of your work. Remember, this answer will only be an opinion and it’s ultimately up to you to make the change.

4. Provide a Timeline
You may be writing a blog post that can go out anytime as it’s about a product or service you always offer. However, if you have more time-sensitive content, like a social media post related to a holiday promotion, you might want to provide the person you ask for feedback on that timeline.

That way, this person knows how long they have to get back to you. Then, you have time to make any needed changes and still publish the piece when you intend to. Consider having a content calendar to keep track of these timelines and share it with those involved in the project.

5. Ask Ahead of Time
One of the best times to get feedback on the content you create is before you’ve ever written it. It may not seem like it makes sense, but it does. Before you begin writing, sit down with some colleagues and brainstorm potential ideas for topics. Based on what they encounter in their daily interactions with customers, they can provide more topics than you may ever need.

Also, consider asking those in your target audience for ideas on what topics to create content about. You can survey customers on social media, in an email newsletter, or personally about their experiences with your business. Then, you can use this information to create a buyer persona of these customers that you can use to inspire future content creation efforts.

Need Feedback? Just Ask!
You may not think you need to ask for feedback on the content you create, but it can be one of the most valuable tools you can use to improve your writing. As content marketing experts, we can be the extra set of eyes you need.

Links Web Design is a content marketing agency in Bangor, ME, and Fruitland Park, FL.
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