How Editing Significantly Improved Content: 5 Examples
Ever wondered how editing can transform a piece of content from mediocre to exceptional? Discover insights from a Founder and Chief Marketing Officer and a Marketing Executive who share their experiences. Get ready to explore the first tip on simplifying wording for better engagement and conclude with the final strategy on enhancing videos with subtitles and trends. With five invaluable insights, this article will leave you equipped with expert editing techniques.
- Simplify Wording for Better Engagement
- Edit for Structure and Clarity
- Consolidate Pages for Improved SEO
- Make Complex Topics Relatable
- Enhance Videos with Subtitles and Trends
Simplify Wording for Better Engagement
When I worked on a product description for a tech company introducing a new software application, for instance, my editing greatly enhanced the material. Potential clients, who were not familiar with the lingo, might become turned off by the original copy's excessive technicality and difficulty of understanding. I simplified the wording, put more emphasis on advantages than features, and changed the tone to one that was more customer-focused. For the intended audience, the information became more understandable, interesting, and clear. Because visitors responded more favorably to the updated description, which sparked greater interest and action, the product page's conversion rate rose by 15%.
Edit for Structure and Clarity
Editing to improve content is a given in my world. I couldn't create effective content without this practice. My first draft is usually free-flowing. I then edit for structure and group ideas by theme. Next, I edit for word choice—that's where the onomatopoeias and metaphors and analogies and fun, descriptive language come in! I then edit for clarity and conciseness. Finally, I'll do another few full passes of the draft before sending it to a colleague to—you guessed it!—review it with their own editing lens to make it even better.
Consolidate Pages for Improved SEO
One notable example involved a project where we overhauled the content for a client in the freight and logistics industry. Their website had numerous outdated and overly-similar landing pages that weren't performing well in terms of traffic or conversions. We took a strategic approach, consolidating the redundant pages and creating more in-depth, focused content that better addressed their audience's needs and search intent.
The revised content provided clear, detailed information about their services while integrating stronger keyword targeting and user-centric copy. The changes aligned the site with search engine updates prioritizing high-quality, relevant content.
After implementing these edits, we observed a noticeable uptick in both traffic and leads. This improvement coincided with a major Google algorithm update, highlighting the importance of having well-structured, valuable content. By refining their messaging and eliminating outdated material, we not only enhanced their SEO performance but also helped establish the site as a more authoritative resource for their industry.
Make Complex Topics Relatable
I once reviewed a technical blog draft explaining AI use cases for small businesses. The original piece was overly complex and full of jargon, making it hard to follow. I rewrote sections to simplify the language, broke long paragraphs into shorter ones, and added relatable examples for clarity. For instance, instead of generic AI examples, I included one about how a local bakery could use AI to predict inventory needs based on sales trends.
After the edit, the blog received significantly higher engagement. Readers commented on how the examples made the topic approachable, and a few small-business owners even reached out for advice. This experience reminded me how clear, relatable content can make a big difference in connecting with an audience. It's not just about accuracy, but also making sure your insights stick with readers.
Enhance Videos with Subtitles and Trends
A great example of how editing significantly improved my content is with my own TikTok videos, where I share SEO tips. Initially, the videos were simple, with just me speaking to the camera. While the content was valuable, it wasn't grabbing enough attention to really stand out on the platform.
What I Changed:
1. Subtitles: I added bold, eye-catching subtitles to ensure people scrolling through their feed would immediately catch the key points, even without sound.
2. Memes and Trends: I incorporated memes and popular TikTok trends to make the content more relatable and engaging for the audience.
3. Call-to-Actions (CTAs): At the end of each video, I included clear CTAs like "Follow for more SEO tips" or "Visit the link in my bio for a free consultation," which encouraged viewers to take the next step.
The Impact:
These changes dramatically boosted the reach and engagement of my videos. They started gaining thousands of views, and the comments section became a place for genuine interaction. More importantly, businesses began reaching out for help with their SEO after discovering me through TikTok. This shift turned the platform into a key driver for both my visibility and customer acquisition.
Now, I apply the same attention to detail when optimizing my clients' content, ensuring it not only ranks well but also connects with audiences in a meaningful way.
