When it comes to content, editing can be half the battle. I think about this often. I am amidst a huge web redesign project right now that consists of a ton of content and images. Content and images that have accumulated over nearly a 20-year timeframe.
But, no matter if you are building website, designing a print piece or producing a video, being able to quickly and (most importantly) effectively edit content and images is critical. Here are some pro tips to making sense of massive amounts of information.
Give it a Quick First Pass
It may sound hasty, but I find that often my first instinct is the best. So when I am given a document to edit, a video rough cut, or a batch of photos I start the editing process immediately. Some people would disagree saying that taking the time to read through, view or watch the content a few times prior to making cuts, is the best thing to do. However, I find that more times than not if a sentence feels odd, and image doesn’t move me or a part of a video is less than stellar, the next time I see it… I will feel exactly the same way.
Give it A Second (and Third) Pass
Now that you have made your initial edits, it is important to look at the “body of work” to make sure you still like your initial edits, that you aren’t taking out too much, and that the spirit, artistry, and essence of the message is still in tact.
Use Comments to Create a Dialogue With Someone Else (or Yourself)
Whether you are using commenting in Microsoft Word, on a PDF or my new personal favorite….in DropBox. Feedback loops will help jog that memory of yours after you have gone on to the next thing.
How Much is too Much…or Not Enough?
If you are worried about the amount of content that you are including, here are a few go-to go-bys:
Average Blog Post Word Count= 500-1,000 words
Average Web Page Word Count= 500-1,500 words
Videos= :30-2:30 seconds
Sleep, Eat, Repeat.
Writers block is a real thing, I can attest. But there is also something that I like to call my “blind eye” syndrome. Meaning, maybe I don’t see or don’t want to see a particular weakness in the content on the first couple of passes. That is why, if time permits I leave whatever it is alone, go about my business and return to it the following day before sending it on its merry way to be published. Next time you are tasked with an edit, try it this way, let me know what you think, and pass along any of you own tips!
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