Do you proofread your writer?

Should you proofread your business writer's work? You'd better believe it.

There are a few reasons why looking over your writer's work makes a terrific amount of sense. Here are some advantages:

1. You will know if he was listening. A good writer has an amazing memory, a notebook, or an electronic device that he uses to keep track of all the information you give him. Does it say what you wanted it to say?
2. Did he understand it better than you do? Sometimes complex topics aren't easy to translate into common language, because the jargon (which most people don't understand) does a much better job explaining the topic. Simplified terms aren't as precise, but if your clients don't have the same training that you do, they might do the job better. Show your writer's work to an existing client and ask them to explain it to you. If the answer is near the mark and the client thinks it's a good product, the writing may be just precise enough.
3. Second set of eyes. Writers train themselves to catch most of their own mistakes, and some proofreading tips make this job easier. However, even the most perfectionist of writers may have some error which slips through the cracks. If you're not sure if the usage is correct or not, ask anyway: a good writer will explain it if it's correct instead of getting defensive.
4. It's called a draft! Just as a contractor will create a punch list, a writer doesn't expect that the first draft is going to be exactly what you're looking for. If you don't comment, not only won't you get what you're paying for, you also will deny your writer the opportunity to learn more about your business philosophy.

The longer you work with a business writer, the better the results should be. I really working with regular clients whose "voice" I have captured in my head. Even then, though, I appreciate the occasional proofreading questions I receive, because they either give me a chance to correct a misteak or they allow me a chance to talk more about the rules of writing.