A web page can be easy to read even if the most important point hasn’t been addressed yet. Perhaps you’re describing a service you plan to offer soon. Does the text already state that someone can request that service? If so, a visitor might think you’re ready to go, when in fact you still need to work out the details.
That's why I find it helpful to treat writing, editing, and publishing as separate steps—even if you do all three yourself. That way, you'll know when you still need to do some research and when the text is ready for a visitor.
Next to your draft, note what still needs to be done
Save the text as a draft while you're working on it. If someone else is going to review it, let them know what you need clarification on. Can we describe this process yet? Is this explanation still accurate? Is this image intended for the final page?
Include those questions in the draft. That way, the next reader won’t have to piece together what’s already been agreed upon from a conversation or scattered notes. Does your website have a preview feature? Open it from the admin panel and check where you can share the draft with the person reviewing it.
Have the content reviewed by someone familiar with the work
If you focus solely on spelling, it’s easy to overlook a promise. That’s why you should have someone familiar with the service or process review exactly what you’re saying. Can a visitor already use this service? What are the terms and conditions? Does the text clearly explain what happens after a request is submitted?
Also take a look at the headline and the buttons. If the text says that you should first discuss the options together, a button labeled “Discuss Your Question” would be appropriate. A button labeled “Book Now” creates a different expectation. Let the reader provide feedback on what needs to be changed or confirm that the content is correct.
View the page as a visitor will see it
Read the text in the page preview, in the exact spot where it will appear. Does the explanation correspond to the option it refers to? Is it clear where a link leads? Does the image match the text? Also check on a mobile device to see if the most important explanation and the next step are easy to find.
When developing a website, it’s a good idea to factor this into the content management setup from the start. If your team will be editing the text themselves later on, discuss how someone can review the page before it goes live.
Approve the version you are going to publish
Agree on who is authorized to post the text online and how that person can tell which version has been reviewed. It’s more helpful to approve the draft than to send a separate message saying “looks good.” That way, it’s clear which text and image were part of the review.
Does anything change afterward that affects the meaning or the next step for the visitor? Have that section reviewed again. When managing your website, you can keep this process simple. One person prepares the text, someone familiar with the content reviews it, and the person in charge publishes the reviewed version online. In a small team, one person can handle more than one of these steps.
Would you like your team to be able to edit pages on their own and easily see what’s ready for publication? Talk to us about your website. We’ll work with you to figure out how to set this up in your content management system.