Authoritative content that is valuable to readers is key for businesses looking to gain an edge in today’s competitive marketplace. One way to ensure consistent, high-quality content is with a thorough subject matter expert (SME) review.
Content reviewed by a subject matter expert and backed by research shows potential customers that you prioritize accuracy and reliability, which boosts your reputation as a trustworthy brand. In this guide, we’ll take you through everything you need to know about SME reviews and how they can benefit your business.
Subject matter experts, or SMEs, are specialists in a field who can provide extensive knowledge in their area of expertise. They play a significant role across various industries, especially for businesses looking to create accurate, reliable content that drives website traffic and increases conversions.
During a review, SMEs offer detailed feedback on your content and can provide guidance on how to make it more authoritative and engaging for your target audience. For example, an SME can review the terminology, tone, and factual information in website content and offer suggestions on how to improve your overall content marketing strategy.
SME editors can:
An added benefit of SME reviews is that they can boost SEO. According to Google’s Helpful Content Update, search engines prioritize authoritative, expert-level content, meaning content reviewed by SMEs can land your website higher on SERPs. This focus on high-value content and factual accuracy is especially significant if you use AI-powered writing tools to support content creation.
Content reviews, including SME reviews, work best when you use a systematic and well-structured approach. Below are some tips for making the most of your SME review.
When briefing your reviewer, clearly outline the purpose of the review and what’s expected from them. Communicate your objectives, such as increasing website traffic or improving SEO. It’s also important to clearly define the scope of the SME review, especially if you’re not having them review all your content or you want the reviewer to focus on a particular section of your website.
Provide the SME with complete drafts, supporting research, and guidelines for the review, and highlight areas that need special attention or fact-checking. If certain sections are particularly complex or critical to the content’s purpose, indicate these areas and clarify any specific requirements. To ensure a comprehensive review, give the SME access to relevant data on your target audience, business goals, and other resources.
If you have brand voice or style requirements, provide these guides so the SME can align their feedback with your brand’s style. If certain terms need to be used consistently or if the content requires a specific tone (e.g., formal vs. conversational), make this clear to avoid misunderstandings.
Setting clear timelines and expectations on review cycles helps the SME manage their time effectively. Keep them informed of your content production schedule, including the final deadline and how many rounds of revisions are typical. If possible, conduct an introductory meeting between the SME and your content team to clarify schedule concerns and address questions upfront.
While SMEs are typically highly respected in their field and can provide valuable guidance, you should allow for collaboration with the rest of the content team and incorporate their feedback. Rather than instructing SMEs to edit content directly, establish a process where they suggest edits (such as by using Track Changes in Microsoft Word or Suggestion Mode in Google Docs), and give writers and your marketing team time to review the suggestions and revise their content.
Track rounds of revisions and maintain a clear record of edits and updates to the content for reference. Having a detailed version history helps you and your team better understand the reasoning between accepting and rejecting editing suggestions.
Now that you understand SME reviews, how do you find the right SME reviewer for your editorial process? When searching for a reviewer, consider the specific niche or expertise necessary and reach out to your professional contacts to ask for referrals of potential candidates. Remember that specialized subject-matter expertise is just one important element when selecting an SME. They should also possess strong writing skills, time management and organization abilities, and communication skills.
Another avenue to explore is hiring a professional editing agency that includes SME editing. Editing agencies work with a broad range of editors specializing in a wide variety of fields. Outsourcing editing services to a professional editing company ensures you receive accurate, reliable, high-quality content reviewed by an expert SME editor in your industry. Going this route also saves you the time and effort of searching for a freelance SME editor, giving valuable resources back to your team and allowing you to focus on other content-related tasks.
To summarize, a thorough SME review can improve your content’s reliability and trustworthiness and help you achieve your content goals. Ensure your content makes an impact with your target audience by having our team of editing experts review it. Our editors have a broad range of experience and professional backgrounds – so no matter what your industry, we can match you with the best editor for your business. Book a demo with us today to find out more.
An SME contributes specialized knowledge and ensures content is accurate, credible, and aligned with industry standards. Their responsibilities include reviewing content for factual accuracy, compliance, and relevancy, resulting in authoritative and trustworthy content, which ultimately boosts conversions and customer retention.
Most SMEs specialize in specific industries, and while some have broader expertise, it’s typically best to find someone with specialized knowledge in your field. This ensures they have the experience necessary to provide valuable feedback and insights.
Look for SMEs with a mix of experience and proven credibility in your field. Networking, professional associations, and referrals are great resources. You can also find SMEs through professional editing companies such as Proofed, as editing agencies often work with subject-matter expert editors with a range of expertise. No matter where you find an SME, it’s essential that they can communicate feedback effectively.
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