Content Quality Assurance in the Age of AI



Assessing Content Quality Still Matters



The status of content quality assurance in the Age of AI


Is automation doing the content quality assurance job in the Age of AI, or does it still make sense to ensure every piece destined for publication gets professional human content review? This post covers what a freelance content QA editor provides and why assessing content quality still matters.

Why hire a freelance content quality assurance (QA) editor?

Key traits that make a content QA editor valuable for elevating given content or copy include:

  • Strong writing skills

The content consultant, or editor, needs to be an excellent marketing writer who can take complex technical information and transform it into clear, engaging content for the target audience. They should have a solid grasp of grammar, syntax, and storytelling to perform thorough content QA.

  • Technical aptitude

While not needing to be an engineer or coder themselves, the technical content editor should have a basic understanding of technology concepts, products, and terminology. This allows them to better grasp technical details and convey them accurately.​

  • Research skills

A good editor will research unfamiliar topics and products thoroughly through optimal methods including GenAI to ensure their content is factually accurate and current. They'll dig into specs, user feedback, and technical documentation as needed.

  • Collaborative

The editor should work closely with subject matter experts like product managers and engineers to fully understand the technologies being documented. They need to ask smart questions to create complete, valid content.

  • Eye for detail

Strong editing involves verifying facts, ensuring consistency, formatting content for readability, catching errors, and refining text for maximum clarity. A meticulous eye for detail is critical. This especially applies to editing AI content outputs for common pitfalls and to ensure it is written for humans.

  • Creativity

While technical writing is accurate and precise, the best editors bring creativity to make content engaging. This includes using analogies, examples, visuals, and other techniques tailored to the audience.

  • Passion for the craft

Technical editors who genuinely enjoy honing the art of communication and information delivery will pour more energy and precision into producing high-quality content. Authenticity shows.


The most effective content QA editors combine writing talent with content quality assurance experience, technical curiosity, creativity, and the passion to produce understandable, targeted, compelling content. Their skills elevate raw copy to polished works that readers value.



Content Quality mind map showing some of the criteria that contribute to content quality and that can be assessed by a professional content editor.












Why would content marketing managers and their technical bloggers need a content QA editor to review content quality?

The best content combines industry knowledge with great writing. Editors strengthen business content by correcting oversights, improving presentation, and adding valuable new perspectives.

The benefits a human editor delivers

There are a few key reasons why even experienced content marketing managers and bloggers benefit from having a content specialist review their work even if they are already experts in the field and effective writers themselves?

  • Avoiding blind spots

When you are very familiar with a topic, it becomes harder to spot gaps or unclear explanations for a lay audience. A good editor provides an outside perspective to identify areas that need more explanation or context.

  • Maintaining consistency

An editor helps ensure messaging and terminology is consistent across posts and authors. This strengthens the brand voice and reduces confusion.

  • Catching errors

No matter how knowledgeable the writer, mistakes can slip through like typos, incorrect stats, misspelled names, broken links, etc. Editors provide a safety net.

  • Improving structure

Writers close to a topic often take background knowledge for granted. An editor restructures content for clarity, flow and emphasis, guiding readers through properly.

  • Bringing objectivity

Writers get attached to their words. Editors prune unnecessary passages and provide constructive feedback on weak sections. The detachment helps.

  • Adding polish

Even excellent writers produce rough drafts. Editors hone phrasing, tighten language, perfect formatting, refine tone, and make hundreds of micro-improvements.

  • Providing new perspectives

Writers have inherent biases and styles. Different editors suggest new approaches, viewpoints, examples, and formats the writer may never have considered.

  • Freeing up writers

Without having to obsess over details, writers can focus on cranking out more high-quality draft content, leaving the editing to others.



Checking content for robotic tone and structure is a key content quality best practice, especially when editing AI-generated content.













Should marketing departments invest in human content editors despite the existence of AI-powered editing apps?

A human editor addresses subtler issues that can elevate content from good to great. The investment is often worth it.

  1. AI editor vs. human editor

    • While AI editing tools have improved significantly, there are still compelling reasons a marketing department should consider seeking the help of an experienced human technical editor:

  2. Nuanced style refinement

    • A human editor can get familiar with your brand voice and tone to make refinements AI cannot pick up on. This strengthens consistency.

  3. Subject matter expertise

    • A tech-savvy editor will better grasp concepts to ensure explanations make sense or identify gaps for the audience. AI has limited knowledge.

  4. ​Error catching

    • A human editor is still superior at spotting errors, typos, broken links, code issues, etc. that AI routinely misses.

  5. Structural improvements

    • An experienced editor can make judgment calls on reorganizing, restructuring, or rewriting weak sections of content for better flow.

  6. Collaborative guidance

    • A human editor can have ongoing discussions with writers to guide them, providing personalized feedback AI cannot match.

  7. Creative enhancements

    • Humans can suggest creative analogies, examples, images, layouts etc. that the AI won't. This enhances engagement.

  8. Legal/compliance review

    • A human editor is better equipped to flag potential compliance, trademark, or privacy issues with content before publication.

  9. Ongoing relationship

    • An SMB can build a relationship with a freelance editor who gets familiar with the voice, style and subject matter over time. AI lacks this continuity.




How can the right words for your business save time and cost?

Using the right words in branding, product, and sales copy can save significant marketing time and cost in several ways. Here are some:

Clarity and effective communication

Carefully selected words that resonate with the target audience and clearly convey the brand's message, values, and unique selling proposition can reduce the need for additional explanations or clarifications. This streamlines the communication process and ensures that the intended message is understood correctly from the outset.

Audience targeting and engagement

The right words can help companies establish an emotional connection with their target audience by speaking their language, addressing their pain points, and aligning with their values and aspirations. This targeted approach increases the likelihood of engaging potential customers and reduces the effort required to capture their attention and interest.

Brand differentiation and positioning

Distinctive and memorable word choices can help a brand stand out from its competitors and establish a unique identity in the minds of consumers. This clear brand positioning reduces the need for constant rebranding or repositioning efforts, saving time and resources.

Consistency and reinforcement

Consistent use of carefully chosen words across all marketing materials and touchpoints reinforces the brand's identity and messaging. This consistency helps to reinforce the brand's positioning and values, reducing the need for frequent messaging adjustments or corrections.

Search engine optimization (SEO)

Strategically incorporating relevant keywords and phrases into branding copy can improve a company's online visibility and search engine rankings. This increased discoverability can attract more qualified leads, reducing the need for extensive paid advertising or other promotional efforts.

Let the right words speak for your business


When companies let the right words speak for their business, they can communicate more effectively, connect with their target audience, differentiate themselves from competitors, and reinforce their brand identity consistently. This strategic approach ultimately saves marketing cost and time by streamlining communication, reducing the need for constant adjustments, and attracting more qualified leads organically.



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