Using Ctrl + F for Consistent Content

I’m a firm believer that simple tools when regularly and consistently used are key to quality controlling your content.

A quick keyboard shortcut which has served me well over the years, both at work and in my own content writing, is the ‘Find’ function. Launched by selecting Control + F on Windows or Cmd + F for Mac Users, you can use a precise search for characters or words in your content and identify exactly where on a page they occur and may need a quick edit.

Here are 5 simple ways that Ctrl + F can help you to find and eliminate inconsistencies in your content:

• To search for common typos: don’t let easily made errors trip you up. Sometimes a frequently misspelt word can be auto-added to your spellchecker and lead to inadvertent errors in your content. If in doubt, keep a list of commonly used words which you struggle to spell and use the Find tool to search for the first few characters so you can catch and correct any mistakes.

• To check you are using styling consistently: keep a list of words or phrases you will capitalise for emphasis, decide how you will use italics, whether you will use numerals or spell out numbers – and if there are any exceptions to these rules. The Find tool can then help you to check if you are following these styling rules when you update or publish content. These may seem like small points but taking the time to present your brand or messaging consistently will reinforce your attention to detail and professionalism as a business.

• To cross-check references across an article: always keep your reader in mind and how you can help to simplify their navigation on your site. If you are signposting them to another page or resource, make sure your hyperlinks are present and working using a Ctrl + F for calls to action like ‘See more’ or ‘Click here’.

• To check for repetition: with organic SEO in mind, you will write clearly and naturally and incorporate relevant keywords along the way but be careful not to overdo it. Sites which overuse keywords, known as keyword stuffing, risk being penalised by Google so make sure you run a Find search to identify paragraphs or conseutive lines where you have repeatedly used a keyword – and sense-check if they have been used in context or to say something new each time.

• To find gaps: on the other end of the scale, are you missing keywords which can boost your SEO? Or perhaps a phrase which best communicates a new product or your brand’s USPs? Make sure you’re continually thinking about ways to refresh frequently visited pages and using the Find tool to identify where updates are most needed.

I hope this simple shortcut will help you to quickly and easily correct errors in your content. But if you think your site could benefit from a full content check or proofread, I am here to help. Pop over to my Services page to find out more.