Involve the editor early rather than later in the process of producing the publication. Editorial corrections and suggestions for improvements to the structure are easier and cheaper to incorporate before the text goes into the page layout (or formatting or design) stage.

You also need to be clear about accountability. Does someone in your organisation need to approve editorial changes (and if so, at what stages) or does the editor have a relatively ‘free hand’?

Be realistic in your expectations of working with an editor. Editors can maximise the potential of your document in many ways, but even the most experienced cannot review and attend to everything in a single read. Be aware that the time and budget you set will affect what an editor can contribute. Remember, too, that editing and proofreading are separate processes, and an edited document should also be proofread before being printed.