3 ways for editors to get more work: Part 2
Susan Pierotti, Creative Text Solutions
In my last blog, I alerted you to the changing face of editing and how we can adapt our work practices to gain more clients.
Just think of the comments on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterist – the world is bombarded with misspellings, misplaced apostrophes, infelicities of grammar, let alone plain bad writing - every day! And as publishing houses fight self- and e-publishing for their share in the market place, the old internal quality controls are breaking down.
In this age of global communication, we are needed more than ever. But how do you tell people that they need you and your word-crafting talents?
Editors are like car mechanics
[caption id="attachment_219" align="alignleft" width="150"]
The features of servicing your car[/caption]
A personal website is a great start to gain some exposure. But many people treat the content on a website as a CV – that is, telling the customer what they can do.    For instance, some editor websites I look at tell the client that they will check all spelling, grammar and punctuation for them.
My reaction to that is: I jolly well hope so - that’s your job! But if every editor writes that – and that alone – on their site, how will the customer know to ignore  them and select you?
Let me give you the following analogy. When you pick up your car from its regular service, do you want to know that your mechanic can screw in a bolt or do you want to  hear the engine hum and feel the motor purr as you glide out onto the road?
Benefits, not features
Your potential clients come to you because they lack the writing and editing skills that you have. If we parade the fact that we will correct their mistakes, it is almost implying that they are stupid or ignorant. Displaying the mechanic -  the features -  of what we do is only part of the job. It’s like telling them we can screw on the bolt.
To encourage them to deal with you, it is far better to let them know what the benefits to them will be. They want their writing to ‘hum’ and ‘purr’, just like your newly serviced car. Clients will hire you if you let them know some of the benefits of hiring you as editor.
[caption id="attachment_220" align="alignright" width="150"]
The benefits of servicing your car[/caption]
Here’s a small sample, with the benefits highlighted:
- A correctly spelled CV has the advantage over one with spelling mistakes, which ends up in the bin.
- Correct spelling, punctuation and grammar in all business material (from LinkedIn profiles to brochures) increases the client’s professional reputation and branding.
- Getting academic papers proofread will ensure that the assessor will not misunderstand any terminology and the arguments will be clearly presented.
