A Note from Julie, the Greenhouse Curator: |
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I have a mix of plants around my house, and while I love them all, the ones in unique or decorative pots are my favorites.
A plantâs beauty isnât just about its leaves or the way it growsâitâs also about how itâs displayed. Take a simple fern in a plastic nursery pot. There's nothing wrong with it, but it doesnât exactly stand out. Pop that same fern into a beautifully textured ceramic pot, and suddenly, itâs something special.
The plant itself hasnât changed. But the way itâs seen has. |
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Your proofreading or editing business works the same way. Your skills are the heart of it all, but how potential clients perceive your business is shaped by the âpotâ you put it in: your branding, social media presence, website, lead magnets, resume, and more.
A well-crafted LinkedIn profile can make you look more polished. A thoughtfully designed website can make you feel more established. A strong lead magnet can make you more memorable. These things donât change your skill level, but they do change how potential clients see you and whether theyâre drawn to work with you.
This week, take a moment to look at the âpotâ around your business. Does it reflect what you want clients to see? Your skills are already strong. Make sure theyâre showcased in a way that gets noticed by the right people.
Whatâs one thing you could refresh this week to help your business stand out? ⨠|
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If Youâre Ignoring LinkedIn, You Might Be Missing Out |
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I used to think LinkedIn was just an online resume. I made a profile, landed a few proofreading clients, and then ghosted it for months (okay, years). When I finally got more active last fall, I realized Iâd been missing out on connections, insights, and opportunities. If youâre not active on LinkedIn (yet), hereâs why you might want to change that: - Clients are there. Many business owners, writers, and companies use LinkedIn to find proofreaders and editors.
- Youâll learn a lot. From industry trends to business tips, LinkedIn is full of insights.
- Networking feels natural. Meet like-minded professionals, join conversations, and build relationships, all from your desk.
- Visibility leads to opportunities. The more you engage, the more you show up in searches, making it easier for potential clients to find you.
- Itâs not as scary as it seems. You donât have to post every day. Just start by following interesting people, commenting on their posts, and seeing where it leads.
If youâve been on the fence, consider this your friendly nudge to give LinkedIn a try. You never know what doors it might open! đą |
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Missed your chance last week? Iâm still taking questions. Whatâs on your mind? - Curious why I built The Proofreader Greenhouse?
- Want tips for finding proofreading clients?
- Ever wondered what tools I use in my proofreading business?
- Have a plant-related question?
Whether itâs about proofreading, running a business, or something completely random, just reply to this email and ask away! Iâd love to hear from you. đż |
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Merriam-Webster lists âtwenty-twentyâ as the standard spelling for this phrase, with â20/20â as a variant. Of course, the â2020â option is also technically true, though weâre probably all glad to have some distance from that year. đ Catch of the Week screenshots come from my transcript proofreading. I can't change what a person said, but I can make sure words are spelled correctly and punctuation marks are in the right spots. If you're interested in learning more about transcript proofreading, I wrote an article about it here. |
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This Week's Featured Proofreader or Editor: |
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Colleen from C Hayes Proofs LLC |
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The Proofreader Greenhouse asked: - What type of content do you proofread or edit?
I work with freelance and official court reporters to produce the official record for civil and criminal legal cases. I work with incredible certified court reporters to make legal transcripts as understandable as possible. My most common transcripts include personal injury, workers' compensation, medical malpractice, patent law, fraud, assault, and human and drug trafficking. I'm currently working on a two-week murder trial.
- Did you complete training for proofreading or editing?
I attended Guilford College as an English and German major. I am a graduate and staff member of the Transcript Proofreading Academy with Elizabeth Wiegner.
- What's your favorite thing about your proofreading or editing work?
Digging deep with my research skills, verbatim training, and grammar knowledge to solve tricky problems for busy court reporters. It's amazing to be paid to worry about when to capitalize "Church" or to catch the wrong form of there, their, or they're. My clients are truly appreciative of my efforts, and the rewards are quick and satisfying.
- What causes you the most frustration in your work?
Freelance scheduling. I have to constantly assess my workload and make sure that I'm not overloading myself. It is important that I stop before saying yes to every opportunity. I need a sharp eye and clear mind to do my best work, and taking on too many projects without thinking can distract me.
- What tips would you like to share with other proofreaders and editors?
1) Make a list of your priorities and be honest about where "making money" is on that list. Adjust your expectations to your priorities; we can't do it all, so we must choose. In some seasons, money is priority number one. In other seasons, money takes a back seat. My top priority used to be paying off my student loans. Now that I've accomplished that goal đ, I have readjusted what's important to me.
One of my current priorities is the flexibility that freelancing offers, so I've leaned into the work styles that fit me best. This often means battling the shame I've learned around office expectations. We all deal with it, so know that you're not alone! I start my days slowly, and that used to stress me out. I was notoriously bad at being at my workstation on time. Now I can have my slow mornings and still be productive in the afternoons and evenings.
Embrace the random gym times; it's nice actually getting a parking space! Enjoy a working lunch at your favorite cafe, or squeeze in a few pages at your oil change appointment. If it works for you, then you don't need to justify your workflow to anyone else.
2) You don't need the shiniest project management solution out there; you need the one that will work for your specific brain and workload.
I track my work using a Trello Kanban-style board, Trello's Gmail extension, and folders inside my cloud storage. I bill monthly, but I update my invoices weekly. Every Friday, I enter the work I've completed that week, check my page counts, rates, and data formatting. Once entered into the invoice, that week's transcripts get filed in an archive folder. It makes for accurate, stress-free billing at the end of the month, and I start every week with an empty work folder.
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My husband gets me. He knows I'd much rather receive plants than flowers for Valentine's Day. â¤ď¸đŞ´ |
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Let's keep growing together! |
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7893 Old US Highway 52
Lexington, NC 27295, United States |
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