A Note from Julie, the Greenhouse Curator: |
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This past week, I was asked to submit feedback—not for a service, but for a perfume. And I couldn’t wait to do it. |
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I recently discovered a new fragrance line that I’ve quickly come to love. After purchasing a bottle, I received an email asking for a review. I already knew I’d leave one because I loved the perfume. But then they sweetened the deal: submit a review, and they’d take $15 off my next purchase.
A few clicks, a short testimonial, and just like that, I had a coupon code waiting for me.
It got me thinking—could proofreaders, editors, or other business owners use the same approach to encourage client feedback? Maybe a small discount on a future invoice could increase the likelihood of getting a testimonial. It not only rewards the client but also suggests they’ll work with you again.
Have you tried offering an incentive for client feedback? If so, what worked (or didn’t)? |
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Ever had a text message come across as cold or unclear when that wasn’t your intent? Our tone can get lost in writing, but a quick voice message adds warmth and clarity.
Do you use voice messages in your work? If not, what's holding you back? I’d love to hear your thoughts. |
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Favorite LinkedIn Posts This Week: |
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Here are three posts I enjoyed reading on LinkedIn this week (shared with permission): - Marketing vs. selling: What’s the difference? I love Manda’s mindset shift about marketing. Instead of feeling like she’s pushing something unwanted, she focuses on making her services easy to find for those who need them. It’s a simple reframe that can make self-promotion feel a lot less intimidating. 🤝
- Work from home? Set some boundaries! Ciera’s post is a great reminder that just because we can be online 24/7 doesn’t mean we should be. Her tips are simple but so helpful for work-life balance. If you ever feel like work is creeping into your personal time, this is your reminder to set some boundaries. ✨
- A brainy approach to better writing: Amanda’s post introduced me to a book called The Reader’s Brain, and now I can’t wait to read it. It’s fascinating to think that neuroscience can help us create clearer, more effective writing. If you’re passionate about making complex ideas more accessible, you might enjoy this book. đź§
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A “visa” (lowercase) is an official document that allows a person to enter or stay in a country. “Visa” (capitalized) is a company known for credit and debit cards. The capitalization of one letter completely changes the meaning! 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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The Proofreader Greenhouse asked: - What type of content do you proofread or edit?
I've run the gamut from hunting and fishing to jewelry to mechanics. For the past several decades, though, I have homed in on the medical and pharmaceutical fields. But if the work is in English, no matter what the field, I can proof it or edit it.
- Did you complete training for proofreading or editing?
I majored in Journalism at Long Island University's Brooklyn Center and did a ton of proofreading and writing as News Editor for the LIU student newspaper, Seawanhaka.
- What's your favorite thing about your proofreading or editing work?
As a part-time semi-retired proofreader/editor, I can take work from some clients and turn down work from others. Often I can work on projects on my schedule if they are not time-sensitive and still have time for chorus classes, voice classes and exercise classes.
- What causes you the most frustration in your work?
The ultimate in frustration comes from clients who tell you to set aside time for them a month or two down the road. As that time approaches, they then have an intern handle the work without telling you. One of these instances came at a particularly inopportune time when we put off having some tile work done in our apartment so the expected freelance work could be done. What with putting the tile work temporarily on the back burner, the poor blue-collar dude had to do the work on one of the hottest days of the summer. And, of course, I had no so-called "guaranteed" work that month from that client.
- What tips would you like to share with other proofreaders and editors?
For an upcoming client, I had to learn The Chicago Manual of Style, a style I hadn't had to work with before. I've gotten the manual from the library and also got the QuickStudy laminated reference from Amazon for under $10. I did the same for the American Medical Association stylebook, which I've been using for over 3 decades at this point. In the case of the AMA stylebook, though, I've bought several editions over the many years I have been editing and proofing in the med-pharma fields.
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My Cebu Blue pothos reminded me of something important this week: Letting go and growing often happen at the same time. One leaf is fading while a new one is just beginning to unfurl. 🪴 |
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Let's keep growing together! |
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