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A Note from Julie, the Greenhouse Curator:
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Last week, my husband and I visited our son in Florida, and I made the decision not to do any proofreading work while I was away. It felt a little strange at first but also really refreshing.
 
Most of the time when I travel, I bring work along, telling myself I’ll just squeeze in a little proofreading here and there. But this time, I made a different choice: I set up an out-of-office autoresponder, intentionally unplugged, and gave myself the full break I needed. And you know what? The world didn’t fall apart.
 
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If you’ve been tempted to bring work along on your next trip, consider this your gentle encouragement: Your business will be there when you get back, and you’ll return refreshed and ready to start again.
 
That said, one of the perks of working remotely is that you can flex if needed. Maybe you can work while you travel or squeeze in a little work while everyone’s asleep. If that works for you and helps you enjoy your trip more, there’s nothing wrong with that.

The key is to decide ahead of time what you want your time away to look like and then support yourself in sticking to it.
 
I'd love to hear how you handle time away from your business. Do you completely unplug, or do you take work along with you? Reply and let me know. 🌴
 

 
Smart Marketing Move: The Power of a “Photo Finish”
We absolutely love Harley’s groomer. She gives him the full treatment, and he always comes home looking (and smelling!) great. Not only does she do wonderful work, but her marketing tactics are brilliant too!
 
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Can you spot Harley?
Once the dogs are bathed and trimmed, she dresses them up with a festive bandana or tie, props them in front of a seasonal background, and takes a picture for her Facebook page. The owners love sharing those pictures with their friends, which gives her business even more visibility.
 
It got me thinking: How could proofreaders and editors borrow this idea? We don't have cute dogs to photograph, but maybe we could find creative ways to celebrate finished projects (with client permission) and make it easy for others to share our work too.

Here are a few ideas to get us thinking:
  • Offer to feature client successes (like book launches or website updates)
  • Share “before and after” snippets (with permission or anonymized)
  • Send a personalized thank-you email or graphic when a project wraps up
  • Write mini case studies about completed projects
I'm just starting to brainstorm this idea myself and will be exploring it more soon. 🌱
 

 
Favorite LinkedIn Posts This Week:
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Here are three posts I enjoyed reading on LinkedIn this week:
  • Fully booked? Don't stop marketing: Rebecca’s post is a great reminder that even when your schedule is full, you still need to make time for marketing. I like her practical tips for staying visible without overwhelming yourself. 📣
     
  • The real reason clear writing wins: Scott reminds us that clear, simple writing isn’t about dumbing things down; it’s about respecting your reader’s mental energy. His tips for making complex ideas easier to grasp are ones I’ll definitely be keeping in mind. 💡️
     
  • Does the “Eat That Frog" technique really work? Ciera has learned that productivity hacks aren’t one-size-fits-all. I loved hearing her honest opinion on the “Eat That Frog” method, especially how labeling a task as "hard" can sometimes backfire instead of help. 🐸
 

 
Catch of the Week:
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Many of the transcripts I proofread are from construction defect cases. For example, a newly laid foundation cracks or an incorrectly installed roof leaks. I've had to become familiar with several construction-related terms. Here are two for your enlightenment. 💡

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.
 

 
This Week's Featured Proofreader or Editor:
Dave from Super Copy Editors
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The Proofreader Greenhouse asked:
  • What type of content do you proofread or edit? 
    My company, Super Copy Editors, mostly focuses on marketing, business, and education content. That means things like landing pages, blog posts, case studies, white papers, reports, email campaigns, RFPs, and curriculum materials.

    If it needs to be polished, easy to understand, and free of embarrassing mistakes—we’re on it. We work best with creative agencies and marketing teams that care deeply about how their message comes across and want a second (or third) set of eyes to make sure everything’s just right.
     
  • Did you complete training for proofreading or editing?
    I got my start as a newspaper copy editor—tight deadlines, constant pressure, and zero room for sloppy work. That’s where I built my editing chops. Later, I freelanced nights and weekends for The New York Times while working a day job at The Nation magazine here in NYC. Eventually, I struck out on my own. 

    At Super Copy Editors, I don’t require team members to have a specific course under their belt. What matters to me is: Can you spot what others miss? Can you make a sentence sing without losing its meaning? That’s the real test—not a certificate. 
     
  • What's your favorite thing about your proofreading or editing work?
    Helping great ideas get the clarity they deserve—that’s the sweet spot for me. I’m not trying to rewrite the world. I just want to make sure good content isn’t dragged down by avoidable mistakes. 
     
  • What causes you the most frustration in your work?
    Honestly? It’s all the administrative stuff. There’s just so much of it. It’s the unglamorous side that no one tells you about. From contracts, payments, and follow-ups to managing a team of 30+ people and keeping all the systems running smoothly every day—all those tiny admin things can feel like death by a thousand to-dos! I’d rather be focused on the work itself. 
     
  • What tips would you like to share with other proofreaders and editors?
    I get a lot of freelancer applications, so here’s my biggest tip: If you’re applying to a proofreading or editing team, your resume and cover letter had better be flawless. If your resume has a typo, I move on to the next one. Period.

    You’d be surprised how many proofreaders apply with a sloppy resume! Don’t be that person. Triple-check everything.

    Also, show me some personality and tailor your application to the kind of work the company actually does. If the company mostly works on marketing content (like Super Copy Editors) and you’ve only done academic editing, say that upfront in your cover letter and explain why you’re still a great fit. Better yet, apply only if it’s genuinely the kind of work you enjoy and have experience in.  
     
Connect with Dave: Website | LinkedIn | Threads
 

Plant Photo of the Week:
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This clematis growing on a trellis in my yard is just beautiful right now. Don't mind the pollen on the petals. We're still dealing with lots of that here in North Carolina right now. 🤧
 

 
Let's keep growing together!
Julie
 

 
What did you think of today's email? I'd love to hear your thoughts, questions, or feedback. Email julie@theproofreadergreenhouse.com
 
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Lexington, NC 27295, United States