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A Note from Julie, the Greenhouse Curator: |
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A quick lunch, a short line, and an unexpected reminder about customer service. Here’s what happened.
This week, I used the Chick-fil-A app to order the Spicy Southwest Salad (my favorite). Since I’m watching my sodium intake, I removed the dressing that normally comes with the salad. |
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I drove to the store, zipped through the Mobile Thru lane, and stopped at the pickup spot. A smiling teenager handed me my food and said, “I noticed that you didn’t order any dressing for your salad. Would you like any?”
I really appreciated that extra level of customer service! She had noticed that I hadn’t ordered something that usually comes with the salad and wanted to make sure it wasn’t an oversight. It was a small thing, but it showed real attention to detail.
That kind of attention applies to our work, too.
As proofreaders and editors, we sometimes offer services that our clients don’t even realize are available. If we don’t mention them, they might assume we do only what they originally asked for. It’s not about upselling. It’s about helping clients get what they need.
What might this look like in your editing or proofreading work? - Mention optional services on your website or in your welcome email, even if clients don’t always take you up on them.
- Include a brief checklist at the start of a project: “Would you like help with anything else—like formatting, style choices, or consistency checks?” (Adjust this to fit your specialty.)
- If you spot something during the project that wasn’t part of the original scope, gently ask if they’d like support with that too. Of course, this might lead to a pricing or contract adjustment.
Even small touches can leave a big impression.
What’s something extra you offer that your clients might not even know is on the “menu”? Reply to this email and let me know. |
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Favorite LinkedIn Posts This Week: |
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Here are three posts I enjoyed reading on LinkedIn recently: - Is your schedule stealing your joy? Jenna isn't a proofreader, but somehow she knows exactly how I’ve been feeling lately. Sometimes burnout doesn’t come from the work itself—it comes from not having control over when and how we do it. Her post is a great reminder that carving out even a few hours of uninterrupted time each week can make a huge difference in how energized we feel. 💡
- Explain your process, earn your client's trust: I love the idea of listing your editing or proofreading process step by step. It lets potential clients know what to expect and makes them feel more comfortable reaching out. Sophia shares her workflow on LinkedIn, but this could work just as well on your website or services page. For another great example of this kind of clear, client-friendly breakdown, read Michelle Miller’s post here. 🤝
- Yes, your eye for detail makes a difference: Yasmin’s post is a reminder of the real value proofreaders bring. It’s not about just saving clients time—it’s about clarity, consistency, and the confidence they feel after working with us. If you’ve ever struggled to explain the depth of your work, this is the kind of post that’ll make you feel seen. ️🌟
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Here's the difference: - Capital (with an a) is the city that serves as the seat of government. The capital of the United States is Washington, D.C.
- Capitol (with an o) is the actual building where Congress meets.
And here’s where it gets tricky:
Washington is the capital city, but it’s also home to the Capitol building.
So when we’re talking about the U.S. Capitol Police, we mean the officers who protect that building and the lawmakers inside it. They’ve been doing that job since 1828, when Congress first established the force. 💡 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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Marian from Honor Scoping Services |
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The Proofreader Greenhouse asked: - What type of content do you proofread or edit?
Legal transcripts, including depositions, arbitrations, and trials
- Did you complete training for proofreading or editing?
I completed Internet Scoping School through Linda Evenson. I found it in a Pinterest article of all places, and I'm so grateful I took that leap of faith on learning to be a scopist.
- What's your favorite thing about your proofreading or editing work?
My cross-country connections with court reporters, fellow scopists, and proofreaders; learning about a huge variety of subjects; and being part of meaningful work. I may never meet anyone I collaborate with face to face, but we accomplish much together to produce accurate testimony that affects real lives in real cases.
- What causes you the most frustration in your work?
When I first began, it was finding my dream reporters who meet the criteria I've learned to look for. It took four years to connect with the right people. Currently, I'd say keeping my schedule consistent is a challenge because witnesses and cases settle, cancel, and get rescheduled all the time. You have to be flexible, and having a diverse clientele helps offset what falls through.
- What tips would you like to share with other proofreaders and editors?
First, don't settle for sloppy pages. Some reporters, you turn the job in and move on, and that's okay. Keep seeking out the absolute best because your time is valuable, too.
Second, be realistic with what you can handle and give your best yes to jobs. It's easy to fall behind when you're beginning your scoping career. Give yourself time to get the hang of scoping with audio and understanding the preferences. If you prove you can do well on the pages given, reporters will learn to trust you and will use you again when you're available.
Lastly, show yourself to be professional, highly detailed, teachable, reliable, consistent, and kind. People notice, even if the work is totally remote, and word of mouth is powerful in the scoping community.
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The clematis growing on the trellis on my back porch doesn’t climb alone, and neither should we. Growth comes easier when there’s something (or someone) to hold on to. 🪴 |
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Let's keep growing together! |
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