6 tips for asking for editorial business advice over the phone

30/10/2013

Before you call an experienced editor for business advice, read these six tips to make sure you create a good impression.

1. Before you call, email to make an appointment

Unscheduled calls are a no-no. The experienced editor you're seeking advice from is already running a business, and their clients come first. Check their website to find out if they offer business advice.

If you can't find this information, email them to ask whether they're prepared to have a call with you and for how long. Don't assume it will be free ...

2. Recognize that you’re costing them money

Acknowledge that your time on the phone with the editor is costing them money. It demonstrates respect for the fact that the person you're calling is running a business. Every minute they spend focusing on someone else’s business development is a minute they're not spending on their own.

Think of it like this: If you were to hire a professional consultant, you would expect to pay a fee for that service. So when your chosen specialist agrees to talk to you for half an hour for free, that’s money staying in your pocket, and time they have to make up out of hours so that their income isn't affected.

3. Have the necessary information ready

Focus on providing information that the editor needs to know in order to guide you.

Don't ramble on about how you're good at spotting typos in newspaper articles and really love reading. Instead, concentrate on the specific business questions you want guidance on ... what you want to do next, rather than what you already like or feel.

This will make a good impression on the editor because they won't feel that they're spending their valuable time having a chitchat with a stranger. Instead, they'll be focusing on your business goals.

So, before you pick up the phone (or write an email), make a bullet list of the following:

your career skills
your educational background
any relevant editorial training
any previous editorial experience
two core things you want to achieve so you can move forward.

4. Listen

If you call up an experienced colleague-to-be, have your note-taking gear to hand, keep your ears sharp, and ensure the conversation remains streamlined by not straying from the reason you phoned.

Once you've explained what you need, and the editor starts to talk, listen without interruption (unless you need clarification).

5. Ask for honesty

Ask the person you've called to give you an honest assessment of your prospects. This is really important because it shows them that you understand something fundamental – that you're considering becoming a self-employed editorial business owner, and it isn't going to be something you can just fall into without being engaged, active and organized.

Don't ring up expecting them to tell you not to worry, that everything will be fine if you just dip your toe in the water, have a group hug with a few friends and wait to see how things go.

There will be things you need to do, now and in the future, to have the best chance of developing a solid client base and regular work stream that will secure a sustainable income (as defined by your needs).

If you don't want the editor you've called to throw the business version of a kitchen sink at you, that's fine. But in that case, don't call them! You wouldn't pay a consultant for anything other than substantive ideas for your business development. If they just had a little chitchat with you for half an hour, you'd probably feel short-changed and want your money back!

Toe-dipping is fine if that's your preference, but don't expect a stranger to spend half an hour of their working day to have a chinwag with you about it. They've other things they could be doing with their time.

6. Show your gratitude

It’s such a simple thing, but saying thank you makes a huge difference. Follow up with an email that thanks the editor for the time they've taken out of their busy schedule to help you.

They're much more likely to keep in touch with you because you've impressed them with your professional and gracious attitude, and they'll want to know how you're getting on!

4 Comments

Richard Adin link

31/10/2013 05:09:17 am

Excellent article but I would add two more things:

1. Send an e-mail first that incorporates points 1 and 2 and ask what would be a good time for you to call. I am less willing to provide help during my normal business hours or when I am involved in a project that requires intensive concentration.

2. Ask for a maximum amount of time but indicate that if I want (not you want, but I want), you will be available for as long as I am willing to chat. If someone asks me for 30 minutes of time, I know what to schedule for, unlike if it is open-ended. Plus it provides a definite ending point. OTOH, saying you will be available for as long as I want to dispense advice tells me you value my advice and my time and my willingness to give the advice.

Louise Harnby

31/10/2013 05:37:35 am

Spot on, Rich. Excellent additions.

Elana

31/10/2013 10:06:39 am

Louise, your article is very useful. I admire and praise you for your business sense, years of experience, and no-nonsense approach.

I'd like to add this: a good dose of encouragement and a group hug (or even just a hug from a friend) are just as vital to finding your footing as a newbie exploring new (and downright frightening) career prospects as any step-by-step plan to getting there are.

I agree with Richard's comment. I have never cold-called anyone; I've emailed first with exactly the information you have outlined in your post, and with very clear goals.

Your time, wisdom, and input are very valuable, of course. However, instead of looking at the bottom line of your exchange as time/money you've lost, perhaps focusing on what you've given as a tremendous gift to someone might prove a better slant?

31/10/2013 01:06:20 pm

Hi Elana,

Absolutely agree - there's always a place for encouragement, support and hugs in from one's friends and colleagues! It's vital for new starters, but old hands, too. And that's why social media platforms, email and face-to-face networking are so important for people who work on their own. I was just trying to make it clear that it's much appreciated when a business owner isn't expected to do this in the middle of a time-consuming project with a looming deadline, which is so often the case for many of us. I'm not going to welcome having to break up my working day to hug a stranger for half an hour. It's simply not on. That's why I love Facebook, though, where there are a whole ton of editors and proofreaders hanging out, helping each other, chatting, congratulating or commiserating with each other. Same thing with the local SfEP chapter that I'm a member of. They're both fantastic for support and encouragement! So for me it's all about using different platforms to engage in the most appropriate ways.

As for the different slant, I used to do this. But therein lurks a danger because we're business owners first and foremost. I consider myself the owner of a proofreading business rather than a freelancer. And a business owner needs to keep a sharp eye on what her/his costs are and where her/his efficiencies are (and a whole load of other things, too!). Rich (who commented above) has written some immensely valuable posts on what he calls the Effective Hourly Rate, and these urge editors and proofreaders to account for all of their operating costs when working out whether their business model is sustainable. I've learned a lot from him about to put a professional hat on and look at the big picture. So I feel it would be remiss of me to ignore this issue and treat is as something that doesn't have a cost. The cost can still have positive benefits, of course. But it is a cost and it needs to be accounted for as such.

My take on this isn't a million miles away from the issue of training and other continued professional development. Taking classes to further one's skill base costs money, but there are massive benefits in terms of the acquired knowledge, the fun of meeting new colleagues, and the opportunity to get out of the home-office. But it still needs to be recognized as a business cost and budgeted for. Gifting is wonderful, but it's only free to the receiver. Given that business owners don't have unlimited time or a cost-free living existence, gifts still have to be accounted for, not because they're not worth giving (they are), not because they're not appreciated (they are), but because every professional business owner should be aware of what they're spending.