What to Expect From, and How to Work With, Your Writer or Editor
by Eva Blaskovic of Sirius Word
Why entrepreneurs need one:
- Saves you time and money
- Makes you look professional and credible
- Avoids ambiguity created by incorrect wording, punctuation, and structure
You have the ideas, the expertise in your field, and you are busy running a business. A writer or editor is an expert in his or her field, and can save you time and hassle as well as protect your image, which is critical for you and your company. Correct usage and attention to detail reflects back on the integrity of your company and you as its owner.
Benefits for entrepreneurs:
Writers and editors are versatile, often handling corporate letters, booklets and brochures, newsletters, websites, and books, to name a few. They can help you put your ideas into words, clarify your message, check the tone, help you organize and structure your communication piece, and ensure that your spelling, grammar, punctuation, and syntax are correct. Anything that goes to a printer or publisher is worth passing by a skilled editor first to avoid costly or embarrassing errors. Reprinting flyers and brochures costs extra money. Publishers of articles, newspapers, and books are busy people who prefer to start with a clean copy. Writing or editing is also not the job of website builders or graphic designers unless it is specified as one of their services.
Types of services vary:
Writing and editing services come in many forms and layers of complexity. When editing, for example, you can have a document proofread for minor spelling, punctuation, or grammar errors fairly quickly and at low cost, or you can choose to pay more to have it edited substantively for overall structure and composition, checked for jargon and meaning, or have research conducted.
The Process:
You may already have written material for review, or you may want help composing something from scratch. If you have your own material, you decide what you want the editor to do with it based on a range of editing services and costs provided. If you need something written, your first meeting will be a consultation to discuss the target person or market, the purpose of the material, the educational and professional background of your audience, and so on. Is your document a letter, article, booklet, or website text? Are you writing to inform, or do you expect a response or action?
When the work is agreed upon, usually a contract is signed and a deposit is paid. There is ongoing two-way communication by e-mail, telephone, or face-to-face. You will always have the final word on any recommendations. If you change anything after editing has been completed, it is a good idea to pass it by the editor one more time—a step many people neglect or forget. The goal is to have a document that does what it was intended to do—inform, influence, advertise, communicate, or entertain—in a professional manner that reflects positively on your company’s products or services.
For information about Sirius Word, please visit www.siriusword.com.
ACTI’s New Directions Network newsletter is looking for contributors. If you are a graduate of the Anderson Self-Employment program and have an idea for an article, please send submissions for consideration to reception@acti.org. Articles must be related to business practices or issues of interest for entrepreneurs and at most, 500 words in length.
Referrals… one more perk for Anderson graduates.
Graduates of Anderson’s Self-Employment program are invited to provide a business card for inclusion in our new cardholder. Visitors, current students and staff have found referrals for a home inspection service, a contractor, painter, and a landscaper since we implemented the new system. Be a part of this valuable service by mailing or dropping off your business card today.
Anderson Grad Contacts Sought
We know many grads are still working their original business idea, and others have moved onto new ventures. You are invited to provide your current business e-mail to reception@acti.org and stay connected with our powerful network of entrepreneurs!
“It is the set of the sails, not the direction of the wind that determines which way we will go.”
- John Rohn
Article by: Dart Wooden
Program Manager ACTI
Unless you have been living alone under a rock, or are in your office with just your computer, you will have noticed the direction of the economic wind has changed over the last year. If you asked five people today about what direction and how fast the wind is blowing, you will receive five different answers. So how is one to start or run a small business in times like these?
“It is the set of the sails…” Are you clear about where you are going and how you’re going to get there? When did you last read your business plan (that you worked so hard to complete)? Have you taken the time to revise it in the last six month? These are things that will help you set your sail and adjust as the winds change.
Some of us adjusted well to the recent changes while other are being blown off course or are, at best, moving at half-speed still trying to get to their original destination.
We have heard the only opportunity for profit is in change. Some areas of adjustment need to be made about our expectations, business operations and customers. You may have set a gross revenue target of $80,000 and met or exceeded that with the booming economy. That goal may need to be adjusted down in the short term. It may also take time to find ways to increase your revenue again, however, it is better to reset your goals than become extremely frustrated with missing them all the time or worse, not having specific goals identified at all.
The recent changes have given each of us a number of opportunities regarding our business operations. A “For Lease” sign may signal to you that now is the time to move to a larger or better location.
Employee wages may not have come down yet but I guarantee there is more choice and a better quality employee available now for the same price than a year ago. Talk with your suppliers about a discount for cash payments or arrange for longer terms. Remember, the wind has changed for leaseholders, employees and suppliers as well, and they too are adjusting their sails.
It is important to place a higher value on each customer and their experience or perspective in doing business with you. Return every call, and prepare and deliver quotes promptly in order to attain that value added service and support that customers want for their money. It is difficult to make the decision to spend during an economic downturn, so make sure customers are spending their money with your business.
Look around for ways to benefit your business by taking advantage of these and other opportunities.
We have all lived in Alberta long enough to have heard the saying, “Don’t like the weather, wait a minute.” The same is true for the economic winds. I cannot tell you if the winds have already changed or when that will occur, but I can tell you they will. I encourage you to take the time to prepare now, so as the winds turn in your favour you can quickly set your sail to take full advantage of the opportunities.
P.S. If any graduates are willing to teach me how to sail, please let me know!
Anderson Career Training Institute Open House & Business Mixer
Be sure to RSVP today in response to your invitation to the Anderson Open House and Business Mixer.
This is an awesome opportunity to network with current and past graduates and instructors of the ACTI Self-employment program.
