Polly Zetterberg asked Ann Livi Andrews:

While you are wearing your Goodreads Moderator hat: What do you think is the best method to contact self-publishing authors in need of copyeditors or developmental editors? I know they seem to be an independent lot, but as with any written, soon-to-be-published material, they need editors, and contacting them, helping them, is proving difficult. Any suggestions gladly accepted. Thanks ahead, Polly

Ann Livi Andrews Hi Polly!

Well, I know that the normal marketing tactics usually aim to show that there's a need for the service being offered. I've seen a lot of editors use very in-your-face methods to try to tell or show self published authors that they need to pay for editing services. That might pull in one or two clients, but I think that it offends more authors than anything. My husband (a marketer by trade) always says that "you catch more flies with honey than vinegar." I recommend having a good website and doing some light advertising, either via Facebook or Goodreads just to build awareness of your services. I'm never a fan of directly contacting authors, although there are those who would disagree with me. Many self published authors already have proof reading/editing systems set in place and trying to tell them that they need to pay for an editor only serves to bring about negative feelings about your services. There are many self published authors out there who are actively looking for editing help, so I recommend pay per click advertising to market to them. It saves you energy and doesn't create any negativity.

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