![\"6](\"https:\/\/buildbookbuzz.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/6-steps-for-vetting-your-vendors-174x300.png\")
<\/a>1. Ask around.<\/strong><\/p>\nKeisha Page trusts good word-of-mouth buzz on resources. One of the best ways to get that is to ask people who they would recommend — that’s what Heather Townsend\u00a0does.<\/p>\n
I’ll add, though, that you want to ask people who have an end product that you admire and who share your values.<\/p>\n
For example, I don’t decide which\u00a0movies to watch\u00a0based on the recommendations of just anyone. I first figure out who also liked movies I liked, and disliked those I also disliked. That tells me that we have similar tastes. It works that way with professional resources, too.<\/p>\n
2. When feasible, give them a test.<\/strong><\/p>\nWhen hiring an editor, Page likes to see a small sample of her work edited. It helps her gauge skill but also gives her a sense of whether she will work well with the individual.<\/p>\n
Before hiring an editor for his book on Mormon history and doctrine, Frank Reid gave a short list of potential editors a quiz that tested their knowledge on that religion.<\/p>\n
This isn’t possible for all work that you might outsource, but it is for some of it.<\/p>\n
3. Look for people with experience.<\/strong><\/p>\nI see a big red flag when a service provider’s website “about” page explains that the person self-published one book and is now in the business of guiding others through the publishing process. Experience trumps enthusiasm, whether you’re talking about designing a cover, serving as a book shepherd, or formatting\u00a0your manuscript. You want someone who’s done the task well many times.<\/p>\n
4. Request and check references.<\/strong><\/p>\nApproach the reference check with a list of specific questions related to what’s important to you, not anyone else. Do you need to work\u00a0with someone who respects deadlines? Put that at the top of your list. Do you want someone who responds quickly? Ask a question that will get you the information you need.<\/p>\n
5. Know what you need.<\/strong><\/p>\nChances are, no matter what the task, you’ll be working closely with this person, so make sure you like their approach and style. Reid knew that he wanted his manuscript edited with Word’s “track changes” function, so that was one of his editor requirements.\u00a0\u00a0Someone else might prefer another approach. Know what you need, then look for it.<\/p>\n
6. Compare work styles.<\/strong><\/p>\nWorking with several virtual assistants with different work styles has helped me pinpoint what I need.\u00a0One neglected to note that she would never be available to assist in the\u00a0morning, while another wouldn’t take phone calls. What do you need from the person you’ll be working with on your project? You want a meeting of the minds.<\/p>\n
How do you vet the people or companies you hire to help you with a book project? Please\u00a0share your advice in a comment.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Authors, are you vetting your vendors well enough?<\/p>\n
I co-moderate a Facebook group for self-published authors that doesn’t allow\u00a0members to promote their books or services. I’m responsible for deleting those posts when they appear so that they don’t clutter the page and interfere with\u00a0discussion and learning.<\/p>\n
One that showed up today made me laugh, so I didn’t delete it, choosing to use it as a teachable moment, instead.<\/p>\n
It was from a book editor offering her services. Here’s an image of her post, altered\u00a0to eliminate identification.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":20168,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[20,157,11],"tags":[89,504,505],"class_list":["post-6434","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-stuff-that-annoys-me","category-tactics","tag-book-editor","tag-vendors","tag-vetting"],"yoast_head":"\n
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<\/a><\/p>\n