Interview: Meryl K. Evans
I’m going to be doing a series of interviews with freelancers and consultants over the next couple months - here’s the first one.
The theory is that if you want to know how to outsource work more effectively, some of the best people to ask are those who get outsourced to.
I’m going to be asking the following three questions:
- What do you do?
- What are the biggest misconceptions clients have about the work you do?
- What is the best piece of advice you could give someone who was thinking about undertaking this kind of project?
Interview with Meryl K. Evans
Our first victim, I mean, volunteer, is someone I have worked with for years. Her name is Meryl K. Evans, and she is a well-known writer, blogger and social marketing expert.
JAS: Meryl, thank you for being the first interviewee! Please tell everyone what you do.
MKE: I’m a freelance writer and editor that focuses on online marketing, technology, and business. I started doing freelancing on the side in conjunction with my day job. I continued to build the business for five years and then switched full-time, which I’ve done for the past four years.
I’ve authored and co-authored two books and contributed to handful of other books. I focus on words including articles, blogging, social media networking (almost all of it is words except for video), web content and press releases. I aim to help clients build relationships with their clients and prospects using words and social network tools like Twitter and Facebook.
JAS: And what is the biggest misconceptions clients have about the work you do?
MKE: Some people think anyone can be a writer and companies try to do the content on their own. Then they discover the content doesn’t work. Even if they have strong writers within the company, the writers tend to be biased and know too much about the company. Bringing in an outsider helps ensure the content isn’t all “me” and focuses on the people reading it.
Several clients wanted their web content to reflect their business plan, which has no bearing on their prospects. The content was very dry and loaded with jargon. I changed that by using a friendlier writing style. I tested the content with someone who could be in their audience and that person confirmed it made more sense.
Yet, the client believed its content needed to stay formal. Yes, it would’ve worked 20 years ago. The Web turned content around and made it more acceptable for businesses to lose the informal tone in all areas of content.
JAS: And what is the best piece of advice you could give someone who was thinking about undertaking this kind of project?
MKE: Clients assume freelancers can run with the work with little input from the client. We can’t do that. We need to get to know your business, its goals and its target customers. Clients thinking about hiring freelancers need to gather all the information they have and be ready to share it. Then it’ll be easier for us to run with it.
Most freelancers are self-motivated and independent, but they still need your input and involvement. If you can’t be available, get someone as a backup to work with the freelancer.
If the freelancer doesn’t ask questions or get back to you within a reasonable time, then you may need to seek another.
JAS: Thank you so much, Meryl! This was very helpful. If you would like help with a writing project, blogging, PR or social marketing, I can recommend Meryl highly. Here is her contact info:
Meryl K. Evans
Content Maven for Hire
Writing :: Editing :: Research
Web site: http://www.meryl.net/
Author: http://www.meryl.net/shorty/ajax/
Newsletter: http://meryl.notifylist.com/meryl_net.html
Want to be interviewed?
If you’re an expert in a particular area, and you’d like to be interviewed, email me at jschramm@proresource.com. The interview with Meryl was by email, but most of them will be podcasts.
Coming up next… Laura Lang, PR expert.
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