Marketing as an Academic Editor: What No One Teaches You

🔥 Burned out in academia? Wondering how to turn your PhD into a flexible, fulfilling business?Cara Jordan did just that—and in this episode, she reveals how she went from freelancing for artists in NYC to founding Flatpage, a thriving academic editing agency and publishing house.So many academics feel stuck, exhausted, and unsure how to market themselves beyond word of mouth.Cara shares exactly how she marketed her editing services, grew a team, and expanded into publishing—all while navigating relocation, burnout, and the challenges of marketing to academic clients.Today, Flatpage serves a wide range of humanities and social science scholars. Cara teaches in the UCSD editing certificate program and co-edited the fabulous book, The Art of Academic Editing.In this episode, you’ll learn how to attract clients, overcome fear of visibility, and build a sustainable editing business—even if you're starting from scratch.Resources Mentioned:Flatpage: https://www.flatpage.com/UCSD Copyediting Certificate: https://extendedstudies.ucsd.edu/certificates/copyeditingBook: The Art of Academic Editing (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/48uH30uWant to end burnout and become an academic editor or coach? Go to AcadiaEditing.com/BecomeAnEditor00:01:00 - Cara's Academic Background 00:02:30 - Early Freelance Experience 00:04:00 - Transitioning from Academia to Freelancing 00:05:30 - Initial Client Acquisition 00:07:00 - The Importance of Word of Mouth 00:08:30 - Marketing Strategies for Editors 00:10:00 - Overcoming Marketing Hesitations 00:11:30 - Networking and Community Engagement 00:13:00 - Challenges of Marketing to Academics 00:14:30 - Creative Approaches to Finding Clients 00:16:00 - The Importance of Niching Down 00:17:30 - Growth of Cara's Editing Business 00:19:00 - Starting Flatpage and Team Expansion 00:20:30 - Differences Between Copy Editing and Developmental Editing 00:22:00 - The Value of Formal Editing Training 00:23:30 - The Role of Academic Background in Editing 00:25:00 - The Need for Professional Development 00:26:30 - Advice on Working for Free 00:28:00 - The Decision to Add Publishing Services 00:29:30 - Advocacy Through Publishing 00:31:00 - Final Advice for Aspiring Editors Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.