Three questions for predatory marketers

They crawl out of the shadows everywhere - on Facebook groups for all kinds of writing and writers. In our Messenger inboxes. In emails from unidentified senders.

Telling us they will edit our book, make a trailer, design a cover, help us reach thousands of readers, get reviews, get us on best seller lists, help us make millions…

Most often unsolicited, unwanted, and unwelcome. And sometimes relentless.

Recently a woman Messaged me in response to my upcoming book cover reveal on a BC writers’s Facebook page. Would I hire her to make a trailer? 

My response: ‘Thanks, but no thanks.’

Could we at least talk?

‘No. I work with my publisher on promotional material.’ (In fact, it’s on my to-do list to do myself, but she didn’t need to know that.)

 Could I share some visuals with her? She can help with trailers, covers, reviews… 

‘No.’ (Are you kidding!)

And so it went, until I reported her on the group, told her that her actions were predatory, and blocked her.

It was my fault. If I were even remotely interested, I should have simply said,

1. Please provide me with the names and contact info of three clients you have worked with.

2. Send me samples of three pieces of your work.

3. Tell me the names of related professional associations of which you are a member.

Questions that I would have asked anyone I was planning to hire - for almost anything, And which would have, I expect, got rid of her sharpish.

With the huge bulge in people trying to get published in any number of ways, there may be a big demand for people with professional skills to provide the services you need.

But their level of professionalism - or lack of it - in their interactions with what they see as potential clients, is likely to be an indication of the kind of work you can expect from them.

So what could you do to find the contract services you might need? 

1. Check the websites of professional associations such as the Editors Association of Canada or The Society of illustrators. They often list their members and describe the kind - and cost - of services they provide,  and describe those services in detail so you know what you might expect.

2. You be the one putting the call out for the services you’d looking for. And include screening criteria, such as the questions above, right up front.

3. Ask for referrals from writers in your own circle - through related Facebook group pages, etc, or in person.

4. Ensure you have a contract which lays out clearly what you can expect from the service provider, clear timelines, costs and payment schedule, expected credit on the finished work, etc. 

5. And when you get good service from the person you hired to provide the services, share testimonials with others who might also need them.

You will be doing yourself and everyone else a favour.  

Photo credit. Unattributed image from Statistics by Jim website,