Small business chat update ? Bob Fowke ? LibroEditing ...

Ooh, look ? it?s only another Small Business Chat update, this time with Bob Fowke of YouCaxton! His original interview was published on 14 Jan 2012 and when asked where he planned to be in a year?s time, he answered, ?I hope that we will be starting to become an established, reputable name. I?m much more concerned with quality than quantity, although we have no intention of turning business away?. Sounds good to me! So, where is Bob now ??

Are you where you thought you?d be when you looked forward a year ago?

It?s hard enough to imagine the future but even harder to remember how you imagined it a year later, but I think we?re roughly where we thought we might be, in fact we?ve done rather better than expected.

What has changed and what has stayed the same?

We?ve become larger and employ more people/freelances, so that has changed, also we have a shop/office which allows us more access to the world ? and allows the world more access to us ? but we?re still very much a small specialist company trying to act for the benefit of very individual writers. We have to keep that personal touch, that?s our constant.

What have you learned? What do you wish you?d known a year ago?

The learning has been absolutely fascinating. I respected our writers before and my respect has increased. On a more practical note, experience has confirmed what we previously suspected ? that the large self-publishing companies can be very uncaring of writers, if not downright exploitative. We (and other similar small highly skilled companies) are more necessary than we thought we were.

I wish I?d known more about social media because that?s something we have to be able to help with. We?re now got someone to advise our writers ? thank goodness, because I?m too much of a dinosaur.

Any more hints and tips for people?

The rules are the same now as ever ? whether publishing or self publishing ? make sure the book is as good as you can possibly make it before you publish and, assuming readership is important to you, have a very clear idea of the potential readership.

And enjoy the process, writing is fascinating in its own right and it?s easy to let the complications of self-publishing get in the way of one?s initial passion.

And ? where do you see yourself and your business in a(nother) year?s time.

Steady growth, keeping standards high and retaining respect for our customers.

Again, sounds good to me. I?m glad to see the company is doing well and that they?re remaining flexible enough to embrace newer concepts like social media. This brings up another important point, too: if you?re not an expert in something. bring in the experts to help! Best wishes to Bob for a successful 2013.

The YouCaxton website is at http://www.youcaxton.co.uk/ and you can find all the requisite contact details there.

Note: I should say that I am set up to receive a referral fee upon referral of a writer who ends up being published by YouCaxton. This is not the reason I am publishing this interview.

If you?ve enjoyed this interview, please see more freelancer chat, the index to all the interviewees, and information on how you can have your business featured.

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Source: http://libroediting.com/2013/01/19/update-bob-fowke/

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