Freelance Indexer Exchange
Welcome to the Freelance Indexer Exchange — a podcast for freelance business owners specializing in indexing books, websites, documents, and digital content. Working as a freelance indexer can be isolating and lonely. But you're not alone. Let the Freelance Indexer Exchange be your source of support, insights, and community. Your host, Michelle Guiliano, is an experienced indexer who has indexed more than one hundred thousand pages over the past nine years as a freelance business owner. In each episode, she will take an in-depth dive into the business of indexing, providing you with an authentic, personal look at the ups and downs of freelance life. By talking about our work with transparency, we can raise our businesses to the next level. We can do better together.
Episodes
28 episodes
#27 In Case of Emergency, Contact...
This is the first episode of season 3. Thank you for being a loyal listener!In today's episode, Michelle addresses the sticky situation of what to do in case of emergency. Do you have a system in place so clients of ongoing projec...
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Season 3
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Episode 1
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20:55
#26 Rethinking Legacy Plans
In this episode, Michelle discusses the fate of bespoke indexing software programs in light of Scribendi.ai's announcement about CINDEX. As of April 1, Scribendi will no longer distribute or support CINDEX, but will make it available as an open...
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Season 2
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Episode 9
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13:57
#25 Enid Zafran: Indexing in the early 2000s and the transition to full-time freelance indexer
In this episode, Enid Zafran talks about her transition from Director of Indexing Services at BNA and the reasons behind the move to full self-employment as a freelance indexer. She also shares her experiences as chief of publications at the Am...
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Season 2
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Episode 8
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41:40
#24 Stephen Ullstrom: indexer and author
This episode is all about indexing and writing about indexing. Michelle talks with Stephen Ullstrom, who is not only an award-winning indexer but he's also a first-time author. He wrote an excellent step-by-step guide to indexing for author...
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Season 2
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Episode 7
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1:01:12
#23 Index Edit Part 3: The Process
Michelle details how to create a strong partnership for the index edit as well as the steps for each person in the index edit process. Here is the link to the index...
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Season 2
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Episode 6
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33:01
#22 Enid Zafran - The Growth of Indexing Partners and Cindex in the 1990s
This is the third installment of Michelle's conversation with Enid Zafran. She talks about how she balanced her role at the Director of Indexing Services at the Bureau of National Affairs while growing her business, Indexing Partners. She also ...
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Season 2
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Episode 5
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28:27
#21 Index Edit Part 2: Pros and Cons
In this episode, Michelle returns to the index edit to discuss the costs (literal and figurative) and benefits of having another index edit or proofread your index. In the first episode in this series,
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Season 2
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Episode 4
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24:05
#20 Enid Zafran: Indexing Services at the Bureau of National Affairs from 1990 to 2002
Today's episode continues the conversation between Michelle and Enid Zafran. The last episode (episode #18) left off with Enid joining BNA as the Director of Indexing Services. Now Enid will talk about what it was like to index in the 1990s dur...
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Season 2
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Episode 3
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32:02
#19: Index Edits - An Introduction
In today's episode, Michelle introduces the concept of index edits. She details the types of index edits as well as her experiences in indexer-editor partnerships. Episodes referenced in this episode:
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Season 2
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Episode 2
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20:15
#18: Enid Zafran: Indexing in the 1970s and early 1980s
The podcast is back for Season 2! On today’s show, Michelle shares part of her conversation with Enid Zafran, an award-winning indexer with over 40 years of experience. In this installment, Enid details her experience indexing from the mi...
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Season 2
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Episode 1
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34:43
#17: End of Season Q&A (Part Two)
In the last episode of Season One, Michelle answers more listener's questions on:Square as a credit card optionMarketing in the U.S.How to ask to be listed on the copyright page of booksWhy she started thi...
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Season 1
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Episode 17
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22:24
#16: End of Season Q&A: Questions from Newish Indexers
Michelle answers a couple of questions from newish indexers. One indexer wants suggestions on breaking into indexing as a career, and another newish indexer asks about setting rates. Michelle will be back next week with answers to...
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Season 1
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Episode 16
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17:14
#15: The Reality Check Formula (or a follow-up to the Estimate series)
In this episode, Michelle explains how she double-checks her estimated project fees and project rates proposed by clients. She uses a simple mathematical formula to test whether she will earn her desired hourly rate for each indexing project.
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Season 1
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Episode 15
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13:02
#14: Preparing Estimates for Indexing Projects: Part Two
Michelle continues explaining how she prepares estimates for indexing projects. She details why time is the most import factor to track and consider when calculating what to charge.
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Season 1
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Episode 14
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19:47
#13: Preparing Estimates for Indexing Projects: Part One
This episode is all about how to prepare estimates. Michelle describes the different things she needs to consider during the process. She also explains the importance of using pricing data from previous projects.
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Season 1
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Episode 13
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15:10
#12: Stopping the Stress Cycle
In this episode, Michelle brings up the B-word: burnout. But instead of focusing on the symptoms of burnout, she concentrates on what leads to burnout: a never-ending stress cycle. She will talk about her recent experience of a loop...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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15:21
#11: Connecting After a Virtual Conference
You went to the conference and made some connections. Now what? In this episode, Michelle offers ways to follow up with people you "met" at the virtual conference. Michelle referred to the
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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14:02
#10: How to Prepare to Network at a Virtual Conference
Networking at virtual conferences or at webinars is different than in-person situations, and therefore it requires a different type of preparation. Michelle walks listeners through how to prepare for this type of networking, starting with how t...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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15:35
#9: Per Page, Per Entry, Per Word: Translated Into an Hourly Rate
In this episode, Michelle talks about how she translates various indexing rates into an hourly rate. And she discusses her time-tracking journey - the different methods she has used over the years to create a system that works for her.L...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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21:25
#8: Per Entry, Per Page, Per Word, Oh My!
Join Michelle as she takes a closer look at the types of rates charged by indexers. She walks listeners through her April schedule, discussing the types of rates charged for different indexes and why. She also details her estimating process.
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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14:46
#7: Should You Accept Credit Cards?
In this episode, Michelle talks about credit cards and the different gateways available to freelance indexers to accept them. She also goes through the fees charged by each gateway, as well as whether accepting credit cards is worth the f...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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16:40
#6: Answers to Listeners' Questions about "Big Indexing Pushes" and Indexing Award Competitions
In this episode, Michelle answers two listeners' questions about indexing. One indexer asked Michelle how she defines a "big indexing push" in order to decide whether to take a day off from indexing to recharge. And a newer indexer wants ...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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12:08
#5: Year-End Business Review Part 3
In this episode, Michelle candidly answers the questions detailed in Part 2 of the Year-End Business review series about her own business. Links mentioned in the See Also segment:
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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26:22
#4: Year-End Business Review Part 2
Michelle leads listeners on a deep dive into the end-of-the-year review to help you rethink how you work and run your freelance indexing business. She provides examples from her own business and offers a list of questions you might consid...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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26:10