Top 5 Tips for Starting a Script Reading Business

What? ! They actually PAY PEOPLE to read screenplays!?

Yep!  And I’ve found it to be a great way to augment my income. (Heck, I started my script reading company Screenplay Readers in 1999 and it soon took the place of my dreaded day job!)

So here’s the skinny – I’ve just released a big ole video training course on how to set up your own script reading business, from scratch, even if you know nothing about the interwebs.  But here, in brief, is some of the biggest, best bits of advice I can offer to folks wanting to start their own script reading business.

#5 Master your own domain

If you want to come off looking as professional as possible, you’re gonna wanna get your own domain name. There’s a lot of great script reading companies/individuals out there who use a subdomain (like an address at Blogger.com, WordPress.com, etc.) and that’s totally fine.  But when you have your own domain name (e.g. lindasscriptservices.com), it goes a long way in transmitting professionalism to your clients-to-be.

#4 Just get your site up (and worry how it looks later)

I know, I know!  You’re not a web designer. In fact, when you first set up your PC in 2003, you called customer service because you couldn’t get the “foot pedal” to work.

But now that you’re older, and wiser, and learned long ago that the “foot pedal” is actually a MOUSE, you should be ready to get out there and take on the rest of the big, daunting techy challenges that await you.

And designing a website shouldn’t be one of them. (Google “script reading companies” and just look at how UGLY some of those badboys are!)

Grab some decent $10/month hosting (or even cheaper), set up a free WordPress blog, add some products/services into your Paypal account, and point your domain over at the address. Then, download some free templates, and you’re good to go.

OR, get over to Fiverr.com, or elance.com, or craigslist.org, and hire a web designer on the cheap. Lots of awesome, talented web gurus out there ready to jump on your business.

#3 Get social, you introvertus maximus!

Finding and keeping clients means interacting with ‘em.  Sure, you can set up a site and a shopping cart and let it sit there, and yes, you’ll get SOME business.  But you’ll never be able to reach your potential unless you MEET PEOPLE.  Online on social networking sites like Facebook and Linked in, and even OFFLINE at screenwriting conventions, writer’s groups, etc.

#2 What’s a quarterback without a team? Work with talented readers!

Doing it all by yourself is one way to do it.  And you may have to, for a while. But as soon as you can build a team of awesome, talented script readers, you’ll notice your business explode. Because you can now handle more scripts, and more customers.

One caveat!  Screen your readers well to make sure they have the industry experience and the script analysis chops to provide credible coverage.  If you work with lame readers, your clients will vaporize pretty quickly.

#1 Don’t be a know-it-all!  (But be a know-it-all!)

The more you know about screenwriting, script development, and the film industry in general, the more valuable your service will be to your clients.  Yes, you may know script analysis now, and may think you’re great at it, but don’t rest on your laurels.

Realize there’s ALWAYS something new to learn, rather than just being one of those know-it-all guru experts, and your head will keep filling with useful, practical, PROFITABLE skills that can only help your script reading business boom.