All Freelance Writing - Topic: When There's NO Way To Figure Out An Editor's Name http://allfreelancewriting.com/writing-forum/freelance-business-chat/when-theres-no-way-to-figure-out-an-editors-name/ Simple:Press Version 5.2.6 LoriWidmer on When There's NO Way To Figure Out An Editor's Name http://allfreelancewriting.com/writing-forum/freelance-business-chat/when-theres-no-way-to-figure-out-an-editors-name/#p1094 Freelance Business Chat http://allfreelancewriting.com/writing-forum/freelance-business-chat/when-theres-no-way-to-figure-out-an-editors-name/#p1094 I've run into similar problems, Luana.

I go to their website (if one is available). I look at their "About Us" or "Corporate Information" sections. If I get no editor there, I look for press releases. If nothing, I send an email through their system asking for the name of the appropriate editor. If nothing, I try as Jenn suggested -- searches on Google and maybe even LinkedIn. If that gets me nowhere, they get it addressed to Acquisitions Editor. Sometimes they just don't want to reveal this (which makes little sense).

Just because there's no personalization doesn't necessarily mean your query won't get attention. I've been forced to send out a few like that myself and one or two have netted jobs.

]]> Tue, 29 Jan 2013 11:29:03 +0000 Jennifer Mattern on When There's NO Way To Figure Out An Editor's Name http://allfreelancewriting.com/writing-forum/freelance-business-chat/when-theres-no-way-to-figure-out-an-editors-name/#p1002 Freelance Business Chat http://allfreelancewriting.com/writing-forum/freelance-business-chat/when-theres-no-way-to-figure-out-an-editors-name/#p1002 I would turn to basic Web searches. 

For example, search the client site using Google for the term "acquisitions editor" or whatever you need. You could even conduct a more general Google search and see if anyone else has published this information. 

If you suspect it's a one-person operation, you might do a WHOIS search to find out who registered the domain name. 

For something like Craigslist, it would depend if the buyer was completely anonymous. If you have the site or publication name, you can conduct searches like the ones I mentioned above. If they don't even give you that much information though, then you're pretty much stuck with a generic greeting. And they can hardly hold it against you if they intentionally kept all of that information private. 

That's what I would do at least. I wouldn't stress too much about it if they're going out of their way to not provide that information. But if it turns up in a search, then that's great -- it shows you can do your research. 

Jenn

]]> Tue, 20 Nov 2012 12:15:02 +0000 Luana Spinetti on When There's NO Way To Figure Out An Editor's Name http://allfreelancewriting.com/writing-forum/freelance-business-chat/when-theres-no-way-to-figure-out-an-editors-name/#p1001 Freelance Business Chat http://allfreelancewriting.com/writing-forum/freelance-business-chat/when-theres-no-way-to-figure-out-an-editors-name/#p1001 What do you do when you can't figure out an Editor's name?

I'm referring to specific cases, such as:

- When you reply to a Craigslist job ad

- When you are given a general editor-@-someUrl contact with no further information

- When you know you'll have to write to Acquisitions Editor but no real name is given

Most of these cases happen with blogs or online publications (so you don't have a masthead to look up).

What do you do?

P.S. I really hate to query/pitch people with a "Dear Acquisitions Editor" greeting.

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