A quick post – really a ‘re-post’ / link to a Seth Godin blog post about building trust back on the 19th…
Seth talks about a recent purchase experience – and what it took for the companies to earn his trust.
I’m paraphrasing his comments into my own thoughts below…
Clean and professional web sites, no bait-and-switch tactics, clearly advertised pricing for all parts of the transaction… how many times have you tried to get complete answers from a self publishing company to find that the conversation never seemed to end – because there was always another price to ask about, or that you couldn’t get a solid answer?
The ability to speak with someone who has an investment in you as a customer and in the reputation of the business… ever tried to speak to someone who has authority or actually an active investment in the success and reputation of the business?
When you choose a self publisher, you should be able to have both items above – and it will create a feeling of trust with the company. Rock solid answers, and working with someone who actually cares about the customer. Godin said it best in his closing paragraph:
“One reason that so many hard sell businesses fail is that they are neither. They aren’t (or don’t appear to be) trustworthy institutions, nor are they trustworthy humans. So we move on. You do 95% of it right, then use cheesy fonts or lie a bit or try too hard and boom, that’s it.”
Think about that as you make your choice, and suddenly the path may seem much more clear.
Filed under: Self Publishing Companies, Self Publishing Company Comparisons, self publishing | Tagged: self publishing, Seth Godin, trust
Ray, nice post. I think too many authors and new publishers get so emotionally attached to getting in print that they lose sight of the fact that publishing is a business.
Yes, you want your baby taken care of, while at the same time, you are often charged for things that you might be better off taking care of yourself.
Cheers!
Bernie
Yes, I agree – good posting.
Many authors, given the rise of new technologies, seem to find themselves faced with the Lulus of the world, or traditional publishers. The problem with sites like Lulu (and others that are similar) is that you can never get a solid answer out of them about things like process – or even materials.
As an eco-conscious writer and publisher myself, I initiated a series of queries about the source of paper, and got a lot of “we don’t know” type answers.
So, while authors want their babies taken care of, in some respects the circular queries tend to suggest that self-publishing with a company or business you can meet and grow a relationship might work better. You get the chance to be a real part of the process, and have far more negotiation power (not to mention the education you get along the way!) than you do with a faceless “company”.
Sorry this is so long – just my two cents
cheers
Leticia