I can do it myself!

These five words–I CAN DO IT MYSELF–are possibly, the most success sabotaging words for an author/writer in any language. They may sound like words of confidence and they very well may be—if they are spoken in reference to something within one’s core competency—a fundamental knowledge, ability, or expertise in a specific subject or skill set. If the context is not within a core competency—they are dangerous—possibly even condemning.

Business man stressed out by deadline holding two phone with smoking alarm clock in background

One area in which I find this damaging for authors and writers is in regard to website design. The hub of literary marketing is the website. When a visitor steps into your website, you have only seven seconds in which to capture their attention—keep them on the site.

Bounce Rate is a very important metric. In Google’s own words, “Bounce Rate is the percentage of single-page sessions (i.e. sessions in which the person left your site from the entrance page without interacting with the page).” If the author’s site Bounce Rate is too high, Google will take the position that there is not enough value to keep visitors on the site and will lower the site rankings in searches. Does this sound important to you? It is if you are trying to develop a platform (following) of readers.

Here are a few other things that may not be in your core competencies:

  • Book Cover
  • Book Editing
  • Book Formatting
  • Book publishing
  • Book trailer production
  • Branding
  • Business Plan Development
  • Contract negotiation
  • Distribution Services
  • Editing
  • Email marketing
  • Graphic design
  • Lead capturing
  • Market Strategy and Monitoring – on going
  • Podcast Platform
  • Press releases
  • Printing Services
  • Public Relations
  • Publicity
  • SEO Services – on going
  • Social media marketing
  • Social Media Services – on going
  • Target marketing
  • Web Site Development – to support the business plan
  • Web Site Reconstruction on an on-going basis
  • Webinar Capabilities

All of these, and more, are important to reaching success as an author.

There comes a time when admitting she can’t do it herself is the right thing to do.

humility word in letterpress type

Tony Marino and I discuss this in this video–Writing, Publishing, and Distributing Your Book in 10 Steps.

Change something today to make your tomorrow better.

 

Tom
Literary Strategist
417-812-6110

References:

Google Analytics (2014). Learn what a bounce rate is and how to improve it. Retrieved April 20, 2014 from website: https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/1009409?hl=en

About the author

Tom Blubaugh
Tom Blubaugh

Tom Blubaugh was raised in a small town in southeast KS. He began writing poetry at age fourteen. Tom has written nonfiction most of his adult life. He self-published his first book Behind the Scenes of the Bus Ministry in 1974. Tom wrote articles for denominational and business magazines from 1975 through 1995. He co-wrote The Great Adventure for Barbour Publishing Co. in 2009. Bound by Faith Publishers published his first fiction Night of the Cossack in April, 2011. Tom is married to Barbara. They have six children and fourteen grandchildren. Tom has been a public speaker for 40 years. He has been a self-employed entrepreneur since 1973.

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