On Having A Close Relationship with Your Publisher
View Publishers as Partners
The savvy Entrepreneurial Author views a publisher as a partner, for that in essence is what they are. Each benefits from the actions of the other. Each profits from the excellence of the other.
Once you realize that your publisher is actually your partner in the process, you will want to learn more about that publisher, just as you continue learning about your own enterprise and your audience. The closer you become to the publisher, the more you will gain a “favored nation” status. Old friends do favors for old friends.
To become close to your publisher, you must develop five modes of behavior.
The Care and Feeding of Publishers
- Stay in Contact
Let your publisher know when they’ve done something right as well as when they’ve done something wrong. Keep them up to date on your plans so that they can tailor their plans accordingly, and both of you will avoid crises.
- Inform Your Publisher of Your Marketing Plan
Give them advance notice so that they can be prepared for an influx of orders. This also lets them know how important you are in the industry and the community so that they will treat your book with the respect it deserves.
- Be Loyal to Your Publisher
Of course, you will always listen to competitive bids for your work, but deep down, you know that the best relationships are the old relationships, so you see it as your job to improve the publisher’s prices, quality, service, or selection with your suggestions rather than deserting them for another. Get your publisher to know your enterprise inside and out so that they develop radar for your needs.
- Alert Your Publisher to Problems
Let your publisher know if you have a problem. Entrepreneurial Authors do not harbor grudges. Instead, they don’t hesitate to pick up the phone (or mouse) to make a call (or send an e-mail) pointing out the problem immediately. Instead of waiting and allowing resentment to build up, solve the problem for yourself and the publisher as quickly as possible. After all, you want this to be a permanent relationship, so get rid of problems as they arise, or they will come back to haunt you.
- View You Publisher as an Ally
Entrepreneurial Authors know that their publisher might be ideal for a strategic alliance. Your publisher might go in with you on a mutual promotion, a special event, or a publicity effort. Your publisher might even invest in your company, knowing the quality that you offer and how you cherish relationships.
When you have a warm, close, trusting relationship with your publisher, you will receive these benefits:
- Better prices
- Better service
- Availability of product when you need it
- Priority treatment
- Customized handling
- Immediate attention
- In-depth understanding of one another’s problems and opportunities
- Kept promises
- Complete honesty
- Advance notice
These are only the surface ways in which you’ll benefit. Perhaps the peace of mind of not having to constantly scour for a new publisher will be the biggest benefit of all. And you certainly can’t underestimate the power of trust between people.
Authors who have a close relationship with publishers have their fingers on the pulse of their industries. This keen insight provides them with the competitive edge that Entrepreneurial Authors hold so dearly. Every year in the United States, nearly six hundred thousand new books are published. Authors have to seek out publishers and then establish relationships with them once they have learned that they can trust them. Only then can they begin to nurture that relationship to the point at which it can be considered close.
As an Entrepreneurial Author, you’ll have the benefit of a close publishing relationship. While your would-be competitors will be out beating the business in search of a trustworthy publisher, you’ll probably be at the ballgame with yours. You’ll be succeeding at business and having a good time—all at once. That’s the way of The Entrepreneurial Author.
David L. Hancock, Founder
