Your business may be losing trust before you even speak to a potential customer. Imagine someone finds your business on Google. They see very few recent reviews, unanswered complaints and incomplete business information. Even if you provide excellent service, that first impression may create doubts. This is where online reputation management becomes important. A practical starting point is to: - Respond professionally to customer feedback. - Address legitimate complaints and resolve issues where possible. - Ask genuine customers for honest reviews. - Keep your business information accurate across platforms. - Monitor what customers are saying about your business. You don't need to manipulate your ratings or promise perfect reviews. You need a consistent process for earning trust and managing feedback. Your reputation is an asset. Give it the attention it deserves.

The Indie Book Review just banned my book because it has an AI-generated cover art. Their policy is that any use of generative AI is "unethical" because it hurts the employment of writers, artists and translators. Thus they ban books that make "any use of generative AI". This luddite viewpoint overlooks the fact that any tool can make a talented writer, artist, or translator better and more productive. What's next, banning artwork that an artists creates using Photoshop instead of crayons? What about writers employing ghostwriters from countries with lower labor costs than in North America or Europe? They cite that both of these reduce employment opportunities for those who service this industry. My decision, as an emerging author with a shoestring budget to use AI to reduce cost for both my book cover and subsequent marketing is a creative decision to rely on my own creativity to guide generative AI, instead of hiring someone else's. Ethics does not extend to guaranteed employment of others. This confounds politics with ethics. Should not the reader be the sole decision maker of quality? Book banning based on the creative process, or many other reasons, is unethical.

One of the biggest mistakes I see authors make is waiting until their book is published before thinking about marketing. In my experience, the real growth starts before launch. What helped me the most was building visibility early, creating a launch plan, staying consistent with promotion, and making sure readers knew my book existed before release day. That's the approach I used with In Her Own League, and it completely changed how I looked at publishing. A great book is important, but readers can't buy a book they've never discovered. If you're writing your next book, don't wait until it's published to think about marketing. Start building your audience now, connect with readers in your genre, and create a simple roadmap for your launch. Even small, consistent steps can make a huge difference over time. Question: At what stage do you usually start thinking about marketing your book before you publish, after you publish, or only when sales begin to slow down?

Imagine a customer finds your business on Google. They see excellent reviews but the website looks outdated. Or the website looks professional but the business has very little recent customer feedback. That disconnect can create hesitation A strong digital presence should feel consistent from the first Google search to the final enquiry Your reputation builds confidence Your website reinforces it. Your customer experience should complete it. That's what standard businesses should aim for.

A lot of business owners think they have a traffic problem. But after reviewing dozens of websites, I've noticed something different Most don't have a traffic problem They have a trust problem Within 5 seconds, visitors ask themselves Can I trust this business Is this business active Why should I choose them If your website or online reputation doesn't answer those questions, people leave even if your service is excellent What's one thing about your website that you wish converted more visitors into customers?