How Authors Can Build an Author Visibility System That Works
A trip to urgent care unexpectedly reminded me of one of the most important lessons I've learned in business: If there isn't a system, create one.
If There Isn't a System, Create One
Recently, I had cause to visit urgent care.
Actually, my husband did.
Seth sliced his arm on broken glass while trying to hang some beautiful glass bottles for me. Why we were there isn't nearly as important as what I observed while we waited.
The physician's assistant who came in to stitch up my man was training a younger medical professional. Both were impressive, but one statement stopped me in my tracks.
The physician's assistant said:
"If you don't know the system, find the system and learn it. If there isn't a system, create one."
I immediately wrote it down.
Because isn't that true for so many things we do in life?
Systems Are Everywhere
I have a system for laundry.
My first choice would be to have someone magically appear and do it for me. Since that seems unlikely after 42 years of marriage, I've settled for creating a system instead.
As long as everyone in the house follows the system, everything works well and we avoid a laundry catastrophe.
We also have a simple system for knowing whether the dishes in the dishwasher are clean or dirty.
I don't know about your house, but many conversations have started with:
"Are these dishes clean?"
"I don't know. Did you run it?"
"I thought you ran it."
To avoid becoming dishwasher detectives, we simply place a new dishwasher tablet in the soap compartment after we empty the dishwasher.
If there's a tablet inside, the dishes are dirty.
If there isn't, they're clean.
Simple.
Genius, right?
The Same Principle Applies to Authors
Many authors struggle with visibility because they don't have a system.
They write a blog when inspiration strikes.
They post on social media when they remember.
They send a newsletter whenever they find the time.
Then they wonder why their platform isn't growing.
The problem isn't usually effort.
The problem is the lack of a repeatable system.
I've Been Building Systems All Year
I've spent much of the last year creating systems.
Some worked beautifully.
Some failed spectacularly.
That's part of the process.
The important thing isn't creating a perfect system.
The important thing is creating something that helps you track your work, measure your progress, and stay consistent.
Over the past year, I've built systems for:
Blogging
Pinterest
LinkedIn
Newsletters
Speaker inquiries
Resources and downloads
Website content
Follow-up workflows
Not every system survived.
Some needed adjustments.
Others were scrapped completely.
But each one taught me something valuable.
Visibility Is Built Through Consistency
One of the biggest myths authors believe is that visibility requires constant inspiration.
It doesn't.
Visibility requires consistency.
Systems help you stay consistent even when motivation disappears.
A simple system might look like:
Publish one blog every Monday.
Create five Pinterest pins from that blog.
Share the blog on LinkedIn.
Add it to your monthly newsletter.
Save it for future speaking topics or book chapters.
One piece of content.
Multiple uses.
A repeatable process.
Start Small
You don't need a complicated system.
In fact, the simpler the better.
Start with one area where you're struggling.
Maybe it's:
Blogging consistently
Social media posting
Following up with contacts
Tracking speaking opportunities
Sending newsletters
Create a simple process.
Test it.
Adjust it.
Improve it.
Then move on to the next thing.
Systems Reduce Stress
One of the greatest benefits of having systems is peace of mind.
You no longer have to reinvent the wheel every week.
You don't spend energy wondering what comes next.
The system tells you.
That's true for laundry.
It's true for dishwashers.
And it's true for author visibility.
Your Next Waypoint
The next time you find yourself frustrated because something isn't working, ask yourself:
Do I have a system?
If the answer is yes, improve it.
If the answer is no, create one.
Because sometimes the difference between success and frustration isn't talent.
It's simply having a repeatable process that works.
As that physician's assistant wisely said:
"If you don't know the system, find the system and learn it. If there isn't a system, create one."
That's good advice for healthcare.
It's also good advice for authors.
Related Compass Stops
Question for You
What is one system you've created that saves you time, energy, or frustration?
I'd love to hear about it.
Related Resource
Need a clearer next step for your author journey? Explore DeeDee Lake’s Author Resources for practical tools, encouragement, and guidance for the business side of writing.
Explore Author Resources:https://deedeelake.com/author-resources
