What is a Self-Publisher?

I recently came across this description for a self-publisher:

A self-publisher is all of the following: writer, editor, designer/artist, typesetter/compositor, printer, financier/accountant, marketer, shipper/warehouser, legal adviser, financial underwriter, and business manager.

That seems to be a little overwhelming, but I think it's misleading as well. That's like saying the guy who owns the restaurant down the street is a chef, waiter, dish washer, toilet cleaner, menu designer and printer, accountant, bus boy, napkin folder, and grocery buyer.

Yes, those are all things to be done in order to provide his customers with food, but the restauranteur would be foolish to attempt to do it all himself. He is not all those things. Instead, he finds people to handle the jobs that he is not an expert in or doesn't have the time to complete.

Self-publishing is no different. Authors are authors. They write books and shouldn't be expected to do every other job related to producing books. Authors could compare themselves to that restaurant owner and find experts necessary to complete the tasks in order to serve up their books.

By hiring a self-publishing expert to partner with, authors also don't have to learn an entirely new business. If they concentrate on hiring well and using common sense, they'll only wear only one hat, the hat of the successful, self-published author.

A Human Answering the Phone, What a Concept!

In the current world of business where it seems every company has replaced the most important first touch with clients — the receptionist — with an answering machine, what a breath of fresh air when an alternative is experienced.

Let me first say that I am not connected with the company I am going to tell you about, in fact, I know no one who works there and I definitely am not getting kickbacks from them. They are simply incredible.

The company is Answer 1 Communications. They provide remote receptionist services with humans! According to their website, they "provide your businesses with fast, reliable, personal, and bilingual attention that you and your customers demand of your business." Although I can't say know what all of these services actually entail, here's what they say they can do: telemessaging, appointment scheduling, voicemail, unified messaging, order taking, e-commerce solutions, customer support, remote receptionist and dealer locator.

What I do know is, every single time I call one particular business and these folks answer their phone, the Answer 1 people are organized, articulate, comprehensive, polite, friendly ... they are a delight and I have every confidence that my client will get the message. I want to keep talking with them, they are so pleasant!

Can you say that about the people who answer your phone? If not, I would recommend you give these folks a call. Their website shows many awards they've won for their service, and I am not surprised.

Go check them out at http://www.answer1.com/ ... they are located in Phoenix, but heck anymore I don't think it matters from where a company provides their services.

Better yet, I found this toll-free number on their site, call them, they're in the answering business and I bet you will be impressed. 1-800-408-3408.