Consistency is a key element to an author’s success. Of course, there are other important factors but consistency is what will create name recognition. Consistency is what will build your readership so you can develop a trusting relationship. Consistency is what will showcase your books to new followers.

Here’s an example: You go out to dinner at your favorite restaurant and you fall in love with your entrée. A few weeks later you take a friend to the same restaurant, order the same meal, but it tastes different and you send it back to the kitchen. Their lack of consistency in how your meal was prepared will now leave doubt in your head about that particular dish and possibly about the whole restaurant in general.

Doubt in a customer’s mind generally means you have to rebuild that trust again to show that they should continue doing business with you. It’s not impossible to earn their trust again but you’re basically starting from square one. Just like when your weight loss efforts are halted during the holiday season and you have to lose those same 5 pounds multiple times. Working your author business consistently and focusing on writing great books and engaging with readers will help to keep your readers happy and promoting you to others.

Have you ever had this occur: You opt-in to an email list that has great potential. You receive a few weekly emails and then nothing. Crickets. Then a month or two later you receive an email from that person again, making an offer to purchase their book. How does that lack of consistency make you feel? I’m guessing your first reaction would be, “Who the heck is this person?” Lack of consistency will cause you to forget who they are and why you signed up for their list in the first place. Lack of name recognition generally leads to, “I don’t know who you are so why would I give you my money?” Again, this author just made themselves a much harder task to win you over again.

Consistency with Your Brand Image
When it comes to branding, consistency and repetition will help develop name recognition. If you attend a lot of conventions or do Facebook Lives, wear clothes that match your website colors as readers will make the connection. Use your logo on all your book promotion materials and at conventions.

If your trademark is a purple stripe in your hair, don’t go changing it to fire engine red; your followers won’t recognize you! Be consistent with your brand image, colors, and message, both online and offline so you’re always recognized.

Have a look at your branding and how you are showing up to your readers. Are you being consistent? What is working? What do you need to do differently so that readers recognise you and your books no matter where they are?