I listen to the competition.
I often learn
what is working
and what isn’t working
from listening.
For example,
I give readers (customers)
a short story
every December.
These stories
only make sense to readers
who have read
the other books (products)
in the series.
Writers will contact me,
telling me I’m devaluing my work,
that readers won’t pay for my stories
if I give these short stories away.
Of course, they will.
The readers who pay
for my other stories
are the ONLY people
who enjoy the short stories.
Writers aren’t happy
because they fear
it raises expectations
for them
Which tells me
my strategy is working.
Readers like it so much;
the competition is afraid
it will become the norm.
Listen to competitor complaints.
They might tell you
you’re on the right track.