The Value of the Truth
By Jerry D. Simmons | October 9th, 2006 | No Comments » (Click to add yours!)
Seems the only measurement by which some people evaluate the accuracy of information about publishing is how much it cost. Has the perspective and attitude of the largest publishers spread to everyone involved with books? Why is it so hard to accept the fact that the truth can be free? I’ve heard too many times, “the value is equal to what you pay,” as well as, “you get what you pay for.” Is it so hard to believe that someone would give away accurate information?
The experts are labeled as such because they’ve been doing this a long time, however, as I’ve described in a previous blog, “Even Some Experts Can Get it Wrong,” you don’t always get what you pay for. It is especially painful when the experts direct you to their web site for products and services with promises of solutions that can be expensive and wrong. I’ve tried through presentations, workshops, and web site to offer as much free and accurate information as possible. I’ve been told by many eCommerce experts that my “free” approach will not work, people just don’t believe that free has value. Unfortunately I’m beginning to believe. Why do you have to charge for everything to get the attention of your audience? Does this make sense?
The only explanation is that for so long we as a society have been mislead and deceived by those we held sacred and paid the price to the point where we trust no one, believe no one, and continue to pay because that is the only source with value. Publishing used to be about the writers and their books, where every title was given as much care and attention with as much shelf life as possible to achieve a satisfactory outcome. Now it’s a business and books and authors are treated as such. It is especially disappointing to see that attitude filter down through virtually all levels of publishing. Paying doesn’t seem to be the problem, it is knowing whom to trust. Such is the value of the truth.
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