We were lucky to catch up with Akilah Trinay recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Akilah thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you tell us about an important lesson you learned while working at a prior job?
Just a month before I began my teaching career, I was working as a publicist assistant in Manhattan Beach, CA. I had decided that I wanted to work in the Entertainment Industry long before and I did everything necessary to make that happen. I had a little experience with radio KPFK 93.7FM, a talent management agency, and a network television station. Since graduating from California State University, Los Angeles with a degree in Communications, I knew I wanted to work in that industry. God has always been a very integral part of my life and brought things together that no one could ever understand or fathom. From the time I was in elementary school, I knew I wanted to work in the entertainment industry in some facet. Oprah Winfrey’s ability to achieve so much totally amazed me, despite her challenging and turbulent upbringing. My goal was to be a talk show host, just like her—in the beginning. As I grew older, I refined my goals based on my new experiences.
I was very stressed about my job. I would spend the first part of the morning crying in the office because I was unhappy. It had nothing to do with my boss, however I was not fulfilling my purpose. The only way I made it through the day was through prayer. I prayed every morning in that office before my boss came in and it gave me the strength to endure until the day God gave me an alternative path. I knew it was God because this was never on my to-do list, but yet the thought and idea brought me so much joy. So putting everything into perspective for you, the timeline is: I received my new job calling in about April 2008 to pursue education. I was still employed as a publicist assistant, but I had about three months to figure out how to become a teacher and actually do it. There were strict deadlines that I had to follow as well as attend meetings and pay for teaching tests and enroll in school to earn my credential.
I found a school district that was close to my house, and I applied. I went up to that school district and turned in my application packet. The secretary informed me they were on a hiring freeze but they would keep my application on file. Now to make a long story even longer, I came home one day, and I saw I had a message on the answering machine—yes I had a house phone and an answering machine. My sister and I were not in the habit of checking messages because most of the time it was only telemarketers and no one had our number, except for my mama and businesses, but on this day something told me to check it. We did not have our message system set up to provide the current date and time, so I cannot specify the timeframe of the message. I listened to the message, and it was the school district calling me to come in for an interview. I was so ecstatic I could not contain myself. I made a few victory laps around my apartment because all I needed was an opportunity, and this was it.
I went into the interview with no experience and came out with a career. They saw something in me I had yet to see in myself. Let me remind you, I did not have a credential; no prior experience and I had yet to pass the last test of the 3-part English CSET. They hired me in July with training scheduled to start in August. I received the passing results of my last test on the first day of training. They hired me on the condition that I pass all tests and enroll in a Teacher Preparation program. The day I received those results, I must have screamed and shouted. This marked the first time I walked away from something I was good at, to walk in my purpose.
My life has been a faith walk. Revision Publishing LLC became a possibility because of trusting in myself and my abilities.
Akilah, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Well, first, Revision Publishing LLC is an indie publishing & consulting firm, dedicated to guiding and educating authors through the self-publishing process. Equipping aspiring authors with the knowledge and resources necessary to get it right the first time!
If publishing were EASY, everyone would be doing it. I was given the “Blueprint” with all the steps and I followed them with fidelity, but, I still did not know what I was doing until I published the book and joined a writer’s group. I published a very professional novel under my own publishing company, but had no clue how to market it. If you asked me then, I wouldn’t have been able to tell you the steps. I accomplished the goal and became a published author, yet I was scared to let the world know. I told very few people I had written a book. MISTAKE #1. It is pointless to publish a book and keep it a secret. Once I surrounded myself with like-minded equally driven people, I opened the door to a wealth of knowledge and understanding. I got the keys!
Life hit me hard between 2016-2019. Imagine this… I published a book, fell in love, got married, had a baby, got sick, separated from my husband, moved back to the Bay Area and once I caught my breath…COVID! The pandemic helped me to realize that we don’t have time to waste sitting on our dreams. I have spent the last few years writing, publishing, researching, reading, implementing, interviewing, and watching to prepare clients for this moment. To equip authors with what they need to be successful.
Teaching and learning is what I know best. Although many can tell you what to do, very few can teach you what’s necessary to be sustainable. I want clients to walk away with the skills and understanding to get their book to the masses.
I’m building my legacy. I can no longer wait for someone to open the door of opportunity for me—I am creating it. Growing up in Oakland, CA, I could see dreams deferred and visions manifested and ultimately had a choice to make. As a self-publisher and consultant, I have a passion for helping people bring their ideas to life and share them with the world. With a background in education, communications, PR, and a strong understanding of the self-publishing landscape, I have helped many clients successfully publish and promote their books, ebooks, and other printed materials. In addition to my publishing expertise, I also have a wealth of knowledge in various fields, including business, marketing, and personal development. I use this knowledge to provide valuable consulting services to my clients, helping them to refine their ideas and strategies, and achieve their goals. Whether you are looking to self-publish your first book or are an experienced author seeking to take your career to the next level, I am here to help. With my guidance and support, you can turn your ideas into reality and make a lasting impact on your audience.
My clients are placed in the driver’s seat, with creative control to decide if self-publishing is the best option and how they want to distribute their book.
What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?
Growing clientele takes time and effort. Consistently implementing a combination of strategies has proven the most successful.
I also have to adapt to changing market dynamics and monitor my results to determine which tactics work best for my business. When I have a strong online presence, I get more inquiries for business by creating valuable and informative content, such as blogs, articles, videos, or podcasts, that cater to my target audience’s needs and interests. Most potential clients will share this content across various channels to attract other potential clients and demonstrate my expertise.
Another strategy is to attend industry events, conferences, and trade shows to meet potential clients. I use these opportunities to build relationships with other professionals in my field and explore partnership opportunities. However, nothing beats providing exceptional service and going above and beyond to satisfy my clients. A happy client is more likely to refer my services to others or become a repeat customer themselves. Referrals have been the most effective because of my satisfied clients referring my services to their friends, family, and colleagues. I ask all clients to provide a testimonial that I can post on social media and my website.
We’d love to hear your thoughts about selling platforms like Amazon/Etsy vs selling on your own site.
I currently have products available via Amazon and my personal website (www.revisionpub.com). While I prefer selling direct to the customer, Amazon has provided opportunities to allow for ease through their print-on-demand (POD) services. Here are my pros and cons to both:
Pros of selling books and products via Amazon:
– Large customer base: Amazon has a massive user base, allowing for increased exposure and visibility to potential customers.
– Trusted platform: Amazon has built a reputation as a trustworthy marketplace, which can lend credibility to your products.
– Prime membership: By selling through Amazon, your products become eligible for Prime membership, making them more desirable to customers who value fast and free shipping.
– Reviews and ratings: Amazon provides a platform for customers to leave reviews and ratings, which can significantly affect buying decisions and build trust in your products.
Cons of selling books and products via Amazon:
– Competition: Due to the high number of sellers on Amazon, the competition is fierce, making it challenging to stand out among similar products.
– Fees and commissions: Amazon charges fees for listing, selling, and additional services like FBA, which can reduce profit margins. Their prices are too high and I found removing my product from their facility and shipping it on my own was more cost effective and saved me the monthly professional account fees.
– Limited control: On Amazon, you have limited control over your brand and product presentation, as you must adhere to the platform’s rules and guidelines.
– Dependency on Amazon: By relying solely on Amazon, your business becomes dependent on their policies, algorithms, and changes, which can pose a risk if they decide to alter their terms. It is easy to get lost in their high inventory, especially if you are not paying for advertising.
– Lack of customer database: When selling through Amazon, you do not have direct access to customer information, making it challenging to establish a long-term relationship and market directly to your customers. This is a huge one. However when products are fulfilled by the merchant, you have more access to buyer information.
Pros of selling via my personal website (www.revisionpub.com):
– Brand control: With my personal website, I have full control over the branding, design, and presentation of my products, allowing the ability to create a unique and consistent customer experience.
– Lower fees: Selling through my personal website eliminates and reduces the need to pay listing fees or commissions, potentially increasing profit margins.
– Customer database: Having my personal website enables me to gather customer information, such as emails, allowing me to directly market to and build a relationship with my customer base.
– Flexibility: My personal website gives me the flexibility to set my own policies, pricing, and shipping options, tailoring them to my specific needs. And add automations (which are really helpful).
– Diversification: By having my personal website in addition to other online marketplaces, I am able to diversify my distribution channels, reducing my dependency on a single platform (Amazon, IngramSpark).
Cons of selling via a personal website:
– Limited exposure: Without the built-in customer base and massive reach of platforms like Amazon, it can be harder to attract customers and increase visibility.
– Logistics and customer service: Handling storage, shipping, and customer service on my own is time-consuming and requires additional resources.
– Marketing and traffic generation: Generating traffic to my personal website is more difficult compared to an established platform like Amazon, which already attracts a significant number of potential customers.
– Technical expertise: Operating my personal website requires technical skills, however I have saved some overhead costs by doing it myself. But this has been time consuming and sometimes I get too caught up in the minor details and overall appearance.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.revisionpub.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/revisionpubllc
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/revisionpub
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/akilahtrinay
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@revisionpublishingllc
Image Credits
Personal Photo Photographer: Anthony Weaver