Author Experience Collection

Too often, author communications are treated as administrative operations—functional but not strategic. Yet every message, from submission invitations to post-publication follow-up, is a brand moment that shapes the author experience. When these touchpoints are clear and purposeful, the results are meaningful: smoother processes, stronger relationships, and higher author satisfaction. Our article shares four pillars for transforming author communications into strategic assets that build a more resilient publishing pipeline.

C&E Practice Lead Colleen Scollans spoke on a panel at Silverchair's 2023 Platform Strategies on how open access has shifted publishers to B2C data-driven marketing with a focus on the author and author experience. This requires new technologies and new ways of working – along with new skills and strategies. Here are our key takeaways from the session.

This article is part two of our Author Experience (AX) series, where we anchor the concept of AX more concretely. We present our model for working towards AX maturity: positive author perceptions that translate to increased article submission, resubmission, and referral. As organizations advance the six pillars outlined in this article, they progress their AX maturity and set themselves up for success in today’s evolving publishing landscape.

A seismic shift has taken place in scholarly publishing, putting authors forefront of marketing efforts. This is not just a shift in messaging. Marketing to authors requires new tools, techniques, and expertise. Publishers that are able to make this transition more rapidly are gaining a competitive advantage over those that move slower.