Over the next few weeks at least, it's all about social distancing. I recently posted some tips and tricks I've picked up working from home. This is seems like an opportunity to work on other platforms as an indie author, and creating content for people who are spending more time at home. If you know me, you know I'm a podcaster so this may not come as a surprise. Here's a … [Read more...] about 254 Resources About Podcasting, Audiobooks, and Smart Speakers (All the Audio!)
Amazon
A Round-Up of Kindle / Amazon Resources and News
It's been a while since I've done a round-up of Amazon-related resources. There's a lot of interesting news and insights out there, so here goes: Amazon Advertising "How a KDP author helps other writers increase their book sales" on Amazon Advertising Bryan Cohen runs the Amazon Ad Profit Challenge, where he teaches really effective tips for using Amazon Ads to sell your … [Read more...] about A Round-Up of Kindle / Amazon Resources and News
Guest Post: 5 Fail-safe Strategies for Selling More Books
By Dave Chesson Selling books can be hard. Sure, marketplaces like Amazon have made it easier than ever to list your books for sale, but grabbing readers’ attention is more difficult than ever. In this article, we’ll look at five strategies you can use to sell more books. Strategy 1: Select the Right Keywords When you publish a book on Amazon, you get the opportunity to … [Read more...] about Guest Post: 5 Fail-safe Strategies for Selling More Books
Guest Post: Online Listings Tips to Promote and Increase Book Sales
By Kiana Mason You’ve spent hours writing, editing, and perfecting your book. Now it’s ready to be delivered to the hands of readers everywhere. Whether you’re marketing your book on your website, on Amazon, or through an email blast, start with a listing description that lets people know exactly who you are and what your book is about and makes them want to read it. But … [Read more...] about Guest Post: Online Listings Tips to Promote and Increase Book Sales
Guest Post: 5 Steps to Finding Profitable Book Topics on Amazon
By Alexandria Evensen As an independent author you must fill two distinct roles—that of the creative, and that of the entrepreneur. If you’re reading this it’s probably safe to assume you’re not just writing for fun. You’re likely trying to shape a brand, create a passive income, or use your writing skills to promote an online business. Your writing topics should align … [Read more...] about Guest Post: 5 Steps to Finding Profitable Book Topics on Amazon
Two Indie Author Choices: Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Although Amazon works with a wide variety of industries now, it originated in books. And it still dominates the book industry. The Wall Street Journal recently wrote about how Amazon "commands an unrivaled customer base for the books, e-books and audiobooks it publishes." Part of what helped Amazon with ebooks is KDP, the platform where indie authors can upload and sell … [Read more...] about Two Indie Author Choices: Amazon and Barnes & Noble
An Update on Amazon
It seems Amazon is always in the news, and that makes sense. It's a giant company with a huge reach. For this post, I'm going to focus on the non-book items of Amazon. Some of it is related to indie publishing, and some of it is just plain interesting. First up, a writer on Gizmodo tried to block Amazon from here life, and found it was impossible. This is because in addition … [Read more...] about An Update on Amazon
Social Media Tips and Tricks
Social media platforms (and online platforms in general) are constantly changing. Here are a few new features and tips: Pinterest Pinterest now has a more ways of shopping via the platform. Pins now have pricing and stock information, and have links that go directly to the retailer's site. These Product Pins are also more discoverable on the home feed and other parts of the … [Read more...] about Social Media Tips and Tricks
Amazon News and Tools
It's been a while since I've posted about Amazon, so thought I'd share some links I've been collecting. It covers a wide range of topics, but hey, that's Amazon! Amazon Tools and Tutorials ACX University Kindle Create Amazon Sales Estimator Tool on Jungle Scout Amazon Sales Rank Calculator on Kindlepreneur "Tutorial: Enabling X-Ray for Your eBooks on Amazon" … [Read more...] about Amazon News and Tools
Indie Author Marketing Guide: Twitter
Twitter is one of the largest social media platforms, and when used correctly, can really help boost an indie author's platform. According to Social Media for Writers, "23 percent of online adults living in the United States are active on Twitter." The post also breaks down the demographic of Twitter users, down to age, gender, education level, and more. When you sign up … [Read more...] about Indie Author Marketing Guide: Twitter
The Making of a Successful Ebook: An Interview with Geoff Jones, Author of The Dinosaur Four
You may remember Geoff Jones, author of the thriller The Dinosaur Four, from my last post where I happily reviewed his book. Geoff is so awesome that I had to interview him twice. The first time was for the podcast I make with my husband, I Know Dino, where we of course discussed the amazing dinosaurs in his book, and the second time, Geoff very graciously let me pick his brain … [Read more...] about The Making of a Successful Ebook: An Interview with Geoff Jones, Author of The Dinosaur Four
By the Numbers: 189+ Tips and Tricks on How to Write, Edit, Market, and Sell Your Books
So many wonderful authors, publishers, and people just interested in the book industry have written numerous guides, case studies, and resources to help others interested in writing and publishing. Sometimes the best way to share resources is via lists, like my post 7 Strategies and 110 Tools to Help Indie Authors Find Readers and Reviewers. With that in mind, here are links … [Read more...] about By the Numbers: 189+ Tips and Tricks on How to Write, Edit, Market, and Sell Your Books
A Look at Amazon: Timeline and Indie Author News
It's been a while since I've posted about Amazon, but as usual, I've been collecting links. Here are some items that explain what Amazon has been up to (you may notice it covers a wide range of topics, which is fitting, since Amazon covers so many industries now): How to Help Readers Find Your Book "Adventures in Amazon keyword padding" on Sheer Hubris "Advertising: … [Read more...] about A Look at Amazon: Timeline and Indie Author News
Indie Authors and Kindle Unlimited
Amazon's Kindle Unlimited (KU) service, where readers pay $9.99 per month and authors are paid out of a monthly fund, seems to be very polarizing. Kindle Unlimited History When KU first launched, many authors complained about it, citing its unfair payment system or how it encourages people to upload short, and often not well written, books (since originally authors were only … [Read more...] about Indie Authors and Kindle Unlimited
Guest Post: Global Fans? Get Global Links
By Cole Lakes - Director of Operations, GeoRiot GeoRiot builds links that work "across countries, devices, and stores." The company also recently acquired BookLinker.net, which creates a universal link for a book "that works for all Amazon stores." If you’re an indie author, chances are you’re taking advantage of Amazon’s international online store to promote and sell your … [Read more...] about Guest Post: Global Fans? Get Global Links