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self-publishing

Inspirational Publishing Success Stories and Ideas For Monetization

Monday, September 12, 2022 by Sabrina Ricci

There is no such thing as overnight success. It takes a lot of time, dedication, and hard work, and yes, some days can feel harder than others. But the result can be worth it. To help stay inspired and motivated, here are some recent success stories and ideas for monetization. I also recommend reading Michael La Ronn's "Reinventing the Path to Success" post, which talks about … [Read more...] about Inspirational Publishing Success Stories and Ideas For Monetization

Guest Post: Strategies for Getting Published as an Independent Writer

Monday, October 4, 2021 by Sabrina Ricci

Jori Hamilton

By Jori Hamilton Going with a publishing house may offer the ability to get in front of a larger crowd, but at what cost? If your story is mangled by editors and publisher demands on the way to publication, the final product can end up completely different than the book you set out to write. Self-publishing offers an alternative that, while less splashy, allows you, the … [Read more...] about Guest Post: Strategies for Getting Published as an Independent Writer

Indie Authors: What’s in a Book Cover?

Monday, March 23, 2020 by Sabrina Ricci

It's well known that a good book cover is a key component of selling a book (aside from having a great story, of course). But with so many books out there for readers to choose from (especially now that indie authors as well as traditional publishers are now making high quality book covers of similar caliber, according to Publishing Perspectives) what can make your cover stand … [Read more...] about Indie Authors: What’s in a Book Cover?

Indie Authors: Editing Tips to Attract Readers and Save Money

Monday, March 9, 2020 by Sabrina Ricci

By Digital-Designs (Red Pen, Yellow Pen....) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

No first draft is perfect. That's why editing is such an important step in the writing and publishing process. There are a few types of editing: Developmental editing Line editing Proofreading In a nutshell, developmental editing looks at the big picture of a story, and makes sure the tone is consistent and things make sense. Line editing is more granular, and … [Read more...] about Indie Authors: Editing Tips to Attract Readers and Save Money

Tips for Recording and Publishing Your Own Audiobooks

Monday, December 23, 2019 by Sabrina Ricci

By Heinrich Böll Stiftung from Berlin, Deutschland (Konferenzeindrücke) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

It's no secret that audiobooks are growing in popularity, and are becoming part of the self-publishing process. An op-ed in the New York Times wrote about the benefits of listening to stories: I listen the way I read books as a child, as if I were there watching. The author becomes more transparent, the characters more real. According to Copyblogger, having an audiobook gives … [Read more...] about Tips for Recording and Publishing Your Own Audiobooks

Guest Post: 3 Creative Ways to Decrease Self-Publishing Costs

Thursday, October 17, 2019 by Sabrina Ricci

By Angelica Hartgers Let’s face it: Self-publishing a book can be costly, and this reality is what turns many aspiring authors away from this publishing route. But the truth is that self-publishing doesn’t have to be as financially burdensome as you might have been led to believe. If the idea of paying out-of-pocket for publishing services doesn’t appeal to you, don’t let … [Read more...] about Guest Post: 3 Creative Ways to Decrease Self-Publishing Costs

Writers: Traditional or Self Publish

Thursday, April 18, 2019 by Sabrina Ricci

When it comes to books, authors have many options for how they want to connect with readers. The first question to ask is, do you want to be traditionally published or do you want to self publish? Jane Friedman has a great breakdown of the publishing paths, the value of each route, and things to watch out for. The Porch Swing Chronicles also has a post about being a hybrid … [Read more...] about Writers: Traditional or Self Publish

A List of 194 Tools and Resources: Apps, Trends, Marketing Tips, and More

Thursday, January 10, 2019 by Sabrina Ricci

By Heffloaf (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

It's about that time again for another roundup post. This time I've got a bunch of tools and resources that cover a wide range of topics, from freelancing to marketing to reading and more. Book Creation Tools/Help Book Creator Comic Book Paper Omnibook Vellum Vivliostyle (and why it's important) "Automated Cleanup for Word Manuscripts" Beyond XML … [Read more...] about A List of 194 Tools and Resources: Apps, Trends, Marketing Tips, and More

144 Tools and Resources for Building Your Author Website and/or Blog

Thursday, January 3, 2019 by Sabrina Ricci

By Matthew Bowden www.digitallyrefreshing.com (http://www.sxc.hu/photo/145972) [Attribution], via Wikimedia Commons

Author websites and blogs are important components to building an author platform. With that in mind, here is a list of resources that can help you set up and optimize your site. Setting Up Your Website NameBounce Find Available Domain Names on Namestation "+300 Awesome Free Things for Entrepreneurs & Startups" on Growth Supply "11 Essential Elements of an … [Read more...] about 144 Tools and Resources for Building Your Author Website and/or Blog

Tips and Tricks for Promoting Your Book

Thursday, November 1, 2018 by Sabrina Ricci

After writing (and editing), marketing and promotion is a key step in book publishing. It helps to keep this in mind throughout the whole process. For example, The Book Designer recommends authors take into account a couple key questions: Who are you writing for? Where does your reader hang out? With this information, you can make sure you craft a pitch that … [Read more...] about Tips and Tricks for Promoting Your Book

A Primer on Self-Publishing

Thursday, October 11, 2018 by Sabrina Ricci

I believe in the power of repurposing content. A while back, I had the pleasure of giving a talk at a writer's conference about the basics of self-publishing. Topics include: Writing and editing tools Cover design Ebook creation tools and techniques Ebook distribution channels Marketing tactics Authorpreneurship concepts Changes and developments in the … [Read more...] about A Primer on Self-Publishing

Guest Post and Book Excerpt by Penny Sansevieri: How Re-Releasing Your Book Gives You a Second Chance

Thursday, September 6, 2018 by Sabrina Ricci

Today I've got a special treat for you. Penny C. Sansevieri, author of many best selling books including How to Sell Books By the Truckload on Amazon and 52 Ways to Sell More Books, has recently made her book How to Revise and Re-Release Your Book: Simple and Smart Strategies to Sell More Books available in print. To celebrate, Penny has kindly shared an excerpt of her book. … [Read more...] about Guest Post and Book Excerpt by Penny Sansevieri: How Re-Releasing Your Book Gives You a Second Chance

Indie Authors: High Quality Book Covers

Monday, August 20, 2018 by Sabrina Ricci

By User:FA2010 (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

When it comes to selling books, having an eye-catching cover is high on the list of getting more readers and buyers. But there's a lot to consider. Should you make the cover yourself? Hire a designer? Use stock photos? To help with this process, BadRedHeadMedia recommends planning everything in advance, including researching your options and coming up with a budget. Also … [Read more...] about Indie Authors: High Quality Book Covers

Indie Author Marketing Guide: A Primer to Social Media

Monday, May 21, 2018 by Sabrina Ricci

Social media is a big part of indie author marketing strategies these days. But for those just starting out, it may seem daunting. When I first began using social media for platform building, I felt slightly overwhelmed. But now, after lots of practice and just incorporating social media into my daily routine, I've come to embrace it. And instead of seeing it like a chore, I see it as another way to connect and interact with people, and I've been able to build real relationships through it. Here are a few things I've learned along the way. (And if you want guidance on how to overcome the feeling of being overwhelmed, read Your Writer Platform's "Are You Building Your Writer Platform at Gunpoint?") Don't use social media just to sell books Kristen Lamb's "Social Media, Book Signings & Why Neither Directly Impact Overall Sales" goes into depth on why this is not a good strategy, but basically you don't want to spam people/just make noise, and you will not develop any real relationships this way (meaning, you won't attract real fans). Rachel Thompson suggests spending more time online finding people who may be willing to review your books, and she gives a list of suggestions in her article "Why ‘Read My Book!’ Doesn’t Work…And What To Do Instead" Focus on one or two platforms first, then build from there Facebook. Twitter. Instagram. Pinterest. Google. Youtube. Goodreads. LinkedIn. Tumblr. The list goes on and on. You can be active on all these channels, but it's probably best to pick one or two and work on growing an audience there first. Every social media channel works a little differently, caters to a different audience, and has savvy users who expect others to use the network a certain way. The Book Designer's "Do You Make These Online Marketing Mistakes?" offers tips, such as establishing one audience per channel and using landing pages. Social Media Just for Writers also recommends researching your target market and then choosing your social media platform based on that in "How to Stop Wasting Time and Focus Your Book Marketing." For advice on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Pinterest, and YouTube, read DBW's "The Book Marketing Social Media Hierarchy: Which Sites to Use for Which Purposes." Business Insider broke down the demographics of some of the social media platforms. According to them, the 45- to 54-year-old demographic is growing, "27% of 18 to 29-year-olds in the U.S. use Twitter," LinkedIn and Google+ are mostly male, Pinterest is mostly women on tablets, and Tumblr is mostly teens and young adults. Eventually you can expand into other platforms. For a case study on why, read Kate Tilton's "Why I Use Different Social Media Networks (And You Should Too) by @K8Tilton." For help determining which platform is best for you, read these articles: "Instagram: Should You Be On It?" on Indies Unlimited "How Tumblr Turned a Book Into a Bestseller" on GoodeReader "Pinterest Unveils Buyable Pins, A Way To Purchase Things Directly Within Pinterest" on TechCrunch "Pinterest Update: More Ways Authors Can Use Pinterest!" on Writers Win "Indie Author Marketing Guide: Pinterest" on Musings and Marvels "How I Made it to the Front Page of BuzzFeed Twice, and How You Can Too" on Matthew Barby "Surprising News in Social Media – And a Twitter Tip" on Social Media Just for Writers "Indie Author Marketing Guide: Twitter" on Musings and Marvels "Guest Post: 8 Secrets to Increase Your Twitter Followers" on Musings and Marvels "Guest Post: What Everybody Ought To Know About Facebook Account Management" on Musings and Marvels "Guest Post: Want to Step Up Your Facebook?" on Musings and Marvels "Indie Author Marketing Guide: Goodreads" on Musings and Marvels "Indie Author Marketing Guide: LinkedIn" on Musings and Marvels "Indie Author Marketing Guide: Google Plus" on Musings and Marvels "Which Social Media and Marketing Tools Are Publishers Actually Using Successfully" on DBW Strategize how you will build your platform Erindor Press's "Platform Building Primer" is a good start, and advocates setting expectations and figuring out the best way to share content, either via blogging, email newsletters, or something else (and you can use social media to promote that content). The Loneliest Planet shared a post, called "One Writer's Platform (Part 2) Events and PR," which goes over techniques of marketing offline (such as doing public readings and lectures) but also adds that it's worth taping these performances and uploading them to Youtube to share. Use lots of images/visuals People tend to engage more with posts, tweets, etc. that are visual. According to Rebekah Radice's "5 Steps to Get Massive Engagement With Your Visual Content," "43% of social media users share pictures." She recommends having consistent colors, using templates, appropriate fonts, and to create infographics, images, and videos. Build Book Buzz recommends creating different types of images, including picture quotes, tipographics, and infographics. For tips on how to actually create these images, read Social Media Just For Writer's "Writers: Use Visuals to Market Your Books." Make use of social media tools Here's a list of resources, along with helpful tips and links to additional tools: Kate Tilton Social Media Resources Kate Tilton Authors on Instagram Kate Tilton Book Bloggers on Instagram Social Media Examiner Storyfinds Momentum RelayStation Magnolia Media Network Books Go Social Keep up to date on new platforms and tools Lastly, the social media landscape is constantly changing, so it's good to stay up to date. One example of a relatively new tool/platform is Aerbook, which according to PW turns social media into a virtual bookstore. Earlier this year, Social Media Just for Writers wrote about how indie authors can use Aerbook, which allows you to share previews and even sell ebooks on social media networks, as well as see analytics on your shares. According to the article, there are three product plans to choose from: Aerbook Retail is free, no credit card required. It gives you the social look inside the book, email capture popups within the sample, stats on how the book is used, and the ability to share the link and also get web page widgets that launch the Aerbook. This plan lets you sell the book directly through Aerbook, and our service earns 15% of the purchase price after credit card fees are deducted. Aerbook Plus gives you everything Aerbook Retail delivers, plus lets you add links to other retailers, like Amazon, iBooks, or even your own purchase page. Aerbook Plus is $49 per year. Aerbook Flyer includes everything above, but there’s no direct sale through Aerbook’s commerce service. You’ll add links to other retailers. Flyer also lets you do book giveaways, and includes 500 directly delivered, complete books annually. Flyer is $99 per year. Got any social media tips? Please share in the comments!

Social media is a big part of indie author marketing strategies these days. But for those just starting out, it may seem daunting. When I first began using social media for platform building, I felt slightly overwhelmed. But now, after lots of practice and just incorporating social media into my daily routine, I've come to embrace it. And instead of seeing it like a chore, I … [Read more...] about Indie Author Marketing Guide: A Primer to Social Media

Indie Authors: Self Publishing Advice

Monday, April 23, 2018 by Sabrina Ricci

Being an indie author is tough. There's the long hours of writing, the nail biting and teeth gritting as you revise your work, and of course there's marketing, promoting, and hoping that maybe you'll get a few, or a lot, of readers. Over the years, more and more indie authors have published, and shared their advice and experiences. Though writing tends to be a solitary … [Read more...] about Indie Authors: Self Publishing Advice

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Books for Indie Authors

Books for Indie Authors

Your First 1000 Copies: The Step-by-Step Guide to Marketing Your Book
Your First 1000 Copies: The Step-by-Step Guide to Marketing Your Book
by Tim Grahl
tagged: indie-publishing and to-read
The Author Training Manual: Develop Marketable Ideas, Craft Books That Sell, Become the Author Publishers Want, and Self-Publish Effectively
it was amazing
The Author Training Manual: Develop Marketable Ideas, Craft Books That Sell, Become the Author Publishers Want, and Self-Publish Effectively
by Nina Amir
Other reviewers have called The Author Training Manual a must-read, and I have to agree. Nina Amir has compiled a great amount of research, experience, and real-life samples that can help any other, self-published, traditionally publishe...
tagged: indie-publishing

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