Successful Self-publishing
-
Upload
four-waters-press -
Category
Small Business & Entrepreneurship
-
view
154 -
download
3
Transcript of Successful Self-publishing
What does it mean to succeed?
• See your name in print?
• Have a moderate amount of faithful readers?
• Advance the Gospel?
• Bring joy to others?
• Be able to quit your day job?
My goal was to make at least $5000 my first year, but I was going to try to make $7500.
I passed that number in January, 6 months after publishing.
5 steps to success
1. Build your platform.
2. Write a great book.
3. Have it professionally edited.
4. Get a professional-looking cover.
5. Market for the long term.
1. build your platform first
if you can.
Don’t try to do this on Facebook and Twitter.
Start a blog and build your email list.
You own your list. You don’t own your social media accounts.
2. write a great book.
•Practice
•Read and Research
•What does your audience need?
•Join a critique group
•Use beta readers
5. market for the long term
Simple marketing strategies:
Always carry a book with you.
Add your book (and sales link) to your email signature.
Write a press release.
Put your cover on all your social media profiles.
Give away review copies.
Go on a blog tour when you launch.
Path one: e-book only.
KDP Select
Smashwords
Scrivener
choose a publishing strategy
Photo by Intel Free Press, Creative Commons
KDP Select Free Days
Offer your Select title free for up to 5 days in each 90-day period.
Increase your visibility.
Get more reviews.
Some authors have great sales numbers following their free days.
Advertising with BookBub or other services can help.
(You can choose to do a Kindle Countdown Deal once each period instead.)
Ongoing Generosity is Best Free
Blogging and guest blogging.
Giveaways and downloads.
Exchange critiques with other authors.
Joint promotion of others’ work.
Sharing your knowledge in groups, on webinars, etc.
social media for authors
Pinterest is best for promoting blog posts.
Facebook is best for connecting with fellow Catholics.
Use Facebook and Google+ for groups (like Indie Catholic Authors).
Google+ is best for SEO.
what else has worked?
•Public speaking
•Offering a deal on bulk paperback sales
•Enthusiastic fans sharing with others
don’t waste your time on:
•Print ads
•Ads on other Catholic websites
•Spamming your friends and followers with “buy my book” posts on social media