Self Publishing Success! Or: how to attract readers - download this Powerpoint

Kristen James Authorpreneur Creative Writer, Freelancer, Publisher, Marketer, Business Owner Self publishing does not mean to go it alone!

Where I am Now Books Expression of art Entertainment Personal AND it’s “intellectual property” Creating around 80 products through different formats

1 intellectual property= 8 products Print Ebook – multiple platforms Audiobook 3 Other languages 2 Box Sets Different platforms

Options and Revenue Streams Print and Ebooks Print and Ebooks Distributors (Smashwords) Distributors (Smashwords) ACX for audiobooks ACX for audiobooks Babelcube for translations Babelcube for translations

Nonfiction It’s my mission to inspire, motivate, and educate so others can succeed in their writing journey. - links to blog posts and Powerpoint

“Success is meeting your goals.” Joe Konrath has a great post on attaining success, but you have to read to the bottom. Joe Konrath has a great post on attaining success, but you have to read to the bottom. If you just keep going, you’ll get there. If you just keep going, you’ll get there. Joanna Penn, is a great resource for entire process of writing, publishing, marketing Joanna Penn, is a great resource for entire process of writing, publishing, marketingwww.thecreativepenn.com Secret to success is out in the open – read, study, learn. Secret to success is out in the open – read, study, learn. And Keep Writing! And Keep Writing!

Published to Kindle Entered eBook market early Entered eBook market early Entered market with two books Entered market with two books Books were edited (previously published) Books were edited (previously published) Catchy titles Catchy titles Good cover for Good cover for A Cowboy for Christmas Started a website/ blog Started a website/ blog Author page on Facebook to interact with readers Author page on Facebook to interact with readers I’ve given away over a million ebooks I’ve given away over a million ebooks First Cover -

“Self Publishing” One Avenue To Reach Readers One Avenue To Reach Readers Many paths: Self publishing Small presses Amazon Publishing Agents Big Publisher READERS A buffet of options!

No longer either/ or Hybrid authors: trade and self publishing Hybrid authors: trade and self publishing Multi Author box sets Authors publishing together as a small press Distribution deals My A-Pub books get me extra marketing on Amazon, which helps my other titles

What Helped Me Outside of marketing Flexible and Open for Opportunities Flexible and Open for Opportunities Thought like a publisher and business owner Thought like a publisher and business owner I jumped on new platforms, Kindle Select I jumped on new platforms, Kindle Select Said yes to guest blogs, donating prizes, interviews Said yes to guest blogs, donating prizes, interviews Changed covers and blurbs Changed covers and blurbs Said yes to Amazon Publishing Said yes to Amazon Publishing Pulled some books from Select when not as profitable Pulled some books from Select when not as profitable Always looking for new outlets and ways to reach readers Always looking for new outlets and ways to reach readers I watched successful authors and publishers to see what I could copy and what I could modify and do differently.

Marketing Clear Package Editing, Proofreading, Formatting Great Writing My Method Author Reader

Moving From Author to Entrepreneur to Pull In Readers — Your #1 goal as a marketer is to evoke emotion with your “book packaging” Your #1 goal as a marketer is to evoke emotion with your “book packaging” Package sells books before reviews come in and word of mouth starts. Package sells books before reviews come in and word of mouth starts. Writing Reader Package: Genre Title Cover Tagline Blurb Brand

Genre – why is it important? The more you target your package, the more books you’ll sell. Why? You’ll reach the right readers. “Wrong” readers leave bad reviews. Sub genre!! A reader of Harlequin Blaze romance won’t like a sweet romance. *A racy book packaged as a “sweet romance” will get bad reviews.

Book Title A hook, not an explanation of the entire book A hook, not an explanation of the entire book Shorter titles sell more books — under 5 words Shorter titles sell more books — under 5 words Catchy titles sell more books — A COWBOY FOR CHRISTMAS Catchy titles sell more books — A COWBOY FOR CHRISTMAS A title can be generic but evoke emotion — A title can be generic but evoke emotion — POINT HOPE POINT HOPE Even title shows genre Even title shows genre You can change a book title if needed You can change a book title if needed Nonfiction: title answers question. What do people search for related to the problem and solution? Nonfiction: title answers question. What do people search for related to the problem and solution?

All Important Cover — YES, we judge books by their covers YES, we judge books by their covers Colors/ fonts create emotion and Genres Colors/ fonts create emotion and Genres Custom Covers for $100 to $300 Custom Covers for $100 to $300 Premade for $40 to $99, usually $50 to $79. Premade for $40 to $99, usually $50 to $79.

Change until it works!

People on covers sell Don’t get hung up on the Main concept, matching title, or telling the entire story Cover is marketing Needs to inspire emotion AND show genre

Learning and moving on… Old Covers Current covers Series sell!

Study what works in YOUR Genre Colors, fonts, placement, and memes all indicate genre and spark emotion Contrast between font color and picture – easier to see when small.

Taglines “Can she love him again if she doesn’t remember him?” (emotional, intriguing) “Can she love him again if she doesn’t remember him?” (emotional, intriguing) One sentence to sell your book — Go! One sentence to sell your book — Go! This is your elevator speech. This is your elevator speech. It grabs readers so they’ll read more. It grabs readers so they’ll read more. YES, put it on the cover! YES, put it on the cover! Use in posts and ads – start book blurb with it. Use in posts and ads – start book blurb with it. End blurb with question (tagline) End blurb with question (tagline) Point Hope: It’s make-it or break-it time. If they split apart, who will raise Hope?

Blurbs — Sales copy, not summary (same goes for query letter blurb) Sales copy, not summary (same goes for query letter blurb) Critically important — I owe much of my success to my knack for writing blurbs. Critically important — I owe much of my success to my knack for writing blurbs. Big points, not every detail Big points, not every detail Raise more questions than answers. Raise more questions than answers. You can always update, revise, and improve. You can always update, revise, and improve.

Author Brand – who you are online Author tag line Author tag line similar to book tag line similar to book tag line I use: “Love stories with a twist of mystery and suspense”

Author Bio (Amazon page) Fun and different! (For me, outdoor adventure) Fun and different! (For me, outdoor adventure) Or match your writing tone Or match your writing tone Life outside of writing Life outside of writing Realize people read this after your writing has hooked them. Share your inspiration, how you got started, why you write. Realize people read this after your writing has hooked them. Share your inspiration, how you got started, why you write.

Front and back matter — Another chance to connect Front: website, other books, tagline, tiny bio, newsletter link Front: website, other books, tagline, tiny bio, newsletter link Keep front short, but useful – people see it in preview Keep front short, but useful – people see it in preview Back: photo, bio, newsletter link, ask for a review, and list of other books. Back: photo, bio, newsletter link, ask for a review, and list of other books. List in back should be covers, links, blurbs — I know these sell books because readers have highlighted my book links in the end matter. List in back should be covers, links, blurbs — I know these sell books because readers have highlighted my book links in the end matter. Newsletter: some authors use a perma free book with an offer for another free book if you sign up for their newsletter. Pros/Cons Newsletter: some authors use a perma free book with an offer for another free book if you sign up for their newsletter. Pros/Cons

Package: Stand out by fitting in Cover clearly shows genre; what kind of story you’re selling Cover clearly shows genre; what kind of story you’re selling HOWEVER, title, blurb show how you twist it, offer something new, make it deeper, or look at it a new way HOWEVER, title, blurb show how you twist it, offer something new, make it deeper, or look at it a new way Case Study The old covers captured what happened in the book, but the story is off beat and different, so it didn’t fit into a genre. The new cover shows it’s a romance.

My Marketing Remember majority of time should be writing and learning time! I let my packaging do a lot of my marketing, along with price changes, specials, and freebies.

Online Marketing Tips Social Media: Don’t market! Be fun, interesting, intriguing, helpful… Social Media: Don’t market! Be fun, interesting, intriguing, helpful… Be a real person online, not a promoter or “page” Be a real person online, not a promoter or “page” Use a photo not book cover for profile picture Use a photo not book cover for profile picture Don’t push “buy my book” all the time to the same people Don’t push “buy my book” all the time to the same people If they’ve liked your page or followed you, don’t promote to them-just announce new releases and an occasional special If they’ve liked your page or followed you, don’t promote to them-just announce new releases and an occasional special The best advertising/ promoting is a new book – keep writing! The best advertising/ promoting is a new book – keep writing! Start a newsletter, and try to connect personally, not just push book sales Start a newsletter, and try to connect personally, not just push book sales You can have an online presence separate from marketing. You can have an online presence separate from marketing.

Marketing – away from social media Book list with clear package to start Book list with clear package to start Pre-orders to get buzz Pre-orders to get buzz Specials, freebies, switching it up Specials, freebies, switching it up Series! Start with freebie. Series! Start with freebie. Perma free can work, switch occasionally Perma free can work, switch occasionally Bookbub – amazing results, hard to get into Bookbub – amazing results, hard to get into Facebook ads – can work if you know how Facebook ads – can work if you know howFinally: Chase readers, not numbers! Chase readers, not numbers! Go for it! (and enjoy writing!) Go for it! (and enjoy writing!)