Monthly Archives: May 2012

Amazon Self-Publishing Income Secrets You Need To Know

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Most authors in self-publishing through Amazon don’t make much money. There are two reasons for this that you might be familiar with if you are familiar with internet marketing. Most people don’t know how to market themselves or their products. If you’re struggling to get your book out you did not prepare for its success. Amazon wants you to succeed because it makes money from your success.

The actual work of making a successful Amazon publishing income starts before the making of the book. If you know much about niche marketing, you always start with market research to find a niche that has people who want to buy a solution or an escape. This is important because both work primarily on emotions like desire, excitement or fear.

Once you think you’ve found a niche with willing buyers, do keyword research and Amazon book research. You’ll want to match a set of profitable low and medium competitive keywords with a low competition heading in Amazon search. This is the first step to successful market research for writing books.

Create a 10-page ebook with a brief solution to the problem you are able to solve or the emotional stock in which your readers are looking to invest. Get a squeeze page with a sign up form that offers the booklet for $1.00. Promote the offer page by Pay Per Click for one week. Throw some articles up to link to the sales page and see if you get much response or traffic.

You are looking for action either a taker for the $1.00 offer or a sign up for more information on the subject. If you get an overwhelming imbalance between those looking for more information and those willing to shell out $1.00 to solve their problem, you might want to dig a little deeper into the profit potential of the subject. You’ll want to sell that one-dollar offer as if your life depended on it. People are often skeptical of special deals from strangers.

After your evaluation period is over, set up a blog and begin writing. Promote the blog and write posts that are parts of your chapters. Let the readers know that they are getting valuable material from your upcoming book and begin promoting the fact that your book is coming out in the near future. Spend a lot of time growing your fan base by giving them a lot of killer material. Use social networking and every marketing trick you can think of to get that audience growing in the next few months. They will stick around if you give them what they want.

Write for your audience as if they were people you know sharing a common interest; your niche. Once you can identify with them, urge them to participate in the blog with comments and stories. Find the “watering holes” where your niche hangs out and gain disciples to your cause. Find about half a million people just like them and let Amazon know you’re coming.

Would You Like To… Be A Published Author, Build Credibility In Your Niche, Rake In Recurring Income, And Best Of all…Let Amazon.com Do All The Work? Discover how, here: [http://amazonpublishingformula.com/r/]

Author: Tanner Larsson
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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How to Become a Successful Self-Published Author

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With more and more authors reporting huge sales by self-publishing, it is not surprising an unpublished writer should choose to take the same route. So how does one become one of those self-published authors?

The days when you needed to contact a vanity press in order to get published are gone. Print on Demand means costs are subtracted from the retail price, so you don´t have to pay outright for print and distribution. It is even easier to publish your work as an eBook, making it available to the growing markets of Kindle, Nook and Smashwords. The trick is not longer to self-publish, but to do it in such a way that your book will be read.

When a traditional book is published, it undergoes an edit and proofreading. There are professionals to create a cover design most appealing to readers, and they are there to organize events and make sure your book is brought in front of readers.

When you decide to self-publish, you decide to manage all this by yourself.

You can only edit your own manuscript up to a point, because there are things you as the author of your work will always be blind to. You have spent days, weeks, perhaps months in correcting your manuscript. You might even know many of the sentences by heart. That´s why you as an author are too close to your own book to edit it the same way a professional editor can. Hiring a professional editor is therefore always recommended. They can suggest improvements to plot and characters, make your narrative as strong and punchy as it can get, and catch errors in style or tone you as an author might have missed.

The cover design looks easy. There are stock photos all over the internet ready to be used; add a little text and there it is. The trick is to make it captivating, to entice readers to pick it up, to make it stand out in a crowd. When you walk into a bookstore, some books catch your attention and others doesn´t.

Have a look at covers in your genre. The cover of a romance novel will look very different to that of a science fiction, and readers expect to be able to tell the genre by the cover. It also needs to look different to the books in your genre, because otherwise it won´t stand out when the reader approaches the bookshelf. It doesn´t matter that the bookshelf is virtual; your readers will still look for it among covers of other books.

The marketing department will make sure a number of pre-release copies hits the market before your book is even on the shelves. The reason for this is that they want to create a buzz about the book, a rumour that will spread by word-of-mouth how exciting and well worth waiting for this book is.

To create the same kind of buzz, you will have to spread the same kind of rumours. Use your author platform to hold contests for pre-release copies, send some out to friends and family. Scan your network and find out if there are some out there you know who might want to read and, hopefully review and recommend your book.

Alice Northwood is a marketing consultant at http://www.kindlekillermarketing.com, helping self-published authors to format and market their book. She also writes for http://kindlekillerblog.com, the reviewsite for e-book owners and publishers.

Author: Alice Northwood
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Guest blogger

Book Industry Product Identifiers: ASIN, EAN, GTIN, and ISBN: A Guide for Self-Publishers

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Introduction
Here is a quick primer on the different book identification numbers and barcodes that self-publishers need to know about. Each one is used throughout the world as a way to identify a specific book.

What is an ASIN?
ASIN is an abbreviation for Amazon Standard Identification Numbers. The ASIN is a unique blocks of 10 letters and numbers that identify a specific item. For books and pamphlets, the ASIN is the same as the ISBN-10 number. A publisher does not need to be concerned with the ASIN.

What is an EAN (Bookland EAN)?
EAN is an abbreviation for European Article Number, now called International Article Number. The EAN is a barcode and a 13-digit product identification number. Each EAN uniquely identifies the book, the manufacturer, and the book’s attributes. Typically, the EAN is printed on the book’s back cover as a bar code and number. Bookland is a fictitious country created in order to reserve a unique country code prefix for EAN identifiers of published books – currently the code is 978. The price barcode is an EAN-5. It is placed next to the EAN-13 on the back-cover of a book.

What is a GTIN?
GTIN is an abbreviation for Global Trade Item Number. The GTIN is a unique and universal identification number used to find product information across databases. GTINs include EANs, ISBNs, UPCs, and JANs (Japanese Article Numbers). The US-ISBN Agency requires publishers be able to communicate ISBNs as GTIN-13s. Currently, a publisher does not need to be concerned with the GTIN.

What is an ISBN?
ISBN is an abbreviation for International Standard Book Number. The ISBN is a unique book identification number. Each ISBN identifies a specific book. ISBN have either 10 or 13 digits. When you purchase an ISBN, it will be given to you in 10-digit format and 13-digit format. Typically, both ISBNs are printed on the back cover of the book. R.R. Bowker, LLC, is the official US-ISBN agency. Each version, edition, and binding of a book (ebook, paperback, hardcover, first edition, second, etc.) must have its own ISBN.

Conclusion
As a self-publisher, you must include the ISBN-10 and ISBN-13 on your copyright page. In addition, you must place the Bookland EAN barcode and number along with both ISBNs on the back cover. The ISBN-13 is the only identification number you need to purchase. The Bookland EAN-13 and EAN-5 barcodes can be created as one image, on the internet, for free.

Joseph C. Kunz, Jr. is an author, publisher, educator, business manager, and entrepreneur. Life-long love affair with books and reading. Very excited about being part of the new media movement. Known for casual, easy-to-read writing style and ability to explain complex topics in an understandable way. “If you are serious about your work you should self-publish. Retain creative control. Retain the profits. Enjoy the satisfaction and status that comes with being published.” Visit Kunz’s blog at http://KunzOnPublishing.com/ for an insider’s guide to becoming a financially successful and happy self-publisher.

Author: Joseph C Kunz, Jr
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Writing Essentials – The 4 Traits of Successful Children’s Book Writers

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My son’s been taking karate for 4 years, and every time he tests for the next rank (he’s up to his brown now), fewer kids who started with him as white belts test alongside him. It’s not that Matt’s necessarily a better athlete than they are, but karate is more important to him. He likes learning the forms, and he enjoys surviving a two hour, physically grueling test knowing that most of his friends would have been flattened in the first 20 minutes. When aspiring writers start identifying themselves as authors, just as Matt sees himself as a martial artist, they’ve taken that first big step toward success.

But there’s a difference between wanting to see your name on a book, and wanting a career as a children’s book author. Anyone with a few bucks can publish their own story, and many books are perfectly suited to be self-published titles given to family and friends. The career mentality, however, is more complex. Check out some common characteristics below and see how you measure up:

Humility: When I get emails from people saying, “I’m going to be the next Dr. Seuss,” I cringe. Confidence is fine, but don’t compare yourself to someone like Dr. Seuss right out of the gate. In fact, don’t compare yourself to anyone. Work on finding your own style and voice. And know that you don’t have to become a literary institution to be a success. Learning to write well is a lifelong process, and the writers who get published understand that each manuscript, whether it sells or not, teaches them something. They’re not afraid to be critiqued or edited. They’ve put their heart into a book or article, and then removed their ego. They understand that if their critique group or editor says a plot is too predictable, it’s far better to chuck the storyline and start over than to fight to preserve a mediocre manuscript. And they’re grateful for the input that saved them from dozens of rejection letters.

Will Work for Resumé: Successful authors know that their query letters are more impressive if they can list some publishing credits. They’re willing to write for little or no money at first, because the experience of meeting a deadline and working with an editor is invaluable. They may decide to sell one story to a magazine that buys all rights so their next story can be sold to a bigger publication that purchases first rights only. They’ll submit to local magazines, regional publishers and small presses as they perfect their manuscripts intended for larger, national publishers. Well-published authors don’t overlook any market that might be right for a particular work. And when you’re just starting out, seeing your byline in a local parenting publication is just as satisfying as appearing in Highlights for Children.

‘Tensity: Matt’s karate teacher urges him to be intense about his practice, and Matt’s dubbed this mindset “‘tensity.” The prolific writers I know think the same way. Though most have families and jobs, they live, eat and breathe writing. Any spare moment is devoted to working on a manuscript. Free weekends are spent at conferences and workshops. When they’re not writing, they’re reading children’s books. As soon as they get one manuscript in the mail, they start the next one. In fact, super successful authors work on several manuscripts at once. If they’re uninspired to revise a scene from their novel, they’ll write a query for an article idea or do research for a picture book biography.

You don’t have to maintain this level of activity to become published. Most writers don’t. But if you want to make a living as a children’s book author, if you want your web site to list 50 or more books in print, then it’s practically required.

Plays the Field: Well-published authors don’t limit themselves to one genre. They’ll write picture books, novels, short stories for magazines, poetry, nonfiction, and material for adult markets such as parenting magazines or writing newsletters. After one book comes out they don’t wait for their editor to ask for another manuscript; they create what inspires them and if it’s not right for their current editor, they market it someplace else. In fact, it’s more difficult to get widely-published if you only write one type of book. A publisher carries a limited number of titles per season, and the editor of your middle grade novel might not appreciate your having another novel for the same age group come out with a different publisher simultaneously. But a magazine article or nonfiction picture book won’t compete with a book for older kids, and still gets your name in front of reviewers and book buyers.

Successful authors don’t dabble in writing now and then, they embrace it and do whatever it takes to get published because it’s what they want more than anything else. So dive in, work with ‘tensity, and send us a quote for our web site when you hit the jackpot.

Laura Backes is the Publisher of Children’s Book Insider, the Newsletter for Children’s Book Writers. Want to learn how to become a successful children’s book author? Come hang with the Fightin’ Bookworms at http://cbiclubhouse.com. Whether is writing picture books, chapter books, young adult novels, finding children’s book publishers — or anything else — you’ll find all the answers at the CBI Clubhouse!

Author: Laura Backes
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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The Basics of Self-Publishing

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Like marketing, self-publishing is the subject of entire books, and there are many available on the subject. Check the resources section of your local bookstore, search for “self-publishing” in your favorite search engine or Amazon, or go to your local library. If you plan to go this route, spend some time learning about it.

What follows are the absolutes basics of what you need to know, do, or have a as a self-publisher:

Start with a great title and subtitle. You’re going to need it every step of the way. This is harder than it sounds, and it’s important enough to hire an expert to guide you. There are two kinds of writers, in my opinion. One can turn a title into a book, and the other can capture the essence of a book in a few pithy words. You need the latter.

Have your book cover designed by a graphic designer who specializes in books. Go to your favorite bookstore and look at book covers. What grabs your attention? What turns you off? What is boring? What feels good in your hand? Share your impressions with your book designer.

Write a marketing plan. It is never too early and you can always add to it as you go along. In its simplest form, a marketing plan starts with an overall goal for what you want to accomplish, strategies for how you plan to do it, and specific tactics or actions you plan to take, with target dates and estimated cost. There are many book-marketing sites on the World Wide Web; my personal favorites are the Book Marketing section at WebsiteMarketingPlan, AuthorSmart, and BuildBookBuzz.

Create a promotional piece or brochure. Here is one time you will be grateful for the time you put into drafting your proposal because you will have all the information you need at your fingertips.

Put together a mailing list. You should already have one, but this is the time to prune it and add to it. A solid mailing list is a must have for authors.

Develop a website for your book. It doesn’t have to be elaborate, but it should entice and inform. Add to it as you are further along in the process. Hire an expert (usually expensive) or try your hand at doing it yourself. These programs all received top reviews from consumer search: DreamWeaver, CoffeeCup 2006 for windows, Homestead SiteBuilder, WordPress, and Nvu.

Create a blog to keep people informed of your progress. There are a host of blog sites to choose from that make it fairly easy to set up your own blog and customize it with your message. Here are a few: WordPress, Blogspot, and blo.gs owned by Yahoo.

Choose a name for your publishing company (you may have to file a fictitious name statement). Expert Dan Poynter suggests that having a book written, published, and distributed by the author detracts from the book’s credibility.

Download or send for copyright forms; file them with U.S Copyright Office. Even though your work is automatically copyrighted when you write it, this is an added protection.

Check into the need for local business licenses; apply for them if necessary.

Secure an ISBN (International Standard Book Number) from R. R. Bowker. Unfortunately, you can’t purchase only one ISBN; you have to buy them in blocks of 10. But if you plan to write more than one book or develop spin-off products for your present book, this is an advantage. Some printers provide ISBNs, but be sure it is in your name, not the printer’s, so that you will be the publisher of record. Along with the ISBN, you will need an EAN bar code.

Consider applying for an LOC (Library of Congress) number before your book is published. The publisher (perhaps you) will add this information to the copyright page at publication. The advantage: This makes it easier for libraries and book dealers to process your book. The disadvantage: Self-published are not eligible.

Have your manuscript edited and copy edited (remember, they are not the same thing).

When your book is complete, send it out for review to peer reviewers. Take their critiques to heart and make changes.

Request testimonials to include in the book, on the cover, and in your promotional materials.

Get competitive quotes from printers (be sure they are all bidding on the same specs), and choose the one that best meets your needs, including but not limited to price.

Decide how you want to handle storage and distribution. You can do both if you have room and time, but choosing a professional distributor and fulfillment house is well worth the money if you can afford.

– Send out review copies of galleys (don’t send a printed book) to appropriate publications and reviewers
– Go over the printed books with a fine toothcomb for appearance, quality, pages, printing — in short everything. Don’t settle for less than perfect.
– Do a promotional mailing. This is when all your hard work on your brochure and mailing list pay off.
– Write articles on your subject; submit to print publications and online article sites. There are countless such sites, but the undisputed leader of the pack is EzineArticles.
– Think of book promotion as an ongoing, full-time job. The more you do, the more successful your book will be.
– Consider fresh ways to repackage your contents; develop “spin-off” products (CDs, DVDs, reports, mini-books, eBooks, website content).

There is little doubt that being your own publisher is a big job but one that brings creative autonomy, satisfaction and profits. Before you tackle it, be very sure you can afford the time, effort, and money. If so, go for it.

Bobbi Linkemer is a ghostwriter, book-writing coach, and editor. She is also the author of 14 books. Bobbi has been a professional writer for 40 years, a magazine editor and journalist, and a book-writing teacher. Her clients range from Fortune 100 companies to entrepreneurs who want to enhance their credibility and build their businesses. Her articles on writing regularly appear on EzineArticles.com and other top online article sites. Visit her Website at: http://www.WriteANonfictionBook.com

Author: Bobbi Linkemer
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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