Hopes, Dreams & Reality
By Jerry D. Simmons | May 10th, 2010 | 1 Comment » (Click to add yours!)
Anything is possible in publishing, dream big but follow a few simple rules. First: write your own story and never worry about a potentially hot category or bestselling style of another writer. Second: seek professional editorial help, someone you are comfortable with who can challenge you to be a better writer. Third: follow your publishing dreams and find a way to make it happen. There are no secrets, it takes hard work, lots of time and don’t give up attitude.
If you dream of being a bestselling author then recognize the fact that talent is required. Believe in yourself and your writing but don’t spend foolishly, you cannot buy your way to a bestseller list, there are entirely too many people that will take advantage of you if you let them. There are never any guarantees in publishing so don’t listen to the sales pitch and never invest money in marketing unless you completely and totally understand how what you are getting makes a positive difference in the market. If all else fails seek professional guidance from someone with experience that can answer your questions.
Publishing is an extremely competitive business and selling books successfully is difficult. If you follow the rules, make smart decisions about how you publish and spend on marketing then you have as much a chance of realizing your dreams as anyone. Mistakes could ruin your chances as well as cause you to spend money unnecessarily. Consider investing in a publishing expert for guidance. You are only a first time author once and you only launch a new title one time. Make the most of your opportunity and who knows what might happen?
Publishing & Marketing Dilemma
By Jerry D. Simmons | May 7th, 2010 | 1 Comment » (Click to add yours!)
The most common complaint I receive from independently published authors is that they paid several thousand dollars for a book which in the end has a bad cover, poor production quality and too high of a cover price. After this sad story is played out in an email they follow with a question: What do I do now? In every case their publisher offered to help market and sell books for a sizeable fee which is in addition to the amount already paid. It’s the same each time.
What I don’t understand is how writers continue to fall into this trap? It amazes me how so many are blinded by the promises only to be left with a few dozen copies of a badly published book. Unfortunately there are no good answers and certainly very few solutions to this problem. If you build a bad house rather than try to repair it’s always less expensive to tear down and start over. Sorry but in most cases that is the best solution for a badly published book.
So-called print-on-demand companies that dominate the self-publishing business are not publishers. They are printers masqueraded as publishers with little or no actual marketplace experience. Their strength is in sales and marketing of their product and making promises that cannot be realized. They have a very slick promotion piece that is called a bait and switch. They make big promises, playing into the hopes and dreams of writers, offering a low introductory price. Once they get a signed contract then the writer realizes the additional add-on for services grows to an industry average $2,200 per title after the low start-up of $399.
Shortly after I decided to start my free informational web site WritersReaders.com it became apparent that the giants in the self-publishing business were not about to let a lone voice with twenty-five years of New York publishing experience hurt their business. As I began to write and speak about the truth in publishing and offer services that would counter what they had to offer, the heavy distorted promotion began and without the deep pockets on my part to advertise my message, it has been left to the readers of my blog, newsletter and those who have heard me speak to spread the news.
As I continue to battle the injustice of bad publishing and marketing scams, I’m asking that more independent writers and authors share my story with others. Now that the market for self-published titles has grown to more than 760,000 last year, this means more and more unsuspecting writers are being taken advantage of by these self-publishing elements whose motivation is only money and not the marketability of books.
The marketplace for books is very crowded and extremely competitive. If an author has any hope of realizing dreams of becoming a legitimate, successful author then the rules of the market must be followed. I’ve written extensively about the dos and don’ts of publishing and I do my best to offer as much free advice as possible. The problem is that I need to make a living too and it’s impossible to answer every question for free. The services I offer are reasonable and the experts I have access to have unmatched New York publishing experience.
You can cut corners and save money but you must realize that it will negatively impact your book. It’s not inexpensive to publish professionally which adheres to Book Industry Standards. Writers must be willing to invest a bit more to have any chance of success which can be defined as a product with the potential to sell copies. Don’t make publishing mistakes that you can rarely overcome, seek professional guidance and be willing to invest in what’s important for your book.
Why spend countless hours writing and then follow the crowd by publishing a bad book? It doesn’t make sense, spread the word, there is an alternative.
Non-traditional or Specialty Publishing
By Jerry D. Simmons | May 6th, 2010 | 1 Comment » (Click to add yours!)
There is a market for books outside the mainstream mass market and bookstore chains and that is called specialty publishing often referred to as non-traditional book sales. Although this market exists, penetration in large quantities is difficult. Most niche publishers target this market and aggressively pursue sales by developing relationships with customers and creating product specifically for that market. That is the most established form of specialty book sales.
Unfortunately there are programs available to independent authors that charge fees for presentation of a book by a thousand plus sales force which in reality means nothing. This form of direct sales rarely results in actual copies being sold and is only successful at separating the author from their money. If you are interested in pursuing this form of direct sales for your title please email with questions and I’ll gladly assist you. Specialty publishing is not the answer to poor book sales and in the end, it may very well be another disappointment.
Publishing is easy, selling books is difficult. For authors who understand the market and the business behind the book, they have a much better chance at being successful by utilizing the power of the information they possess to their full advantage. This web site was created as a free information resource for unpublished writers and authors. The key is understanding how the pieces fit and where you and your writing can make an impact. It’s not rocket science.
Publishing to Niche Markets
By Jerry D. Simmons | May 5th, 2010 | 1 Comment » (Click to add yours!)
When you consider the number of independently published books in 2009 exceeded 760,000 individual titles it is surprising that only a small percentage are for niche markets. The vast majority of all self-published titles are considered mainstream, which means they fall into the broad categories of general fiction and non-fiction. When you consider the competition in the mainstream marketplace it becomes apparent there is a real problem with marketing and selling books.
The major publishers as a rule do not avoid competitive titles or categories, rather they attempt to quickly jump into the arena and compete. This strategy has paid off for the largest publishers in the world but for smaller companies and individual authors this strategy can spell disaster. If you are writing or publishing what would be called a mainstream manuscript then the best advice is to start contemplating the market and how you can hopefully sell books the minute your last sentence is complete.
If you are writing to a smaller market, or niche market, where the competition for information is not as great then your path to book sales is not as competitive, but that doesn’t mean easy. Selling books in any market in 2010 is difficult and the best approach is to consult with a professional before making decisions and spending money unwisely. You can invest thousands of dollars in marketing programs that will never work for you book if you do not have the right strategy in place. It would be a better choice to consult first and spend second. Publishing to niche markets offers opportunities if the author makes smart decisions.
Competition in Book Publishing is Growing
By Jerry D. Simmons | May 4th, 2010 | No Comments » (Click to add yours!)
The latest figures on the number of self-published titles indicate that last year more than 2,000 new titles per day were being published independently. The total number is a staggering 764,448 self-published titles rolled off the presses in 2009. While the overall demand for book sales dropped by 1.8 percent, the supply grew more than double digits. This indicates a clear disconnect with publishing and the marketplace for selling books.
Most of the so-called self publishers, often referred to as print-on-demand companies, are more interested in volume printing and not selling books. A true publisher would never create a business model that pays up front and not when the author sells books. The newest hybrid model of print publishing offers the author total independence and full distribution without forfeiting rights, ownership or control over their content. In addition the company makes money when the author sells books, not from the cost of producing a quality book.
If you are in the market for publishing independently then choose wisely. Publishing is about perception and if the wrong company produces your book the chance of becoming a successful author is greatly diminished. Make the right decision, seek professional guidance and don’t make a mistake that will hinder your chance of selling content in any format, print or eBook.
Book Tours for the INDI Author
By Jerry D. Simmons | May 3rd, 2010 | No Comments » (Click to add yours!)
The difficulty in launching an aggressive cross country book tour for your independent tile is attracting an audience. Anyone who is considering such a trip must really understand the market and requirements for supporting their title before spending time and money. Authors cannot simply schedule a book signing and expect to draw crowds that make the visit worthwhile let alone profitable.
Publishers schedule book tours to expand the audience for their authors, especially those they feel confident will create buzz and sell product. The personal appearance is the best way to get face-to-face with your fans and hopefully create new ones. However, a cleverly produced video or book trailer can achieve results and is much less expensive, not the mention time saver. Hire a professional or create your own video then post to a popular video site such as www.NothingBinding.com. It can get you closer to where you want to go without the expense of travel and lodging while driving potentially thousands of miles.
The bottom line is you have to do something different to attract fans and whether it is a personal book tour, video or book trailer; you have to separate yourself and your writing from the competition. Start local and expand regionally, that is where you have the best chance at success. Build upon your achievements and expect some failures. After all, we’re talking about books.
