Giving Away Content
By Jerry D. Simmons | July 22nd, 2010 | No Comments » (Click to add yours!)
I’m in favor of an author offering free excerpts of their writing. This is especially important for eBooks and should be strongly considered with free chapters of their print book. Recently one of my newsletter readers asked the following.”Last month you convinced me that my self-published book should be available for Kindle. Now I’m wondering if I should make the first chapter available as a free download, in hopes of enticing people to read more. Is that the kind of question you might address in your newsletter? If so, I bet a lot of other writers would be interested in the answer as well! Not quite sure where the line falls between publishing and marketing.”
This is a great question and the answer is yes, every author with an eBook should consider offering as much as 20% of the content free. This coupled with a low price point makes the content more enticing to readers. The bottom line is you want to sell more eBooks and the best way is a (1) offer a free download for a portion of your book, and (2) set a low price point for novels, a bit higher for non-fiction.
In addition, marketing is always important. You are an author with a book and yet your audience doesn’t know you exist. How do you reach your audience? That is a question for the ages and there is no set formula. Successful marketing involves a number of components in the right combination based on the genre and distribution for each book. For independent authors it means lots of work via social networking and posting as much content free on the Internet as possible. Marketing is never easy nor quick; my suggestion is to always consult with a professional book marketer before you spend money and time. Let them help you establish a strategy and marketing plan. You save money by following their advice. It would be a wise investment.
Digital Demand is Growing
By Jerry D. Simmons | July 13th, 2010 | 1 Comment » (Click to add yours!)
Experts in the digital marketplace all say that the future price of eReaders will directly impact demand for eBooks. Once the price point goes below the $200 dollar level, the demand should increase exponentially. Now that the price has gone significantly under that magic $200 level, expect to see tremendous increases in the demand and sales of eBooks.
Ironically all the eReader manufacturers such as Apple, Amazon and Barnes & Noble proclaim they are having difficulty selling more eReaders simply because the list of available eBooks is small. For the independent author and small publisher this creates a tremendous opportunity to capture market share and generate sales. There is no doubt that window is open for new digital content and the time is right to add your book to the list.
Major publishers are reluctant to release a wider array of older backlist titles simply because they do not want to cut into their print business which is the lifeblood of the big publishers. This creates opportunities for authors and with the right distribution, beyond Apple, Amazon and B&N the better chance you have of making a name for yourself as an independently published author.
Global Market
By Jerry D. Simmons | July 6th, 2010 | No Comments » (Click to add yours!)
There are a variety of stories circulating the Internet about authors who have suddenly become “successful” with eBooks and in most cases were virtual unknowns. Luck plays a small part since we all know that being in the right place at the right time always helps, but each author was also tenacious and a pretty darn good writer. There are thousands of writers with as much talent as the ones we have read about but each possessed a strong desire to be successful, worked extremely hard and marketed their socks off.
All of these success stories have been circulated by Amazon, where the majority has made their mark. However not everyone can depend on one web site for all their sales. The answer is a much wider, global distribution for your content, especially eBook. To improve your chances of success you must cast a wider net and reach a much larger audience, regardless of how much traffic one web site receives. Who can afford to ignore fifty percent of the market?
Access to the market and reaching readers through global distribution is important to improving your chances of selling more copies and becoming a successful author.
Your Publisher Defines You as an Author
By Jerry D. Simmons | July 1st, 2010 | No Comments » (Click to add yours!)
Writers who make a decision to publish independently in any format have plenty of choices. Since the eBook is a hot topic I receive lots of emails from companies touting their services. Recently I received a blind email from a consulting company offering to publish my book in an eBook format and offered me a whole list of added bonuses if I responded immediately. Obviously they purchased a mailing list and thought I would be a good candidate.
It seems the more that is written about the opportunities with digital publishing the more the competition for conversion from a vast array of people calling themselves publishers’ pops up in our inbox. The real decision for any writer is: who do you trust with your writing? Understand that your publisher is the one who defines you as a writer. Your publisher is someone you need to feel confident in their ability to maximize the potential for your writing.
Printing is not publishing, creating a Kindle edition and throwing it up on Amazon is not publishing. This is a business of creating content that offers the reader something special. Good publishing involves skills gained from years of experience in the business of making quality content better, more marketable and potentially bestselling. Publishers have experience with all types of genres, authors, marketing plans and distribution. They understand the nuances of the market for readers and books.
Today I’m fortunate to work with a group of editors, designers and marketers with unmatched experience and qualifications in New York publishing. The decision for writers is who do you place your trust in to make your writing the best it can be? Who do you want to be associated with as a publisher? Would you prefer working with a company who sends blind emails? Or do you think experience in publishing is a major factor? How successful do you want to be?
It boils down to choice and certainly who you decide to team up with regarding your writing is very important. If you feel you made a mistake with your print edition then correct that for the eBook and consider someone with experience. Publishing is perception and the logo on your published content sets the stage for much of what will follow. Publishing is about writing and selling quality content to share with the world.
Patience is a Publishing Virtue
By Jerry D. Simmons | June 29th, 2010 | No Comments » (Click to add yours!)
The rush to publication is only warranted when (1) the timeliness meets an anticipated deadline, such as a court case or high profile event, (2) early release in advance of a competitive title with similarities, and (3) seasonal issues such as diet and exercise book in winter. Otherwise the rush to publish can be a problem.
Writers who have painstakingly worked for months or years on a manuscript and suddenly find themselves in a hurry to publish is not giving the process enough consideration. There is absolutely no need to rush a book out to the market unless it meets on the three criteria above. Rushing for the sake of getting a book on sale makes no sense and should be avoided.
Those writers with little patience for a publisher that takes their time is not giving production, sales or marketing the proper weight in the whole equation. Delays are sometimes necessary, the rule of thumb is get it right not get it in a hurry. The best recommendation is take your time and make certain all the pieces of the puzzle are in place before launching.
Remember—you only launch one time! Make it the right time.
True Value of Products and Services
By Jerry D. Simmons | June 18th, 2010 | 1 Comment » (Click to add yours!)
My goal with every newsletter, article and blog is to inform my audience. Certainly I hope to educate writers about the business of publishing but invariably the wave of “scams, charlatans, snake oil salespeople and thieves” have become a tsunami and can sometimes drown out the honest voices simply because we refuse to take advantage or rip off our clients.
Having served my entire adult life in publishing it still amazes me to this day how many companies operate under such outright deception and distortion of facts. The sad fact in the “independent or self-publishing” business is that too many people make a living off promoting, marketing and selling products and services that simply do not work or have value in the real world of book publishing, marketing, distributing and selling of books. Writers MUST protect themselves and their writing.
Here are some key points to keep in mind when trying to determine whether a product or service has real value: (1) Never commit to a long term agreement with anyone! (2) Never pay for a product or service without knowing who is behind the product and service, what their background in publishing is and knowing whether they offer testimonials from satisfied customers that you can contact and objectively verify. (3) Web sites or email blasts that sell and promote without offering a legitimate telephone number that someone can call and ask questions should be avoided. (4) Companies that take days to respond to emails sent through their web sites are also to be avoided. (5) If it sounds too good to be true or offers promises and guarantees, consider them companies to be avoided.
There are never any guarantees in publishing, even for the biggest of the bestselling New York Times authors, there are no guarantees. Anyone making claims that sound too good, too easy, or too quick to possibly be true, run the other way, save your money and send me an email. I’ll be happy to offer you honest advice and feedback on whether or not the offer is legitimate.
Follow Your Dreams
By Jerry D. Simmons | June 17th, 2010 | No Comments » (Click to add yours!)
Merriam Webster defines publishing as: the business or profession of the commercial production and issuance of literature, information, etc. Writers who ask me for advice on the best way to publish their work get the same answer, follow your dreams. Obviously there are tricks to the trade and better ways of making an impression on agents, editors, publishers and even consumers. However the only thing that really matters is that writers follow their dream despite the difficulty.
There are no secrets, regardless of what the master marketers tell you and try to sell you; there are no short cuts to success as an author. If there were a set formula then the biggest publishers would have it figured it out and would be following it with every single title. Following your dream does not mean mortgaging your home or bank account for a chance to publish. Publishing is a business first and creative process second. The business and production side of publishing over shadows the art of creating content. Understanding this fact should be a guide as you decide which route to take.
The more you recognize the terminology and how the basic pieces of the business fit together the better informed you will be and of course the better informed the better chance to recognize the opportunities before you. The one size fits all in publishing does not exist and there are certainly advantages and disadvantages to each type of publishing, including being under contract to a major publisher. The more you read and stay on top of competitive titles in your category, learn the basics of the business, and continue to create content as the same time you are trying to figure it all out the better prepared and positioned you will be. The better prepared and positioned the better chance you have a becoming a successful author.
The Biggest Player in eBooks
By Jerry D. Simmons | June 14th, 2010 | 1 Comment » (Click to add yours!)
Sony introduced eBooks many years ago when they brought the with the Amazon placed eBooks on the map and now Apple will help all authors realize how to maximize the potential. They are without a doubt the game changer for the digital marketplace. The fact that Apple is spending large sums of money to advertise and promote the new iPad means they are willing to bet on the viability of reading and digital content. I truly believe the audience for eBooks is just now waking up to the fact that eReaders are going to become an important component in the technology needs for everyone who owns a computer or cell phone.
Marketing at a Minimum
By Jerry D. Simmons | June 11th, 2010 | 1 Comment » (Click to add yours!)
Selling books without a minimum marketing effort will result in poor sales. Here are the basics every author should follow when marketing their book: (1) seek book reviews prior to launch, (2) write a press release announcing the publication and availability of your book for sale distributed to all online outlets, and (3) pitch yourself and your book to local print, radio, television and online for publicity.
Remember the local media is not interested in the fact that you wrote a book, they are interested in one of the following: (1) the story, (2) the author, or (3) the message. They must have an interesting angle in which to promote you as a guest. Figuring out the proper angle can be difficult; however this is the only way to give you the best opportunity for publicity which is what sells books. That angle may be the facts surrounding the writing of your book, or your background as a writer, or even the unique message from your book. The key is figuring out how to find and focus on that angle.
If you want to go beyond the basics and aim a bit higher then consider: (1) sending a free sample of your writing in an email promotion, (2) alert genre specific web site to your book, or (3) create a social networking campaign. The best marketing approach is a combination of all of these parts taking into consideration the category, price, title, format and a variety of other components that go into creating a targeted marketing program.
Marketing is the most difficult part of successful book publishing. A publisher can get everything right and fail due to a poor marketing campaign. It’s so easy to publish in today’s marketplace but extremely difficult to sell books. If you find yourself struggling then consider a professional marketer, someone with experience and publishing knowledge to give you the best chance at becoming a successful author.
New Formats, New Markets
By Jerry D. Simmons | June 10th, 2010 | No Comments » (Click to add yours!)
Expect to see more authors from the big New York houses offer most of their books in as many formats as possible. The more formats, the bigger the sales. Books published in hardcover do not take away sales from a trade paperback. The reason is the market is separate and the consumers are different. That’s why you see a trade paperback and months later a mass market paperback; again, each format has a unique market.
Digital publication in eBook format opens up new opportunities for independent authors and in virtually every case, the potential for widespread distribution is one thousand times greater than for a print title. For those independent authors the cost of creating an eBook is a fraction of the cost of a print edition.
At this point in time the market is wide open and available for authors of all genres, however that may not be the case in six months, or even three. Once the big publishers realize the desire for eBook content is being filled by the small publishers and independent authors, their attitude and position will change. The best part of offering a digital version of your book is that eBook sales do not deter from print sales, they will only add to existing sales and support your dual marketing efforts for print and eBook.
