Self-Publishing has Arrived
By Jerry D. Simmons | May 28th, 2010 | No Comments » (Click to add yours!)
Publishing circles in New York often proclaim, tongue in cheek “When it’s written about in the Times, it must be true!” This makes the fact that The New York Times has proclaimed that “self-publishing has arrived” a true statement. However, the fact still remains that to gain acceptance as an author you must have a professionally packaged, priced and produced book to get the attention of the media since that is the only way to truly sell books.
If a book looks self-published, the immediate reaction and perception is bad and that will not set the tone for what you hope to achieve as an author. On the other hand, if you produce your book to fit your category and look similar to other titles in a bookstore, you will have made the right production decisions. Readers and book buyers do judge a book by its cover, price, back cover blurb, book reviews and production quality. Mistakes will haunt you, utilize the skills of a professional publisher and you will not have to worry about making publishing mistakes.
Publishing Mistakes
By Jerry D. Simmons | May 26th, 2010 | 2 Comments » (Click to add yours!)
Some of the biggest publishers make mistakes. Trying to capitalize on a celebrity book when their star is rising is a possibility, launching a new title when their star is falling can cost a publisher his or her shirt. This is the problem with the Kate Gosselin book from yesterday’s TIPS for WRITERS, click here to read.
The most curious thing about her new book was the fact that selling a little more than 10,000 copies could make it all the way to the #11 spot on The New York Times bestseller list, #103 on the USA Today list and ranked #862 on Amazon. Just goes to show how much publishing is based on “perception.” The book was sold based on previous sales, there were tons of copies stacked high in stores and even though it had very poor sales the first two weeks, the bestselling “perception” was created before anyone knew the truth.
This simple principle holds for any book: IF you are successful at creating buzz around the launch of your new book, get enough copies stacked into stores, create a false impression that the book will be a bestseller, anything is possible. In the end it may come back to bite you and cost lots of money, but perception in publishing is still a very strong strategy for success.
Bestselling Books and Bestseller Lists
By Jerry D. Simmons | May 25th, 2010 | 2 Comments » (Click to add yours!)
Kate Gosselin is an author and star of a cable TV series Kate Plus Eight. She has used her stardom to become a bestselling author. The 35-year-old mom’s first two books, “Multiple Blessings” and “Eight Little Faces,” both climbed to number five on the New York Times’ list; “Multiple Blessings” sold 523,000 copies in 2009.
Her latest book isn’t exactly flying off the shelves. Since its release, “I Just Want You to Know: Letters to My Kids on Love, Faith, and Family” has sold just over 10,000 copies, according to national book sales tracker Bookscan. The non-fiction title debuted at #11 on the New York Times’ non-fiction bestseller list, and at #103 on USA Today’s bestsellers chart. Its Amazon.com rank was #862. This is in spite of Gosselin’s relentless promotion on TV and radio.
Jim Milliot, business and news director of book-industry magazine Publishers Weekly, tells UsMagazine.com that the numbers “nowhere near a blockbuster” and “not that impressive.” Could “I Just Want You to Know” end up selling 500,000 copies in the long run? Not likely, Milliot tells UsMagazine.com, explaining that the lion’s share of book sales typically occur “in the first month or two of publication.” He adds that Gosselin will have “a very tough time getting to 50,000, let alone 100,000…I think it will be a disappointment in the end.”
The real question for authors and book lovers alike is: how does a book that sold only “a little more than 10,000 copies,” end up on national bestseller lists? For information on how a book becomes a bestselling title, read my article explaining how the system works. Click here.
New Face of Publishing
By Jerry D. Simmons | May 14th, 2010 | No Comments » (Click to add yours!)
Once the current top management of the major publishers move on and out, younger executives with new ideas that fully embrace the digital technology will take over and more emphasis will be placed on eBooks. For the independent author the delay from old to new provides a window of opportunity to be among the first to gain a footing in the digital world before the majors take over and attempt to dominate like they do with print.
Every author with a print title should not hesitate getting into the eBook market—AS LONG AS—they do it the right way with the correct brand and global distribution. The major publishers will eventually attempt to influence the market as they do with print titles and will do everything they can to dominate and eliminate competition. Small category publishers who have been around for fifty years are still holding space on shelves due to their longevity and ability to hang on. If they were new publishers today trying to gain a foothold in the market with print books their chances of survival would be slim at best.
Don’t make a digital mistake that you may have made in print, select your publisher wisely, be concerned about the level of production, become part of a quality group of authors and not just another name on a list. Digital publishing will eventually focus on the “perception” of the product and the independent author will improve their chances at success by making wise decisions today. If you have questions about digital product or the market for eBooks, please send an email Jerry@WritersReaders.com and let me help you navigate the process.
Bestseller Lists
By Jerry D. Simmons | May 13th, 2010 | 2 Comments » (Click to add yours!)
At this early stage in the development of the eBook market, sales do not in any way reflect or have any impact on bestseller lists for the print edition. Take into account the fact that eBooks of major titles are not released until several months after the hardcover and you can see why. The release of a trade paperback several months after a hardcover will not have any impact on bestseller lists for the hardcover edition. Bestseller lists for print formats do not include sales from corresponding formats. Trade paper sales do not impact hardcover sales and so on.
The question will be, if a trade paperback and eBook are released simultaneously will both editions count toward bestseller placement and my guess is they will not. Simply because the players in creating bestseller lists are slow to change and since they’ve been putting lists together for ages, it is doubtful they will change anything in the near future. I suspect that sales by format will continue to reflect only that particular format and none other. At some point there will be a recognized bestseller list for eBooks at it will probably come from one of the leading newspapers.
Utilize the Strengths of Amazon
By Jerry D. Simmons | May 12th, 2010 | No Comments » (Click to add yours!)
No one enjoys bashing Amazon any more than I do. But frankly they are now and will continue to be a major player in online sales of print titles and eBooks for the foreseeable future. Love them or hate them we cannot ignore their potential to sell product. Even though we don’t appreciate their attitude and feel they are taking advantage with unreasonable discounts, we need to work with them and use their web site to our advantage.
If your print book is not listed on Amazon it should be! If you have an eBook and it’s not available for the Kindle, it should be! Do not cut off your nose to spite your face by refusing to do business with them. We have little choice, they are the biggest online retailers for printed books and they are not going away. So let’s all learn to play nice…..we can still enjoy bashing them once in awhile.
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.
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.
Print is One Option
By Jerry D. Simmons | April 28th, 2010 | No Comments » (Click to add yours!)
The business of publishing and distributing books into retail booksellers is overrun with problems for independent authors and small publishers. Not only do the large NY corporate companies control the marketplace but they force retail bookstores to pressure the little guys into paying fees for placement, in-store appearances and even nondescript and unrelated promotions. Since the retailer’s inventory is basically subsidized by the largest publisher they have little choice.
Every author wants a print book and that is certainly understandable. The public at this point in time is enamored with print. However, if you cannot access the market and gain space in bookstores you will have a tough time of marketing successfully. Nothing is impossible and anything can happen if you follow the Book Industry Standard rules for production. But the mountain is a bit steeper to climb when your hands are tied behind your back.
Print is but one publishing format, audio is another and the most promising is the eBook. That market is expanding rapidly and the opportunities for growth and exposure to booksellers is uninhibited for independent authors and small publishers. Every author who has a print title should also have an eBook. If you hope to capitalize on the market potential, the time to act is now.
