Print Versus Digital
By Jerry D. Simmons | November 4th, 2010 | No Comments » (Click to add yours!)
This is a question I get most often—why do I need an eBook when I have a print book? The answer is because it provides you with an entirely new market. An eBook is nothing more than a new format for your writing, much the same as a hardcover is a different format from a trade or mass paperback. Different formats provide new audiences since some eBook readers are not print readers and vice versa. If you must choose one over the other at the moment the eBook has advantages in open markets and distribution while the print does not.
The same concerns for eBooks exist as they do for print, mainly you must create a professional product that is packaged, priced and positioned for the market. There are already tons of companies offering low priced everything for eBooks and the same principles that hold true for print hold true for digital—buyer beware! In publishing you never want to rush and you absolutely never want to buy on price. In addition you must be knowledgeable about who is handling your content. Are they reputable? Were they recommended? Do you know anyone that has used the services of the company or person? Do they have a contact number in case of problems? Are they located in the US? And the list goes on and on. Due your research, network, and trust the company or individual handling your writing.
The Future of Print Books
By Jerry D. Simmons | November 4th, 2010 | 1 Comment » (Click to add yours!)
Forget the doomsday scenario; printed books are not going away. Their relevance in the market is going to diminish over time, but there will always be printed books. The biggest publishers are struggling with the notion that within the next few years the major chains may well disappear. As sales continue to decline the two largest bookstore chains in America are barely hanging on and all indications seem to be that both are on the verge of insolvency.
Just like Blockbuster and Hollywood video the mega-bookstore may well be nothing more than an historical notation with empty buildings and faded memories from long removed or faded store signs. The credit squeeze from major publishers means these large companies can only order so many books to place on shelves. Should either of these two chains suddenly file bankruptcy the publishers that subsidize the inventory do not want to be in a position of holding the bag for unpaid and unsold books.
Without an unlimited supply of credit from major publishers to order more new copies it becomes a Catch-22. Publishers are limiting their exposure and the retailers need more copies of titles to sell. Ultimately the consumer is the loser because the older backlist titles that everyone shops for and buys will no longer be readily available aside from a special order. It is truly a sad day for the major publishing houses not to mention the few remaining readers of this country who actually buy books.
What Happens Next?
The big New York companies are doing two things, (1) they are systematically over time eliminating positions within the company, and (2) cutting their list of titles and reducing acquisitions of new manuscripts. It becomes a downward spiral where retailers point the finger at publishers for their problems and publishers point the finger at retailers for falling sales. This puts the squeeze on new writers and agents since each need an open market for selling new manuscripts. It also leaves writers without the open source for marketing their writing.
The result over the past several years has been an explosion of self-published books. The lack of new title publications that has cut the market for new writers only exacerbates the bigger problem—how do we sell more books? Many in publishing have left because they were frustrated with the big companies’ lack of innovation and unrelenting quest to do things as they have always been done, regardless of the results. This is why the major companies are suffering today and on the verge of what could become a meltdown similar to what we experienced in the financial world two short years ago. Do not misunderstand, I’m not equating what happened on Wall Street with what may happen inside the boardrooms of major publishing houses. I’m merely suggesting the publishing world could be on the verge of a meltdown.
Opportunity Exists
There will be no Washington bailout of the publishing companies but there will be a transformation. Publishers are going to have to redesign their future in an environment where printed book sales and prominence are in decline, digital publishing is exploding and the rights of authors are being challenged by the writers themselves. This creates an opportunity for writers that never existed.
You have to start with the premise that content is king. Well written, professionally edited manuscripts that inform, entertain and even enlighten are going to become the new gold standard in publishing. Up to this point the major companies have shifted too much of their focus to publishing celebrity books with built-in publicity and not focused enough on the quality of the work itself. There is no plausible reason why a TV star should receive a seven figure advance for a single title when that money could have been invested in several potential bestselling authors who up to this point are unpublished and unknown.
For too long the major companies have searched for the quick bestseller as opposed to building a steady stream of consistent, predictable mid-list titles each with the potential for break-out. The seasonal lists of publishers became top heavy with bigger and bigger single titles while cutting the heart out of the very fabric that provided them with most of their revenue and profit, the mid-list author. During the transformation publishers will be forced to forget about a single seven figure advance and move toward signing more authors with quality content.
What Writers Should be Doing Today
You can’t worry over what may or may not happen, the important thing to do right now is write and market. Even though you may be unpublished or published with few sales you have to share your work with readers. It is very important to write articles, blogs, or anything that will allow readers to read your work. Building an audience via social media specifically and the worldwide web in general is the best and least expensive way to market your writing.
If you are worried about piracy, as I’ve told many that attend my presentations, the bigger concern should be obscurity. You do not need to copyright everything and you certainly do not need to concern yourself with someone stealing something you have written. Like myself, I’m the author of this piece and have stated that “all written material is Copyright 2010 Jerry D. Simmons.” If you add the universal copyright symbol “©” with your name and year you should be protected, as far as this protection allows. No one is completely protected from piracy even with a certified copyright from the US government.
Once the gates of acquisition again swing wide open, publishers will be searching for more quality content than ever before. However, the key will be how much content and how well written and edited. As the industry reinvents itself the single most important thing for writers is to create content. Work with a professional editor to refine, revise and rewrite your work making it the best it can possibly be. Then market yourself and your writing to as many web sites as possible. Place yourself in a position when the call finally comes that you are ready and have a lot of material to be published.
We will see a transformation and those that prepare will benefit the most.
Industry Knowledge Will Become Paramount
While the publishing business redefines its model, writers need to become market savvy. When a publishing committee evaluates manuscripts for possible purchase and publication they look at many things. One is whether or not the author is marketable but the new area of consideration will be whether they understand the basics of the business. As the big companies take a new approach to the way they purchase and publish manuscripts the marketability and market knowledge each writer has will become more important than ever.
Publishers today spend entirely too much time dealing with the small, petty issues that authors come up with. Editors spend too much time on the phone explaining and comforting, while marketing people waste precious resources trying to make each author happy. Executives are struggling to figure out how to get themselves out of the mess. The coming meltdown will be the perfect exit strategy for the old ways of doing business while the new author profile will be created. That new profile equates to market knowledge, basic understanding of the business, and how to maximize opportunities with your publisher.
If you do not read your category competition then you need to start. If you don’t keep up with industry topics then start familiarizing yourself with them. If you have no clue how books are prepared for publication, worked through the system for marketing and sale, then you really need to start educating yourself about the business. Publishers are not going to take care of your individual personal needs in the future, they won’t have the time and will not expend the resources. Those days are over!
Read, learn, and listen to how the business works. Visit bookstores before it’s too late and start to plug yourself into the marketplace by observing how it all works and how the pieces fit. The new author mantra will need to be “how can I help you (the publisher) sell books.” That along with lots of good content and market knowledge will elevate your value as an author and give you the best opportunity to signing a future contract.
What You Don’t Know
Over the past seven years I’ve attended more than one hundred writer’s conferences and what surprises me more than ever is the lack of information about publishing. I understand these conferences are for writers and learning to improve skills however the end result, the book, has to be sold. I’ve contacted many conferences across the country that has rejected the idea of speaking on topics that relate to publishing simply because their focus was on “writing.” That is a bit naïve for me since good writing should be published which eventually must be sold to someone somewhere.
The biggest shock to most writers is what they do not know and were not even aware an issue existed. Unless you’ve worked behind the scenes and actually watched the sausage being made (so to speak) you wouldn’t know what to avoid or be concerned about. My job has been and will always be to answer questions and provide guidance to writers in publishing their work. It’s unfortunate but this business is not complicated, it just takes experience in the process to understand the questions as well as the answers.
What you as a writer do not know about publishing may not only hurt you but damage or destroy your future career as an author. For those publishing on their own frequent mistakes include perception problems, packaging and pricing errors, lack of market positioning, plus an overall void in understanding what distribution actually means for your book. For those seeking an agent it includes how to market and position your career to the agent and eventually your editor and publisher. This is a very competitive business that requires certain marketplace knowledge to survive.
Optimistic About Books
By Jerry D. Simmons | October 15th, 2010 | No Comments » (Click to add yours!)
I’m a lover of books and writers. From the time I was a child the ability to escape to a magical world of words set the tone for the rest of my life. However I’m not a fan of big publishers simply because over the past three decades they have shredded the fabric of the market for books and writers. It is time to move toward a new approach and I’m hopeful that is what we are on the verge of seeing, a new movement in publishing.
There was a time when the business focused on books and building the career of writers. Unfortunately with the takeover by large corporate media giants that mission changed and as a result many great books and even greater writers never got the chance to become published. It is possible the world may have missed the opportunity at the next great American writer, we just don’t know. My call is for writers everywhere to take a new approach to their publishing habits and get back to producing quality content.
I’m an advocate for writers, plain and simple. My background and experience has given me a tremendous opportunity to share what I know with writers around the world. I can honestly say that publishing, in any format, without professional editing is a sin against the reading community. Too many writers are quick to publish without seeking the proper guidance and advice of an editor. The publishing world is drowning in bad writing, bad books and just bad publishing. It’s time to stop before we give the world the impression that Americans are just bad wordsmiths.
Book Reviews and Awards
By Jerry D. Simmons | October 14th, 2010 | 1 Comment » (Click to add yours!)
One of the best ways of gaining notice for your writing is through book reviews and awards. However just like anything else you can go overboard. After receiving half dozen reviews your maximum potential will have been reached. There is no need to continue with another dozen or more, it’s a waste. After the first couple of reviews if you are not getting the acclaim you hoped then there is no reason to continue. It has been my experience that reviewers tend to think alike so a good review rarely becomes a great review.
Book awards are similar but again, you can go overboard. Entering contests where the fee is more than one hundred dollars in hopes of winning first place makes no sense if you’ve never achieved more than an honorable mention. Face the fact that your book is good but not great and it may not be first place potential. That does not mean you will not sell copies, it simply means that someone somewhere felt other titles were better.
Timing always plays a part in reviews and contests. Any reviewer who just read a fantastic novel and follows with your book will only compare you to the great writer and the rest is self explanatory. Same for awards, you might just enter a contest in a year when there were dozens of really good books and your novel may not have made grade. It is part of the business and in no way takes away from what you have achieved—writing a book you are proud of. Keep writing, the more you write the better you will become.
Publishing Transformation
By Jerry D. Simmons | October 13th, 2010 | 1 Comment » (Click to add yours!)
There is a transformation in the future for the publishing industry. The retail sector, especially the major bookstore chains are under intense financial pressure due to falling sales. The beginning of this debacle started more than a decade ago but the smartest people in publishing are just now catching on. If the major bookstores close their doors then a major shift will occur on the retail side of publishing.
This will impact the business model the major companies operate under and will give birth to a major transformation in publishing. For writers this means two things: (1) content is now and will always remain king so the more content you create the better, and (2) not only will major publishers give strong consideration to the marketability of the title and author but to the level of publishing knowledge the author possesses. The reason is evident, they cannot afford the time or resources to hold the hands of worrisome authors.
If you have not started to school yourself in the basics of how the business operates it would be a good idea to get going. There is plenty of information available but only one book. I know because I wrote it and now sell it at this web site exclusively. You need to understand what goes on behind the scenes and how you as an author can help your publisher sell books. It’s not difficult but important, as much as reading your category competition and visiting bookstores (while they exist) on a regular basis. It is the market knowledge you need as well as a good personality and professionally edited content.
How to Convert Your Manuscript to an eBook
By Jerry D. Simmons | October 12th, 2010 | 4 Comments » (Click to add yours!)
The eBook market is exploding with the introduction of the Apple iPad and now Google is making plans for a competitive eReading device. The time to enter the market with your own eBook is now! The process is simple, there is only one step required to convert a manuscript into an eBook.
Have your manuscript converted from its original Word document into the style formats of the leading eReading devices by a professional eBook formatter. There is no need to worry about margins or page numbers, an eBook will be formatted to fit a particular style compatible with a multitude of market leading electronic reading devices.
The reading devices that are on the market today require that eBooks available for download must be compatible with the formatting style adopted by that particular eReading device such as the Sony Reader or iPad from Apple. Currently there are over nine various formatting styles that fit a wide assortment of eReading devices. Unfortunately the industry at this point has not agreed upon a universal formatting style compatible for all eBook readers.
Do-It-Yourself formatting is possible, however, if you are not familiar with the various styles for eReaders then it is not recommended you attempt the conversion on your own. If your eBook is not properly formatted to fit the particular style of eReader then the consumer will not be able to download to their device and the potential sale would be voided. This is an obvious problem for the author and eventually will result in your eBook being eliminated from the online catalogs of all retailers. The cost of converting a word document to the top formatting styles is inexpensive compared to the time and frustration of trying it on your own.
Professional formatters who have experience with these styles make the process simple and inexpensive. The cost of converting a manuscript into an eBook is dependent on the length and various components of a manuscript. The price more than compensates for the potential problems you may encounter if you attempt to convert on your own and lose sales.
In addition to the professional formatting of your Word document the other consideration is that your cover be easily read and identified by category on a computer screen. If your title is not easily recognizable by the category from which you write and easily understood by title and sub-title you stand a very good chance of missing a sale. Considering working with a professional who can guide you on how to properly price, package and maximize the marketability of your title.
In some cases the original print cover may need only a slight variation in font, color or style. In other cases an entirely new design may be necessary. Since eBook covers are not as demanding from a consumer standpoint as a printed cover, prices are much less expensive. The visual component of your eBook cover as viewed on a computer screen is critical to your success.
Once your original manuscript in a Word document has been converted to the top eBook style formats and cover is evaluated online, you will have a marketable eBook ready for distribution. Demand for the top professional formatters is high and most word documents can be converted within 30 days, in some cases that may run into 60 days. It all depends on the demand at the time the submission is made. The total cost of converting a simple Word document containing your manuscript into a marketable eBook with a complete new cover design will be a fraction of the cost of a similar print comparison.
The eBook market is growing rapidly, the time for the independent author to take advantage of the opportunities is now. An eBook provides unpublished writers and published authors with a new market for selling content. An eBook is a new format for publication with a completely different audience. These are but two of the advantages that independent authors have when creating an eBook.
Fifteen Points for Marketing Your Writing
By Jerry D. Simmons | October 12th, 2010 | 4 Comments » (Click to add yours!)
Marketing published content whether print or digital is similar to cooking. In order to create great dishes you should follow a recipe. Marketing of published content requires a combination of advertising, promotion and publicity combined with variables that take into account format, price, category and any other unique component of the book. Regardless of who publishes your work or how it is published, marketing is essential if you hope to have any chance at selling copies.
When the big New York publishers develop marketing plans for their titles they start with expectations from the editors and evaluate what is possible considering budget and sales potential. Once the framework is outlined they go about cooking to the recipe and combining the necessary components to make the book as successful as possible. Each book is different, there may be similarities but overall the marketing plans contain individual pieces that fit the particular title.
For authors with limited budgets and time to promote their writing, there are fifteen key pieces for marketing your writing:
1) Take advantage of web sites that offer free author profiles, most notably www.NothingBinding.com. Any site that provides a free platform giving you an opportunity to post your photo, author bio and other aspects that an audience may find interesting is worth taking part.
2) Some sites also allow for free excerpts of your manuscript or book as well as free articles of interest that has a direct tie-in to your writing. Provide sample chapters and always post the most dramatic scene, leaving the reader wanting more.
3) Book reviews are one of the best ways of sharing what others think about your writing. Reviews are not meant to express what Aunt Millie or your neighbor thought but rather what professional book reviewers think.
4) Readers like bookmarks and they are one of the best and yet most inexpensive way of putting your book title in front of a potential reader. They are also more likely to hang onto an attractive bookmark as opposed to a business card. Writing pens are okay but not as important as a bookmark.
5) Never underestimate the power of video or audio. Big publishers send authors on book tours so readers can see and hear their favorite authors speak. Create a program around your writing and be informative and creative. Then record on video and post to web sites and You Tube. The web site www.NothingBinding.com allows authors to post video and audio for free.
6) Another terrific way to promote using multi-media is with book trailers, professionally produced they are in essence an advertisement for your book. Prices vary but you can get a quality job for a lot less than you imagine.
7) Social networking is the buzz, everyone is doing it and yet some of us still don’t understand the relevance. The fact remains, you have to do it. If you aren’t on one of the major social networking sites you miss out on meeting fellow writers who just might help you promote your book on their own web site or social network. Reciprocal promotion works if you can build a network via social media.
8) Blogging is another one of those activities that if you are not participating you are missing out. It seems that everyone is blogging and you need to find a way to post relevant content to your blog. If you are writing an Irish love story perhaps you blog about Ireland and the majestic land it is or how visitors to the Irish countryside can enjoy certain attractions. The point is to share your writing and become someone who loves writing about a subject that relates to their work.
9) Subscribe to Google Alerts. Back to the Irish love story, you would want Google to send you daily alerts which will list information about Ireland. Then you can link to the article and respond to what the author had to say. By offering your unique perspective to an article that appears on a prominent web site you have a chance of getting your name and book title in front of readers that may never have heard of you.
10) Be willing to give your book away as a promotional item. You can accomplish this in a small group setting or even radio interview. A free book is a great way to promote your writing and if you publish on your own and not with one of the print-on-demand companies your printing costs are minimal.
11) Change your email signature on all emails so your title and web address are prominently listed. If you are emailing on a regular basis, even to family and friends, it doesn’t hurt they know the title and where to purchase. Be careful, do not say where all books are sold, be specific and if your title is only listed on Amazon then say that.
12) Issue press releases through your social networks and the press release services that are available. These services have access to hundreds of contacts that you have no way of communicating with so utilize what they offer. If you do not feel confident in writing your own press release then there are a multitude of services that can do that for you.
13) Keep your status as an author updated on all writer forums or chat rooms that you visit and contribute to. Don’t aggressively try and sell your writing or you will get criticized and shunned. Be subtle, provide answers to questions based on your experience and throw out a notice about your blog, profile on www.NothingBinding.com or the occasional press release. Be helpful rather than self-centered and it will go a long way.
14) Become an expert. If your book is the Irish love story then become an expert on Ireland and write about it, share what you know and become the local expert on Ireland. Whatever your category, find a way to share what you know with others and you will make fans of readers who may just buy your book.
And finally…
15) Price your digital content aggressively which means under what the major publishers price their own eBooks and you will go a very long way to selling volume that makes sense. You cannot compete head-to-head so don’t try. Be smart and price accordingly.
Those are your top fifteen key pieces of marketing digital content. If those weren’t helpful enough, I’m going to offer you two more:
1) Associate yourself with a digital publishing company that can distribute your content globally and has great reputation for quality content. It’s important the company markets their brand, which is key in independent digital publishing.
2) If all else fails, admit your weakness and consult a professional marketer who can work within your budget and create a plan that fits your title.
Marketing isn’t difficult, it’s getting the right pieces in place that can make an impact and hopefully get you noticed and your content purchased. Marketing takes time and consistency, even more so than money. Once you get the momentum going you have to keep it moving forward, otherwise you start from scratch at the beginning of the line once again. Best of luck and remember, answers to many marketing and publishing questions can be found free at this web site.
Seven Reasons Why Every Author Should Have an eBook
By Jerry D. Simmons | October 12th, 2010 | 2 Comments » (Click to add yours!)
Ask anyone and they will tell you that book publishing is about printed copies. It has been the standard for decades and even though the eBook has been around for more than ten years, they only represent about 5 percent of total book sales. So why should any writer or author seriously consider an eBook version of their work?
The print book business is handicapped for the small publisher and independent author. The marketplace is not equal competitively because the largest companies have all the advantages and will continue to dominate as long as they can afford to subsidize falling unit sales. In addition, most small publishers and independent authors do not have direct access to booksellers and even when they do, placement fees are prohibitive. These are the problems with the print book business.
The digital or eBook market is a bit different and here are the seven reasons why every author should have an eBook edition.
(1)The biggest hurdle for the burgeoning digital market is lack of availability of titles. The largest publishers have decided to delay release of major books from bestselling authors so not to damage sales of their hardcover editions. They also have refused to release their entire backlist catalog of older titles for fear the lower priced eBook will cut sales of the printed versions. These are all reasons for eBook market placement by small publishers and independent authors as quickly as possible. It’s not always best to be the first to market, but it’s best to get in when the opportunity exists, and that is now.
(2)The cost of an eBook entry to the market is a fraction of a printed book. Industry analysts have said that the average cost of getting a manuscript printed from one of the large print-on-demand (POD) companies is $2,300. That includes all fees, services, products, marketing packages and any other item they can sell the author. To avoid print and ‘go digital’ you can convert a Word document with a manuscript into eBook format, compatible with all major eReading devices for a fraction of the cost of print. This includes any necessary changes from a printed to digital cover. Basically the total cost of going from manuscript to eBook is a fraction of the cost of a new print book.
(3)In the print business, merchandising a book within a retail book setting is key to sales. Publishers know that placement in key areas within a store is critical to success. However the placement fees for prime space within a store is astronomical and well beyond the capability of the average small publisher. For eBooks the merchandising consists of titles being grouped within categories alongside all other titles published within the same genre. There are no current merchandising or placement fees associated with eBooks. That doesn’t mean there won’t be such fees in the future. Right now, the print industry grandfathers titles already on the market which would exempt titles placed in eBook online catalogs from having to pay any possible future placement fee. That’s another reason to get into the market quickly.
(4)Content size is meaningless in eBooks which are viable as a product with as few as 10,000 words. Such short manuscripts are absolutely not possible in print. This opens up all kinds of possibilities for short fiction, such as short stories and quality content in non-fiction from individuals not inclined to write a 50,000 word manuscript. Anthologies were never popular in printed editions for a variety of reasons, yet today with an eBook the market for anthologies is wide open. Another soft category for sales was poetry, yet with eBooks, the size of the content is not important; it’s the quality of the writing and poetry is now seen as another possibility within the wide range of content applicable on an eBook.
(5)Pricing of eBooks provides the small publisher and independent author with advantages over their larger New York competitors. That’s because the big houses have tremendous overhead that has to be accounted for, in addition to healthy royalties for digital editions, to authors and agents. Not so in the eBook market where the small company can price aggressively and undercut major competitors without impacting margins like those found in print editions. It’s virtually impossible to price well under competitive titles in print, but eBooks are like unchartered territory where you can do just about what you want with pricing and make up for it in volume.
(6)Access to sellers of eBooks is open to any small publisher on equal terms with all other publishing companies. In a nutshell, distribution for the printed book is controlled by distribution companies who work almost exclusively with the large New York publishers. This is not so with eBooks where most of the distributors are ‘tech people’ who happen to be interested in distributing a product that has the potential to sell. Certainly Amazon is grounded in the print side of publishing and will continue to make it difficult for small publishers, Barnes & Noble is struggling and Borders Bookstores is strapped for cash and sales. The bookstore experience is fading much the same way of the eight-track tape and Beta for videos. As the market changes so must we and as of right now the eBook is the most attractive way to publish.
And finally…
(7)It’s the right way to launch new material into the marketplace for consumers of reading material. For writers who are still trying to decide how to publish or launch their career, consider this fact: there were over 760,000 new titles being published in print last year. The best guess on new eBooks is only about 50,000. Now go back and read again all previous six reasons why you should publish an eBook and I’ll even add one for you—in publishing the more you can blaze your own trail and separate yourself as a writer from all the other writers in the world, the better chance you have of finding an audience and making a name for yourself as an author. Even though the market for the eBook is still small, I’d much rather take my chances against 49,999 other eBooks than I would against 759,999 other print books especially when I cannot price aggressively, gain access to booksellers and pay 75 percent more for a print book than an eBook.
It would be unfair to make you think that an eBook edition of your writing is suddenly going to be a huge success and sell tens of thousands of copies. However you have a much better chance of that happening in an eBook than you do a printed version for all the reasons mentioned above. This digital market is just getting started and there will be nothing but more opportunities ahead. Recently an author asked me for the negative side to publishing an eBook and to be perfectly honest, I couldn’t think of any!
The whole point is that writers need to find a market for their writing, a place to share their story or message with readers. The digital market is not the perfect answer to the dilemma of selling books, but it provides a legitimate opportunity that is not available in the print side of publishing. As eReading devices with new and enhanced technology enter the market the number of eBook readers will grow. It’s predicted that in 2010 with the launch of the iPad, there will be more than 15 million consumers of eBooks. That represents a three-fold increase over last year.
I’ve been in publishing since graduating from college in the late 70’s and during that time there have been five major events in my career. The tremendous opportunity available to authors with the emergence of the digital market and eBooks is certainly one of those five. Make no mistake, this is a profound event in publishing, the big companies are going through major internal changes that quite possibly will shake them to their foundations and change the way they publish books forever.
We are entering a new phase in the history of the printed word, one that may start the demise of the printed book. Not the total elimination of printed books but the continual decline of the print side of publishing. The future is digital in the form of eBooks. Print will remain a part of, but will not be in the dominant position it has held up to now. This change will take years but it is coming and the time to capitalize on the opportunity is now—today. If you have not considered an eBook, then change your thinking. There is no better time to get into the market. Make your eBook part of your overall publishing program, but don’t avoid and don’t delay.
Content and Marketing
By Jerry D. Simmons | October 11th, 2010 | No Comments » (Click to add yours!)
If you are a serious writer just starting out and have dreams of earning a living from your writing, then concentrate on two things: (1) writing and creating new content, plus (2) marketing yourself and your writing. Leave everything else alone for the moment. Success as an author is not possible without an audience. The only way to build an audience is to market and write. You must be able to create new content and deliver to your fans. Trying to figure out ways to build revenue from your writing without an audience is the cart before the horse. Becoming a successful author begins with content and marketing yourself and your writing.
Three Steps to Profitability
By Jerry D. Simmons | September 16th, 2010 | No Comments » (Click to add yours!)
In November of 2005 I wrote an article titled “Who is Making Money in Publishing?” Since that time the market has changed dramatically. There are still only two groups that are making the really big money and they are (1) mega bestselling authors, and (2) major retailers such as the mass merchants that sell more than books. However the strategy of the independent author has evolved and I can see many more ways to be profitable on your own as an author than five years ago.
Step number one to profitability is you absolutely must work with a professional mentor who can advise and guide you through the process. It is critical that your book be (1) packaged properly, i.e. the cover; (2) priced to the market and not at the level valued by the author, and (3) perhaps the most critical, is market and category positioning. The single biggest mistake of the New York publishers is placing a book in the wrong category and positioning it improperly which typically means a title will fail to sell copies.
Step number two to profitability is the marketplace today is ideal for the independent as long as they understand the opportunities that are available. This step is a great reason to work with a professional mentor. Someone with decades of publishing experience can provide insight and spot opportunities the lone writer may never discover. The price is worth the result!
Step number three to profitability is help making in making key decisions. Once the decisions are made on the package, price and market position the key is deciding which format is best to launch a career. Would it be print? Or digital? Or both? The answers vary according to the author and their goals. Print is more expensive and distribution has many obstacles. Digital is still new but growing however the cost of entry is much less expensive and the distribution is wide open. Finally launching in both formats needs to have a very specific purpose otherwise is makes no sense to launch in both.
The investment in a professional publishing mentor is a few hundred dollars and will return benefits for a very long time. You are only a first time author once and you can only launch a book on time. When you ring that bell it can never be un-rung. Think about your career and seek help.
