Self Publishing Success!Self Publishing Success!

Or:

how to attract readers

www.writerkristenjames.com/nonfiction - download this Powerpoint

Kristen JamesKristen JamesAuthorpreneurAuthorpreneur

Creative Writer, Freelancer, Publisher, Marketer, Business Owner

Self publishing does not mean to go it alone!

Where I am Now -- 2015Where I am Now -- 2015

25 Books

Expression of artEntertainment

Personal

AND it’s “intellectual

property”

Creating around 80 products

through different formats

1 intellectual property=1 intellectual property=8 products8 products

Print Ebook – multiple platformsAudiobook3 Other languages 2 Box Sets

Different platforms

Options and Revenue Options and Revenue StreamsStreams

Print and Ebooks Print and Ebooks Distributors (Smashwords)Distributors (Smashwords) ACX for audiobooksACX for audiobooks Babelcube for translationsBabelcube for translations

NonfictionNonfiction It’s my mission to inspire, motivate, and educate so others can succeed in their writing journey.

www.writerkristenjames.com/nonfiction - links to blog posts and Powerpoint

““Success is meeting your Success is meeting your goals.”goals.” http://jakonrath.blogspot.com/ Joe Konrath has a great post on attaining success, but you Joe Konrath has a great post on attaining success, but you

have to read to the bottom.have to read to the bottom.

If you just keep going, you’ll get there.If you just keep going, you’ll get there.

Joanna Penn, Joanna Penn, www.thecreativepenn.com, is a great , is a great resource for entire process of writing, publishing, marketingresource for entire process of writing, publishing, marketing

Secret to success is out in the open – read, study, learn. Secret to success is out in the open – read, study, learn. And Keep Writing! And Keep Writing!

Published to Kindle -Published to Kindle -2011 2011

Entered eBook market Entered eBook market earlyearly

Entered market with two Entered market with two booksbooks

Books were edited Books were edited (previously published)(previously published)

Catchy titlesCatchy titles Good cover for Good cover for A Cowboy for ChristmasA Cowboy for Christmas Started a website/ blogStarted a website/ blog Author page on Facebook Author page on Facebook

to interact with readersto interact with readers I’ve given away over a I’ve given away over a

million ebooksmillion ebooks First Cover -

““Self Publishing” Self Publishing” One Avenue To Reach One Avenue To Reach

ReadersReaders

Many paths:

Self publishingSmall presses Amazon Publishing AgentsBig Publisher

READERSREADERS

A buffet of options!

No longer either/ orNo longer either/ or

Hybrid authors: trade and self Hybrid authors: trade and self publishingpublishing

Multi Author box sets

Authors publishing together as a small press

Distribution deals

My A-Pub books get me extra marketing on Amazon, which helps my other titles

What Helped Me What Helped Me Outside of Outside of marketingmarketing

Flexible and Open for OpportunitiesFlexible and Open for Opportunities Thought like a publisher and business owner Thought like a publisher and business owner I jumped on new platforms, Kindle SelectI jumped on new platforms, Kindle Select Said yes to guest blogs, donating prizes, interviewsSaid yes to guest blogs, donating prizes, interviews Changed covers and blurbsChanged covers and blurbs Said yes to Amazon PublishingSaid yes to Amazon Publishing Pulled some books from Select when not as profitablePulled some books from Select when not as profitable Always looking for new outlets and ways to reach readersAlways looking for new outlets and ways to reach readers

I watched successful authors and publishers to see what I could copy and what I could modify and do differently.

My Method

Author

Reader

Moving From Author to Moving From Author to Entrepreneur to Pull In Entrepreneur to Pull In Readers —Readers — Your #1 goal as a marketer is to evoke emotion with your Your #1 goal as a marketer is to evoke emotion with your

“book packaging”“book packaging” Package sells books before reviews come in and word of Package sells books before reviews come in and word of

mouth starts.mouth starts.

Writing Reader

Package:GenreTitleCoverTaglineBlurbBrand

Genre – why is it important?Genre – why is it important?

The more you target your package, the more books you’ll sell. The more you target your package, the more books you’ll sell. Why?Why?

You’ll reach the right readers.You’ll reach the right readers.

““Wrong” readers leave bad reviews. Wrong” readers leave bad reviews.

Sub genre!! A reader of Harlequin Blaze romance won’t like a sweet romance. *A racy book packaged as a “sweet romance” will get bad reviews.

Book Title Book Title A hook, not an explanation of the entire bookA hook, not an explanation of the entire book

Shorter titles sell more books — Shorter titles sell more books — under 5 wordsunder 5 words

Catchy titles sell more books — Catchy titles sell more books — A COWBOY FOR CHRISTMASA COWBOY FOR CHRISTMAS

A title can be generic but evoke emotion — A title can be generic but evoke emotion —

POINT HOPEPOINT HOPE Even title shows genreEven title shows genre You can change a book title if neededYou can change a book title if needed Nonfiction: title answers question. What do people Nonfiction: title answers question. What do people

search for related to the problem and solution? search for related to the problem and solution?

All Important Cover —All Important Cover —

YES, we judge books by their coversYES, we judge books by their covers Colors/ fonts create emotion and Genres Colors/ fonts create emotion and Genres Custom Covers for $100 to $300 Custom Covers for $100 to $300 Premade for $40 to $99, usually $50 to Premade for $40 to $99, usually $50 to

$79.$79.

Change until it works!Change until it works!

People on covers sell

Don’t get hung up on the Main concept , matching title, or telling the entire story

Cover is marketing

Needs to inspire emotion AND show genre

Learning and moving on…Learning and moving on…

Old Covers Current covers

Series sell!

Study what works in YOUR Study what works in YOUR GenreGenre

Colors, fonts, placement, and memes all indicate genre and spark emotion

Contrast between font color and picture – easier to see when small.

Taglines Taglines ““Can she love him again if she doesn’t remember him?” Can she love him again if she doesn’t remember him?”

(emotional, intriguing)(emotional, intriguing) One sentence to sell your book — Go! One sentence to sell your book — Go! This is your elevator speech. This is your elevator speech. It grabs readers so they’ll read more.It grabs readers so they’ll read more. YES, put it on the cover! YES, put it on the cover! Use in posts and ads – start book blurb with it.Use in posts and ads – start book blurb with it. End blurb with question (tagline)End blurb with question (tagline)

Point Hope:It’s make-it or break-it time. If they split apart, who will raise Hope?

Blurbs —Blurbs —

Sales copy, not summarySales copy, not summary(same goes for query letter blurb)(same goes for query letter blurb) Critically important — I owe much of my Critically important — I owe much of my

success to my knack for writing blurbs.success to my knack for writing blurbs. Big points, not every detailBig points, not every detail Raise more questions than answers. Raise more questions than answers. You can always update, revise, and You can always update, revise, and

improve.improve.

Author Brand Author Brand – who you are online– who you are online

Author tag line Author tag line similar to book tag linesimilar to book tag line

I use: “Love stories with a twist of mystery and suspense”

Author Bio (Amazon page)Author Bio (Amazon page) Fun and different! (For me, outdoor adventure)Fun and different! (For me, outdoor adventure) Or match your writing toneOr match your writing tone Life outside of writingLife outside of writing Realize people read this after your writing has hooked them. Share your Realize people read this after your writing has hooked them. Share your

inspiration, how you got started, why you write.inspiration, how you got started, why you write.

Front and back matter —Front and back matter —Another chance to Another chance to connectconnect

Front: website, other books, tagline, tiny bio, newsletter linkFront: website, other books, tagline, tiny bio, newsletter link Keep front short, but useful – people see it in previewKeep front short, but useful – people see it in preview Back: photo, bio, newsletter link, Back: photo, bio, newsletter link,

ask for a review, and list of other books.ask for a review, and list of other books. List in back should be covers, links, blurbs — List in back should be covers, links, blurbs —

I know these sell books because readers have highlighted my book I know these sell books because readers have highlighted my book links in the end matter.links in the end matter.

Newsletter: some authors use a perma free book with an offer for Newsletter: some authors use a perma free book with an offer for another free book if you sign up for their newsletter. Pros/Consanother free book if you sign up for their newsletter. Pros/Cons

Package: Stand out by Package: Stand out by fitting infitting in Cover clearly shows genre; what kind of story you’re sellingCover clearly shows genre; what kind of story you’re selling

HOWEVER, title, blurb show how you twist it, offer something new, HOWEVER, title, blurb show how you twist it, offer something new, make it deeper, or look at it a new way make it deeper, or look at it a new way

Case Study

The old covers captured what happened in the book, but the story is off beat and different, so it didn’t fit into a genre.

The new cover shows it’s a romance .

My My MarketingMarketing

Remember majority of time should be writing and learning time!

I let my packaging do a lot of my marketing, along with price changes, specials, and freebies.

Online Marketing TipsOnline Marketing Tips

Social Media: Don’t market! Be fun, interesting, intriguing, Social Media: Don’t market! Be fun, interesting, intriguing, helpful…helpful…

Be a real person online, not a promoter or “page” Be a real person online, not a promoter or “page” Use a photo not book cover for profile pictureUse a photo not book cover for profile picture Don’t push “buy my book” all the time to the same peopleDon’t push “buy my book” all the time to the same people If they’ve liked your page or followed you, don’t promote to them-If they’ve liked your page or followed you, don’t promote to them-

just announce new releases and an occasional specialjust announce new releases and an occasional special The best advertising/ promoting is a new book – keep writing! The best advertising/ promoting is a new book – keep writing! Start a newsletter, and try to connect personally, not just push Start a newsletter, and try to connect personally, not just push

book salesbook sales

You can have an online presence separate from marketing.You can have an online presence separate from marketing.

Marketing Marketing – away from social media – away from social media

Book list with clear package Book list with clear package to startto start Pre-orders to get buzzPre-orders to get buzz Specials, freebies, switching it upSpecials, freebies, switching it up Series! Start with freebie. Series! Start with freebie. Perma free can work, switch occasionallyPerma free can work, switch occasionally Bookbub – amazing results, hard to get intoBookbub – amazing results, hard to get into Facebook ads – can work if you know howFacebook ads – can work if you know how

Finally:Finally:

Chase readers, not numbers!Chase readers, not numbers! Go for it! (and enjoy writing!) Go for it! (and enjoy writing!)