Author: selfpublishingadvisor

co-operative advertising, elizabeth speaks, in your corner

In Your Corner : What do I need to know about Co-op Ads?

For those of you who may be new to the indie publishing world, the co-op advertisement is an invaluable tool to add to your self-marketing toolbox.

But what is a co-op advertisement in the first place?  

As Dan Poynter of ParaPublishing notes, “Book promotion is expensive. The challenges are that books are a low-ticket item (they do not cost much so you have to sell a bunch to pay for the promotion), their subjects are targeted to a small group of people (an individual title is not needed by everyone), and there is no recurring consumption (customers do not buy a new copy of the same book every trip to the grocery store).”  (Emphasis mine.) What’s the answer?  As my grandmother used to say around the holidays, “Many hands make light work.”  And many authors can band together to amplify their individual advertising impact.

Simply put, co-op ads are a way for you to experience all the benefits of a large-scale print marketing campaign without the sponsorship of a major heavyweight Big Five publishing house, and without having to lay out a whole lot of cash to do so.

teamwork

You may already be aware of what all is involved in getting your book’s name and/or cover out there into national magazines and newspapers.  You may also be aware that print advertisements like the ones that run in the New Yorker and Ladies Home Journal are expensive!  One full-page advertisement in the New York Times book review section requires a person or company to shell out around $40,00o–and that’s fairly typical.  Many other journals, print magazines, and newspaper inserts are just as expensive.  And while the NYT doesn’t come cheap, it does reach around forty million readers–so the cost for reaching each of those readers is less than one-tenth of one cent.  This is a good deal, sort of.  Not many of us self-publishing authors have $40,000 just lying around in a duffel bag.  (And if we did, well, we would probably be dealing with far greater problems than a marketing campaign!)

Expensive as these ads are, they’re not beyond your reach.  Not if you choose to become a part of co-op advertising, which allows you to share premium exposure in household name magazines and periodicals with other self-publishing authors.  By doing so, you have access to all of the benefits of national marketing without having to bear the full burden of expense.

How do you get involved in co-op advertising?  You can always try to wrangle up something on your own, of course–with other, perhaps local, authors–but that’s a lot of money and hassle to manage.  Certain hybrid self-publishing companies, like Outskirts Press, offer a range of co-op options and possibilities.  Every company offers different options, of course, but Outskirts specifically offers the option to sign up for co-op advertising in the Boston Review, Publisher’s Weekly, Bookmarks and ForeWord magazines, and the New York Times Sunday Book Review.  The best part?  Co-operative advertising doesn’t drum up competition between authors.  As with many other aspects of the self-publishing process, Poynter believes that “it is easy to band together with compatible, non-competing products to lower costs, save time and gain more attention in the market place.”  Now that’s a message I can get behind!

Always remember: you are not alone. ♣︎

ElizabethABOUT ELIZABETH JAVOR: With over 18 years of experience in sales and management, Elizabeth Javor works as the Manager of Author Services for Outskirts Press. The Author Services Department is composed of knowledgeable publishing consultants, pre-production specialists, customer service reps and book marketing specialists; together, they all focus on educating authors on the self-publishing process to help them publish the book of their dreams. Whether you are a professional looking to take your career to the next level with platform-driven non-fiction or a novelist seeking fame, fortune, and/or personal fulfillment, Elizabeth Javor can put you on the right path.
Alternative Marketing Methods, Book Marketing, Kelly Speaks, Marketing Your Self-Published Book, Social Media Marketing, Uncategorized

6 Tips to Combat the Marketing Blues

Chances are, you’ve probably already experienced the very real struggle that is the Marketing Blues––that nebulous cluster of miseries and disappointments that are unique to the self-publishing experience.  Going through the publishing process alone––much less the marketing one that follows––is bound to feel isolating or solitary at times.  After all, you’re doing a Big Thing indeed in self-publishing your book, and you’re investing a lot of elbow grease.

So how best to beat the blues?  Here are six tips to get you started:

  • FOCUS ON THE POSITIVE: Sounds straightforward, doesn’t it?  But it’s much, much harder than a simple phrase suggests: altering your perspective and slimming down your method to focus on the things you’re doing well–this is hard, hard stuff.  When I use the word “focus,” I mean it in both an emotional and a practical sense; you can’t afford to waste time on marketing strategies that you have already tried repeatedly in several different ways.  (This is, after all, the definition of “insanity.”)
  • KEEP WRITING: We’ve said it before here on Self-Publishing Advisor, but we should say it again: your best advertisement and your best marketing strategy is to write the next book.  Don’t lose what you love most in the midst of the marketing frenzy, and don’t allow the publication process and everything that goes along with it to lead you away from the person you want to be: an author.  Keep doing what you love; readers are drawn to that authenticity … not to mention the probability that they’ll have more to read from you in the future!
  • THINK LIKE A READER: Your readers aren’t agonizing over the gaps in your marketing strategy that they can’t see; and they’re definitely not looking for an author who isn’t listening to them and what they want.  They’re simply eager to discover new and wonderful things, to fall in love with the brave new worlds they find between the covers of a book.  And so, if you think like a reader, you’ll find new ways to put your book in front of fresh eyes day after day without fail.  Engage with your readers and demonstrate you’re not just another author looking to push your own sales!  How to do this?  Reach out to them where they live––on social media, or elsewhere.
  • TREAT YOURSELF: What’s fun for you?  Do that thing.  You can find ways to make your own passions intersect with your marketing strategy, sure, but if it’s not fun for you … it probably isn’t going to be fun for your readers, either–especially when we’re talking about what you put out through social media.  Ultimately, anecdotal evidence overwhelmingly indicates that the most sustainable marketing strategies are the ones that authors enjoyed implementing.  And sometimes, the only way to rescue a deadly dull one is to break the mold a little bit.
  • DON’T FIXATE: I’m talking about reviews, folks.  And other things, too.  But this principle applies to authors who have mostly positive OR mostly negative OR even very mixed reviews (on Amazon, Goodreads, blogs, and elsewhere).  Here’s a fact you should hear repeated often: accumulating positive reviews isn’t worth sacrificing your own emotional health over.  I’m not saying that reviews aren’t an important––an incredibly important––part of any decent marketing strategy.  I’m saying that fixating on any single aspect of the process can be toxic, if it tarnishes your enjoyment of the self-publishing experience.
  • FIND YOUR PEOPLE: Communities of like-minded individuals are our safe-havens, our ports in the storm.  There are countless self-publishing-centered communities out there on the web and in the offline world, and most of them are so easy to join and so welcoming that it seems almost a crime not to join one right away!  (It’s not a crime, I promise.  Especially if you’re not yet ready for others to read your work.)  If you’re feeling blue and struggling your way through the process of marketing your self-published book, having the emotional support of your fellow writers and drawing upon their infinite wisdom born from personal experience may be exactly what you need to kick your own experience back into gear!

marketing blues

Of course, I rather hope that you don’t ever experience the Marketing Blues.  I know that escaping unscathed is rather unlikely, but having been there, I know what it’s like.  It’s rough.  It is also, however, temporary.  It will pass … and we will still be here, you and I, doing what we love.

Thank you for reading!  If you have any questions, comments, suggestions, or contributions, please use the comment field below or drop us a line at selfpublishingadvice@gmail.com.  And remember to check back each Wednesday for your weekly dose of marketing musings from one indie, hybrid, and self-published author to another. ♠

KellyABOUT KELLY SCHUKNECHT: Kelly Schuknecht is the Executive Vice President of Outskirts Press. In addition to her contributions to the Outskirts Press blog at blog.outskirtspress.com, Kelly and a group of talented marketing experts offer book marketing services, support, and products to not only published Outskirts Press authors, but to all authors and professionals who are interested in marketing their books and/or careers. Learn more about Kelly on her blog, kellyschuknecht.com.
Cheri Speaks, from the archives, Kelly Speaks, print-on-demand, Publishing Trends, technology

From the Archives: “Espresso Book Machine”

Welcome back to our Tuesday segment, where we’ll be revisiting some of our most popular posts from the last few years.  What’s stayed the same?  And what’s changed?  We’ll be updating you on the facts, and taking a new (and hopefully refreshing) angle on a few timeless classics of Self Publishing Advisor.

∗∗∗∗∗

[ Originally posted: January 31st, 2012 ]

The Espresso Book Machine® (the “EBM”), which Time Magazine named an “Invention of the Year,” provides a revolutionary direct-to-consumer distribution model for books. Put simply, the EBM is an automated book-making machine. The operator selects a title to print, and within a few minutes a book emerges, with a full-color cover, trimmed to an exact size, and indistinguishable from the publisher’s version. As we say, “Hot off the press!”

Currently, Espresso Book Machines have been set-up in select universities and libraries including:

  • New York Public Library
  • University of Michigan Library
  • World Bank InfoShop, Washington
  • New Orleans Public Library
  • San Francisco Internet Archive
  • Manchester Center Northshire Bookstore
  • University of Alberta
  • McMaster University Bookstore
  • London Newsstand UK
  • Library of Alexandria, Egypt
  • Melbourne, Australia Angus & Robertson Bookstore

New locations are constantly being added. The EBM is a great opportunity for self-published authors. Some self-publishing companies, such as Outskirts Press, offer this marketing option. By purchasing this option, your book will be available to be ordered, printed, and sold at every current and future Espresso Book Machine location. To learn more about this option, contact your self-publishing company.

– by Cheri Breeding

It’s been rather a long time since we’ve touched on the subject of the Espresso Book Machine here at Self Publishing Advisor, despite the fact that the above post from 2012 remains one of our most popular posts of all time.  What is it about this machine––what’s the big deal?  And more importantly, is it delivering upon its promise as a revolution for the self-publishing print-on-demand (POD) business?

espresso book machine
photo by Chuck Zovko of Columbia College Today

There’s a long and a short answer to both of these questions, of course.  The EBM is not just a pretty gadget that happens to churn out new books as quickly as the average human takes to brew an espresso; it’s a gadget that has the potential to close the last leg of the loop and put full creative (and financial) rights into the hands of those who have historically been excluded from the publishing process.  I’m speaking of the author.  While its many bells and whistles are nice features––like the database of rare or out-of-print books you can resurrect in all their original glory––the real appeal of the EBM is that it literally as well as physically puts a high-quality printed book in your hand in around seven minutes.  For the average self-publishing author, the experience of holding and experiencing the weight of all those sleepless nights and odd hours writing is simply unattainable––that is, without a service like the EBM making a limited run financially manageable.  Holding a clean and professional copy of your baby is a reward in and of itself, and the expediency for which the EBM is renowned makes it easy to share the joy of your book.  That’s the magic of the Espresso Book Machine!

espresso book machine
photo by the University of Arizona

As for the EBM’s outlook and longevity, the news seems to be good.  The machines aren’t available “just anywhere” yet, but they’re becoming less of a trial to find.  I recently had the pleasure of witnessing an EBM at work in the University of Arizona’s library, where undergraduates printed out copies of research-related texts, graduates printed out beautiful bound editions of their thesis projects, and professors printed out volumes of their own masterworks-in-progress.

Members of the public, too, have made the UofA’s EBM a popular destination––and it’s not just an Arizonan phenomenon!  According to Canada’s The Windsor Star, the Windsor Public Library’s EBM alone produced “10,699 books” between 2012 and July 2015, when the article was published.  Says librarian Sue Perry, the EBM’s installation “led to the birth of a writer’s group and gave people a way to publish their work even if they only want one book.” Now that’s quite a testimonial.

According to WorldCrunch, the EBM and its competitors are on track to “save” the print publishing industry.  At the Paris Book Fair, the CEO of the EBM’s main shareholder (reinsurance company SCOR) went on the record to say that the Espresso Book Machine and those who use it “will be the invisible hand that will adjust the market,” eliminating what he called “economies of scale” by making it possible to print either 1 copy of a book or 1000 without the gymnastics of traditional publishing arrangements.  WordCrunch goes on to note that, a decade after stealing the limelight of both tech and print-on-demand industries, the Espresso Book Machine is still “experimental but game-changing.”  And that’s about as good of news as one might hope for!

We look forward to seeing what 2016 holds for the Espresso Book Machine.

If you have any other ideas, I’d love to hear them.  Drop me a line in the comments section below and I’ll respond as quickly as I can.  ♠

KellyABOUT KELLY SCHUKNECHT: Kelly Schuknecht is the Executive Vice President of Outskirts Press. In addition to her contributions to the Outskirts Press blog at blog.outskirtspress.com, Kelly and a group of talented marketing experts offer book marketing services, support, and products to not only published Outskirts Press authors, but to all authors and professionals who are interested in marketing their books and/or careers. Learn more about Kelly on her blog, kellyschuknecht.com.
Kelly Speaks, news from the self publishing world, self publishing news, Uncategorized

Self-Publishing News: 2.22.2016

This week in the world of self-publishing:

It looks like Reedsy––a self-publishing marketplace platform that “empower[s] writers, publishers, editors and designers to build hybrid careers and work together quickly and effortlessly through bespoke, user-friendly digital tools”––is filling in some very important gaps for the indie community, as this February 19th article by founder Emmanuel Nataf for The Bookseller intimates.  Writes Nataf, “Until only recently, the self-publishing arena was an unchecked battleground, a veritable free-for-all where authors and freelancers alike placed their profits in the hands of lady luck.”  But a sea change has arrived as the indie publishing industry matures, as he goes on to say––a sea change that has taken some endurance to see through, as self-publishing authors and companies face social stigma and constant critical examination coming from the traditional commercial publishing sector.  Things may be changing, however: recently named FutureBook’s BookTech Company of the Year, Reedsy is looking to find its place in a stabilizing conversation with other industry standouts about the future of self-publishing.  “After all,” writes Nataf, “if there’s one thing we’ve learnt, it’s that successful growth as a startup depends on looking out, as well as in.”  For more information about Reedsy and the FutureBook awards, follow the link!

Big news for the digitally inclined!  As per this February 16th press release, Outskirts Press has officially completed work on a suite of apps for smartphone users that aim to make the self-publishing experience an even richer and more rewarding one; the apps are available to authors with both iPhone and Android devices, says the article, and “provide users with self-publishing guides and information, connect users with the Outskirts Press social media community of self-publishing authors, and provide direct links to contact Outskirts Press instantly by phone or email.”  Outskirts––which describes itself as offering “full-service, custom self-publishing and marketing services for authors seeking a cost-effective, fast, and flexible way to publish and distribute their books worldwide while retaining all their rights and full creative control”––sees the apps as a way for its authors to connect with both their audience and their self-publishing team.  Other indie publishing companies, like Kobo and Amazon Direct, offer supplementary apps, but Outskirts’ newest offerings may prove to be the most streamlined yet.  For more information, visit the original press release here.

If you’re looking for the latest and greatest news when it comes to bodice-rippers and steamy romance, Publisher’s Weekly has got you covered.  In its annual review of what’s going on in and what’s to come in the genre––this year courtesy of Ryan Joe on February 19th––PW first takes a moment to define the difference between the two terms:

Erotic romance, according to a definition from the Romance Writers of America, refers to “novels in which strong, often explicit, sexual interaction is an inherent part of the love story, character growth, and relationship development and could not be removed without damaging the story line.”

And erotica? “Erotica is just people doing it,” says Cordelia Logan, who has written 19 stories under five pen names and is beginning to focus on BDSM.

Good to know.  More importantly, erotic romance and erotica make for a good slice of the self-publishing industry’s total footprint (written and read) … so even if you don’t like it, don’t read it, or don’t like to admit that it exists––it does!  And it’s churning along in any case.  And “Thanks to the rise of self-publishing,” writes Joe, “authors can now experiment more.”  For the full article, and lots more pith for the aspiring indie erotica or erotic romance writer, you can always stop by the original Publisher’s Weekly article.

spa-news

As a self-publishing author, you may find it helpful to stay up-to-date on the trends and news related to the self-publishing industry.This will help you make informed decisions before, during and after the self-publishing process, which will lead to a greater self-publishing experience. To help you stay current on self-publishing topics, simply visit our blog every Monday to find out the hottest news. If you have other big news to share, please comment below.

KellyABOUT KELLY SCHUKNECHT: Kelly Schuknecht is the Executive Vice President of Outskirts Press. In addition to her contributions to the Outskirts Press blog at blog.outskirtspress.com, Kelly and a group of talented marketing experts offer book marketing services, support, and products to not only published Outskirts Press authors, but to all authors and professionals who are interested in marketing their books and/or careers. Learn more about Kelly on her blog, kellyschuknecht.com.

Book Reviews, Self-Publishing Book Review of the Week, Uncategorized, weekly self published book review

Saturday Book Review: “The Chorus Effect”

Book reviews are a great way for self-publishing authors to gain exposure. After all, how can someone buy your book if he or she doesn’t know it exists? Paired with other elements of your book promotion strategy, requesting reviews is a great way to get people talking about what you’ve written.

When we read good reviews, we definitely like to share them. It gives the author a few (permanent) moments of fame and allows us to let the community know about a great book. Here’s this week’s book review, courtesy of SadieForsythe.com:

"The Chorus Effect" by Russell Boyd

The Chorus Effect

by Russell Boyd

Publisher: Outskirts Press

ISBN: 978-1478750321

Synopsis:

Until recently, Chintz had been a relatively normal guy with a relatively normal cat. For example, neither he, nor his cat, had ever journeyed to a synthetic parallel universe. He had never encountered a teleporting baby or an emotionally mature computer. He could count on one hand the number of philosophical discussions he’d had with people holding multiple degrees in advanced physics. And thus far, his relationship with the voices in his head had been purely platonic. Suddenly, Chintz finds himself working alongside a dysfunctional team of scientists and their astonishing creations, seeking answers to age-old questions – answers that could change our concept of humanity. Of course, that’s only if they can survive federal law enforcement, starvation, psychopathic figments of imagination, the hostile old man who lives across the street, and the end of the “known universe.” Well, actually it’s the end of “a” universe, that “only some people know about.” But for Chintz, that may not be any better at all.

Critique:

I suppose there will be an audience out there for this book. It’s trying very hard to be Douglas Adams-like and plenty of people (myself included) love Douglas Adams’ quirky humor. IMHO, this doesn’t quite make it though, as a Douglas Adam’s clone or on it’s own.

On a positive note, it’s well written and surprisingly well edited for a self-published book. There are some interesting, odd-ball characters and had the whole thing been a set up for Katie and Chintz’s last moment’s, I’d have called it a success. But it’s about 1/3 too long (if not more) for that to be the case.

If I had to condense this review to a few carefully chosen words, they would be presumptuous and self-indulgent. The author’s constant breaking of the fourth wall especially. As if the book wasn’t quite quirky enough the author/narrator had to stick his two cents in too. It was annoying and broke up the story.

It was this over the top quirkiness that eventually ruined the book for me. You have characters who speak in mixed up, nonsense for no apparent reason at all. You have POVs from the perspective of a cat. You have a narrative style dedicated to pointing out the absurd over the expected, which could have been great if not quite so over played. You have philosophy passed off as science and science of the hard-core hand waving variety. It was all too much for me.

And that is a shame; because Boyd’s descriptive ability is wonderful. I appreciated the distinct lack of alpha hero and the success of the socially anxious, nerd heroes. I liked that there was a strong female character (though I’m borderline on the fact that her sexuality caused such ruptions. I think the book skirted the cliché, but JUST BARELY). But there was just too much else crowding these good things out. In the end, I bored and just hoping to finish.

[ reviewed by Sadie Forsythe  ]

Here’s what some other reviewers are saying:

Whether you like Science Fiction or not, this novel is for you. Alright, admittedly, some of the science did go over my head. But that doesn’t take away from the enjoyment of the book. If anything, it makes it that much more fun to realize just how much thought and effort went it to creating this fantastical story! You wouldn’t know this is Russell’s first novel; he writes like this is old hat, creating characters you care about, want to know even better, laugh with – and laugh at. Even the cat has a personality that reminds you of every other cat you’ve ever known – and like no other – all at once. From the first inkling something was even slightly awry in Chintz’ life through to the very end – I was engrossed in the story. And that’s saying a lot from me. I’m not really a Sci-Fi reader, preferring more of the legal-thrillers, crime dramas and even supernatural mysteries. But that’s just it; there was so much humor, and such depth to the characters and richness to the environments and story line that I just couldn’t put it down. I found myself empathizing with Chintz in his sudden, surreal situation, as well as most all of the people in their various life stories as well as their involvement in this one. Well, except for Carter. I didn’t care about Carter at all (that’s not a spoiler; you won’t either, trust me). I’m eagerly looking forward to Russell’s next novel. I’m sort of hoping for a sequel, so I can see how everyone’s lives turned out. But I also think any story the author plans to write will definitely be on my short list of books I need to add to my library. I’d recommend The Chorus Effect to anyone that loves Sci-Fi, satire, seriousness, and a bit of mystery. There’s love stories, frightening moments, highs and lows. Really, give it a try. You’ll be glad you did. :oD

– Amazon Reviewer mandacakes

I was gifted this book and can say I didn’t know what to expect. It had been a long time since I’d read a book without being in the know of the content or style of writing and I’m glad this one crossed my path.

The writing kept me tuned in by not allowing me to breeze through for information, as I tend to speed read, but rather caused me to read the story the author intended. It was a nice change of pace to slow down and I feel I enjoyed both the story and ideas more than I would have otherwise.

The concepts and ideas might be out of the comfort zone for some, but shouldn’t intimidate those who feel that way about Sci-Fi. I’d recommend this book to anyone and look forward to future works.

– Amazon Reviewer Jester

Book Trailer:

saturday self-published book review

Thanks for reading!  Keep up with the latest in the world of indie and self-published books by watching this space every Saturday!

Self Publishing Advisor

selfpubicon1