Alternative Marketing Methods, Book Marketing, Kelly Speaks, Marketing Your Self-Published Book, Uncategorized

Marketing Master Strokes Episode 3: Incentivize!

Two weeks ago, we stopped thinking about the many ways we can mess up the marketing process (Marketing Missteps) to thinking about the many ways we can knock this marketing thing out of the park–and so this series, Marketing Master Strokes, was born. Our first marketing master stroke? Being all ears. (Which is to say, listening to the stories of others, and keeping an open mind to actually changing your own approach.) And our second? Being willing to reach your readers where they live, which we elaborated upon to explain involves setting aside the ego in order to adapt your outreach methods to best suit your readers.

But what about a third Marketing Master Stroke? Well, it’s going to be one that rings a few bells, plucks a few strings, or sets off a few sparks of memory–because we write about it a lot here on Self-Publishing Advisor. We use a lot of different names for it and we come at it from all kinds of different angles, but what we’re here to talk about today is the deceptively simple concept of incentivization–about motivating your potential readers to become actual readers, in point of fact. How do you make purchasing your book an inviting proposition? How do you make it an inevitability?

The format of your book makes a big difference. If you offer both digital (e-book and in many cases, audiobook) and analog (physical paperback or hardcover) copies of your book, I recommend breaking down your approach into separate fronts. Incentivization by way of promotion and marketing looks so dramatically different between those two categories that it’s almost worth–or rather, probably worth–doing one at a time, so that you can throw the sum total of your energy and concentration into addressing each format separately.

Digital Formats

Whether we’re talking about an e-book or an audiobook, digital formats offer some truly exciting possibilities for incentivization. Amazon automatically offers the first ten or so pages for free (the so-called “first chapter freebie“) and you can replicate this on your blog and with other online retailers. Curating your own freebie chapter isn’t an option with Amazon, but it is when you choose the method of delivery via blog or email, and I highly recommend taking the time to edit what makes it in to your freebie–this gives you an edge over the Amazon preview, which often cuts off in the middle of a paragraph. Make sure the freebie ends with some sort of natural cliffhanger or emotional hook, to keepyour readers coming back!

Perhaps the greatest weapon in your digital arsenal is the option to offer timed discounts and sales. Because you control the base price as a self-publishing author, you get to shape your own sales! You can time them to coincide with events of national interest (say, Father’s Day or the anniversary of Amelia Earhart’s final fateful voyage–you know, only relevant to you and your work) or you can use the calendar as a guiding star. Sales tend to find success when they close on the last or first day of a month, holidays, and so on. Why are sales so important? Because they create a sense of urgency. Offering a constant “discounted” price does nothing but soften the impact of your sales pitch, but a timed sale? Readers often just need that last little bit of motivation to move from “thinking about it” to “take my money!” Or at least, that’s my experience in bookstore checkout lines.

Physical Formats

We’ve talked a lot about these strategies, and I don’t want to bore you to tears, but don’t forget to work your way through the entire checklist:

Book Readings (a great centerpoint for a sale, by the way)
Book Fairs (ditto that!)
Giveaways & Merch (you don’t want to leverage these as bribes for reviews, but you can certainly use them to incentivize coming to other events where your books are sold, or to encourage the sort of general enthusiasm for your work that will naturally lead to reviews!)
Limited Edition Offers & Bundles (comic book authors have created some really good models for bundles that you can use for inspiration, and creating short runs of specialty covers is also a specialty of theirs; don’t hesitate to mix it up to build demand)
Insider Access (readers want to feel special for being your fans, and you should reward this impulse; maybe the purchase of a book becomes a ticket to an author interview via Google Hangouts–or maybe it gives them access to a limited-access “behind the scenes” page on your website? The options are endless!)

Go find your readers!

Thank you for reading! If you have any questions, comments, suggestions, or contributions, please use the comment field below or drop us a line atselfpublishingadvice@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. ♠

ABOUT 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. 10:00 AM

from the archives, Kelly Speaks, Uncategorized

From the Archives: “6 Radio Interview Tips for Self-Publishing Authors”

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.

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[ Originally posted: March 6th, 2013 ]

Radio interviews are a great way for self publishing authors to promote themselves and their books, but many people are nervous about doing radio interviews. With these great tips, you are sure to have a successful and fun experience.

1. Keep it fun!

Most radio listeners enjoy some humor and natural conversation. The easiest way to nail your interview is to not over think it. Just go with the flow and don’t take yourself too seriously. Listeners can tell if you are having fun, so don’t forget to smile and be enthusiastic. Even though you are on the radio, listeners can still sense your expressions.

2. Keep it natural!

Interviews that are over-rehearsed and presentation-like are boring and awkward. While you can practice a little bit ahead of time, don’t read from notes or memorize your talking points. Just act as if you were talking to a friend.

3. Don’t worry about silence.

Many people worry about moments of awkward silence. It is the radio host’s responsiblity to fill those gaps and keep the interview moving, so don’t worry. The pressure isn’t on you.

4. Be ready to go live.

If you are doing a phone interview, know that many hosts start the interview shortly after the call begins. Some hosts will give you a few minutes to listen and get comfortable, but be prepared to go live immediately.

5. Keep it short.

Keep your answers to 30 seconds or less. This allows for more questions and some commercial breaks, and it keeps the listeners from getting bored.

6. Be respectful.

You may get some callers who aren’t very pleasant. They may challenge or insult you, but you must stay professional. While it is okay to defend yourself or the topic when the caller is wrong, be sure to do so gracefully. The listeners will respect you if you remain respectful.

I’d love to know, do you plan on doing radio interviews?

– by Kelly Schuknecht

We’ve written about radio interviews occasionally here on Self Publishing Advisor—here, here, and here–but while the world has changed a great deal in respect to its usage of technology, we authors have yet to take full advantage of the changes that have taken place within the radio industry.

Take the changes in listenership, for example: according to Ryan Faughnder of The LA Times, “the millennials so desired by advertisers (specifically, people in the 18-34 age group) listen to an average of 11.5 hours of radio a week. That’s less than people in Generation X (those aged 35-49) and baby boomer (50-64) categories, who average 14 hours and 14.5 hours a week, respectively.” Where have they gone? As Faughnder goes on to explain, they’re still listening to audio–but they’re streaming it. “While nine out of 10 millennials still listen to at least five minutes of traditional radio a week,” he says, “young adults are splitting their time with other audio options such as streaming services (including Spotify, Rdio and now Beats Music) and their personal music collections.” In a world of streaming audio, self-curated content is king.

\After all, when you know what you like, why leave the soundtrack to your morning commute up to chance? Radio is famous for operating somewhat independently of its listeners’ stated interests–NPR, for example, perceives itself as a discovery tool as much as it does programming for the people. Much of the disconnect between Millennial listeners and traditional radio services can be chalked up to this difference in perception–but the good news is, they still listen, albeit not for long and not always by the same methods we are used to. This means you must capitalize on the brevity of the format–keeping it short and vibrant for listeners who live with their finger on the radio dial–and you must also go looking for new marketing ideas in radio. Remember podcasts? Very often they feature specialized content that would complement your work perfectly–and they have a fairly wide reach, too, given that they’re archived online and available to stream through iTunes and other services. And book bloggers who also run podcasts might be willing to work with you on a brief interview for on-air and a longer interview to be hosted on their website, allowing you the best of both worlds. Check out the advertising options for radio programs and podcasts that you like, and consider paying for an ad instead of an interview, as ads are repeated often enough to reach multiple demographics.

Radio isn’t dead, but it’s evolving! Even in the three years since I posted my original article, we’ve seen massive clusters of readers move from traditional radio to streaming services. As Kobi Yamada writes in What Do You Do With a Problem? (one of my new favorite picture books, by the way!), don’t think of this as a problem–think of it as an opportunity!

Thanks for reading. 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. ♠

Kelly Speaks, news from the self publishing world, self publishing news, Uncategorized

Self-Publishing News: 6.20.2016

This week in the world of self-publishing:

Want to Succeed in Self-Publishing? It’s a Lifetime Learning Experience: Tips from an Indie Author

Carole Nelson Douglas published sixty novels the old-fashioned traditional way before she decided to explore self-publishing, writes Drucilla Shultz for Publisher’s Weekly on June 17th. Why? She wanted more control over her published materials, a familiar story to many who are involved in self-publishing today. And the change, while not entirely without discouragements (Douglas has felt victim of a certain degree of “status downgrade”) has reaped a great deal more rewards (Douglas’ latest book is receiving positive critical recognition). Perhaps the greatest byproduct of Douglas’ conversion, however, may be her advocacy for indie and self-publishing authors everywhere. “Look to your audience,” says Douglas (by way of Shultz):

“Figure out who your audience is, who you’re writing for, what genre you’re writing in, and what the books in that genre look like. Recognize that indie publishing is a lifetime learning experience. Yes, some authors broke out big and fast a few years ago, and those gold rush days are over, but audience-expanding strategies are still out there. Look for role models online. Authors love to tell ‘how I did it.’”

Douglas also recommends looking to the internet (“Online Advice”) and seeking out a professional copyeditor (“Professional Help”). Refreshingly direct, she’s up-front about the fact that self-publishing is a lifetime commitment, with plenty of avenues to success and an equal number of pitfalls. For Shultz’s entire article and interview with Douglas, tap into the original piece at the link.

Mother finds comfort in baking, writing as son battles illness

“Michele Melton of Olathe loves to bake,” writes Sara Beane for The Kansas City Star on June 17th:

“So after years of being asked by family and friends how to make her popular cake pops — bite-sized pieces of chocolate-dipped cake on a stick — she decided it was time to put her tried-and-true recipe on paper with a children’s book to teach kids how to make her cake pops. But she didn’t want it to be just any book; she wanted it to be interactive.”

I don’t know about you, but crafting an interactive work is hardly a recipe for traditional success. Breakout phenomenons like Dragonology and so forth have occasionally reached bookshelves, but by nature traditional publishing houses are steadfastly conservative, and opposed to experimentation. Melton’s book, Beane reports, is about a 10-year-old girl who loves to bake–Cake Pops With Marlee–and is designed to teach children how to bake alongside their parents and caregivers. “The process of self-publishing the book was both costly and time-consuming for Melton,” says Beane, and “Things were already stressful when life threw her a curveball in November. That’s when Melton’s 24-year-old son Jake collapsed while at work and was soon diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor.” Under mounting pressure, already committed to self-publishing her book and now coping with her son’s life-changing illness on limited funds, Melton found escape in writing. And eventually, writes Beane, what “started as a way to share a recipe with others has now turned into something much more important for Melton. It’s a chance to remind parents to take the time to cherish their kids.” For the rest of Melton’s heart-touching story, read Beane’s full article here.

How to Prepare for Self-Publishing: Ebook Distribution

It’s not often that self-publishing received professional treatment at length, but that’s exactly what Catherine Dunn is doing for Digital Book World. Her June 16th article serves as part four of a six-part series, a series which has already recommended that a self-publishing author “[makes] sure your manuscript is formatted, […] had it copy-edited, and […] engaged a professional designer to create a stunning cover that will capture readers’ attention.” This installment deals with six additional points that all revolve around the processes that take place after finishing writing:

Choose your services
Check the spec
Don’t forget your illustrations
Don’t leave anything to chance
Take time over the metadata
Marketing

And Dunn concludes her article with a checklist of further tips to assist self-publishing authors in moving from the manuscript stage to the “successfully published” stage. A word of caution, however: while her ideas are excellent, this is just one installment in a series. Hang around for two or three more weeks, and all six installations will be complete. It’s always a little disappointing to start a great series only to discover it’s not quite finished, right? If you can’t resist peeking, however, you can find installment four at the link.

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.

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

Saturday Book Review: “A Journey Through My Soul”

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 Pearl’s Book Journey:

A Journey Through My Soul

by Lena Sousa Day

Publisher: Outskirts Press

ISBN: 978-1478754367

Synopsis:

I want you to get my message … And I want these words to shine a light. A Journey Through My Soul is a collection of one passionate, thoughtful, lyrical young woman’s path from early adolescence to the present day. Many of the poems reflect her teenage years, giving wonderful insight about the wonder and wisdom of emerging maturity, with experiences ranging from the ecstatic thrill of first love and crushes, the deep comfort and bonding of true friendship, and the heartbreak of learning to deal with betrayal and the end of relationships. You will be carried along on an expanding world view that includes the quiet despair of longing for loved ones stationed overseas, the joys and fears of motherhood, and the multifaceted discovery of true and lasting love. These poems reflect experience that is both universal and unique, illuminated by a personal voice and sensitivity that allow the reader both a sense of community, and a glimpse into something beyond the everyday. Moving, inspiring, and honest, A Journey Through My Soul is a perfect companion for every life path.

Critique:

A Journey Through My Soul is a quick and easy collection of beautiful poems. I finished this in one sitting and I’m glad that I was able to experience such thoughtful and sensible verses.

I admire how the author was able to write poems based on her personal experiences. I love reading poems, although I am not an expert of it. I don’t even know how to construct one (I tried years ago and that was when my high school teacher assigned us to write one. lol but it was lame), so reading the series of poems written here kind of dazzled me because wow, they’re created in a very delectable way. I have plenty of favorite poems in this book and one of them is from chapter 1 called Crying Soul which was written to inspire fiction lovers like me. It’s a very heartbreaking story and it ended in tragedy, but the thing that made me like it was the life lesson it instilled.

Another favorite of mine is the poem called Our Anniversary which was dedicated by the author to her husband. The prose simply made me fall in love because of how sweet it sounds.

To give you a glimpse:

“And if you ever wonder
Why I love you so
Just look into my eyes
And then, you’ll really know

I’ve loved you since I can remember
Or at least for a very long time
I’m so glad that we’re together
And that I can call you mine

The day we met was a special day
About that, I have no doubt
Because I met the love of my life
And that’s what life’s all about”

Overall, A Journey Through My Soul is a sweet, inspiring collection of poems. It’s a great read for people who are soul-searching and who just simply love to devour poems.

[ reviewed by Pearl on Pearl’s Book Journey ]

Here’s what another reviewer is saying:

This book is a collection of poems by this author that span from her adolescence to more recent experiences in her life. Wonderful reading and an enhancement to the soul to see the this author’s journey over time, including challenges but also triumphs, along with her burgeoning talent as a writer! Highly recommend this to others and I look forward to seeing more from this author in the future!

– Amazon Reviewer SouthPaw

A hit in the bull’s eye of average

These poems fall right into the category of average, the author shows promise and should be encouraged to continue, but right now there is little to move the reader. Some of them sound like they would be more appropriate if they were in a children’s book. For example, the opening stanza of the poem called “Narrow minds” is:

Prejudice and discrimination
They’re everywhere you go
People claiming to love their neighbor
It’s a put-on, don’t you know

The general structure is a series of four line stanzas where the second and fourth lines rhyme. In many cases the conclusion of a stanza reads as a bit forced, generating a lack of smoothness.
The majority fit on a single page where there is whitespace between the stanzas, making each a delivery system for a basic message. The messages themselves are about life, the good as well as the bad and are easy to discern.

– Goodreads Reviewer Charles

Book Trailer:

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

Conversations with a Self-Publishing Writer, Royalene Speaks, Uncategorized

Conversations: 6/17/2016

JUNE IS BUSTING OUT ALL OVER

The Season for Short Stories (Part III)

Within most every month on our calendar there is some type of celebration honoring the men and women who serve our countries in the military. To support, encourage and thank them, children have sent handmade cards to those on active duty. Family and Friend groups have hired local artists to create one-of-a-kind Thank You cards and sent them with personalized messages to thousands of our armed forces around the world. The big-name producers of greeting cards (e.g. Hallmark etc.) have created animated eCards that deliver messages such as: “Spirit, promise, hope. Once a soldier, always a hero,” and “Thanks for being the kind of person our country can depend on.” I love the concept of eCards. Their short messages are like short stories from the heart—much like eBooks.

In a previous blog I mentioned that a collection of short stories can quickly build into a book. One excellent example of this development method combined the author’s love for canine companions with her knowledge of training police and military working dogs. Violetta Kovacs collected multiple short stories about various K9s who exemplify excellence in the daring and often deadly “jobs” they carry out. Then, she published her book: K9 COMMANDO, Police and Army Dogs from New York to Berlin.

YOU, TOO can collect short stories and publish!

Are there people in your writing group (s) who’ve written an excellent short story but never did anything with it?
Are you in contact with friends who love to tell a good story, but have never written them?
Have your parents, grandparents, great-grandparents told you a story that is so vivid in your memory you could write it yourself?

What is stopping you?

Are you an art collector of ODD pieces—maybe found in dumpsters or garage sales? Does each individual item TELL you a story?
Are you a photographer whose focus is on Mountain Peaks, or Tree Tops, or Valleys, or Meadows? What are the STORIES behind your specific photographic interests?
Are you a sculptor of clay or wood who allows the object to inspire the piece AS IF it TELLS you its story as you work?

ARE YOU LISTENING to all these stories?

IF (or when) you find yourself struggling with completing your novel, writing and/or collecting short stories will send you on a whole new adventure! It will give you fresh insights and fresh perspectives that can not only give you a publishable collection, but will loosen your writing flow and provide a boost to the completion of your novel!

Grab hold of one (or two or three) of the ideas listed here today, and run with it! You’ll be happily surprised how much FUN you’ll have while becoming a published author! ⚓︎

ABOUT ROYALENE DOYLE: Royalene has been writing something since before kindergarten days and continues to love the process. Through her small business—DOYLE WRITING SERVICES—she brings more than 40 years of writing experience to authors who need “just a little assistance” with completing their projects. This is a nice fit as she develops these blogs for Outskirts Press (OP) a leading self-publisher, and occasionally accepts a ghostwriting project from one of their clients. Her recent book release (with OP) titled FIREPROOF PROVERBS, A Writer’s Study of Words, is already receiving excellent reviews including several professional writer’s endorsements given on the book’s back cover.

Royalene’s writing experience grew through a wide variety of positions from Office Manager and Administrative Assistant to Teacher of Literature and Advanced Writing courses and editor/writer for an International Christian ministry. Her willingness to listen to struggling authors, learn their goals and expectations and discern their writing voice has brought many manuscripts into the published books arena.

Digital Formats

Physical Formats

Go find your readers!

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JUNE IS BUSTING OUT ALL OVER

The Season for Short Stories (Part III)

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