Book Marketing, Kelly Speaks

Improving Your Book’s Presence on Amazon

Today’s post is by book marketing industry expert, Kelly Schuknecht.

After you self publish a book, assuming your book is listed on Amazon.com, you should thoroughly review and perfect the listing for your book and your Amazon profile.  Remember, this is your opportunity to sell your book to potential customers, so your presentation online, including on Amazon.com, is important.

3 Simple Ways to Improve Your Listing on Amazon:

  1. Get Reviews -Reviews tell potential readers why they should buy your book.  They will look at how many reviews your book has in each star category (1-5) and may glance through a few of them to find out what other readers are saying about your book.  If you don’t have any reviews, get some.  If you have some, get more.  Ask everyone you know who has read your book to post a review (preferably 5-star).  Actively seek reviews by contacting potential reviewers and sending out review copies.
  2. Add a Kindle Edition – Additional formats provide more opportunities for people to find (and buy) your book.  I suggest you price your Kindle Edition low to encourage sales.  These sales may turn into reviews, recommendations and even more purchases of the hard copy format(s).  I have my own Kindle and often find that if I like a book I’m reading, I want to buy the hard copy (particularly with non-fiction books).
  3. Utilize the Search Inside Feature -Amazon offers Search Inside the Book to allow viewers to virtually flip through the book.  Utilizing this feature is a good way to enhance your listing and make it easy for viewers to get a sneak peek.

Of course there are many other things you should do to improve your listing (and sales) on Amazon.  Brent Sampson, CEO of Outskirts Press has written an entire book on the subject, which you can find on Amazon here. 

ABOUT KELLY SCHUKNECHT:
Kelly Schuknecht works as the Director of Author Support for 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 at http://kellyschuknecht.com.
Book Promotion Strategy, Book Reviews, Self-Publishing Book Review of the Week

Self-Publishing Book Review of the Week: A Process Mind by Richards P. Lyon, M.D.

Book reviews are a great way for self-publishing authors to gain exposure. After all, how can someone buy your book if they don’t know about it? 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 let the community know about a great book. So, without further adieu, here’s this week’s book review:

A Process Mind book cover

A Process Mind

Richards P. Lyon, M.D.

Outskirts Press (2010)

ISBN 9781432760397

Reviewed by Joseph Yurt for Reader Views (2/11)

“Author Richards P. Lyon, M.D. has really had a wonderful life. And in his new memoir, A Process Mind, Dr. Lyon recalls his life in an unpretentious, humorous, storyteller’s style, beginning with the very first statement, “I am born,” of the first chapter, “In the Beginning.”

Throughout the book’s recounting of his life, Dr. Lyon weaves his assessment of the impact of his Process Mind on the events that make up the story. The author explains at the outset that “My Process Mind works like this: I must understand to remember. This takes more time than is required by the Quick Memory minds. However, it is the remembering that makes the difference, allowing me to tell this story today in the hope that I will be effective.”

Since his retirement, so called, in his eighties, Dr. Lyon has had a considerable amount of time to reflect on his process mindset and he has ultimately distilled it down to: Recognize and unearth the real problem; Fix it; Do it now; and, Be effective. While there is nothing new here, the clarity and conciseness with which it is presented and supported by real life examples, is a testament to clearly understanding what we are fully capable of accomplishing, even at ninety-three years old.

A diversity of successful careers and an exemplary record of reinventing himself result in making Dr. Lyon a humble, yet almost heroic symbol for the power of positive thinking and pursuing your passions. “A Process Mind” will leave many readers believing that more accomplishments await this octogenarian plus. One thing is for certain. Dr. Lyon’s Process Mind will keep on churning.”

DISCUSSION: Are you trying to obtain book reviews as part of your overall book promotion strategy?

Book Promotion Strategy, Uncategorized, Weekly Wednesday Podcast

Weekly Wednesday Podcast: Using Video Marketing as Part of Your Book Promotion Strategy

Today we’re covering:

  • What is a book trailer and why should you use one as a part of your book promotion strategy?
  • How long should it be?
  • What to include in the trailer?
  • Where to upload/promote your trailer?
  • How can they benefit you, as an author?
  • Should you have someone else create your book trailer for you?

Here’s today’s podcast:

___________________________________________________________________________________________

Here is an example of a book trailer:

Here is an example of the book teaser you can win by entering our Facebook contest:

 

DISCUSSION: What would you like us to discuss on next week’s podcast?

Cheri Speaks

Is Your Back Cover Copy Driving Away Potential Readers?

Today’s post is by publishing industry expert, Cheri Breeding.

When I’m looking for a book to read, the first thing that catches my attention is the front cover — whether it’s good, bad, or somewhere in between. After that, I flip the book over to take a peek at what’s said on the back cover. After roughly 10-15 seconds of reading, I know whether I want to buy that book. That’s how crucial effective copy is to the success of your book.

Are you making rookie mistakes that are pushing readers in the opposite direction of your book? Here’s a quick test to be sure:

  • How much time did you put into writing the copy for your book cover? You should spend a good amount of time here. Of course, you don’t need to spend as much as you did writing the book, but you must put some serious thought into crafting the “right” back cover copy.
  • Did you include a hook? A hook is a brief (possibly 5-7 words) statement that “hooks” the reader into wanting to read more. A catchy hook is second only to a strong title (and a well-written book). It usually appears at the top of the back cover.
  • Can your reader get intimate with your book’s topic or characters in the synopsis? Your synopsis should be to the point yet interesting. Ideally, you should introduce one or two (or more) of your main characters/topics in the synopsis as well as provide a bit of background for the story.
  • Does your potential reader know what to expect from your story by reading  the synopsis? If I don’t know what I’m getting myself into with a project, I’m hesitant to get involved. The same is true for books. If you haven’t given me a “sneak peek”, I will be less likely to move forward with the purchase.
  • Are you introducing yourself in your author bio? Make sure to include an author bio that allows people to get to know you on the level you prefer. Your bio should read as if you’re a real person — BECAUSE YOU ARE!

If you find yourself stuck on any of these, it’s better to hire a professional writer to compose these pieces for you. Your publisher may be able to point you in the right direction. For example, at Outskirts Press, we have  service called Cover Scribing where one of our writers compose your back cover copy for you.

DISCUSSION: Do you have any experience with back cover copy gone bad? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Cheri Breeding ABOUT CHERI BREEDING:
Since 2005 Cheri Breeding has been working as the Director of Production for Outskirts Press. In that time, she has been an instrumental component of every aspect of the Production Department, performing the roles of an Author Representative, Book Designer, Customer Service Representative, Title Production Supervisor, Production Manager and, Director of Production. She brings all that experience and knowledge, along with an unparalleled customer-service focus, to help self-publishing authors reach high-quality book publication more efficiently, professionally, and affordably.
Blogging Tips for Authors, Book Promotion Strategy, Uncategorized

10 Tips for Implementing Blog Commenting As a Part of Your Book Promotion Strategy

Looking for a fresh spin on your book promotion strategy?

Many book marketing experts generally discuss “big ticket” marketing activities  like starting your own blog, social networking, article marketing, book tours, etc. Those are all great ways to market your self-published book. Once you’ve gone through that list and are looking for fresh ideas, you may consider blog commenting. Commenting on others’ blogs can yield many positive results. For example, you can get backlinks to your site (which can improve your search engine ranking) and connect with even more readers who may be interested in your book.

A blog comment is (in the simplest terms) a reply you post to someone else’s blog post. For example, you can leave a comment on this post by entering your feedback into the box under the “Leave a Reply” heading. Of course, there is an art to being successful at implementing this strategy. However, it’s not very difficult to learn how to effectively comment on others’ blogs.

Before starting on your blog commenting journey, it is important to make sure you have correctly set up your online platform. You should have your own website or blog (with your own domain name). Ideally, you should have also set up social networking accounts and have them “open for business”. Once you have this all set up, you’re ready to find blogs and start leaving your feedback for the owner and other readers.

Here are some tips to use as you get started:

  1. Make sure you find a relevant blog to comment on. For example, if you’ve written a book about changing tires on a car, you want to find a blog post that discusses something about tires and/or changing them. You can use Google Blog Search to quickly and easily locate a blog in your niche.
  2. Read the post in its entirety before you comment. This is also about relevancy. If you haven’t read the blog, you aren’t prepared to contribute to the discussion.
  3. Position yourself as an expert but don’t come off as a wise guy (or girl). You want to give people reason to take an interest in your comment. However, you don’t want to appear as if you know everything — even if you do.
  4. Maintain a professional appearance at all times. This doesn’t mean you have to be perfect, but you should be respectful if you have to disagree and respect other readers and their right to express their opinions.
  5. Make sure that your comment is adding value to the discussion. While you may find value in the blog post, comments such as “Thank you” are better left unsaid — unless you can add more to it and thus add more value to the conversation.
  6. Be brief. Now is not the time to be long-winded. Keep your comments brief and to the point.
  7. Make sure to link back to your website/blog when you comment. If you forget this, you will have wasted your time. Sure, you have added information to the blogosphere, but what have you truly gained if people who read your feedback and found it useful have no way to contact you?
  8. Make sure to fill out the fields appropriately (refer to #7 above). Each blog will most likely have an area where you can enter your name, email (most likely not published), URL, text of your comment, etc. Don’t change up the order on this. For instance, you shouldn’t add your website address to the comment box; it should only be placed in the URL field.
  9. Mention someone else’s book/blog/website where appropriate. All of your comments should not be “pushing” your book. Vary your comments. Others will have more respect for you and know that when you mention your book or website, you are making an appropriate reference.
  10. Don’t SPAM any blog. Ever. Write your own comments, keep them relevant, and stay away from any questionable “blog commenting” services. A good rule of thumb is — if you would be ashamed to call the blog owner and let them know what you’ve done, you shouldn’t do it.

 

DISCUSSION: Have you used blog commenting as part of your book promotion strategy in the past? What tips and tricks can you add to this list?