Tag: ebook

Jodee Speaks

Spooky Self Publishing Statistics

Happy Halloween everyone! In honor of this spooky holiday, I want to share some self-publishing and industry statistics that may shock you. Don’t be afraid; just keep reading.

  • According to an Aptara survey, the trade publishing market segment (which includes fiction and non-fiction for children, young adults, and adults) has considerably increased its e-book output. The e-book production rate went from 50% to 76% during the last two years.
  • Amazon still generates the highest number of sales for trade publishers, according to Aptara.
  • According to BookStats 2012, Religion and Children’s/Young Adults showed strong growth while Children’s/YA ranked as the fastest-growing category in publishing in 2011.
  • Brick-and-mortar retail remains the #1 sales distribution channel for publishers in 2011, as it did in 2010, according to BookStats 2012.
  • According to Bowker, traditional print book output grew six percent in 2011, from 328,259 titles in 2010 to a projected 347,178 in 2011, driven almost exclusively by a strong self-publishing market.
  • According to a self-publishing resource on top earners, two-thirds of top self-publishing earners are women.
  • The average top earner spends 69% more time writing than the average author not categorized as a top earner.
  • Self-publishing authors who paid professionals for services like story-editing, copyediting and proofreading earned an average of 13% more than those who didn’t.
  • Hiring a professional cover designer earned top earners an average of 18% more.
  • Top earners had almost four times as many reviews for their most recent book than authors outside of the group.

Being knowledgable of book industry and self-publishing trends and statistics can help you make important decisions as a self-publishing author. For instance, these statistics show the value of hiring professionals such as copyeditors, receiving book reviews, offering your book in multiple formats and taking advantage of Amazon’s author services. The best way to become a successful self-publishing author is to learn from the success of those who have already succeeded.

I’d love to know, do these statistics impact your plans as a self-publishing author?

ABOUT JODEE THAYER: With over 20 years of experience in sales and management, Jodee Thayer works as the Manager of Author Services for Outskirts Press. The Author Services Department is composed of knowledgeable customer service reps and publishing consultants; together, they all focus on educating authors on the self-publishing process in order 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, Jodee Thayer can put you on the right path.
Contests, Kelly Speaks

2012 Global Ebook Award Now Accepting Submissions

Contests are a great way gain exposure and credibility. By winning awards, you can convince readers that your book is worth reading and you can generate word of mouth marketing. Well, Dan Poynter, founder of the Global Ebook Award, has announced that his program is now accepting submissions. Why should you submit your book?

Awarded ebooks will enjoy these benefits:

–an official “sticker” on your ebook cover, website, Amazon page, and promotion materials
— buoyant feedback from judges with experience in your category of book.
–a free listing in Publishing Poynters Marketplace offering copies of your book for reviews in prestigious
ebook dealers’ sites such as Amazon.com, Barnes&Noble.com, and others.
–being honored at an award ceremony in gorgeous Santa Barbara.
–media coverage for you and your book.
–being listed on the official Global Ebook Awards site.
— a Global Ebook Award certificate attesting to your honor.
–a news releases announcing that you won
–discounts on video trailers for YouTube, Amazon
and your website
–discounts on other services for authors and publishers
And much more…

So, how do you apply?

Eligibility:
eBook released anytime on or before March 11, 2012.

Application deadline:
March 12, 2012 (midnight Pacific Time).

Award ceremony
in beautiful Santa Barbara: Saturday, August 18, 2012.

For more information on how to apply, visit http://globalebookawards.com/.

 

ABOUT KELLY SCHUKNECHT:
Kelly Schuknecht works as the 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 at http://kellyschuknecht.com.
Book Marketing, Kelly Speaks

Amanda Hocking’s Road to Success with Indie Publishing

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

Amanda Hocking has become an indie and digital publishing super star.  The author of 17 books, she began self-publishing them as e-books in April 2010, and what a year it has been!  She has earned over a million dollars in royalties and landed a traditional publishing contract for her next series.

How did she do it?  Amanda writes young adult paranormal romance, and prices her books with a marketing strategy in mind.  She published the first book in each series with a price of just $.99 to encourage sales.  Once readers were hooked, the price of her second book in the series was just $2.99.  She would set the price of the final book in the series at about $8.99.  When readers would purchase all of the books in the series, Amanda would make “a pretty decent profit.”

Hear about Amanda’s road to success in her own words in this Associated Press video:

 

DISCUSSION: How do you use marketing strategy when you set your pricing?

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.
Uncategorized, Wendy Speaks

Paperbacks, Hardbacks, and eBooks — Oh My!

Today’s post is by publishing industry expert, Wendy Stetina.

Authors often ask whether they should publish a paperback, hardback, and eBook version of their book? In most cases, the answer is yes, but in some cases, publishing additional editions isn’t the best idea.  Let me clarify here…

Some full-service self-publishing companies, such as Outskirts Press, allow authors to publish a hardback instead of a paperback or they may publish a hardback in addition to their paperback. Authors are also able to add editions for the various eReaders — for example an Amazon Kindle or Barnes&Noble Nook. Editions above and beyond paperback usually add an additional cost to producing your book.

I rarely recommend that a first time author publish primarily in hardback because these books come with a higher price tag and will possibility have a lower sales performance than paperback. I love for an author to have both formats for two reasons it gives the book a standard (the paperback) and a premium (the hardback) version and two price points.

I look at the hardback as an investment into your book promotion strategy. I do not see it as the version that is going to drive sales volume but more as a “special” edition for the author to sign and give as gifts etc.

If budget is an issue, I would suggest investing the money into either a custom designed cover or professional copyediting as neglecting either of these options could seriously cloud the public’s perception of your book.

 

ABOUT WENDY STETINA:
Wendy Stetina is a sales and marketing professional with over 30 years experience in the printing and publishing industry. Wendy works as the Director of Author Services for Outskirts Press. The Author Services Department is composed of knowledgeable customer service reps and publishing consultants; and together, they all focus on educating authors on the self-publishing process in order 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, Wendy Stentina can put you on the right path.
Self-Publishing

Kindle, iPad, ebooks and your self-publishing future

Much discussion surrounds the future of ebook readers in the digital publishing world with the Kindle, iPad, and the upcoming release of the Google Book Store. Will e-books replace libraries and bound copies of books? Who’s to say? According to the Wall Street Journal, ebooks will account for 8.5% of all book sales this year.

But that’s really not the question; as authors, let’s step outside the box.

Think of e-books as an opportunity to tease. With a lower purchase price and more immediate gratification, many readers are inclined to give an e-book a try when they might pass on a traditional paperback, especially in the non-fiction and how-to genres. Instantly accessible information has its place, even though it is far from “everyplace”. And doubtful it ever will be. If readers like your e-book, chances are good they’ll end up purchasing the hardcopy book, anyway.

You can create an ebook on your own, but most full-service self-publishing firms will include that step for you. Many will for free.

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