Tag: Kindle

Book Marketing, Kelly Speaks

5 Ways to Promote Your Book in May

May is almost here, so it’s time to start thinking about the opportunities this new month brings for you to promote your book.  Here are five ideas for promoting a book in May:

  1. Mother’s Day is May 8th.  If your book is about parenting, motherhood, family or a related topic, now is a good time to promote your book as a Mother’s Day gift idea.
  2. If you only have a hard copy format of your book, consider adding an ebook, Kindle, Nook  and/or Apple (iBook) edition. Additional formats help increase the exposure for your book.
  3. The Book Expo America (BEA) is taking place May 26th – 28th.  Even if you can’t make it to New York to attend the book fair this year, get involved in online discussions about the events.  Keep yourself informed about what’s going on and the major topics being discussed in the industry.
  4. Memorial Day is May 30th.  How can you promote your book for Memorial Day?  Don’t…well, not directly.  While you’re relaxing with your family and enjoying some time off, read a book.  When you’re done, write a review for that book on Amazon.  Make sure your Amazon account includes a bio mentioning your book and a link to your website or blog.
  5. Plan ahead for summer.  With school letting out and many people taking advantage of the weather for much needed vacation time, you may be tempted to put your book marketing efforts on hold.  Because your book marketing efforts are so important to the success of your book sales, set goals for yourself now to keep yourself on task over the summer months.  Plan to do something to promote your book every day, each week or each month.

DISCUSSION: How are you planning to promote YOUR book in May?

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 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.
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Self-publishing Amazon and the Kindle

I love the feel of a book in my hand, marking up pages and highlighting my favorite passages. The process of it all. And books are also a contribution to my physical space in a design sort of function. I enjoy the presence of the different sizes, shapes, and colors on my bookshelves. The collection is somewhat a statement of self, and often a conversation catalyst with visitors.

But for the publishing industry, the importance of e-books is undeniable. This past Christmas, for the second year in a row, the # 1 selling item on Amazon.com was the Kindle e-book reader. Guess what – if people are buying e-book readers, their buying ebooks. Your e-books. The advantage for self-publishing authors is that you can price your e-book version more competitively, sell in more places instantaneously, and market for virtually nothing.

Do you have a Facebook page and Twitter handle? Are they linked to your publisher? Do you follow and participate in your publisher’s blog? If not, now is the time to start. Social media avenues provide a great place to promote your books.

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Kindle Facebook Giveaway

The Kindle and other ebook readers have enhanced the connections between self-published authors and traditionally published authors alike with readers. One of the more pronounced limitations according to Kindle users is the lack of interface. Since my early days as a writing and English Lit student, I’ve treasured the ability to mark-up my favorite books.

Those users have reached Amazon, and the result is a highlight and notes feature in new Kindle models. And according to the AmazonKindle website, dedicated to educating users on the features of their Kindles, their new “Popular Highlights” feature allows users to identify the most popular passages selected from among the millions of other users. No doubt a contributing factor in Kindles popularity.

Interested in learning of a Kindle giveaway? Check out this FACEBOOK PAGE and simply press the ‘Like’ button.

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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