Tag: Kindle

Self-Publishing

Kindle versus iPad. Or, not really at all…

At the recent Self-publishing Book Expo in New York City, Amazon’s Jason Kuykendall admitted to owning both a Kindle and an iPad.

(Don’t tell Jeff Bezos!) He already knows, and should because this is a good thing for Amazon, and for self-publishing authors. As Jason pointed out, the Kindle is more than a device among the various available – it is a distribution channel. As a reader, you may have a preference, or as can be the case with Apple an open prejudice. We’ll let Bezos and Jobs worry about those manufacturing and marketing details.

As an author, these devices are much more than readers, they are distribution channels from the Espresso Book Machine all the way up to Ingram. Instead of being readers, the Kindle and iPad are for authors important distribution channels.

Be sure to check with your publisher about options distributing through as many as possible.



Share this Post

Book Promotion

Using an Ebook Edition to Promote Your Self-published Book

Ebooks are bigger than ever, with recent news of Borders jumping into the mix this month. Aside from actually selling your ebook, did you know that an ebook edition of your self-published book can actually work into the promotion of your hard copy book.

Its no secret that the distribution of an ebook is quicker and more affordable. With your electronic ebook file, you can literally sell the same “thing” over and over again. By giving people a choice between your ebook and your paperback, you offer them two different price points. You can even publish portions of your ebook as a ‘teaser’ to promote your hardcopy book, selling one to literally sell the other.

If you don’t have an ebook edition, there is no better time than now to get one. If you have an ebook edition of your book, perhaps you are already using it to promote your hard copy version on places like Amazon’s Kindle Store, iPad, or any number of other new distribution options.



Share this Post

Choosing a Publisher

The Kindle effect in self-publishing

Commerce doesn’t exist without value, or in today’s age, pricing. Pricing is about availability, and availability implies no easy substitutes (real or perceived).

The internet has dramatically flattened and widened availability. The number of books a brick-and-mortar store can make available is a kernel compared to the capacity of Amazon, not to mention what the advent of digital formats and the Kindle have contributed. Real availability is virtually limitless. That effect cannot but have implication on pricing, right? It seems that some traditional publishers are slow to catch on when pricing books, especially their digital and Kindle titles.

But this is big news for the self-publishing author. With full-service self-publishing options, you can now integrate a Kindle edition into the version library of your book AND control your own pricing, keeping 100% of your royalties. And here is the key – Amazon pays royalties based on one of two retail price categories:

$2.99 – $9.99 received 70% royalties

Above or below receive just 35%.

It seems like Amazon understands one or two things about commerce, and this couldn’t be better for self-publishing authors.


Share this Post
Book Marketing, Book Promotion, Self-Publishing

The Amazon Experience

Amazon is the single largest book retailer available, and the company model couldn’t be friendlier in helping self-publishing authors publishing through a POD publisher/distribution model. Whether you’re published or still in the writing or production process, prepare these Amazon options to maximize your books sales.

Amazon Search Inside the Book: This is the online equivalent to flipping through your book on the shelf. An optional feature, “Look Inside” provides icon over your book’s cover image, and allows readers to browse through portions of your interior content. Amazon claims that books utilizing this option see considerably higher sales over those that do not. Pretty intuitive.

Amazon Key Word Submission: One of the best user features Amazon provides comes in allowing readers to browse instantly by category or ‘key words.’ Imagine being transported instantly around a bookstore the size of football fields without having to use a map or ask an employee for directions. This is the experience Amazon customers find in typing in a simple keyword or phrase. (Few readers browse titles by author, and even less so for first-time authors.) They key is determining around 10 top keywords to tag your book with in order to provide the widest exposure possible.

Amazon Kindle: The Kindle is everywhere, and for good reason. It is a revolutionary digital reading device that allows individuals to purchase books anywhere, anytime, and instantly. One source noted that Kindle owners, on average, buy 3x more books than non-Kindle owners. Kindle editions must be submitted through special formatting, which some POD publishers offer, and will see listing everywhere books are sold throughout the Amazon site.

And finally, email, call, and knock on the doors of everyone you know who may contribute a credible review of your published book and have them post those on your book’s Amazon listing page.


Share this Post
Choosing a Publisher, Self-Publishing

Higher Royalty Option Announced

On the heels of its recent release of the new, lower priced Kindle Reader, Amazon’s Digital Text Platform Team announced a new 70% royalty option for self-published authors who own the rights to their publications. It’s worth a look. Learn more here.


Share this Post