Now on to some serious wordpreneur stuff.
While doing my regular rounds this past week through various online forums for indie authors, I saw no less than five rants — well, whines really — about the authors’ failure at selling any of their books.
Nothing unusual about that kind of whining. What caught my attention this time, however, was this: Every single one insinuated Amazon was at fault and to blame for their inability to sell their stuff.
Wha?
All those other competing authors and their books and marketing activity had nothing to do with the fails, I guess.
Nor did those crappy homemade covers, those poorly written blurbs, those inadequate keyword selections, yada yada.
One guy even threatened ultimatum-style to quit the indie authoring game. Um, OK dude, we’re devastated.
I’m not really sure where I’m going with this observation — I’m still quite firmly planted in the “WTF people?” head-shaking stage — probably in awe of all that oozing entitlement.
Is it more info you need? There’s no shortage of that, as you can see in every Wordpreneur Reader issue. Or maybe you just like things handed to you. I think I’ll vote for the latter.
Well quit it. We’re all in the same boat. That “I can’t afford it” excuse when someone points out your covers suck and your work needs professional editing? That doesn’t fly either. Skip Starbucks every now and then like many of the other authors do. Or whatever. No excuses, Grasshopper — it’s all on you.
Indie stands for independent, you know that, right?
Well, on that pleasant note, let’s do some reading. Have fun!
— EES
Please Share the Love!
Marketing
![1+tip[1]](https://wordpreneur.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/1tip1-167x130.jpg "1+tip[1]")
“Can’t you give me just 1 tip (for getting book reviews)?” she asked
“The other day a newly published author who had befriended me 5 minutes earlier asked me if I could give her just one tip how to get book reviews from Amazon top reviewers.
I told her to read my book.
She came back with, ‘Can’t you give me just 1 tip?’
Hmm… Apparently this author was not aware how much in demand these reviews are; on average Hall-of-Fame reviewers get 250+ review requests per month.
So, I told her that getting a book reviewed by an Amazon top reviewer isn’t a ‘1-tip thing,’ especially if the book did not have any reviews yet. Getting reviews is a challenging task that encompasses many steps; which is why my book has 100 pages.
She immediately un-friended me.
I guess that says it all. Just another wannabe author who does not really want to learn the trade. The indie author industry is overrun with people like that. The sooner they get out and make room for the people who really hone their craft and all skills, the better for all.
Of course, from experience I know that most indie authors work a lot harder than this one.
So, here is one tip for authors whose books received already a few reviews (including from top reviewers).
‘Like/find helpful’ the reviewers’ reviews!!!”
Continue reading @ Gisela’s Straightforward Blog »
“Self-Made” is a Myth; Here’s the Real Formula for Success
“[T]hat’s what most people get wrong. They never learn how to reach out. You’ve got to be willing to put yourself out there…”
» Medium
$4,344.81 in 40 Days with my Fiction Book Only Spending $30 on Advertising
“I had a plan. A big plan. Heck, I had the plan of the universe — to sell thousands of copies of my new release Science Fiction book, Project Atlantis, during the first month I published it.
This plan started six months before I started writing the book. The plan entailed rapidly finishing three books in a series — Project Atlantis, Destination Atlantis, and Colony Atlantis — and once it had been edited, beta-read, and sent out to my ARC reviewers, I’d release Project Atlantis, then Destination Atlantis seven days later, and Colony Atlantis fourteen days after Destination Atlantis. Additionally, I’d have the fourth book, Beyond Atlantis, almost 100% written. Yet, I’d have Beyond Atlantis’s pre-order already up and running before Colony Atlantis was released, all the while dropping over $1500 dollars in Facebook Ads, Amazon Ads, and on Promo Sites, and whatever else I could get my greedy paws on.
Well, I did none of the above.
Here is what happened that led me to only spending $30 on Facebook and Amazon ads and how I was able to make $4,344.81 in 40 Days with my Fiction Book.”
Continue reading @ Medium »
10 Actionable WordPress Security Tips for the Layman
“[T]he more popular something is, the more people want to leverage on it for nefarious means… Fortunately, WordPress is a platform that offers you a multitude of opportunity to defend yourself.”
» WHSR
Free
Writing a Book or Article? Now’s the Time to Create Your ‘Author Platform’
Writing a Book or Article? Now’s the Time to Create Your ‘Author Platform’
SOURCE: The Chronicle of Higher Education
LINK: https://www.chronicle.com/article/Writing-a-Book-or-Article-/243911/
How did you find me?’ The caller had contacted me with an unusual professional opportunity, and I was curious where he had found my name… ‘I Googled Jane Austen professor, and your name came up.’ … I was thrilled. It was clear evidence that the author platform I’ve created and maintained is working.”
10 Steps to Making a Living as a Self-Published Fiction Author
“…
Step 1: Decide if Self-Publishing is Right for You
Being an indie author isn’t for everyone. For some, it might be the biggest mistake they could make. Every writer is different, and you should never follow someone else’s path without knowing where that person is planning to go. Heaven for them might be Hell for you.
Ask yourself the following questions:
How much control do I want over the content, editing, and cover design of my book?
How well do I understand basic marketing and funnel design?
How willing am I to learn?
How fast am I able to go?
Is writing a hobby or a business for me?
It’s a common misconception that I think indie publishing is the only way. The truth is I am all-in on indie publishing for me. For Sterling & Stone, it doesn’t make sense to go Traditional. We’ve tried.
Our four traditionally published books are like the redheaded stepchildren of our studio. We can’t control the content, the Calls to Action (CTAs) at the back of the book, or a single element of our marketing.
Our traditionally published books have a few infuriating typos that we’ve begged our publisher to correct. We’ve been told that this is too ‘high touch.’ Yet books we publish ourselves can have typos corrected in hours.
Our traditionally published books have CTAs at the back telling the reader where the publisher wants them to go, not deeper into the author’s catalog. Books we publish ourselves set our readers on a natural path leading from buyer to reader to fan to evangelist.
Our traditionally published books are poorly marketed, and there’s nothing we can do to fix it. We can’t change the cover or the product description. We can’t adjust our pricing. We can do exactly dick, so the (lack of) revenue on those titles mocks us from afar.
Most of the strategies we use to sell our own books don’t work for traditional titles – and even if they did, why would we try them? Why spend good money on traffic to a 15% royalty where we control none of the variables, when we could send that same traffic to a book that’s earning us 70%, where we can also measure, track, and improve our results?
We would never ROI – we’d just be flinging our hard-earned money into the publisher’s golden toilet. And that would be lunacy.
Besides, I want my fingers in the clay from beginning to end. I love the entrepreneurial part as much as the artistry of what we do. So does everyone in our studio.
So independent publishing makes sense for us.
But for other authors — authors who want to write, write, write, going from one book to the next without worrying about any of the publishing minutiae — a traditional deal might make more sense.
You have to choose the path that’s right for you.”
Continue reading @ Sterling & Stone »
Matt Tomerlin
Member Area • Content
Matt Tomerlin Wordpreneur Peeps Interview
Matt Tomerlin was born in 1979 in sunny Southern California. He has written two novels, The Devil’s Fire and The Devil’s Tide, both part of a pirate adventure series. He is currently working on The Devil’s Horizon and a science fiction novel. Matt resides in Murrieta, California, where he works as a freelance graphic designer when he isn’t writing.
How Matt Got Started Self-Publishing
When he was between jobs several years back, Matt started researching pirates in great detail and decided to write a dark and realistic pirate novel. He had always been fascinated with pirates, and like everyone is a huge fan of the Pirates of the Caribbean Disneyland ride. He finished a rough draft, let a few friends read it, and then forgot all about it after landing a new job.
He did not revisit the book until 2011, when he noticed the ebook industry was booming. He quickly began polishing the novel, adding detail where he felt it moved too quickly, and wrote a few more chapters. “It was helpful to have a fresh perspective on it after so many years,” he says. Later that year, he published The Devil’s Fire on the Amazon Kindle platform and watched it gradually build momentum in sales. It wasn’t long before enthusiastic readers were demanding a sequel!
The first book ends on a bit of a question mark, and readers wanted to know where the main character, a brave young woman named Katherine Lindsay, would go from there. So this past summer, he published The Devil’s Tide on the Kindle, and saw immediate sales, thanks to the thousands who had already read the first book.
He is currently working on the third and final entry in the series, The Devil’s Horizon, which will be released in 2013.
Self-Publishing Observations and Tips
- “The ebook industry is still in its infancy, and it has nowhere to go but up.”
- “Quality control is a key issue. There are far too many indie writers who are rushing their work into the market just so they can make a quick buck, and readers are becoming understandably wary of that. Nothing stops the eye like a typo.”
- “The best advice I can give is edit, edit, edit. Get your friends to edit, or pay for an editor’s services, otherwise it will come back to haunt you.”
- “Word of mouth is the main key to success. Don’t just publish a story… publish a GOOD story. If it’s not an engaging read, it won’t make money.”
- “Anybody can write a story, but it takes hard work and a keen attention to detail to write well. Take your time and write something that you would want to read. If your story truly excites you, chances are it will excite someone else too.”
Learn more about Matt and his work by visiting his website where you can download a copy of his free ebook. Drop by his Amazon author page as well and check out his growing selection of popular titles.
Originally published: December 11, 2012
Failure? Heck No!
“I haven’t failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” ~Thomas Edison
Put this design and message on your wall, wear it on your shirt, enjoy your coffee from it, and more!
Entrepreneur
“Can’t you give me just 1 tip (for getting book reviews)?” she asked
“The other day a newly published author who had befriended me 5 minutes earlier asked me if I could give her just one tip how to get book reviews from Amazon top reviewers.
I told her to read my book.
She came back with, ‘Can’t you give me just 1 tip?’
Hmm… Apparently this author was not aware how much in demand these reviews are; on average Hall-of-Fame reviewers get 250+ review requests per month.
So, I told her that getting a book reviewed by an Amazon top reviewer isn’t a ‘1-tip thing,’ especially if the book did not have any reviews yet. Getting reviews is a challenging task that encompasses many steps; which is why my book has 100 pages.
She immediately un-friended me.
I guess that says it all. Just another wannabe author who does not really want to learn the trade. The indie author industry is overrun with people like that. The sooner they get out and make room for the people who really hone their craft and all skills, the better for all.
Of course, from experience I know that most indie authors work a lot harder than this one.
So, here is one tip for authors whose books received already a few reviews (including from top reviewers).
‘Like/find helpful’ the reviewers’ reviews!!!”
Continue reading @ Gisela’s Straightforward Blog »
“Self-Made” is a Myth; Here’s the Real Formula for Success
“[T]hat’s what most people get wrong. They never learn how to reach out. You’ve got to be willing to put yourself out there…”
» Medium
$4,344.81 in 40 Days with my Fiction Book Only Spending $30 on Advertising
“I had a plan. A big plan. Heck, I had the plan of the universe — to sell thousands of copies of my new release Science Fiction book, Project Atlantis, during the first month I published it.
This plan started six months before I started writing the book. The plan entailed rapidly finishing three books in a series — Project Atlantis, Destination Atlantis, and Colony Atlantis — and once it had been edited, beta-read, and sent out to my ARC reviewers, I’d release Project Atlantis, then Destination Atlantis seven days later, and Colony Atlantis fourteen days after Destination Atlantis. Additionally, I’d have the fourth book, Beyond Atlantis, almost 100% written. Yet, I’d have Beyond Atlantis’s pre-order already up and running before Colony Atlantis was released, all the while dropping over $1500 dollars in Facebook Ads, Amazon Ads, and on Promo Sites, and whatever else I could get my greedy paws on.
Well, I did none of the above.
Here is what happened that led me to only spending $30 on Facebook and Amazon ads and how I was able to make $4,344.81 in 40 Days with my Fiction Book.”
Continue reading @ Medium »
10 Actionable WordPress Security Tips for the Layman
“[T]he more popular something is, the more people want to leverage on it for nefarious means… Fortunately, WordPress is a platform that offers you a multitude of opportunity to defend yourself.”
» WHSR
Indie Author/Publishing
“Can’t you give me just 1 tip (for getting book reviews)?” she asked
“The other day a newly published author who had befriended me 5 minutes earlier asked me if I could give her just one tip how to get book reviews from Amazon top reviewers.
I told her to read my book.
She came back with, ‘Can’t you give me just 1 tip?’
Hmm… Apparently this author was not aware how much in demand these reviews are; on average Hall-of-Fame reviewers get 250+ review requests per month.
So, I told her that getting a book reviewed by an Amazon top reviewer isn’t a ‘1-tip thing,’ especially if the book did not have any reviews yet. Getting reviews is a challenging task that encompasses many steps; which is why my book has 100 pages.
She immediately un-friended me.
I guess that says it all. Just another wannabe author who does not really want to learn the trade. The indie author industry is overrun with people like that. The sooner they get out and make room for the people who really hone their craft and all skills, the better for all.
Of course, from experience I know that most indie authors work a lot harder than this one.
So, here is one tip for authors whose books received already a few reviews (including from top reviewers).
‘Like/find helpful’ the reviewers’ reviews!!!”
Continue reading @ Gisela’s Straightforward Blog »
“Self-Made” is a Myth; Here’s the Real Formula for Success
“[T]hat’s what most people get wrong. They never learn how to reach out. You’ve got to be willing to put yourself out there…”
» Medium
$4,344.81 in 40 Days with my Fiction Book Only Spending $30 on Advertising
“I had a plan. A big plan. Heck, I had the plan of the universe — to sell thousands of copies of my new release Science Fiction book, Project Atlantis, during the first month I published it.
This plan started six months before I started writing the book. The plan entailed rapidly finishing three books in a series — Project Atlantis, Destination Atlantis, and Colony Atlantis — and once it had been edited, beta-read, and sent out to my ARC reviewers, I’d release Project Atlantis, then Destination Atlantis seven days later, and Colony Atlantis fourteen days after Destination Atlantis. Additionally, I’d have the fourth book, Beyond Atlantis, almost 100% written. Yet, I’d have Beyond Atlantis’s pre-order already up and running before Colony Atlantis was released, all the while dropping over $1500 dollars in Facebook Ads, Amazon Ads, and on Promo Sites, and whatever else I could get my greedy paws on.
Well, I did none of the above.
Here is what happened that led me to only spending $30 on Facebook and Amazon ads and how I was able to make $4,344.81 in 40 Days with my Fiction Book.”
Continue reading @ Medium »
10 Actionable WordPress Security Tips for the Layman
“[T]he more popular something is, the more people want to leverage on it for nefarious means… Fortunately, WordPress is a platform that offers you a multitude of opportunity to defend yourself.”
