Avoid the Pitfalls and Publish for Profit
In the world of book publishing, successful selling can feel just out of reach, leaving many aspiring ‘indie’ publishers feeling frustrated. How should we navigate the many-pathed woods of book publishing and marketing?
It’s not enough to know how to publish a book on Kindle. With 1.5 million more books added each year, that’s akin to throwing an empty hook into a vast sea. If you want to take a piece of the international book reader money pie, you’ll need to understand market segments and how to focus your efforts.
With tips for avoiding the many pitfalls and a section on writing tips, learn from author/publisher Jennifer Lancaster how to position your micro publishing house for success.
Get ready for the truth… and find out how you can beat the odds to earn an income from books.
Table of Contents
The Preface…............................................................................................................................
Are You Ready for the Truth?...................................................................................................
Publishing Myths and Assumptions, Busted!..............................................................................
A Business Mindset Shift.....................................................................................................
Publishing Business Model Choices..................................................................................
- Traditional Publishing........................................................................................................
- Self-Publishing...................................................................................................................
- Hybrid or Vanity Publishing...............................................................................................
- Micro Publishing................................................................................................................
- Print on Demand (POD)......................................................................................................
- Crowdfunding.....................................................................................................................
- Collaborative Publishing.....................................................................................................
Tips for Independent Publishing in Australia..........................................................................
- Fearlessly Buy Your ISBNs.....................................................................................................
- Micro Publishing in Depth....................................................................................................
- Structure of the Publishing House...........................................................................................
- Insurance...............................................................................................................................
- Bookkeeping..........................................................................................................................
- The Low vs High Content Debate............................................................................................
Suggested Budget Breakdown.................................................................................................
- Ghostwriters and Editors?.......................................................................................................
- Make a Valid Publishing Contract............................................................................................
Markets, Not Marketplaces......................................................................................................
It’s Demand and Supply, Damn Fool!
Market Strategy......................................................................................................................
Alternative Marketing Strategies..............................................................................................
Memoirs or Biography – a Little More Humble.......................................................................
What Influences Book Buying?...............................................................................................
Reading Patterns.....................................................................................................................
Ins and Outs of Audiobooks....................................................................................................
Marketing.................................................................................................................................
- Go-To-Market Plan..................................................................................................................
- Marketing Tasks by Timeline..................................................................................................
- Part 1: Making Stories.............................................................................................................
- Part 2: Making Images............................................................................................................
Marketing Secrets and Optimisation.......................................................................................
Publisher Website
1: Check out all Book Listings across all Retailer Sites
2: Get Reviews via Niche Bloggers
3: Write Articles with Sales Page Links
4: Run a Reader Giveaway
5. Build a Community First
6. Analyse Categories but don’t Paralyse
7. Paid Shortcut: Launch Tools
8. Advertising and Promotion: KDP
9. Make Friends with Meta
The ‘Cheap eBook’ Strategy....................................................................................................
- The ‘Viral Message’ Book Strategy.........................................................................................
Sell More, with a Great Blurb..................................................................................................
Sales Funnels - the Hidden Secrets of the Online Gurus.........................................................
- Why are Author Newsletters a Dream Tactic?..........................................................................
- ‘Free to Buy, Pay to Ship’ Sales Funnel...................................................................................
Publishing Tools - for Micros & Author Agents.....................................................................
- PublishDrive..........................................................................................................................
- Ways to Sell Books Directly....................................................................................................
- Kobo Writing Life or Draft2Digital?........................................................................................
- Publishing Tools for Self-Published Authors..........................................................................
- Audiobooks with ACX Tools..................................................................................................
- Google Play Books – free Narration.........................................................................................
- New IngramSpark Decisions...................................................................................................
- Making Smart Royalty Decisions -- IngramSpark.....................................................................
- For Those Going through KDP Print........................................................................................
- Pleasing Retailers & Suppliers.................................................................................................
Reviews....................................................................................................................................
Writing Hacks to Save Time...................................................................................................
- Research Before You Write.....................................................................................................
- Organising Your Topics with Mind Mapping............................................................................
- Editing the Book.....................................................................................................................
- Little Black Book – Book Freelancers....................................................................................