Tag Archives: self published

Kindle Select Self-Publishing Writing

Maximizing Free Days on Kindle Select

January 25, 2012 – 1:00 am

KindleFire-MainMenuI recently gave Kindle Select a try and enjoyed some pretty amazing results.  I offered my new romance novel, Nickels, free for a Wed. and Thurs.  During those days, it had over 29,500 downloads in 6 countries.  It ranked #3 on overall Kindle Free best seller list, #1 in Kindle Free Fiction, #1 in Religious Fiction, and #1 in Contemporary Romance.

In the first two days following the free days, I sold over 700 copies and had over 190 borrows from Prime members.  My sales ranking has gone as high as #125 in Kindle Paid and #1 in Religious Fiction.

How did I do it?  By maximizing the use of my free days and promoting like crazy.

Here’s my checklist to help make the most of your Kindle Select Free Days.

Before Your Free Days

1. Sign up for KDP Select.

2. Schedule your free days.  Consider scheduling on a Wed / Thurs or just Thurs to capitalize on the exposure.  Big sales days in a week are Fri, Sat, Sun.  So don’t give it away free on those days.

3. Send requests to following to get your free book listed.  Do this a few days ahead of time to give the site owners time to post your book.

4.  Add a Goodreads event and send it to all of your Goodreads friends.

On Your Free Days

1. Post on Facebook pages on your free day(s):

2.  Add “Kindle Freebie” and “Kindle Free” tags to your book on Amazon page.

3.  Post about your free book on your other social networking sites (Linked In, Stumble Upon, Triberr, Google+, etc.)

4.  Tweet like crazy.

5.  Get authors in your cross promotion group to tweet like crazy (and thank them for it).

6.  Send email newsletter.

7.  Post about it on your blog.

8.  Get your mouse-clicking refresh-button-hitting finger ready to watch the downloads roll in!

After Your Free Days

1.  Don’t lower your price.  You just did a lot of hard work to generate sales by offering it free.  Keep your book at regular price and enjoy the higher royalties on the new wave of sales.

2.  Keep up the momentum for a few days.  If your free days ended before the weekend, keep up strong promotion efforts (through social networking) through the weekend.

 

Christian Genre Specific sites:

Do you know of any genre specific sites?  If you’d like to share them, please leave a comment below.  Thanks!

Self-published author, Karen Baney, enjoys sharing information to help authors learn about the Business of Writing.  She holds a Masters of Business Administration from Arizona State University and has worked in various business related career fields for the past 20 years.  She writes Christian Historical Fiction and Contemporary Romance novels.  For more information about Karen’s books, visit her Amazon Page.

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Writing

Editing For the Self Published Author

January 18, 2012 – 1:00 am

Sometimes it feels like editing should be a four letter word.  As authors, we hate it.  Some of us are very bad at it.  But it is a necessary evil—even more so for a self published author.

There are many different ways to get good editing without costing a fortune.  One of the things I do is swap editing with other authors.  I have one author who edits all my books.  In exchange, I edit hers and give her advice on how to self publish.

What about your network of contacts?  Do you have any former English teachers, professors, or editors in your network?  If so, think about approaching them for editing help.

Take some time to brush up on your own editing skills.  Even after I get my work back from my editors, I make changes and read through my manuscript several more times.  I find things they missed or things I messed up when I made an edit they suggested.  By spending a little time brushing up on my grammar, punctuation, etc., I am constantly sharpening my skills.

Of course, you can always hire a professional editor.  There are many out there.  If you do decide to go this route, get a recommendation or see if you can get them to edit a sample for you.  Make sure you get your money’s worth.

Lastly, when a reader inevitably finds something in your final published work, don’t stress about it.  Just take some time to fix it and re-upload it.  No matter how many times a book passes through editing, there are always little things that get missed.  Give yourself permission to be slightly less than perfect.  After all, you’re only human.

 

Self-published author, Karen Baney, enjoys sharing information to help authors learn about the Business of Writing.  She holds a Masters of Business Administration from Arizona State University and has worked in various business related career fields for the past 20 years.  She writes Christian Historical Fiction and Contemporary Romance novels.  For more information about Karen’s books, visit her Amazon Page.

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Self-Publishing Writing

Tips for Finding an Artist

November 18, 2011 – 1:00 am

When I needed advice for finding and working with artists, I turned to Jim Baney, CEO & Co-founder of Knightvision Games (also my hubby).   He and his business partner have produced numerous role playing game modules for the past year and a half.  They work with many artists scattered all over the world to provide everything from full color cover art to interior black & white line art.  His tips worked well for me, so I hope you get some great ideas from his guest post today.

 

I started a gaming company almost a year and half ago and needed to have some art created for my games.  After searching the almighty Google.com, I found some great resources to find artists within my budget, which isn’t much.  The first thing I found out was that artists are artists and not business people.  They have a hard time coming up with commission rates for different types of artwork.  Sometimes the same type of artwork can range from $10 to $100.

After becoming frustrated over this back and forth I decided to come up with an artist guideline on my website that explains exactly how much I will pay and for what.  Though, as a self published author, it might not make sense for you to post a page on your website, the idea still applies.  Tell the artist what you are willing to pay up front.  This helps end any negotiation and misinterpretation of emails.  If the artist says “no way, I can’t work for that rate”, I say, thank you very much, and there are more artist that will work for that rate.

I also use the email string as a contract.  Some artists don’t even ask for a contract, yet some do.  I never pay up front and explain that I pay within three business days of the final art rendering.

To get the art piece I need, I give a description of the scene or creature and let the artist use their imagination to come up with a rough draft.  This goes back and forth through several iterations.  Then I give the green light to proceed with a final piece.  I always reserve the right to make final changes.  I’ve never had an artist complain about this process.

Most of the artists I found are overseas (non-U.S).  They work fast and come up with some great concept art.  My company pays via PayPal in U.S. Dollars, which most overseas artist are glad to have.

Some great resources to find an artist:
1. Conceptart.org – Be aware, there can be a lot of nudity and NSFW (not suitable for work) “artwork” on this site.  However, this site has some artists that will knock you socks off.  Also a great site for inspiration.
2. Deviantart.com – I found this site to be of lesser quality work then conceptart.org.  Never the less I have found some great artists.
3. Believe it or not, Google Plus has been a great in finding illustrators and background artists. Just find a circle of artists and ask for some art submissions.

Jim Baney
CEO and Co-founder of Knightvision Games

To learn more about Knightvision Games, visit them at http://www.knightvisiongames.com, on Google + as JimBaney, or on Twitter.

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Business of Writing Self-Publishing Writing

How I Published My Book For $350

November 11, 2011 – 1:00 am

I recently attended an event where a company discussed how they could help an author self publish.  The total cost they quoted to help the individual publish was a minimum of $1800.  But they strongly encouraged writers to purchase a minimum quantity of books that brought the total to $3400.

What did the author get for $3400?  They receive editing services, original cover design, interior design, ISBN, barcode, and 215 paperback copies (they threw in 15 free copies) of their book.

I cringed.  I bit my tongue.  My heart flew out of my chest.  My stomach tightened into a giant knot.  I watched as dreams of the other authors shattered before my eyes.

My Publishing Costs

For my book, Prescott Pioneers 3: A Life Restored, here’s a breakdown of my publishing costs:

Item Cost
Cover Art  $         150.00
Editing  $           50.00
3 ISBNs*  $           75.00
Copyright filing fee  $           35.00
Paperback Pro fee  $           40.00
Total  $         350.00

*one for Kindle, one for epub, one for paperback

Is your jaw dropping?  Are you thinking to yourself: her cover must be crappy and the book full of editing mistakes.

While I can’t promise there are no errors in my books (even the big publishing houses miss things), I will tell you that I have two editors that line edit every book I produce.  I also go through it many, many times myself.  I have high standards for myself and strive to put out a high quality book.

As for the cover, see for yourself.  I can guarantee no one else has this cover.  The artist was commissioned to make this for me.  It fits with the genre of the book and many fans have exclaimed how much they love the cover.

How did I do it for so little cost?

Cover Art

I found my illustrator at ConceptArt.org (not suitable for work).  When I needed artwork for the first cover in my series, I posted an ad, including what I was willing to pay.  Though I paid far less than $150 for the first cover, I was glad to pay more for this cover because my illustrator did such a good job on the first two and I asked for something more complex this time.

Another great place to get cover art is iStockPhoto.  You can pay a fee for rights to use the image.  In some cases, you can pay an exclusivity fee meaning that no one else can use the image.

Do you have an art school nearby?  Consider contacting the school to see if you can connect with students who might be willing to work for free or a small cost.

Editing

One of my editors is also an aspiring author.  She and I have an agreement where we trade editing.  Since I feel she gets the raw end of the deal (she’s edited four of my books to her one), I agreed to help her get her book ready for publishing.  So, I traded time for services, instead of money.

The other editor is a special circumstance using my network of connections.  As I continue to make more sales, I send her gift cards to thank her.  For this one, it was a $50 gift card.

ISBNs

There are all sorts of opinions about ISBNs.  I decided to go with Bowker’s recommendation, which is one ISBN for each format: hardcover, paperback, Kindle, ePub, etc.  So, per book I have 3 ISBNs. Because I buy them in blocks of 10 for $250, my cost per book is only $75.

Copyright Filing Fee

The copyright filing fee is something I feel is necessary.  Again, there doesn’t seem to be a general consensus on if this is required.  My thoughts?  It’s only $35.  It doesn’t hurt to have your book on file with the copyright office just in case.  I’m willing to pay $35 for peace of mind.

Print On Demand

The line item “paperback pro fee” is the price that my print-on-demand (POD) provider charges me to get the paperback version into bookstores and on Amazon and B&N.

Also, I don’t have to purchase a minimum quantity of paperback books.  The provider I use charges me a lower price, so I can order copies for my inventory at cost (plus a small fee) instead of retail.  I don’t have a garage full of books warping in the Arizona heat.

What do I get for $350?

A fully produced book that is available on Amazon and B&N in both paperback and eBook.  It’s also available as an eBook on Apple, Sony, Kobo, and Diesel.  It’s been edited by two editors and it has a fully custom cover.

Can you do this for the same cost?  I believe you can if you are resourceful.  Use the power of your network.  Trade for services instead of paying a fee.  Look for creative ways to get cover art for low cost.

Like what you’ve read?  Leave a comment below or email Karen at info(at)karenbaney(dot)com or check out her books on her Amazon Page.

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Marketing Writing

The Business of Writing: Marketing Mix (Part 2)

March 28, 2011 – 6:29 pm

Yesterday we tackled two of the 4 P’s of the marketing mix: Product and Price.  Today, we’ll discuss how Place (Distribution) and Promotion fit into your overall marketing mix as an author.

Place (distribution)

As a self-published author, I am in complete control of which distribution channels I use.  I can choose to sell my book only on Amazon as an ebook, or I can choose to release it in multiple ebook formats.  I can distribute the book through a print-on-demand partner, reaching other channels.

Even if you are not self-published, understanding the different distribution channels available through your publisher can help you better reach your readers.  If your novel is a niche book, it might not make sense to choose a distribution channel that mass releases your book to hundreds of bookstores.  Your target market may be looking for books in your genre only on the internet.

If sales seem sluggish in your current distribution channels, consider adding a new channel.  If you are selling mostly ebooks on Amazon, perhaps it is time to make it available for the Nook, Sony eReader, Apple iBooks, Kobo, or Diesel.  Smashwords is a great distributor that can make the process easier for you by formatting your book for you and getting it out to all of these channels.  (They do take a share of your royalty, but you may decide it’s worth it for the convenience).

Promotion

How do I market my novel?  When most authors ask this question, they are really asking, “How do I promote my novel?”  The internet is full of ideas and suggestions for promoting your novel, so I won’t attempt to repeat what is out there.

The most important thing to consider when selecting your approach to promotion is:  Will this marketing effort reach my target market?  If the answer is “no,” then it is a waste of your time and money.  If the typical reader of your genre never watches TV, running a TV ad will be ineffective.  If they never listen to the radio, don’t run a radio spot.  Conversely, if they hang out on Goodreads and talk about how much they love different books in that genre—well, you might consider doing an author Q&A on Goodreads in conjunction with the launch of your latest novel.

Here’s another idea:  search the internet for the big name authors in your genre.  How do they promote their work?  Consider trying some of the things that they did.  For example, my novels are Christian Historical Fiction.  I recently found another bigger name in the genre that was doing a book blog tour.  I made note of what blogs their book appeared on.  Then, I looked on those reviewers’ blogs to see if they had a few other books in the same genre.  If they did, then I contacted them to see if they would review my book.  I know my target audience is already spending time reading their blogs, so this is a very effective marketing effort for me.

If your novel is a genre similar to a movie that is premiering in your local area (i.e. Twilight), then maybe you want to print out some fliers and hand them out as people are waiting in line to buy tickets.

The key with any promotional effort is learning to think like your target audience.  Find out where they spend their time and reach them where they are.  Think creatively, after all, you’re an author.  Your good at that.

Karen Baney has a Masters of Business Administration from Arizona State University.  In addition, she has studied Entrepreneurship.  She is actively applying these principles in her own business as a Christian Historical Fiction self-published author.

 Like what you’ve read?  Leave a comment below or email Karen at info(at)karenbaney(dot)com or check out her books on her Amazon Page.

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Marketing Self-Publishing Writing

The Business of Writing: Marketing Mix (Part 1)

March 27, 2011 – 7:05 pm

In any business, marketing mix is an important concept to understand in order to give your marketing plan the greatest chance of success.  Whether a company is selling laundry detergent or an author is selling a novel, the basics of marketing mix remain the same.

What is marketing mix?  Most business school textbooks breakdown marketing mix with these four P’s:

  1. Product
  2. Price
  3. Place (aka distribution)
  4. Promotion

When marketing your novel, it is very important to consider this mix, whether you are self-publishing, working with a small press, or contracted with a larger publishing company.  Price alone, while sometimes a strong influencer, will not drive the success of your novel.  Neither will the book (product) simply sell itself.  Let’s a take a closer look at each of these four areas.

Product (your novel and you)

As an author you are really selling two products whenever you release a book: you and your novel.  Your image as an author is critical in building repeat customers, whether you are releasing your first novel or your fiftieth.  Your platform and overall message is important to building you as a brand.

Your novel is the primary product and it should meet a market need.  If you are churning out the most amazing romance fiction, but if there is no distinction between your work and the work of thousands of other romance authors, what need of your customers are you meeting?  How are you meeting that need in a way that differentiates you from others?

Other aspects of the physical product play a part in the larger marketing mix.  Your novel’s cover art and design is the number one most recognizable aspect of your novel’s brand.  If the cover is not well done or eye catching, it could be hurting your sales.

Title of the work is another consideration.   What sort of title fits your book?  How does the title tie to a theme or a character?  Does it make sense?  Is it pronounceable?  Does it attract your target market?

Price

Pricing a book is a difficult consideration.  Many factors go into deciding the price.  What works for a romance novel might be underpriced for a thriller, so it’s good to understand pricing within your specific genre.  Ask yourself what the market will tolerate for a book similar in length in your genre in a particular format.  Consumers expect an ebook’s price to be lower than a paperback, which they expect to be lower than a hardcover.  In some cases, an ebook priced significantly lower than print version may generate more sales than one that tries to stay close to print version prices.

Playing with the price of your novel by offering discounts or offering a free ebook version can be a great way to reach new readers.  Offering a promotional price for too long of a period, or constantly changing the price, can have a negative effect—you can alienate customers who already purchased your novel at the higher price.

Tomorrow, I’ll wrap up this two part series on marketing mix by discussion the remaining two P’s: Place (Distribution) and Promotion.

Karen Baney has a Masters of Business Administration from Arizona State University.  In addition, she has studied Entrepreneurship.  She is actively applying these principles in her own business as a Christian Historical Fiction self-published author.

Like what you’ve read?  Leave a comment below or email Karen at info(at)karenbaney(dot)com or check out her books on her Amazon Page.

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