As I've done more and more research into the world of self publishing, I am running across numerous authors who claim to be "best selling" authors. But on further investigation, I find out that their book is free. They are charging $0.00 for their work.
How in anyone's reality does that qualify as a "best selling" anything?
I can stand on the corner and give away candy all day and you best believe by the end of the day, I will not have one piece of candy left.
Did I actually "sell" anything or did I just give stuff away?
I was a bartender and I've spent years in direct retail sales. I've sold t-shirts and I've sold second hand stuff at online auction sites and flea markets. I have a pretty good idea of what selling is versus giving away freebies. I know at the end of the day whether I've put actual money in my pocket or not.
Personally, I don't particularly consider these freebie authors as great salespeople for giving away thousands of copies of a free e-book. However, if I give out a free sample of my work and that ultimately converts into an actual sale, an actual monetary transaction that makes a profit in exchange for goods and services, then the freebie attributed to the sale.
But the fact remains, a freebie is a freebie.
Handing out a million copies of a free book doesn't make me a best selling author. That might make me a fabulous communicator. It makes me a top notch distributor of free digitally printed material. But basically, it makes me a pamphleteer, nothing more.
Teenagers used to write newsletters on topics like comic books and rock and roll, photocopy them and send them out to all their friends or anybody who asked for one. How is putting out a free e-book any different?
Beyond a massive ego stroke, I think a lot of new authors are kidding themselves. Are any of the readers really buying into this hype? I wonder.
I'm a "best selling author" if my other material, that I charge for, actually sells in high numbers. I expect nothing less out of myself and my work once it's published. I will chart the results of that work, just as I charted the results of anything else I've sold.
A free book can be an effective marketing piece. A free book is an excellent introduction to a writer and their ideas. But if it doesn't convert into some actual barter or currency, it's not a sale.
That you can bank on.
Here's to your real prosperity in self-publishing!
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Educate Your Readers - You Don't Need a Kindle to Read e-books
Here's our reaction to something that was just tweeted by @RachelintheOC aka Rachel Thompson (Follow her!)
A book club wanted to read her e-book but didn't have Kindles, so they didn't realize that they could read the e-book using free apps.
It makes me wonder how many other authors haven't received a review based upon the same lack of information about e-book reading technology.
I have always personally been of the opinion, if ONE person actually verbalizes a problem, then there could be dozens, if not hundreds out there not verbalizing and just giving up.
Can you as an author or a publisher take that chance??? I didn't think so.
This is a big red promotional flag for everyone who puts out an e-book! Attention authors and publishers putting out e-books - you still must educate the readers on all the ways that your e-book can be accessed!
1. Amazon has free kindle apps that you can use on your pc and other devices. No actual purchase of a Kindle is necessary. Though in the future, if you read e-books frequently, a Kindle is probably a great idea!
Here is the link for Amazon's FREE READING APPS: Amazon FREE Kindle reading apps - get yours now!
Here are the devices you can currently use:
- Kindle Cloud Reader: Read instantly in your browser
- Smartphones: iPhone & iPod touch Android Windows Phone BlackBerry
- Computers: Mac Windows 8 Windows 7, XP & Vista
- Tablets: iPad Android Tablet Windows 8
Here is the link for Barnes & Noble's Nook FREE READING APPS: Free Barnes & Noble Nook Reading Apps
If you want to go totally free, there is also one of the most amazing e-readers out there, Calibre.
The functionality of Calibre is fantastic. It reads a wide variety of electronic formats and allows you to tag and customize your books to your heart's content.
If you have any questions about Calbre there are demos on the website, on YouTube and they have a great technical community.
Every author and every publisher should have a page on their website that explains how to get the apps so the e-books can be read. Take the time to educate your readers. Don't allow any potential fan to be discouraged for even one moment! They could become your lifelong supporter.
Educate, educate, educate! Inform, inform, inform!
Now if only we can get all the libraries up to date with e-readers. It will happen!
Contact your local library, tell them you are an author or publisher and if you are technically savvy, see if you can help them with their e-reader questions!
Good luck and PROMOTE!
Free Amazon eBook - Building Your Book for Kindle
How to Build Your eBook for Kindle - Free Amazon Book
This Free ebook from Amazon will guide you through the steps on how to format your book for Kindle using Microsoft Word 2010.Topics Include:
• Before You Write
• Building the Front Matter of Your Book• Building Your Table of Contents
• Preparing a Cover
• Finishing Your Book
• Uploading and Checking the Quality of Your Book
• Just Before Publishing Your Book
• Making Changes After Publishing Your Book
http://www.amazon.com/Building-Your-Book-Kindle-ebook/dp/B007URVZJ6/ref=sr_1_8?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1378844113&sr=1-8&keywords=top+100+store
A MUST have for anyone interested self-publishing on Amazon.
Topics Covered: self-publish, self-published, self-publishing, Kindle, Amazon, format, book, author, writer, ebook, cover art , publishing, publish, write,
Additional Note by Dylan A. Kent:
If you go to this page by Kindle Direct Publishing - you will find this free ebook in other languages: Portuguese, Japanese, Italian, German and French Building Your Book for Kindle in Different Languages
Introduction to Self-Publishing Class in Manchester England
Introduction to Self-Publishing Class in Manchester England November 30 2013
This masterclass in self-publishing is being held in association with the University of Salford.
Masterclass will cover the book marketplace, the economics of self-publishing, the publishing process and selling your book. Cost is £99 if you register by October 9 and £119 after that.
If anyone attends and would recommend this class if given please let us know in the comments section.
Topics Covered: self-publish, self-published, self-publishing, masterclass, class, books, marketplace, marketing, money, sales, selling, Manchester, England
Monday, September 9, 2013
Why a Traditionally Published Author Is Now Self Publishing
Why Best Selling Author, Frank Schaeffer is Not Publishing with Traditional Publishing Houses.
This is an interesting article and makes a great case for self-publishing. Personally, I'm not sure that I would trust a service to aggregate all my royalties for me and then give me a cut. I'd like to set up my own Amazon account and accounts with other distributors myself. But to each his own, I suppose.
Read it, if only for a double push towards your own self-publishing career!
Why Frank Schaeffer Is Self Publishing
This is an interesting article and makes a great case for self-publishing. Personally, I'm not sure that I would trust a service to aggregate all my royalties for me and then give me a cut. I'd like to set up my own Amazon account and accounts with other distributors myself. But to each his own, I suppose.
Read it, if only for a double push towards your own self-publishing career!
Why Frank Schaeffer Is Self Publishing
Sunday, September 8, 2013
Need A Short-Print Run for Your Self-Published Book?
From Mediashift's Carla King: 4 places to get a short-run printing of your book.
Some excellent suggestions for self-published ebook authors who want hard copies.
http://www.pbs.org/mediashift/2013/08/four-places-to-order-a-short-run-printing-of-your-book/
http://www.pbs.org/mediashift/2013/08/four-places-to-order-a-short-run-printing-of-your-book/
Topics covered: self-publish, self-published, self-publishing, ebook, author, writer, print book, short run, CreateSpace, 48 Hour Books, Bookbaby, Lightning Source
Smashwords - 250,000 Book Titles and Counting
In 2009 Smashwords the ebook publisher started with 140 titles. As of this year, 2013, they are up to 250,000 books.
WOW!http://www.mediabistro.com/appnewser/smashwords-publishes-250000th-book-partners-with-oyster-the-spotify-of-ebooks_b40276
Topics covered: self-publish, self-published, self-publishing, Smashwords, ebook, sales, titles, catalog
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