Self publishing opportunities made available by Amazon continue to flourish. A key part of these developments are the model and the tools Amazon provides us. Yet, beware, not all self publishing efforts equally benefit from these opportunities. Some tips on how to make the most of your efforts at self publishing on Amazon follow.
The numbers are pretty revealing. Analysis of U.S. ISBN data shows the number of self-published titles in 2012 increasing to an excess of 391,000. As a percentage, this figure is up 59 percent over 2011 and 422 percent over 2007.
There's no doubt that this remarkable expansion has been fueled by the e-book. In 2012 e-books were 40 percent of all those self published ISBNs. That's an increase of 11 percent since 2007: a 400 percent increase in 5 years.
For the aspiring, self publishing, author these numbers point to two obvious facts. One, the opportunities have never been greater. And, two, neither has been the competition.
As the field thickens it becomes ever more imperative for you to distinguish yourself. If you're self publishing on Amazon, you have some tools that need to be optimized. It would be self defeating to do otherwise. Here are three things to consider. They won't guarantee success of your book, but they will prevent putting yourself at a disadvantage from the get-go.
First, on your author's page you are given the opportunity to post a photo. A surprising number of authors chose to post cover art. Don't do this unless your cover is a picture of you. That's what readers want to see.
Authors assume no one wants to see how they look. It's all about the work, right? However, the research reveals that assumption is exactly wrong. A feeling of personalized connection to the author can be a key consideration among prospective readers. It can make the difference in whether they lay down the dollars to buy your book. Your pride in your cover art is lovely, but it is some sense of a connection to you that will likely be the deal breaker or maker.
Classic, shoulders-up, head shots are generally the best. Obviously it helps if you're good looking, so don't be hesitant about choosing your most flattering shot. But, whatever you look like, a personal photo is better than not having one. And do be sure to smile at the camera! (And, no sunglasses!)
A second point for your author's page is the field that invites you to say a little about yourself. Too many authors are much too lackadaisical about this opportunity. Does your book really speak for itself?
Alas, however great your book is, it can't speak for itself if no one reads it! Your mission, dear author, should you choose to accept it, is to actually prompt a potential reader to read it. A conviction that the author who wrote it is interesting enough to have something to say that is worth reading goes some way in that direction.
You're a writer, right? So write. Make yourself sound interesting. And an emphasis upon those aspects of your personality and biography that would make you a good candidate to produce a revealing and compelling book on the topic of your actual book is a good idea.
If it's a travel book, what is your travel resume? If it's a detective novel set in 1970s London, what's your interest in or knowledge of the time period? If it's a how-to book, what about your background should instill a feeling of confidence that you know how? You get the idea.
Last, but, I assure you, very far from least, consider your book's description. Some self publishing authors initially balk at this when I say it, but it's the truth: writing your book's description is more challenging than the writing of your book - at least sentence by sentence. Think about it. After they've already invested their hard earned cash into buying your book, most readers will give you at least 20 pages or so to convince them to continue. In your book description, where they have nothing invested, you have about 20-30 seconds to win them over. The occasional instance of flawed prose may slip by in the book; it won't here. It'll cost you readers and money.
Again, the book can't speak for itself until prospective readers have bought it. Until then, you've got to speak for it. The short version is simply this: all in a few sentences, you have tell them, entice them and show them.
It would (and indeed has) taken a whole separate article to explain how to get these book descriptions right. If you want the detailed explanation of what's involved, check out my article dedicated to doing your book description well.
Attention to these three matters is essential to avoid taking yourself right out of the game from the start. Self publishing on Amazon is an opportunity and a challenge. You have to meet the latter to benefit from the former.
The numbers are pretty revealing. Analysis of U.S. ISBN data shows the number of self-published titles in 2012 increasing to an excess of 391,000. As a percentage, this figure is up 59 percent over 2011 and 422 percent over 2007.
There's no doubt that this remarkable expansion has been fueled by the e-book. In 2012 e-books were 40 percent of all those self published ISBNs. That's an increase of 11 percent since 2007: a 400 percent increase in 5 years.
For the aspiring, self publishing, author these numbers point to two obvious facts. One, the opportunities have never been greater. And, two, neither has been the competition.
As the field thickens it becomes ever more imperative for you to distinguish yourself. If you're self publishing on Amazon, you have some tools that need to be optimized. It would be self defeating to do otherwise. Here are three things to consider. They won't guarantee success of your book, but they will prevent putting yourself at a disadvantage from the get-go.
First, on your author's page you are given the opportunity to post a photo. A surprising number of authors chose to post cover art. Don't do this unless your cover is a picture of you. That's what readers want to see.
Authors assume no one wants to see how they look. It's all about the work, right? However, the research reveals that assumption is exactly wrong. A feeling of personalized connection to the author can be a key consideration among prospective readers. It can make the difference in whether they lay down the dollars to buy your book. Your pride in your cover art is lovely, but it is some sense of a connection to you that will likely be the deal breaker or maker.
Classic, shoulders-up, head shots are generally the best. Obviously it helps if you're good looking, so don't be hesitant about choosing your most flattering shot. But, whatever you look like, a personal photo is better than not having one. And do be sure to smile at the camera! (And, no sunglasses!)
A second point for your author's page is the field that invites you to say a little about yourself. Too many authors are much too lackadaisical about this opportunity. Does your book really speak for itself?
Alas, however great your book is, it can't speak for itself if no one reads it! Your mission, dear author, should you choose to accept it, is to actually prompt a potential reader to read it. A conviction that the author who wrote it is interesting enough to have something to say that is worth reading goes some way in that direction.
You're a writer, right? So write. Make yourself sound interesting. And an emphasis upon those aspects of your personality and biography that would make you a good candidate to produce a revealing and compelling book on the topic of your actual book is a good idea.
If it's a travel book, what is your travel resume? If it's a detective novel set in 1970s London, what's your interest in or knowledge of the time period? If it's a how-to book, what about your background should instill a feeling of confidence that you know how? You get the idea.
Last, but, I assure you, very far from least, consider your book's description. Some self publishing authors initially balk at this when I say it, but it's the truth: writing your book's description is more challenging than the writing of your book - at least sentence by sentence. Think about it. After they've already invested their hard earned cash into buying your book, most readers will give you at least 20 pages or so to convince them to continue. In your book description, where they have nothing invested, you have about 20-30 seconds to win them over. The occasional instance of flawed prose may slip by in the book; it won't here. It'll cost you readers and money.
Again, the book can't speak for itself until prospective readers have bought it. Until then, you've got to speak for it. The short version is simply this: all in a few sentences, you have tell them, entice them and show them.
It would (and indeed has) taken a whole separate article to explain how to get these book descriptions right. If you want the detailed explanation of what's involved, check out my article dedicated to doing your book description well.
Attention to these three matters is essential to avoid taking yourself right out of the game from the start. Self publishing on Amazon is an opportunity and a challenge. You have to meet the latter to benefit from the former.
About the Author:
If you're an aspiring self publisher, you need to stay on top of all the hottest scoop at Self Publishing on Amazon . Lance Fallbrook writes on writing and writers at a variety of writing related blogs. Check out his controversial list of top 20 most famous American authors .
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