Bob Baker's Book Promotion Blog

Making Money Online: 3 Steps for Authors

There's a LOT of wisdom in this short excerpt from Darren Rowse's latest post about his new blogging venture:


... monetization is not my main focus at this point. My initial focus is more around:

1. developing quality content
2. building an audience
3. building community

In my experience, monetization comes more easily once you've got those other three elements in place.



Darren may be talking about blogs, but these three key steps apply to authors and their books as well:
  • Freely share bite-sized chunks of what you write about (and make sure it's meaningful for the intended reader)
  • Allow those free samples to get passed around, attract attention, and build an audience
  • Let that growing audience interact with you and each other -- thereby building a community around your topic
Are you doing this with your book or blog?

I welcome your thoughts in the Comments section below.

-Bob

P.S. Did you enjoy this blog post? Get more tips like these when you subscribe to my Full-Time Author ezine -- filled with even more book promotion tips and author career-building advice. Go grab your free subscription now.

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ISBN 101 for Authors & Self-Publishers

Here's the beginning of another helpful post from Joel Friedlander:

"One of the parts of book publishing that seems to confound newcomers to the field is the purpose and use of the International Standard Book Number (ISBN). Usually the ISBN appears to be the same thing as the ubiquitous Bookland EAN scanable barcode that graces the back covers of almost all books printed today.

"Not only that, but since the rise of companies that perform publishing services for authors, there has been even more confusion about whether you need to own your own ISBN, whether free ISBNs from these companies are "just as good" as getting your own ISBN, and if it's a good idea to buy ISBNs from re-sellers who offer lower prices for a single number.

"Let's review the basics of this unique identifier and explain what is so important about it, how it benefits self-publishers, and when you can safely forget about it."


Read the entire post at thebookdesigner.com

-Bob

P.S. Did you enjoy this blog post? Get more tips like these when you subscribe to my Full-Time Author ezine -- filled with even more book promotion tips and author career-building advice. Go grab your free subscription now.

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3 Steps to Effective Book Promotion - Free Download

This free report is an excerpt from the book 55 Ways to Promote and Sell Your Book on the Internet.

You can also listen to and download a free MP3 audio version of this report at this Internet Book Promotion Podcast page.


3 Steps to Effective Book Promotion

Here's a simple question for you:

What is book marketing?

Sure, you know it's something you have to do. You have at least some grasp of what is it. You recognize it when you see it (most of the time). But at its most basic level, can you explain what it is?

And more importantly, can you spell out the basic elements of effective book marketing? Because, after all, if you're going to invest your time and energy in Internet promotion, it better be effective. Right?

To read the rest of the report, download the free 4-page PDF file using this 3 Steps to Effective Book Promotion link.

Enjoy!

-Bob

P.S. Did you enjoy this blog post? Get more tips like these when you subscribe to my Full-Time Author ezine -- filled with even more book promotion tips and author career-building advice. Go grab your free subscription now.

Get more tips and inspiration when you subscribe to my free "Full-Time Author" ezine. I'll even send you a free download of my Self-Publishing Confidential report. Learn more about the free subscription here.


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How to Become a Book Marketing Ninja

To be effective in today's noisy world, you can't be lazy when it comes to marketing and selling your books. You have to stretch your thinking and your methods. You must break old paradigms and shatter trusted formulas.

You must become a book marketing ninja!



Here are three ways to do that:

1) Reconsider all of your marketing tactics. One of the biggest promotional mistakes you can make is doing something just because that's the way it's always been done before. Just because everyone else pursues book reviews, bookstore distribution, library sales, and media exposure in a certain way (or even Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn), that doesn't mean you have to.

Your marketing decisions should be based on what's best for your particular situation, genre, target fan base, etc. Don't mindlessly follow the flock. Be different. Think creatively. Get focused on how you can most effectively reach new readers and fans -- regardless of how the established authors or "experts" (including me) say it needs to be done.

2) Think in terms of opposites. Make a list of all the specific things that major book publishers and mainstream authors do to promote their books. Then imagine what would happen if you did the exact opposite.

What if you never did public appearances or book signings? Or made your books available only on USB drives? What if you were mysterious and never displayed your photo and never did interviews? Or ... what if you did book readings live only on tennis courts, city buses or roller coasters? In short, what could you do to radically set yourself apart?

3) Redefine your small-scale, independent status. One of the reasons independently published authors feel they need to "act" like they are traditionally published is because of an inferiority complex. Without a publisher's or a literary agent's official backing, indie authors often feel they're imposters and aren't worthy of pursuing their dreams.

Guess what? That's nonsense!

Embrace your independence! Don't hide it. Flaunt it! As an indie, you have the unique ability to communicate on a far more personal level with your fans. You get to call the shots and control your destiny. You have freedom. Celebrate it!

And let your fans know you are doing this on your own, and how much you appreciate their help. Make them a part of your success story. So don't you dare shy away from your independent status.

If you agree (or disagree), please leave your thoughts in the Comments section.

-Bob

P.S. Did you enjoy this blog post? Get more tips like these when you subscribe to my Full-Time Author ezine -- filled with even more book promotion tips and author career-building advice. Go grab your free subscription now.

The ninja photo above is by Seth Werkheiser.

Get more tips and inspiration when you subscribe to my free "Full-Time Author" ezine. I'll even send you a free download of my Self-Publishing Confidential report. Learn more about the free subscription here.


Or just sign up using this quick and easy form:

Your First Name
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