Here is a short bit from Jean Cogdell about overnight success – the key word she uses is patience. I also like the quote she has from Kate Morton.
Take a look:
Do you believe in the “overnight success” theory? | jean’s writing
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I had never heard of BookBub, The Fussy Librarian or the UK site, Whichbook.
See, I learned three new things today and maybe, so did you!
Your book blurb is very important, not as important as the cover but a close second.
I was at the Sterling North Book Festival this weekend selling my wares and after people stared at my covers for a few seconds, they picked up a book and read the back, even if I was talking to them.
Claude and Mathew Kadish give us some ideas for the piece on the back of your book, or the description for you ebook online (same thing). I agree with all the suggestions made (though I think 5 paragraphs is too long – 3, maybe 4 is about right) and I like the person’s suggestion in the comment section – go to a bookstore or library, look online at the book descriptions/blurbs on the back of the book for best-selling titles in your genre and take notes. Imitation is the best form of flattery!
I also think the open lines need to hook the reader, as well. Think – a jazzed version of your ‘elevator speech’ about your book.
Here is their list:
Claude Nougat’s Blog : How To Write A Smashing Book Description for Your Book:Tips from a Pro.
Kathleen Page says Endorsements, Guest blogging and email marketing are the three best strategies. I’m not sure this is a very helpful list for indie authors.
Endorsements – How easy is it to get other – well known – book endorsements? Not very. First, you have to be able to contact a well known author or publication, then you have to have them read your work, or at least part of it. Not an easy, if impossible, task if you don’t work with a agent or publishing house that has a reputation. I was actually able to contact a fairly famous author once because she lived by my in-laws. She gave up doing endorsements, so I was out of luck.
Guest Blogging – I have done guest blogs on quite a few sites and it might have given me a sale or two but that’s about it. I haven’t been impressed by this mode of marketing. I will continue to do them because I think they are an OK way to get your name out there, but not a great way to get sales, in my opinion.
Email marketing – I’ve read this numerous times, that this is the best way to market, but I really don’t like sending out “Buy my new Book!” email to people. I have and I will continue to do this because it might help my sales a bit, and I only do it every years or so when I come out with a new book, but I don’t like doing it because I personally don’t like getting these types of emails. People say that newsletters are the best way to market via email which is better than just a Buy my Book email, but takes A LOT more time, time that I don’t have. With a newsletter, you have to come up with content not related to selling you stuff 97% of the time and 3% of the time you can actually tell your subscribers about what you’re selling. (the percentages are made up, by the way). This, to me, is not a good investment in my time.
Anyway, those are just my opinions. Read what Kathleen has to say and decide for yourself.
This is a must read for any writers aspiring to self-publish thanks to Mark Coker from Smashwords and the RT Booklovers convention in Kansas City last week. Smashwords: New Smashwords Survey Helps Authors Sell More eBooks.
Some interesting ideas, some odd ones too (open a store front?)
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