Wheres the Money?

Ideas on Book Promotion

Ruth Ann Nordin

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Wheres the Money? - Smashwards Edition Pub ished by Ruth Ann Nordin at Smashwords !o"yri#ht $ %&'& by Ruth Ann Nordin A ri#hts reser(ed) No "art o* this book may be re"rodu+ed or transmitted in any *orm or by any means, e e+troni+ or me+hani+a , in+ udin# "hoto+o"yin#, re+ordin#, or by any in*ormation stora#e and retrie(a system, without "ermission in writin# *rom the +o"yri#ht owner) -his is a work o* non*i+tion) -he +ontents are based on the authors e."erien+e) -here are no "romises that what worked *or me wi work *or someone e se) -he ho"e is that other authors wi bene*it *rom the in*ormation "ro(ided) Smashwords Edition, /i+ense Notes0

-his ebook is i+ensed *or your "ersona en1oyment on y) -his ebook may not be re-so d or #i(en away to other "eo" e) I* you wou d ike to share this book with another "erson, " ease "ur+hase an additiona +o"y *or ea+h "erson you share it with) I* youre readin# this book and did not "ur+hase it, or it was not "ur+hased *or your use on y, then you shou d return to Smashwords)+om and "ur+hase your own +o"y) -hank you *or res"e+tin# the hard work o* this author) !o(er Photo $ !o"yri#ht Photo 2etty Ima#es) A reser(ed 3 4sed with "ermission) ri#hts

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Why Shou d 5ou /isten -o Me? Who am I to o**er any ad(i+e on book "romotion? We , I et my sa es re+ord s"eak *or me be+ause when it a +omes down to it, the "roo* is in the numbers) In %&'&, I re"orted about 6'7,8&& *rom book sa es as in+ome on my ta.es) About 6'9,9&& +ame *rom Ama:on ;4S<, about 6=& +ame *rom Ama:on ;4><, about 6%7&& *rom Smashwords, 6'8& *rom "a"erba+k sa es, and 6=9 *rom my o d books with (anity "resses) -he tota books I so d +ame to about ''&,&&&) >ee" in mind o(er ha * were *ree, and *or most o* the year, I asked 6&)?? on them) So ''&,&&& may no on#er be as im"ressi(e, but *ree and 6&)?? ;*rom the "ast< has ed to a ni+e start this year) At the time I am u"datin# this ebook ;Mar+h @, %&''<, I ha(e earned the *o owin# and so d these many ebooks0

Aanuary Ama:on 4S >ind e 6'B9& at '7&& books so d) Ama:on 4> >ind e 6=& at ''& books so d) Cebruary ;when I "ub ished a new book in mid-Ceb)< Ama:on 4S >ind e 6'7?& at =789 books so d) Ama:on 4> >ind e 6?89 at =B%& books so d ;B&== +o"ies bein# one book that took o** a o* the sudden< Smashwords0 I #ot a +he+k *or 6?%8& ;not '&&D sure how many books were so d and I dont want to take the time to *ind out, but you #et the "ointEthin#s are #oin# u"< Mar+h ;so *ar< Ama:on 4S >ind e '@%& books so d) Ama:on 4> >ind e '@B% books so d) *And as *or "a"erba+ks, I so d about '&)

Now, Im a sim" e stay-at-home mom who is not e(en e.a+t y sure how she #ot to this "oint) I ne(er e."e+ted it, to be honest, and I wasnt a bi# "romoter with my books as *ar as #oin# out and te in# other "eo" e my books e.isted) Im an intro(ert who oathes the +han+e to ta k about my books, e.+e"t to my readers or author *riends as we dis+uss what were workin# on) So Im ho"in# this ebook wi he " other intro(ert authors ike myse * who hate #oin# on so+ia networkin# sites and

mentionin# their books more than on+e or twi+e) somethin# in here +an be use*u to those who read it)

I ho"e

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Promotion Strate#y Ideas *or Authors IF(e been menta y #oin# throu#h and thinkin# o* e(erythin# IF(e done sin+e I #ot serious about book "romotion ba+k in Mar+h %&&7, wei#hin# thin#s that worked ;both in the short and on# run<, and tryin# to de+ide what I wou d do di**erent y today i* I were startin# out a o(er a#ain) -his is what I +ame u" with))) ') 2et *ami iar with networkin# sites ike Ca+ebook and -witter) >ind eboards)+om is a ni+e " a+e too, but I dont #et a +han+e to han# out there as mu+h as Id ike) Some "eo" e ike to han# out on 2oodreads and the Ama:on *orums, but I su##est han#in# out there *irst to #et a *ee *or how re+e"ti(e "eo" e wi be when you mention your book) Some *orums are more author-*riend y than others) %) -ry to make your ebook andGor "a"erba+k as "ro*essiona as "ossib e) a) -e a #ood story and "o ish your +ontent) A #ood story +o(ers u" *or the minor errors that mi#ht "o" u") I(e dis+o(ered that no matter how mu+h you edit your book, someone wont think you did a #ood enou#h 1ob) So what do you do? -he (ery best you +an) No book is "er*e+t, and you

+ant " ease e(erybody) Aust do your best and write your ne.t book to im"ro(e your o(era work) 5ou +an hire an editor or "roo*reader or barter *or these ser(i+es) I barter) But I te you e(en i* you ha(e another "erson ook at your book, you mi#ht miss somethin# anyway) Im not sayin# to shru# o** mistakes) Im 1ust sayin# when you be+ome aware o* them, +han#e them, earn, and mo(e on) I a so think its better to ha(e a +om"e in# story that wi se we than a "er*e+t book that doesnt) ;-his is my o"inion, o* +ourse)< Aust do your best) I know I kee" sayin# that, but its rea y a any o* us +an do) When you mess u", be mer+i*u with yourse *) 5oure on y human) b) Cormattin#) When *ormattin# your interior *i e, I su##est ookin# at a "o"u ar ebook or "a"erba+k) Cor "a"erba+ks, I ook at traditiona y "ub ished roman+es be+ause I write roman+e) -hin#s I ook at are the tit e and +o"yri#ht "a#e to see how they ook) 4n ess Im doin# a Smashwords (ersion, I +o"y the +o"yri#ht out o* a traditiona y "ub ished book) Cor your "a"erba+k, you may want to ook at other books in your #enre to determine where the "a#e numbers #o) -o" or bottom? /e*t, +enter, or ri#ht? What do the +ha"ter "a#es ook ike? What do the s+ene di(isions ook ike? Are there *** or H*H* H or some other symbo se"aratin# s+enes in a +ha"ter? I a so noti+e that a mar#ins are 1usti*ied) I* you are #oin# to u" oad to Smashwords or to the >ind e, you wi not ha(e to worry about "a#e numbers and headers, but you sti want to use a "a#e break between +ha"ters and make sure your "ara#ra"hs are adeIuate y s"a+ed) Jowe(er, i* you +an mana#e to *i#ure out those tabs, then youre way ahead o* me)

I(e #i(en u" on# a#o and o"ted *or a s"a+e a*ter ea+h "ara#ra"h) -his is so that the manus+ri"t is + ean and easy to read) It a so #ets me into "remium distribution) +) 2et a #ood +o(er) I used to au#h at the idea that a +o(er wi make or break a book, but it is so true) My best se in# books are the ones with the best +o(ers) 5ou +an buy roya ty *ree sto+k "hotos *or as +hea" as 6'& on " a+es ike shuttersto+k)+om or dreamstime)+om) I bou#ht a book +o(er so*tware "ro#ram *or 6%&&, and that was the best in(estment I e(er made) I 1ust te the "ro#ram the number o* "a#es my book is, insert the "i+ture, insert the te.t, and "resto))) Ci(e minutes ater, I ha(e a *ront, ba+k, and s"ine "a"erba+k +o(er ready to u" oad to !reateS"a+e) JereFs the so*tware +o(er "ro#ram I bou#ht0 htt"0GGbook+o(er"ro)+omG) I u" oad the +o(er as a 1"#, not a "d* *i e) Now, I kee" it sim" e) I use one "i+ture *or the *ront +o(er) I do ha(e a +ou" e o* *riends who ha(e used their *an+ier "i+ture "ro#rams ;not sure what those are<, and b ended "i+tures *or me) But you know what? -he one "i+ture o"tion IF(e done a+tua y se s more than the *an+ier +o(ers I #ot u") So you donFt need to #et +om" i+ated) I su##est browsin# the bestse in# books in the #enre you are writin#) Whi+h +o(ers +at+h your attention? Why? -hen #o buy a "i+ture that *a s a on# that same ine) 5ou dont want the e.a+t same +o(er, but I think somethin# with the same *ee +an work *or you) I* youre makin# a "a"erba+k, I su##est +are*u y ins"e+tin# the +o(er o* a traditiona y "ub ished book) Noti+e the s"ine) -here is usua y the tit e o* the book, the authorFs name, the "ub isherFs im"rint, and a "i+ture o* the *ront +o(er ;without the te.t on it<) !he+k the ba+k) -here is the "ub isherFs im"rint a#ain) Where is it? Are there any other #ra"hi+s on the ba+k? Where? Where is

the book summary and author bio? Where is the "ri+e o+ated? What are the *ont si:es? A o* this wi he " you ha(e a "ro*essiona +o(er) I do re+ommend #ettin# a K"ub ishin# symbo K that re"resents you, and "ut that "ub ishin# symbo on the s"ine and on the ba+k o* your "a"erba+k) I* you on y do ebooks, donFt worry about it) I think these are 1ust *un and attra+ti(e to ha(e on the +o(er) d) 2et a +at+hy tit e) As *or tit es, browse some o* the to" se in# tit es in your #enre) I ike to take an ad1e+ti(e *rom one tit e that I ike and mat+h it with a noun *rom another tit e that +au#ht my attention) Sometimes I e(en ask my readers *or tit e ideas) Now youFre wonderin#, what does a o* this ha(e to do with book "romotion? In my o"inion, it is an im"ortant "art o* book "romotion) Now, heres what I did to #et my tar#et audien+e to *ind me0 B) 2et a Ca+ebook Author Pa#e and a *irst dra*t b o#) I wish I had done these sooner) It wi take time to bui d u" and attra+t "eo" e, but #o ahead and set the sta#e) -his is where you +an make announ+ements about your book and intera+t with your readers) Intera+tion with your readers is the most im"ortant thin# I e(er did) Why? I #et *eedba+k *rom my readers, the "eo" e I write *or) Its a so been a ni+e way to bui d re ationshi"s with them) When I #et stu+k, its he "*u to boun+e ideas around with "eo" e interested in my work be+ause ;to be honest< my *ami y and most o* my author *riends "retty mu+h dont +are about my books)

As *or my *irst dra*t b o# ;a WordPress one< where I write 9&& words a day, I ha(e dis+o(ered this to be the sin# e #reatest way to meet my tar#et audien+e) -hey read my "osts and ea(e +omments) A*ter awhi e, I #et to know some o* them we enou#h to send "ersona emai s ba+k and *orth where we dis+uss my books) I a so ha(e a Ca+ebook bad#e on the WordPress b o#, so now my readers +an *riend me on Ca+ebook) Its a #reat *ee in# when @&D o* the "eo" e on your *riends ist are your *ans) -hen they 1oin your Ca+ebook Author Pa#e and +an #et an inside ook into your work ;say +o(er ideas< that no one e se wi #et) My "oint to a o* this is that a *irst dra*t b o# has been the most e**e+ti(e too when it +omes to intera+tin# with my audien+e) Whats best about it is that they *ind my b o# and website throu#h my *ree books, so I dont ha(e to #o *ind themL they *ind me) Per*e+t *or the intro(ert) And what better way to #i(e your readers what they want than to "ost a *irst dra*t ook at your work? I* youre not +om*ortab e writin# a *irst dra*t and "ostin# it immediate y, then I su##est takin# one o* your a ready +om" eted *irst dra*ts and "ostin# it u" a itt e at a time) But i* you dont want to do this at a , then its *ine) Im 1ust sayin# this has been the bi##est way I(e *ound my readers) =) Mn Im"ro(in# My work has been so mu+h better sin+e I took into a++ount what my tar#et audien+e o(es and doesnt o(e about my work) A so, when theres +riti+ism, my readers usua y state it so ni+e y that I rea i:e they say it to he ", instead o* bein# mean ;as is the +ase o* some re(iews I(e #otten<) I ad(ise you to not worry about *eedba+k *rom "eo" e who arent your *ans be+ause you dont write *or them and you +ant " ease e(eryone) 9) Cree works)

!hoose a short story or no(e a to o**er *or *ree in its entirety) I am not a *an o* e.+er"ts be+ause I ike to see that you +an start a story and *inish it whi e reso (in# a the " ot "oints) But you donFt ha(e to make e(ery sin# e book or no(e a *ree) !hoose whi+h one;s< youF make *ree) Cree does work *or you, and I sti be ie(e in it) !hoose one o* your best works be+ause *ree attra+ts a ot o* "eo" e) Put them u" on " a+es ike Mbooko, your *irst dra*t b o#, your website, Smashwords ;and make sure you o"t to distribute your *reebies throu#h the Smashwords distribution system *or additiona e."osure<) What is not worth the in(estment in the on# run is makin# e(ery sin# e thin# *ree) -hat on y works short-term) 5es, I earned that one the hard way) 8) Pri+in# your books) I think the 6&)?? askin# rate mi#ht sti be to your ad(anta#e when youFre startin# out, es"e+ia y on Ama:on where they donFt et you o**er anythin# *or *ree, at east yet) Someone said theyre #oin# to start o**erin# the o"tion, but Im not sure about that yet) IFd wait unti I started seein# a si#ni*i+ant rise in book sa es be*ore u""in# the "ri+e, i* that is what you want to do) 5ou mi#ht want to ea(e one book at 6&)?? *or a year or two, or maybe *ore(er) 5our +hoi+e) I +hose the *ore(er route a*ter I "ri+ed most o* my books at 6%)?? and ost a ton o* sa esEas in an 79D dro") I ha(e o"ted to "ri+e my new *u - en#th no(e s at 6%)??) I *i#ure sin+e the book is new, I ha(e a better +han+e o* se in# better than "ri+in# my o der books at 6%)??) We see how that " ays out in time) Pri+in#, o* +ourse, is sub1e+ti(e) 5ou need to do what *ee s ri#ht *or you) @) Nistribution matters)

Cor sure, Id use the distribution +hanne s Smashwords has +onne+tions with) E(en i* you dont make as mu+h money, ea+h " a+e you +an se your book is one more +han+e *or e."osure) I u" oad dire+t y to Ama:on but use Smashwords *or e(erythin# e se) Its startin# to #et to the "oint where I am makin# more throu#h Smashwords than throu#h Ama:on, thou#h I #uess the 4> store is now startin# to "i+k u") 7) Patien+e) I +ant e." ain why a book +an sit and se one +o"y a month *or ha * a year and sudden y take o** to se B&&& +o"ies in one month) Its the weirdest thin#, but I(e noti+ed that my books ;at east< wi sit there *or months and do nothin# but then they 1ust take o**) So I su##est bein# "atient) Some authors se better sooner than others) I started serious book "romotion in ear y %&&? by istenin# to -he !reati(e Penn ;www)the+reati(e"enn)+om<, and its taken me this on# to #et to where Im at) ?) Periodi+a y set u" #ood dea s to reward *aith*u *ans and en+oura#e "otentia ones to +he+k you out) 5ou know that Ca+ebook Author Pa#e and *irst dra*t b o# idea? We , hereFs a #reat " a+e to et e(eryone know you ha(e a s"e+ia Ksa eK #oin# on) Mr you +an #i(e them a +ou"on *or a *ree down oad o* your atest book on Smashwords) Whi e I wi ne(er a#ain o**er another *u - en#th book *or *ree, I +an see o**erin# a *uture short story or no(e a *or *ree) Jowe(er, I on y " an to o**er *ree down oads o* my *u - en#th no(e s to my dedi+ated *ans on my Ca+ebook Author Pa#e and in my news etter ;whi+h they ha(e to si#n u" *or<) -hatFs where in+enti(e to 1oin your Ca+ebook Author Pa#e and si#nin# u" *or your news etter +omes in handy)

'&) >ee" Writin# and Pub ishin# More Books E(ery time I "ub ish a new book, my sa es on a my other books #o u") I o(e ha(in# a new book out *or this reason, but you dont want to rush the ne.t book) 5ou want to make it as #ood and *resh as "ossib e) Wi you ook ba+k on "re(ious works and think, K2ee, I think I +ou d ha(e done better?K Maybe) I know I do) But shou d you #o ba+k and rewrite them? IFm #oin# to say no) Instead, I su##est takin# +are o* easy thin#s, ike ty"os and mo(in# on) Aust kee" #oin# be+ause no matter how many times you rewrite a book, there wi a ways be someone who hates it and someone who o(es it) I ha(e enou#h ' to 9 star re(iews to "ro(e it) '') Ads I didnt try an ad *or two books unti this year) I tried one *or my "en name and one *or my rea name) My "en name didnt make enou#h to "ay *or the 6B9 ad) My rea name made "robab y an e.tra 6'9& o** >ind e at the Ama:on 4S store *or the month its been u") I "ut my book +o(er on !o**ee -ime Roman+e ;sin+e I write roman+e<, and it worked #reat) Eye of the Beholder is ty"i+a y my third bestse in# book on Ama:on, but whi e the ad was u", it so d the most +o"ies) /ike I said, my "en name yie ded a oss) I "aid 6B9 and on y so d %& books) -his was at 6&)??) So *rom this, I think ads are more e**e+ti(e *or authors who ha(e #ained some re+o#nition with their name) Cor an unknown author, kind eboards andGor a *ree read mi#ht be better) ;A#ain, my o"inion)<

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Authors Note I +o-administer the Se *-Pub ished Authors /oun#e at htt"0GGse *"ubauthors)word"ress)+omG) -his is a 1oint e**ort between myse * and other authors who ha(e a desire to he " authors out) Re+ent y, we estab ished a *orum to #o in +on1un+tion with the b o#) Cee *ree to sto" by) I think the best way we +an earn is by sharin# whats worked and what hasnt) I* it werent *or other authors sharin# their ti"s, I wou dnt be where Im at today)