Amazon has helped blaze a renaissance in self publishing largely (though not only) through an innovative model and tool set it has provided. However, despite that raised baseline, you don't necessarily have an advantage. You have to optimize the tools made available. Some tips to do so follow, below.
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.
This phenomenal expansion has been the result of the e-book revolution. By 2012 e-books were 40% of those self published ISBNs. That's an increase from 11% in 2007 - nearly a 400% rise.
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.
To benefit from these opportunities, more than ever, the aspiring self publisher must learn to distinguish him or herself. Self publishing on Amazon puts some great tools at your disposal. If you fail to make the most of them, it is only you who will suffer. Considering the three things discussed below will not guarantee your book's success. Neglecting them though is guaranteed to put you behind the eight ball right from the start.
Begin with your author's page. There is provided a place to post a photo. Surprisingly (or maybe not) most beginners post their book's cover art. I strongly recommend against this, unless of course your book cover has a picture of your smiling face.
Authors generally assume no one is interested in how they look. This assumption, though, it turns out, is precisely wrong. Rather, a sense of personal connection to the author is a considerable factor in such readers slapping down the old credit card for your book. I'm sure your cover art is great; it is virtually guaranteed though that a sense of personal connection to you will have greater impact on their purchasing decision.
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!)
Secondly, the author's page also offers occasion to write a blurb about who you are. Way too many aspiring authors treat this opportunity in far too cavalier a manner. As with the matter of the photo, a belief that your book speaks for itself is indeed cavalier.
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. All due and proper modesty notwithstanding, I'm quite certain it's not too much of a stretch to make yourself sound interesting. Emphasize the aspects of your life and experience that reveal you as a good candidate to have written a compelling and engaging book on your chosen topic.
If it's a cook book, what is your culinary resume? If it's a detective novel set in 1890s New York, how do you come to have such as expertise on the time period? If it's a how-to book, let them know how your background should will give them confidence that you really do know how? You're following the gist of the mission, I presume.
Finally, last, but very much not least, give great consideration to your book's description. Believe it or not, this little bit of composition is truly more challenging than writing the actual book. Once they've laid down their hard earned cash for your book, most readers - unless they find it simply dreadful - generally give your book around 20 pages or so to win them over. In your book description, however, you have maybe 20-30 seconds to accomplish that feat.
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.
Explaining all this is another whole article on its own. If you want a detailed explanation of what's involved, have a gander at my piece dedicated to the topic of 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.
This phenomenal expansion has been the result of the e-book revolution. By 2012 e-books were 40% of those self published ISBNs. That's an increase from 11% in 2007 - nearly a 400% rise.
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.
To benefit from these opportunities, more than ever, the aspiring self publisher must learn to distinguish him or herself. Self publishing on Amazon puts some great tools at your disposal. If you fail to make the most of them, it is only you who will suffer. Considering the three things discussed below will not guarantee your book's success. Neglecting them though is guaranteed to put you behind the eight ball right from the start.
Begin with your author's page. There is provided a place to post a photo. Surprisingly (or maybe not) most beginners post their book's cover art. I strongly recommend against this, unless of course your book cover has a picture of your smiling face.
Authors generally assume no one is interested in how they look. This assumption, though, it turns out, is precisely wrong. Rather, a sense of personal connection to the author is a considerable factor in such readers slapping down the old credit card for your book. I'm sure your cover art is great; it is virtually guaranteed though that a sense of personal connection to you will have greater impact on their purchasing decision.
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!)
Secondly, the author's page also offers occasion to write a blurb about who you are. Way too many aspiring authors treat this opportunity in far too cavalier a manner. As with the matter of the photo, a belief that your book speaks for itself is indeed cavalier.
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. All due and proper modesty notwithstanding, I'm quite certain it's not too much of a stretch to make yourself sound interesting. Emphasize the aspects of your life and experience that reveal you as a good candidate to have written a compelling and engaging book on your chosen topic.
If it's a cook book, what is your culinary resume? If it's a detective novel set in 1890s New York, how do you come to have such as expertise on the time period? If it's a how-to book, let them know how your background should will give them confidence that you really do know how? You're following the gist of the mission, I presume.
Finally, last, but very much not least, give great consideration to your book's description. Believe it or not, this little bit of composition is truly more challenging than writing the actual book. Once they've laid down their hard earned cash for your book, most readers - unless they find it simply dreadful - generally give your book around 20 pages or so to win them over. In your book description, however, you have maybe 20-30 seconds to accomplish that feat.
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.
Explaining all this is another whole article on its own. If you want a detailed explanation of what's involved, have a gander at my piece dedicated to the topic of 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:
All you aspiring self publisher types, you need to keep up on the hottest scoop at Self Publishing on Amazon . Lance Fallbrook regularly scribbles about writing and writers at a number of writing related websites. Check out his controversial list of top 20 most famous American authors .
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