Thanks largely (though not exclusively) to the model and tools provided to us by Amazon, self publishing continues to experience a meteoric rise in popularity. Not all self publishing efforts though are created equal. Below are some tips to help get you ahead of the curve.
The numbers are quite remarkable. Analyzing U.S. ISBN data demonstrates that self-published increased in 2012 to a striking 391,000+ titles. Represented as a percentage, that is up 59 percent over 2011 and it's up 422 percent from 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.
To you, my dear self publishing author, these astounding statistics should illustrate two inexorable facts. The first is that self publishing opportunities have never been more promising. And, the second: neither has the competition ever been stiffer.
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.
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 seem to assume no one wants to see what they look like. Actually though that is exactly wrong. It turns out a feeling of connection to the author can be a huge factor in prospective readers pulling out the old credit card on behalf of a book. However great your cover art, it is almost guaranteed that some sense of a connection to you will be more influential.
Standard head shots are usually the right choice. As in all walks of life, you're a bit ahead if you're good looking. Don't be hesitant to post your most flattering picture, though. Whatever you look like, trust me: a personal pic is better than not having one. And, at the risk of stating the obvious, smile at the camera! And, absolutely no sunglasses! A picture concealing your eyes may be the one thing worse than not having a personal pic at all.
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?
It doesn't matter how good your book is, it can only speak for itself if people read it! Your job is to get them to read it. If a prospective reader comes to think that the author is interesting enough to have written something they'll find worth reading that is some considerable distance in the right 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 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.
The book can't speak for itself unless prospective readers buy it. Until then, you've got to do the speaking for both of you. The short and sweet version of getting your book description right is simply put: in a few brief sentences, you have a) tell them, b) entice them and c) show them.
Space limits don't allow me to go into this at greater length, here. If you really want to understand what's involved, see my article specifically dedicated to the details and nuance of doing your book description well.
Being sure to get three tools right won't guarantee success with your book, but getting them wrong pretty much guarantee you'll be behind the curve from the starting line. The revolution in self publishing on Amazon has created both tremendous opportunity and challenge. To hope to benefit from the opportunity, you need to rise to the challenge.
The numbers are quite remarkable. Analyzing U.S. ISBN data demonstrates that self-published increased in 2012 to a striking 391,000+ titles. Represented as a percentage, that is up 59 percent over 2011 and it's up 422 percent from 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.
To you, my dear self publishing author, these astounding statistics should illustrate two inexorable facts. The first is that self publishing opportunities have never been more promising. And, the second: neither has the competition ever been stiffer.
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.
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 seem to assume no one wants to see what they look like. Actually though that is exactly wrong. It turns out a feeling of connection to the author can be a huge factor in prospective readers pulling out the old credit card on behalf of a book. However great your cover art, it is almost guaranteed that some sense of a connection to you will be more influential.
Standard head shots are usually the right choice. As in all walks of life, you're a bit ahead if you're good looking. Don't be hesitant to post your most flattering picture, though. Whatever you look like, trust me: a personal pic is better than not having one. And, at the risk of stating the obvious, smile at the camera! And, absolutely no sunglasses! A picture concealing your eyes may be the one thing worse than not having a personal pic at all.
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?
It doesn't matter how good your book is, it can only speak for itself if people read it! Your job is to get them to read it. If a prospective reader comes to think that the author is interesting enough to have written something they'll find worth reading that is some considerable distance in the right 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 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.
The book can't speak for itself unless prospective readers buy it. Until then, you've got to do the speaking for both of you. The short and sweet version of getting your book description right is simply put: in a few brief sentences, you have a) tell them, b) entice them and c) show them.
Space limits don't allow me to go into this at greater length, here. If you really want to understand what's involved, see my article specifically dedicated to the details and nuance of doing your book description well.
Being sure to get three tools right won't guarantee success with your book, but getting them wrong pretty much guarantee you'll be behind the curve from the starting line. The revolution in self publishing on Amazon has created both tremendous opportunity and challenge. To hope to benefit from the opportunity, you need to rise to the challenge.
About the Author:
All you aspiring self publisher types, you need to keep up on the killer tips and trends at Self Publishing on Amazon . Lance Fallbrook regularly scribbles about writing and writers at a number of writing related websites. Check out his provocative list of top 20 most famous American authors .
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