You've Written Your Book. Now What?

Here at Self Published Author.com, we offer tools, advice, and resources to help you through the publishing process. Bowker is the official ISBN agency in the US and Australia. We're excited about authors taking the publishing process into their own hands, and we're here to help however you need it.

At Self Published Author.com, we

offer industry advice and perspective, giving you an inside scoop on the business
explore marketing tools
refer you to partners who can help
list events specifically for self-published authors

Welcome! Let's get started!

Marketing Planning for First-Time Authors

by Brian Jud
Bowker | Tue Jul 16, 2019

Although this is the time to plan your marketing activities for the second half of 2019, some authors and publishers avoid planning in general because they do not know how to do it. Those who do know typically use a conventional, platform-based marketing plan that builds upon previous experience, with goals described as an increase over last year’s achievements. Planners know what did and did not work in the past, so their lists of strategies and actions are based on that familiarity.

First-time authors have no history of marketing their books, and there is a high ratio of assumption to knowledge. In their haste to do something, they often “wing it.” Their actions typically turn out to be wrong because the neophyte author does not sufficiently understand the publishing business.

Inside Publishing

Marketing & Publicity

Read more about Marketing Planning for First-Time Authors

Create Multiple Sources of Revenue

by Brian Jud
Bowker | Tue Jun 18, 2019

It is difficult to make a living as an independent publisher if you view yourself as a purveyor of books through bookstores. When asked, “What do you do for a living?” you may respond, “I’m an author.” This is usually followed with, “But what do you do to earn money?” However, if you reply, “I’m a publishing professional,” you are usually received with nodding understanding. The difference is as enormous as it is subtle. A publishing professional runs a business, relying on multiple streams of revenue for maximum income.

Relying exclusively on book sales can limit your income. This wall could be reached because of seasonal demand for your content, or your reliance on sales only through bookstores – bricks and clicks. You may have a small target market, inadequate planning or insufficient funds for promotion. The list goes on, but the fact remains that a variety of circumstances can conspire to limit the sale of your books, and subsequently your income.

Inside Publishing

Marketing & Publicity

Read more about Create Multiple Sources of Revenue

Ways to Get Book Reviews: The Power of Recommendation

by Penny C. Sansevieri
Bowker | Tue Jun 11, 2019

Personal recommendations account for 95% of all book sales. That’s a powerful statement, and it really speaks to the fact that people like what other people like. So, when authors ask me if book reviews are still a great way to sell a book, I always say 'yes' because great book reviews really tap into the power of the personal recommendation. Which brings us to the inevitable — how to get book reviews?

The challenge that authors seeking to get book reviews face is two-fold. First, with more than 4,500 books published on a daily basis, getting those reviews is increasingly competitive. And second, pursuing book reviews can be time-consuming. With this in mind, I'm going to break down the strategy behind choosing the kinds of reviews you should go after, and those you should maybe not put much effort into.

Should Authors Pay to Get Book Reviews?

Inside Publishing

Marketing & Publicity

Read more about Ways to Get Book Reviews: The Power of Recommendation

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