maybe i can self publish?writers-coop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/indie-publishing... · self...

Maybe I Can Self Publish?“Self publish they said, It would be easy they said...”

Self Publish...Will you be Dave Bowman?

Self Publish......or will you be Kurtz at the end of the river?

Indie Publishing● The hope is neither...● There’s a reason authors and publishers teams up together● Having a .doc file with 80k words is the tip of the iceberg● Editing● Formatting● Covers● Marketing● Finding Readers● Staying Relevant● Being and author is a business, don’t kid yourself● It doesn’t matter if you’re trad, small press, or indie

Rose Colored Glasses Off

Grim Realities

● Most blogs die after 3 months● Most podcasts die after 5 episodes● Most people will never finish that first book● If they finish they don’t go further than 1-2 books● Most indie authors are not profitable● The market is becoming pay-to-play● This takes time, effort, and commitment● You have to want this● Are you committed? CHECK!

“Hard Row To Hoe”● Self Publishing is not harder or easier than Traditional publishing● It does offer full control over your creative rights● Potentially higher profits● But it requires you to do everything● Writing● Marketing● Vision● Promotion● A “One Man/Woman Publishing House”

● Write to market vs. write what you want

● Stand Alone or Series

● What is popular and can you incorporate that into your book? (Unicorns, Dragons)

● How am I going to get people into this book? (Lead Magnet)

○ Do I need a Prequel? Preview?

● Going wide vs. Amazon exclusive

● What genre will you be targeting? (www.genrereport.com)

○ Is it crowded? Will you be alone?

● Covers (www.goonwrite.com)

● Don’t start marketing after you launch your book

Marketing Starts When You Start Writing

I’m lost...● Traditional publishing will pull you in a direction● Indie Publishing can feel like you’re lost in the Ocean● Where do I start?● What do I do?● Where do I go?● I’m in an existential nightmare!

Starting Point

● You have to start somewhere● You can always pivot● You can always modify what you do● Self Publishing can only be described as fluid● But here’s a good starting point...

A beginner’s plan...● Focus on a single genre for 2 to 3 years● Write a series or a stand alone series● Before you publish your first book, ready a novelette or novella as a lead

magnet● Publish exclusively to Amazon for your first two years● Write everyday and try to produce a minimum two books a year● You center your marketing around

○ Building and growing your email list○ Working with other authors and their newsletters○ Procuring spots on newsletter promotion sites○ Possibly...maybe...after 2-3 years paid traffic

Website● Options

○ Free: Wordpress, weebly○ Paid: Squarespace, wordpress, weebly

● Do not blog because it takes away from you writing your book● Website should include

○ Banner image that takes people to sign up for your mailing list○ Your mailing list should promote your lead magnet○ Your books listed out, with blurbs, and direct links to Amazon○ How to contact you (social media, email)○ Short and personable bio with a pretty Hemingway image of yourself

● Website should cost you less than $150 a year to run● ...and take less than two weeks to set up

Amazon● Kindle Direct Publishing www.kdp.amazon.com ● KDP Select (exclusive to Amazon)

○ Cannot publishing anywhere else○ Limit up to 10% of the work an be given away outside of Amazon○ Get access to 5 free promo days every 90 days○ Access to Kindle Unlimited Readers

● Manuscript can be a formatted word file● Kindle Cover● Category selections● Keyword selections● Blurb● From creating an item in your KDP dashboard to appearing on Amazon is less than 48 hrs● www.authorcentral.amazon.com for your author bio and claiming your books

Newsletter/Lead Magnet (Engine of Sales)● Free to start● Mailerlite or Mailchimp● Integrate with your website● Integrate your lead magnet as your giveaway● Connect to your giveaway service (Bookfunnel) to your mail service● Mailchimp setup 101 (video), Mailerlite setup 101 (video)● Plan out your newsletter cadence● Plan out what you will write in your newsletters● My suggestion:

○ Write 12 short stories (in your genre)○ Send out a newsletter every two months (6 per year)○ Newsletter structure (3 keys to success)

■ Newsletter will give the readers something to read, or buy your new book■ Promote a Bookfunnel giveaway in every newsletter■ Request reviews

● Tonight (1 hour):

○ Plan how you market your book (Review “Marketing Starts When You Start Writing” slide)

○ Do I need to create a lead magnet? What Genre am I in?

● This week (3 hours):

○ What platforms can I get started with? (weebly, mailchimp, etc)

● Next month (15 hours):

○ Find 5-10 independent authors (big and small) in your genre

○ Subscribe to their email lists, read their lead magnet books, view all of their copy, Amazon pages, burbs, bios, analyze their covers, etc. Print it off and lay it out on the kitchen table. What do you like and what don’t you like

○ Do not copy, but allow these people to INSPIRE what you do

Actions to take

Author Digital Ecosystem (Reference)● Book distribution systems (Amazon others are...B&N, Kobo, draft2digital, etc)● Websites (wordpress, weebly, squarespace, wix)● Social Media (Facebook)● Newsletters (mailerlite)● Lead Magnets and Giveaways Platforms (Bookfunnel)● Group Promotion, Newsletter Swaps● Ecosystem of paid newsletters (ENT, Bookbarbarian, Freebooksy, Bargainbooksy, etc)● Paid traffic (Amazon AMS, Facebook, bookbub)