Ally Nathaniel's Blog, page 2
October 21, 2017
October 17, 2017
The Book That Will Change Your Life
Do you want to change your life?
I can only suggest one thing: a book.
Not your favorite book at the local bookstore, or the Kindle edition online. Not the fantasy, romance, or sci-fi you’ve read over and over again. Not even a motivational story about rebuilding your life or self-esteem.
No, the book that will change your life is the one that’s inside you, begging to be written.
Think about the power of a book. This time, one that you’ve read. The power of your favorite book in your life, is the same power you’ll give to someone who reads yours.
The books I read as a child, for instance, took me to new worlds, and gave me hope at the end of the day.
You see growing up in a “Children’s House”, you’re forced to learn a few tough lessons to survive. Let’s put it this way: it’s not your average upbringing. I was born in a kibbutz, and that meant at 3 weeks old, I was separated from my parents and moved into a communal facility to live with other kids.
I got to see my parents for three hours every day, and that was it. The rest of my time, there were other kibbutz members taking care of me and the other children in the facility. Needless to say, they didn’t love us as parents love their own children.
That’s where the books come in. I had one safe place, and that was my own mind.
I recall one night in particular. Little me, sitting up in bed, my favorite book, The Hobbit, caught between my fingertips, even as I tried to catch my breath. You see, Bilbo had found the ring beside that lake, deep under the Misty Mountains, and Gollum was close at hand.
The characters in that book were my best friends, and we traveled through lands far away from the dark, lonely place I lived. But my love for reading, ultimately took me on journeys outside of my imagination and into the real world.
My first book provided an adventure unlike any I had read before – this real life story that I lived. A truth: real life can be just as strange and wonderful as our favorite fiction books.
During the process of creating my first book, I learned how to overcome the mental “demons” which had plagued me since my early days in the kibbutz. I learned to trust myself and my voice, and I grew in confidence in my teaching. I realized that I could impact other woman just like me.
And that’s exactly why I’ve chosen to follow this career path: helping to empower women and teaching them how to make a difference by using their story to build their businesses and change the world.
Bringing out that book inside you is what I aim to do. I deliver high-impact motivational and transformational techniques, so you can use your story to inspire and make an impact in other’s people’s lives.
I want to help women define what they’re success looks like. Perhaps, I can help you with that too.
Click here to start writing your book http://www.allynathaniel.com/
December 28, 2016
How to Increase Your Reviews
Reviews by readers on Amazon are a critical part of generating sales for your book: your reviews develop your credibility, and attract new readers. Readers want to see what others think of your book before purchasing it. There are several ways to increase the amount of reviews for your book:
Avoid Bias – Although it might be tempting to ask your close friends and family to read and review your new book on Amazon, be prepared for some of these reviews to be removed. Amazon is looking for completely unbiased reviews, and if there is any sign of bias, they will take the review down. If a review is extremely short and without detail, or if you are Facebook friends with the reviewer, or if you only have five star reviews, Amazon might become suspicious and remove the reviews. Be careful, and look for unbiased reviewers!
Say Thank You – By using an Amazon Author Central account, you can personally thank each person who takes the time to review your book. Do this by adding a comment, always positive, on each review. If a review is especially positive, share it on social media. This creates a connection with each reviewer, allowing you to potentially offer them a complimentary copy of your latest book in exchange for their review. Thinking of commenting on a bad review in defense of your book? Never do this; no good will come from it! Remain gracious, brief, and composed. Reaching out in this way can only benefit you, and review requests will surely increase.
Look Around – Certain websites, such as Tomoson, can act as platforms for authors to interact with potential reviewers. Once you pay for a membership, you can use the helpful services. Each reviewer has a rating, showing how reliably they review after products are sent to them, and you choose amongst thousands of candidates. Chances are, if someone is interested in receiving your book for their honest review, they will likely be interested in your other books. Along with thanking them, this is a great way to establish relationships with reviewers who you never would have spoken to otherwise. Never expect a positive review, and if several negative reviews appear, remember that a series of all five star reviews can seem contrived.
Top Reviewers – Go through the official ranking of Amazon’s top reviewers and find people who frequently review books of your genre. Then read their reviews in this same genre and try to gauge what they might say about your book. If there is an email or a link included in their brief profile, attempt to contact them about reviewing your book. You can do the same with popular book bloggers, especially those who enjoy your genre.
Increase Your Reviews
Reviews by readers on Amazon are a critical part of generating sales for your book: your reviews develop your credibility, and attract new readers. Readers want to see what others think of your book before purchasing it. There are several ways to increase the amount of reviews for your book:
Avoid Bias – Although it might be tempting to ask your close friends and family to read and review your new book on Amazon, be prepared for some of these reviews to be removed. Amazon is looking for completely unbiased reviews, and if there is any sign of bias, they will take the review down. If a review is extremely short and without detail, or if you are Facebook friends with the reviewer, or if you only have five star reviews, Amazon might become suspicious and remove the reviews. Be careful, and look for unbiased reviewers!
Say Thank You – By using an Amazon Author Central account, you can personally thank each person who takes the time to review your book. Do this by adding a comment, always positive, on each review. If a review is especially positive, share it on social media. This creates a connection with each reviewer, allowing you to potentially offer them a complimentary copy of your latest book in exchange for their review. Thinking of commenting on a bad review in defense of your book? Never do this: no good will come from it! Remain gracious, brief, and composed. Reaching out in this way can only benefit you, and review requests will surely increase.
Look Around – Certain websites, such as Tomoson, can act as platforms for authors to interact with potential reviewers. Once you pay for a membership, you can use the helpful services. Each reviewer has a rating, showing how reliably they review after products are sent to them, and you choose amongst thousands of candidates. Chances are, if someone is interested in receiving your book for their honest review, they will likely be interested in your other books. Along with thanking them, this is a great way to establish relationships with reviewers who you never would have spoken to otherwise. Never expect a positive review, and if several negative reviews appear, remember that a series of all five star reviews can seem contrived.
Top Reviewers – Go through the official ranking of Amazon’s top reviewers and find people who frequently review books of your genre. Then read their reviews in this same genre and try to gauge what they might say about your book. If there is an email or a link included in their brief profile, attempt to contact them about reviewing your book. You can do the same with popular book bloggers, especially those who enjoy your genre.
December 21, 2016
The Strategy of Cross-Promotion
Completely focused on the book they are currently publishing, authors often forget that new books are perfect opportunities to promote their other books! Here are some ways to use cross-promotion to your advantage, and acquire readers for your previous titles.
The Back Cover – Among your book description, endorsements, and author information, include the titles of your other books. If you have written several books, do not include a long list. Simply pick two or three, and vary the titles you feature for each book. By doing this, those who finish and enjoy your book will know exactly where to find your other work.
The Front Cover – You can always insert another book title on the cover page by writing “*Your Name*, Author of *Book Title*”
Include a Passage – At the end of your new book, insert the beginning of one of your other books. You can use the first chapter of the book, or the first several pages, but be sure to end the excerpt in a suspenseful or interesting point that leaves readers curious. The snippet should be exclusive to your book. With luck, this excerpt will intrigue them and they will purchase the entire book.
Special Offers – Also located at the end of your book, create a special offer for your readers. You can even include a link to a specifically designated page on your website. Thank them for reading your book, and insert a form where they can provide their name and email in exchange for a reward. This can be a free, or reduced price, download of one of your other books or another item related to your books. The free download will promote the alternate book, satisfy your reader, and, as a bonus, provide you with their emails for mailing lists and future contests.
Mailing Lists – Speaking of mailing lists, if you have accumulated emails or information in the past when you have promoted your other books, send an email alerting these readers that your new book is coming out. Once the book is released, send a link for them to purchase it. You can also include a promotion or contest here, giving prizes to select readers who are willing to read and review your book on Amazon.
October 23, 2016
Help Readers Connect With You on a More Personal Level with an Author Page
Connect? With me?
I know it might be hard to imagine that people would know your name, not to mention want to connect with you, but this might be your reality if you publish a great book.
People simply love published authors. They treat them like celebrities and want more of them. That is why they would want to connect with you if they like your book.
A great way to let them know where to find you, your other work, and how to connect with you is by having your own author page on Amazon.
The author page will be linked to your book, so people who want to learn more about you can find all the information in one place.
It is your job, though, to add that information. Be sure to include your books, book trailers, blog posts, Facebook page, twitter handle, email address, biography and anything other information your readers could want.
The author page is a powerful marketing tool, keep that in mind!
[contact-form]
October 9, 2016
How to Use HTML Code in Your Amazon Book Description
HTML might sound scary, but it is actually very simple and can help you sell more books by making your book description easier to read.
HTML is a language of its own like English, Chinese or Hebrew. In this language, you just need to know a few basic signs and add them to your book description.
To use HTML effectively, you need to add a *sign* or a *command* at the beginning and end of the sentence or paragraph you want to modify. Many of the signs can be explained by comparing them to Word commands.
Here is a simple dictionary for basic HTML:
= Enter. Use this when you want the next sentence to start in a new line. For example:
Jack and Jill went up the hill
To fetch a pail of water
If you don’t use this HTML code, the book description will be presented as one big bulk – not very pleasant to try and read.
= Italics. For example:
Jack fell down and broke his crown
On Amazon, it will read: Jack fell down and broke his crown
NOTE: The signs are a bit different at the beginning and end of the sentence. This basically means start the command here and end it here . If you forget to end the command by adding , the rest of your book description will appear in italic.
= Bold. For example:
and Jill came tumbling after
This will appear on Amazon as: and Jill came tumbling after
Here is an example for the use of HTML in your book description.
You can also add colors to your book description, but this is a little more complicated. Read more about HTML colors here.
These small changes that allow you to emphasize parts of the description and draw attention to the most important details can be the difference between a reader moving forward to the next author or purchasing your book.
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September 24, 2016
How to Write a Book Description That Sells More Books on Amazon
Although your book description may seem like a minor detail, it must entice the reader and can impact sales. Here’s how to create the most effective book description:
A Question – To grab the reader’s attention, start your book description with a question. For example, “are you tired of eating lettuce and gaining weight?”They will feel compelled to think about the answer. Following a question, show the reader you have a solution to their problem, and it’s your book.
Develop Intrigue – Make sure to describe the main topic, but leave the reader wanting more. For example you might write “Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of water. Trying to get to the water, something happened. Grab your copy to find more about what happen to Jack and Jill.”
Instruct the Reader – Add a call for action, preferably at the end of your book description. People are much more likely to do something if they are being told to do it. That’s why you need to tell them to purchase your book. You can say “Add this book to your cart now!” or “Grab your copy now!”
Code – Use HTML code to heighten your book description. Don’t worry, I’ll explain this more in the next blog post.
If you implement all of these strategies, your book description will grab the attention of readers, and your sales will consequently increase.
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September 11, 2016
The 5 Answers Authors Should Have Before They Come up With a Marketing Plan
Book marketing starts before your book is even published. You will need to think about marketing while you are still in the writing process. Here are some things to consider while writing your book:
Target Demographic – Who is your target audience, and how old are these readers?
Location – Where do they buy their books? Do they spend hours on Amazon, in book stores, or on other platforms? If the answer is Amazon, for example, focusing on publishing your content as an e-book might garner the most success.
Word of Mouth – Where do your potential readers discuss books and get recommendations? An adolescent audience might frequent Goodreads, while older readers might be part of book clubs or visit local libraries for new books. These differences should have a large impact on your marketing strategy.
Competition – What other genres and books do they read? Demographic-based bestseller lists can be easily found online. Looking at other books enjoyed by your target audience can help you incorporate elements that seem to interest them into your own writing.
Other Authors – Who else does your audience follow? How do they market their work?
Knowing all of these answers can help you plan a better marketing strategy and learn where you can find your potential readers to inform them about your book.
Need help marketing your book? Contact me for a 20 minute complimentary phone consultation to figure out your next best move:
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August 23, 2016
The 5 Top Reasons Why Self-Publishing Is Good for the Author
To many authors, getting a deal from a publisher sounds like a dream come true. For others, however, self-publishing is much more appealing. Here are 5 reasons why:
Complete Control – As a self-publishing author, you call all of the shots throughout the publishing process. Your ideas and opinions actually matter; you will be fully involved in everything from the specific contents of your book, to the cover, to the way you market it.
No Waste of Precious Time – Self-publishing simplifies the process and allows you to make quick decisions. Time is invaluable in every profession: you can write your book and publish it efficiently, eliminating the typical, frustrating years that are spent looking for a permission from a publishing house. Why waste time fighting to break into an industry when you can do it immediately on your own?
Your Vision, Your Book – No one can make unapproved changes in your book. Without your permission, no one can delete scenes or stray from your vision. With self-publishing, you will enjoy a unique creative freedom and the satisfaction in knowing that what you originally envisioned is what will be read by your audience. This is not to say that you will not have the insight of others, including editors and illustrators, but at the end of the day, your ideas are paramount.
Greater Reward – Self-publishers earn higher royalties; with the use of self-publishing platforms, authors can earn up to 70% in royalties. Big publishers, conversely, will only let you keep a mere 2%-3% of the profit. The rewards simply cannot compare to publishing independently.
More Fun, Less Stress – Publishing on your own will give you access to a vast community of others who have chosen the same path, and you will feel their support every step of the way. You will find personal insight and constructive criticism on a variety of platforms, and you will be grateful for the unrestricted freedom you have given yourself. In a field that requires so much creativity, the best option is to choose the path that lets your ideas flow how you want them to, and when you want them to, unrestrained. In the long run, self-publishing will ultimately give you an overwhelming sense of community, freedom, and creativity.
