Doris-Maria Heilmann's Blog, page 57

http://bit.ly/VmtVAS 111Publishing @ Google+

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Tagged: Amazon publishes Singles, David Blum, Kindle Singles, New York Times, Single “Mile 81” a top seller, Stephen King, The Guardian

http://savvybookwriters.wordpress.com/2013/12/17/how-to-get-your-author-page-on-googles-page-1/

http://savvybookwriters.wordpress.com/2014/02/25/5-tips-for-a-successful-google-presence/

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Published on March 02, 2014 20:42

Social Media: Is it a Total Waste of Time?

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It’s always surprising: when searching on Google for a certain word or topic, I often find our own articles and blog posts, as well as re-posted content from our Google+ sites on Google’s first page. This very high ranking on Google’s Search Engine means that users find easily our content. And if YOU, as an author, write a lot of posts, blog articles etc. – always with a link to your website or Amazon author page – you will be high in Google ranking too and more people will learn about your books.

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Total Waste of Time
Authors flock to Social Media sites to get the word out about their books. However, many writers see it as a waste of time and would rather write on their next book. Smart authors combine the best of the two worlds and post small snippets of their writing or interesting details of their research on Google+ posts. Think about it: if you combine your Google+ page with your Twitter presence, explained here in detail, you post only once on Google+ and it appears on Twitter as well. You save 50% of your time on Social Media!

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Your Goal for Being Online:
Unless you have ten-thousands of dollars every month to spend on advertising for your book, you might use the more subtle way of book marketing and meet your readers online on Social Media sites. But what would your (potential) readers be interested in or want to hear from you? They certainly want to learn more about you as a writer and they want to learn about your books and get samples of your writing. It means you can do what you like most: WRITING and at the same time give your potential readers and buyers of your book reasons to follow you and tell others, or re-post and re-tweet your content.

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Use Your Creativity
Authors often ask: “what should I post on Google+ or on Social Media sites in general?” Nothing easier than that. You can use every word, every fact, every location or scene in your book to write a short post, blog or even a long article. Even novels, such as a Science Fiction story has lots of potential to be used to write short articles. Just one example: I recently thumbed through a clients’ book and found on the first page, under acknowledgements, that she thanked the police chief of her town for giving her a tour and explaining her certain laws when she did the research for her book. Her meeting with the police chief and each one of the laws she learned about, could be the topic of a short article or blog!

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For Authors: It’s a Must to Be on Google+
Google has been using Google+ to discover new content, and many authors have discovered that URLs (links to their sites or articles), but also posts that they commented and shared on Google+ are indexed very quickly – and they find themselves often on page 1 on Google’s search results – one of the main reason to be on Google+ or to post on Google+ communities.
Compare this to Facebook, where privacy settings and restrictions on data sharing, make it rather often impossible for posts to never be crawled or indexed by Google at all. Unlike Facebook, which hides data from Google, or Twitter – which directs Google not to follow most of its links – Google+ data will be immediately and fully accessible on the Internet and readers can find you and your books easily. Each post on Google+ acts like a mini blog post and adds highly share-able, link-able context to the search engines. Last but not least: Don’t miss to link to all relevant profiles from your Google+ “About” page.

To sum it up: Use your research and your manuscript to write lots of blog posts, articles and Social Media content and post it first on your Google+ page. Combine your Social Media sites, linking to each of them. Post with one click on several of your Social Media sites, which can be done by using scheduling sites, such as Hootsuite.com or Shortening Sites, such as Bit.ly. This is just for posting your articles – not for directly connecting with your followers or readers. The time you save when linking your Social Media sites is not only time you save to write, but also some time you can spend to connect directly with your readers! Social Media = Social Networking.

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More About the Benefits of Google+

http://savvybookwriters.wordpress.com/2013/09/21/3-top-reasons-to-be-on-googles-page-1/

http://savvybookwriters.wordpress.com/2013/09/01/15-reasons-to-be-on-google/

http://savvybookwriters.wordpress.com/2013/01/25/how-to-get-more-followers-on-your-google-page/

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If you would like to get more support in all things publishing, have your book intensively promoted and learn how to navigate social media sites – or to learn how you can make yourself a name as an author through content writing: We offer all this and more for only $179 for three months – or less than $2 per day! Learn more about this customized Online Seminar / Consulting for writers: http://www.111Publishing.com/Seminars Or visit http://www.e-book-pr.com/book-promo/ to advertise your new book, specials, your KDP Select Free Days or the new Kindle Countdown Deals.

Please check out all previous posts of this blog (there are more than 1,030 of them : ) if you haven’t already. Why not sign up to receive them regularly by email? Just click on “Follow” in the upper line on each page – and then on “LIKE” next to it. There is also the “SHARE” button underneath each article where you can submit the article to Pinterest, Google+, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and StumpleUpon.
Thanks a lot for following:

@111publishing
http://www.111publishing.com
http://www.e-Book-PR.com/
http://www.international-ebooks.com/
http://bit.ly/VmtVAS 111Publishing @ Google+
http://pinterest.com/111publishing/

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Tagged: Google+ a MUST for authors, GooglePlus is the best Social Media site, how to link all your Social Media sites, how to write great content, leverage your manuscript, Social Media Content, Social Media: Waste of Time?, your reason for being online

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Published on March 02, 2014 06:55

15 Question to Ask Yourself Before Writing

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To every new client I send out a questionnaire about their book(s), their social media presence, book distribution etc., but also about their plans concerning the book. From their answers I can see how much (or few) they thought about their readership, their competition and the purpose of their writing. Many, if not most writers sit down and start their book, writing and writing and not thinking who will read their book, nor how they will publish and most important: how will they market their work.

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Questions for You

Here are some questions you should answer honestly. It will give you an idea how viable your book idea is. Every business has to start with a plan. If you want to sell your book after writing it, answers to these questions could partially substitute a “business plan”. And if you want to find a publisher or a literary agent - answering these questions before your first meeting is even more important. Why should someone think about publishing your book when you, the writer, didn’t even think about the future of this book and who will be the readers?

Is there a need for your book? Does it fill a void?
Why do you find your book idea interesting?
Why would someone buy your book? What’s their benefit?
Will your book always be interesting in the future?
How big is your market and what is the demographic of your readers?
Who will buy and read your book? How many people?
Could your book idea be turned into series?
Would your book have a regional or international audience?
Who is your competition and how well did their books sell?
Where and exactly how will you market your book?
How easy can you reach your readership and how large will it be?
How many (real) friends / followers do you have on Social Media?
Do you have an opt-in email list on your website/blog or already an email newsletter?
Could your book be sold in bulk to a company/organization to promote another product or service?
In what magazines or newspapers articles, TV shows, radio shows, websites and newsletters can you market your book?

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Still Excited About Your Book Idea?

After you answered all these questions, do you still have the burning desire to write your book? Or did some of the questions make you uneasy? If you ever want to pitch a book idea to a publisher or an agent, you will be asked the same or similar questions. So be prepared! Use your answers to prepare your “Elevator Pitch“. Editor Mike Zimmerman said in an article at Success.com: ”Artists starve not because they aren’t talented – but because they often have no idea how to make money.”

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If you would like to get more support in all things publishing, have your book intensively promoted and learn how to navigate social media sites – or to learn how you can make yourself a name as an author through content writing: We offer all this and more for only $179 for three months – or less than $2 per day! Learn more about this customized Online Seminar / Consulting for writers: http://www.111Publishing.com/Seminars

Or visit http://www.e-book-pr.com/book-promo/ to advertise your new book, specials, your KDP Select Free Days or the new Kindle Countdown Deals.

Please check out all previous posts of this blog (there are more than 1,030 of them : ) if you haven’t already. Why not sign up to receive them regularly by email? Just click on “Follow” in the upper line on each page – and then on “LIKE” next to it. There is also the “SHARE” button underneath each article where you can submit the article to Pinterest, Google+, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and StumpleUpon.

Thanks a lot for following:

@111publishing

http://bit.ly/VmtVAS 111Publishing @ Google+

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Tagged: every business has to start with a plan, how large is your readership, how viable your book idea is, opt-in email list, planning your books success, Questions to ask before writing, who will buy your book

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Published on February 28, 2014 20:19

9 Tips Where & How to Query to Literary Agents

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A typical literary agency receives close to 5,000 unsolicited query letters/book proposals per year – or approx. 150 per working day. On average these agents accept only 10-12 new clients – only one out of every 500 submissions… Do you want to learn how to write a query, and how to approach the agent?

Do you want to get to know more about the person before hand – after all, she or he will be your partner for a long time? My best advice: Read their blogs to get informed about the process and find out more about how they work and what they are like before you approach them. And have a “business plan” for your book ready: Who will be your readers, who is your competition and how will you market your book. You will be asked for this! Here are some examples of questions you might be asked.

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Rachelle Gardner Rachelle Gardner is an agent with Books and Such Literary Agency, representing both fiction and non-fiction. She offers query tips and book proposal advice.

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Nathan Bransford Nathan Bransford knows a lot about writing and publishing, and offers in his blog advice on: How to Find a Literary Agent, How to Write a Query Letter, The Basic Query Letter Formula, Examples of Good Queries, How to Format Your Query Letter …

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Agent Research Ask them about an agent and they will tell you if he or she has established a public record, and if we have had any negative reports on the agent’s business practices. This service is free.

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Agent Query Agent Query offers the largest and most current searchable database of literary agents on the web—a treasure trove of reputable, established literary agents seeking writers.

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BookEnds Agency BookEnds, LLC, is a literary agency focusing on fiction and nonfiction books for adult audiences. In their workshop Wednesdays everyone can post queries out there and will get comments open, also to anonymous posters.

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Nelson Newsletter Kristin Nelsons blog is a-must-read for every author about to send out a query. Subscribe to the Nelson Literary Agency newsletter.

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Query Shark Send your query in for critique. A wealth of resources and Janet Reid shares them all, she also dissects queries, posting lots of examples what writers are doing right – and wrong!

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Query Wednesday Gabriela Lessa, a Brazilian editor, writer, literary agent assistant and journalist helps you with your query. Have your query analyzed on QUERY WEDNESDAY.

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Call My Agent!

In which a literary agent in Sydney, Australia attempts to decode the world of publishing in order to assist writers. And sometimes to get things off her chest.

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Resources and More Blogs About Literary Agents:

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What Literary Agents Want to Know From You

http://savvybookwriters.wordpress.com/2012/04/01/what-literary-agents-want-to-know-from-you/

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How Agents work and How to work with Agents

http://savvybookwriters.wordpress.com/2011/04/12/how-agents-work-how-to-work-with-agents/ .

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Must-Read Blog to learn more about agents and how to approach them

http://www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/guide-to-literary-agents

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http://www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/guide-to-literary-agents

How to Write a Query Letter

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http://savvybookwriters.wordpress.com/2014/01/06/5-tips-for-successful-book-submissions/

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100′s of Links to Publishers and Agents

http://savvybookwriters.wordpress.com/2012/10/10/100s-of-links-to-publishers-and-agents/

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Which Literary Agent is Right for You?

http://savvybookwriters.wordpress.com/2012/03/07/which-literary-agent-is-right-for-you/

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Association of Author’s Representatives (lists agents)

http://aaronline.org/

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For more agent blogs go to the absolutewrite forum:

http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=37784

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When you check out the agent, you’ll want to contact “Writer Beware”

Visit often and get the latest alerts from WRITER BEWARE:

http://www.sfwa.org/for-authors/writer-beware/alerts/

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If you would like to get more support in all things publishing, have your book intensively promoted and learn how to navigate social media sites – or to learn how you can make yourself a name as an author through content writing: We offer all this and more for only $179 for three months – or less than $2 per day! Learn more about this customized Online Seminar / Consulting for writers: http://www.111Publishing.com/Seminars Or visit http://www.e-book-pr.com/book-promo/

to advertise your new book, specials, your KDP Select Free Days or the new Kindle Countdown Deals.

Please check out all previous posts of this blog (there are more than 1,030 of them : ) if you haven’t already. Why not sign up to receive them regularly by email? Just click on “Follow” in the upper line on each page – and then on “LIKE” next to it. There is also the “SHARE” button underneath each article where you can submit the article to Pinterest, Google+, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and StumpleUpon.

Thanks a lot for following:

@111publishing

http://bit.ly/VmtVAS 111Publishing @ Google+

.

Tagged: How to Find a Literary Agent, how to write a query, links to agents and publishers, literary agent, query letter, Query Shark, which agent is right for you

http://www.international-ebooks.com
http://www.e-book-pr.com/
http://www.Savvybookwriters.com
http://www.111Publishing.com/blog

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Published on February 28, 2014 05:27

Benefit for You: Signing Up to Our Newsletter

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Get Insider Info First Hand:

Our newsletters are a great medium to receive hot tips and to let you know what is happening in

publishing and book promotion. Learn even more than what we are able to publish in blogs and

on our websites. Get a wealth of publishing & book marketing tips – all for free. File these tips and

use them as a source of encouragement and constant reminder. To sign up for the monthly

newsletter just go to any of our websites were you find an opt-in form:

SAMPLE NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 2014

Hello and WELCOME,

thanks to all new subscribers of this monthly newsletter for writers! You will receive valuable

publishing and book marketing tips from our 30+ years of experience, helpful links and information

that are worth filing.

Today’s Author Success Newsletter Will Cover:

Tips to get more book reviews
How to make more money using your books manuscript & research
How to find more followers on GooglePlus
Tips how to create webcontent / blogs without writing
Freebies for authors
Calendar for the next Writer Seminars

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1. Tips for Getting More Book Reviews

Obtaining book reviews takes a lot of patience, especially for first-time authors and those with a

small following on Social Media. What you need to do: follow reviewers on their Twitter and

Facebook posts and re-tweet or like them, follow their blogs, comment on them and get to know

these people and the book genre they prefer. And only then ask them for a review. And be

patient, as book reviewers are overwhelmed with inquiries. These are just a few. For more

addresses email us 111Publishing AT gmail …

Chelsea Haller @HallerWriter

Erin O’Riordan @ErinORiordan

Delphina @DelphinaReads

Amanda Reads @trickeytricky

Misha Almira @sacredsolace

Tina Gibbons @TinaMarieSays72

Alex B. @MoreThanJustABk

Mary Louise Ruehr @One4TheBooks

Kayla @KaylaBookReview

Beth @BethsBookReview

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2. How to Make More Money Using Your Book Manuscript

Writing a book is one thing, but earning money with it a different one. Why only focus on selling

your manuscript to publishers or to have your book posted on Amazon? There are way more

online retailers who will carry your book.

There are even more lucrative ways to use your writing:

Use your manuscript text to split it into tiny portions and write lots of short blogs / articles from the

content – along with a two sentence bio and a link to your webpage or Amazon author / sales

page. Make use of your assets! Not only your book, but using all the research you have done to

write it. SELL your stories to magazines and newspapers and earn more money than you would

with your book alone. The content you already wrote and the research you have done for your

book(s) allows you leverage your writing and at the same time to promote your books. In several

former blog posts I explained in detail how easy it is for writers to create content, such as guest

blogs and articles and sell them to magazines and newspapers or write guest blogs.

http://savvybookwriters.wordpress.com/2014/01/26/prequels-authors-benefits-of-writing-them/

http://savvybookwriters.wordpress.com/2014/01/03/a-new-way-of-book-marketing/

http://savvybookwriters.wordpress.com/2013/07/07/free-brilliant-book-marketing-to-a-million-

audience/

http://savvybookwriters.wordpress.com/2013/08/13/smart-authors-get-paid-for-marketing-their-

books/

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3. How to Find More Followers on GooglePlus

Your GOOGLE+ site

I should better write: your main page and your sites for EACH of your books

Google+ allows you to create up to 50 pages (comparable to blogs). Please do read this article:

http://moz.com/blog/google-plus-correlations (Google+ for higher search engine rankings)

Being on Google+ is a non-brainer and is not only giving you a much higher ranking on their

search engines, but also allows you to advertise events, such as a book launch, book signings,

Goodreads Giveaways, Kindle Countdown Deals or other campaigns, for FREE.

Showing your books cover and description as often as you want on your Google+ timeline or in

their numerous reader communities is another benefit. Plus you are allowed to create a new

Google+ page for each of your books, and to create up to 50 community pages – all for FREE.

Where else on Social Media do you get this???

http://savvybookwriters.wordpress.com/2013/09/01/15-reasons-to-be-on-google/

http://savvybookwriters.wordpress.com/2013/09/21/3-top-reasons-to-be-on-googles-page-1/

http://blog.viralheat.com/2013/05/23/6-beginner-tips-for-google-plus-marketing/

http://savvybookwriters.wordpress.com/2012/12/18/how-to-automatically-post-on-twitter-from-your

-google-page/

Google+ info, how to create your circles: https://support.google.com/plus/answer/1047805?hl=en

Want to see who wrote about you on Google+ or posted your book there? Just type your name into the search function and all the articles will appear.

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4. Tips How to Create Web Content / Blogs Without Writing:

12 Tips How to Create Web Content Without Writing, such as videos, info-graphics, re-blogging …

#12 is Curating other Blogs …

http://savvybookwriters.wordpress.com/2013/09/08/11-tips-how-to-create-web-content-without-

writing/

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5. Freebies for Authors:

Where can you get a completely FREE author website? We are talking here not about the main

pages on these Social Media sites, we are talking about ADDITIONAL pages for an author or their

book(s).

1. Google+ (up to 50 sites!)

2. Facebook

3. Goodreads

4. Amazon

5. About.me

6. WordPress.com, Blogger (Blogspot), Weebly etc.

Why on earth would any writer not use all these possibilities and showcase their book(s) to the

world??? Setting up and filling these sites can be done in an hour or two, using the description

and images from your book and your own avatar with an attractive photo of you.

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6. Calendar for Our Next WriterSeminars

Sarasota, FL – March 22

Atlanta, GA – March 29

Chappel Hill, NC – April 3

Harrisburg, PA – April 5

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Ottawa, ON, Canada – April 12

Ottawa, ON, Canada – April 26

Please see all details: 111Publishing.com – click on Seminar

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HAPPY with our service? Please say so on Twitter or Google+

@111Publishing or Google+ http://bit.ly/VmtVAS

THANKS in ADVANCE

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If you would like to get more support in all things publishing, have your book intensively promoted and learn how to navigate social media sites – or to learn how you can make yourself a name as an author through content writing: We offer all this and more for only $179 for three months – or less than $2 per day! Learn more about this customized Online Seminar / Consulting for writers: http://www.111Publishing.com/Seminars Or visit http://www.e-book-pr.com/book-promo/

to advertise your new book, specials, your KDP Select Free Days or the new Kindle Countdown Deals.

Please check out all previous posts of this blog (there are more than 1,020 of them : ) if you haven’t already. Why not sign up to receive them regularly by email? Just click on “Follow” in the upper line on each page – and then on “LIKE” next to it. There is also the “SHARE” button underneath each article where you can submit the article to Pinterest, Google+, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and StumpleUpon.

Thanks a lot for following:

@111publishing

http://bit.ly/VmtVAS 111Publishing @ Google+

.

Tagged: email newsletter, monthly newsletter, opt-in email form, signing up for a newsletter, tips for authors, valuable information for publishers

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Published on February 26, 2014 20:47

The Problem With Book Returns & How to Solve it

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Bookstores rarely host signings by self-published authors — maybe if the author is local and offers books in consignment. “Why not?” I asked a bookseller. “We can’t return them. When we order books from self-publishing press, such as CreateSpace, the books are non-returnable. If the store can’t sell them, then they’re stuck with them. And they lose money.

Trade publishers ship books on a refundable basis, so if the store orders 30 copies and only sells twenty, they can return the 10 unsold copies and will receive a refund, meaning no risk on the booksellers part. So, what’s the solution for authors?

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Booksellers Don’t Stock POD

Most booksellers will generally not stock POD books because they can’t return the book if it doesn’t sell and the percentage they get is lower. Printing one book at a time is more expensive per book (usually twice as expensive) than publishing a few thousand.

“That’s why many self-published authors can’t get their books into the large chains,” he explained. “It’s all about non-returnability. We only order the blockbuster titles they know they can sell. Books-a-Million, one of the book store chains, for example states it does not allow POD books into it’s stores at all.”

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Solution for Authors

However, author-publishers don’t need to be stuck with the current system of bookstore returns:

He pulled up several examples for me on his computer of self-published authors who use Lightning Source and offer both “Regular discount” (i.e 40%) and return-ability. He orders these books through Ingram/LightningSource, just like books from traditionally published authors. So it’s possible with Lightning Source, at least. The easier authors make it for independent booksellers and the big book chains, the more likely they will be treated like mainstream authors – if their books are well edited and have an attractive cover.

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Offer Both: CreateSpace & LSI / Ingram Distribution

If you don’t plan to sell many books, CreateSpace works fine. But if you DO plan to sell lots of books, you will earn a lot more from LSI (LightningSource Inc.) with a 20% discount than you will from CS with a 40% to 60% discount. Those setup fees everyone complains about at LSI are meaningless, compared to the difference in per-unit margin. You will make up the difference in set-up fees within the first 100 books you sell.

in order for bookstores to order them you have to make your books returnable. In average, bookstores return about thirty-five per cent of the hardcovers they buy, according to the NEWYORKER and publishers (or author-publishers, that’s you!) write off the cost of producing those books. Don’t forget to deduct these returns from your tax.

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Benefit: Book Signings

You will be able to have book signings at Barnes & Noble and other stores, taking part in store events if you distribute for example through LSI / Ingram. Bestseller Author Stephanie Chandler wrote a great article how to sell to bookstores and also offers a free Consignment Agreement form for you to download and modify if you want to make an arrangement with a bookstore to carry your books as a consignment. Her statement: “It certainly can’t hurt to place your books at a few stores, but it probably won’t lead to fame and fortune! -

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If you would like to get more support in all things publishing, have your book intensively promoted and learn how to navigate social media sites – or to learn how you can make yourself a name as an author through content writing: We offer all this and more for only $179 for three months – or less than $2 per day! Learn more about this customized Online Seminar / Consulting for writers: http://www.111Publishing.com/Seminars Or visit http://www.e-book-pr.com/book-promo/

to advertise your new book, specials, your KDP Select Free Days or the new Kindle Countdown Deals.

Please check out all previous posts of this blog (there are more than 1,020 of them : ) if you haven’t already. Why not sign up to receive them regularly by email? Just click on “Follow” in the upper line on each page – and then on “LIKE” next to it. There is also the “SHARE” button underneath each article where you can submit the article to Pinterest, Google+, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and StumpleUpon.

Thanks a lot for following:

@111publishing

http://bit.ly/VmtVAS 111Publishing @ Google+

.

Tagged: Book distribution, Book Returns, Books as Gifts, Bookstores, Consignment, CreateSpace, LightningSource, POD for Profit, worldwide distribution

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Published on February 25, 2014 20:58

5 Tips for a Successful Google+ Presence

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Your presence at Google+ means you are high-ranked from the very moment you post something on your Google+ timeline, your Google+ author and book pages, and certainly when you post on Google+ community pages, even when you re-post and comment on other Google+ posts.

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Use Hashtags on Google+ Too

Just like Twitter, Google+ offers #hashtag benefits to make searching for topics easy. It’s a great way to get found, not only inside Google+, but in the larger world of Google search. If you create a separate page for each of your books and post frequently there, using keywords and #hashtags, your books will appear prominently on Google’s Search Engine – making it easy for potential readers to find you.

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Link to Your Blog Posts

As the main search engine Google indexes and ranks its own site much higher than any other content. Google+ posts are easily indexed by Google search, and unlike tweets or Facebook posts, are treated much like regular web pages. Whenever you have a new blog post, link to it from Google+, and make that post public. By doing this, you have made your post publicly available both inside Google+ and in Google search results worldwide.

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Want Engagement? Write Resource-Type Articles

Google+ posts that receive the most comments are resource-type articles with a lot of links. Those covering Google+ how-to information are heavily shared, along with any tutorials. Write a killer post and link back to your own blog for additional resources. Use #hashtags with relevant topics so it’s easily found, and you have created an outstanding resource that will get you noticed, and will increase traffic to your blog.

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Connect Your Profile With Your Blog’s Homepage

The first step in getting results from Google+ is connecting your profile with your blog’s home page. This is the gateway step to claiming your content in the eyes of Google. It will also go far in generating incredible results, including displaying your photo next to your blog post links and a Wikipedia-style profile listing in Google search results whenever anyone searches for your name. For WordPress blog publishers, there’s a very easy way to accomplish this. Google+ shows you how to use Google+ “Direct Connect“.

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Display Your Photo in Google Search Results

All you need is a Google+ page, and to connect it to the home page of your blog. See how important that #1 step was? Your photo will eventually appear next to your blog posts in Google search results, proofing your are the legitimate author of this content.

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What the Plus?

Take the time to learn Google+ (e.g. with Guy Kawasaki’s book What the Plus?) and engage with your community there. You’ll see results far beyond what any other social network can offer: both social engagement within Google+, and Search Engine Optimization (SEO) in Google.

Free Copies of What the Plus!

Courtesy of Google. Please share this post, so as many people as possible can get a copy. Read also a short description: How to Get More Followers on Your Google+ Page.

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If you would like to get more support in all things publishing, have your book intensively promoted and learn how to navigate social media sites – or to learn how you can make yourself a name as an author through content writing: We offer all this and more for only $179 for three months – or less than $2 per day! Learn more about this customized Online Seminar / Consulting for writers: http://www.111Publishing.com/Seminars Or visit http://www.e-book-pr.com/book-promo/

to advertise your new book, specials, your KDP Select Free Days or the new Kindle Countdown Deals.

Please check out all previous posts of this blog (there are more than 1,020 of them : ) if you haven’t already. Why not sign up to receive them regularly by email? Just click on “Follow” in the upper line on each page – and then on “LIKE” next to it. There is also the “SHARE” button underneath each article where you can submit the article to Pinterest, Google+, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and StumpleUpon.

Thanks a lot for following:

@111publishing

http://bit.ly/VmtVAS 111Publishing @ Google+

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Tagged: Google indexes, Google search results, Google+ posts, Google’s Search Engine, resource-type articles, Use hashtags, what the plus

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Published on February 24, 2014 22:02

7 Reasons You Are Better Off Self-Publishing

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Are you eager looking forward to get a publishing contract or happy you received one? Finding a publisher who will consider your book idea and then getting your manuscript published is time-consuming and can often be a frustrating experience. Going with a big publisher is not easier than author-publishing. You will be surprised to learn about the following facts, often the hard way:

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Your Book Has Only 3 Months to Fly Off the Shelves

If your book does not sell within the first three months of its bookstore life, it will be returned to the publishers ware house and disappears from bookstores and could end up at “A Buck a Book”. Shocking: 90 to 95% of books don’t pay back their advance. Royalty will only be paid if the authors advance is paid back. What you get upfront as an advance is usually all you will ever get.

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Screw Up on Your First Book? You Are Out!

If you do well with it, publishers will be eager to see your next title. But if you don’t sell a lot of books, your agent or publisher will not want to read your manuscript when you will offer your second book.

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Traditional Publishing is Very Slow

Unless you wrote a political tell-all, your book is going to ”be in the making” for up to two years until it goes into the bookstores. You need to be sure your topic is timeless and that you will be interested in publicizing it years from now.

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No Foreign Rights

Unless you have a savvy agent (preferably speaking several languages) who is trying to sell your book abroad, there is little chance that your publisher actively tries to find buyers in foreign markets.

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Most Likely You Will Only Receive Your Advance

You can get as little as $5,000 or as much as $500,000, but either way, you will have to pay 15% of this amount to your agent, and the remainder will be paid in thirds or quarters over the next couple of years. So you first need to “earn out” the advance, before any royalties will be paid to you.

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Slowest Get-Rich-Quick Scheme

Breaking into big money publishing is like becoming a movie star – being talented definitely helps, but luck plays a big role and the odds might not be in your favor.

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No Publicity for Your Book

Until a decade or two ago, publishers did some marketing for books. Now, in the best case, they might send out some galleys and wait to see if anyone is interested. Then they focus all their publicity on the books they expect to be a bestseller. If you want your book to be a success, YOU will have to do ALL the publicity yourself!

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Books don’t sell themselves, as most writers sooner or later find out – often too late. If you are interested in making money or selling your book for a long time, better consider e-books and self-publishing. But in any way, marketing skills or at least the willingness to learn about marketing and PR to promote your book, are essential for an author.

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Self-publishing Seems to be Easy

- if you know what your are doing. Sure, anyone can become a small publisher. YOU call the shots. YOU retain the rights to your book. And YOU take home a much higher royalty than you would normally get from a traditional publisher – IF you sell any books… And that’s often the problem.

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Books are Not Sold Automatically

We get emails, often several per day, from writers who have just recently published a book, with the question “what we can do for them.” Well, in almost all cases we have to start with Adam and Eve. And explain to them how exactly (author-) publishing works.

Think and learn first how to publish professionally, so that readers see you as a “real” author. And learn how to establish your platform and how to market your book – before writing it. You would never start building a house with the roof, before even building the foundation, the frame and walls. Why would you then do it in your new publishing profession?

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If you would like to get more support in all things publishing, have your book intensively promoted and learn how to navigate social media sites – or to learn how you can make yourself a name as an author through content writing: We offer all this and more for only $179 for three months – or less than $2 per day! Learn more about this customized Online Seminar / Consulting for writers: http://www.111Publishing.com/Seminars Or visit http://www.e-book-pr.com/book-promo/

to advertise your new book, specials, your KDP Select Free Days or the new Kindle Countdown Deals.

Please check out all previous posts of this blog (there are more than 1,020 of them : ) if you haven’t already. Why not sign up to receive them regularly by email? Just click on “Follow” in the upper line on each page – and then on “LIKE” next to it. There is also the “SHARE” button underneath each article where you can submit the article to Pinterest, Google+, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and StumpleUpon.

Thanks a lot for following:

@111publishing

http://bit.ly/VmtVAS 111Publishing @ Google+

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Tagged: getting published, how publishing is really working, publishers don't market your book, publishing facts, traditional publishing is very slow, What Publishers Won't Tell You

http://www.111publishing.com/publishing-seminar-in-decatur-atlanta-ga/

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Published on February 23, 2014 20:20

Early-Bird Discount for Writers Seminar til Feb 26

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Signing up before February 26 for the Writer’s Seminar in Atlanta, Georgia, saves you $20

Receive lots of useful information for your further literary career in this workshop. Find out how to navigate the modern publishing world, get hundreds of valuable marketing tips during this seminar while in the relaxed atmosphere of a group of writers. Learn how to promote your book without even spending money for it. Get practical hands-on tips to market your book and earn more money with leveraging your manuscript.

http://www.111publishing.com/publishing-seminar-in-decatur-atlanta-ga/

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These are the WRITERS SEMINAR’S main topics:

Learn about the new publishing & pre-publishing process
Identify your target readers and their demographic
Find out how to reach these readers online and off-line
Create your own brand and your platform
Choose the type of publishing that is right for you
Market and publicize your book successfully on a budged
Prepare your next bestseller & find free book publishing funding sources
Leverage the content of your book into other markets & earn more with your writing

Read more details and sign up here before Feb 26 for this one-day-seminar for only $59:

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If you live further down south:

On Saturday, March 22 we offer the same seminar in Sarasota, Florida!

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If you would like to get more support in all things publishing, have your book intensively promoted and learn how to navigate social media sites – or to learn how you can make yourself a name as an author through content writing: We offer all this and more for only $179 for three months – or less than $2 per day! Learn more about this customized Online Seminar / Consulting for writers: http://www.111Publishing.com/Seminars Or visit http://www.e-book-pr.com/book-promo/

to advertise your new book, specials, your KDP Select Free Days or the new Kindle Countdown Deals.

Please check out all previous posts of this blog (there are more than 1,020 of them : ) if you haven’t already. Why not sign up to receive them regularly by email? Just click on “Follow” in the upper line on each page – and then on “LIKE” next to it. There is also the “SHARE” button underneath each article where you can submit the article to Pinterest, Google+, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and StumpleUpon.

Thanks a lot for following:

@111publishing

http://bit.ly/VmtVAS 111Publishing @ Google+

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Tagged: Atlanta Georgia, book marketing on a budget, Book Publishing Tips, Decatur GA, Decatur-Atlanta, Early-Bird-Discount, how to publish a book, Writer Club Atlanta, Writer Seminar

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Published on February 23, 2014 08:00

6 Reasons for Making a Long-term Investment as a Book Reviewer

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Earning cash through writing book reviews is not really the primary reason for becoming a book reviewer. The more important reasons for a writer to become a book reviewer have nothing to do with money making, but have an intrinsic value to them that are a long-term investment. Allow me to share six reasons for becoming a book reviewer.

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Feeding Your Passions.

As writers, we tend to develop our skills in only one or two genres. Essentially we have and must limit ourselves to our specific genres in order to compete well in the market. However, it is very likely that you love reading books of other genres and often not only desire, but need to remain linked to those books that fed your passion to become a writer in the first place.

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Making Friends With Other Authors.

I have reviewed several hundred books and have therefore exposed myself to the opportunity of friendship with several hundred other authors. That does not mean that they have all become my friends, but there are a few with whom there is a special connection. Something within their writing or within my review sparks a special relationship. The special relationships that you develop with people who suffer through the same maladies that you do, will serve you well as you continue to face the ups and downs of your career.

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Building Up Your Knowledge.

If you are wise, you will review books from which you might also learn new skills. In today’s world writers have also become business owners. By reviewing books that teach you the skills necessary to understand your role as a business owner, publisher, marketer and web site manager, you can expand your knowledge and become a better informed businessperson. You might also review a book that happens to be a part of the research for your next novel; something that you were going to do anyway.

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Improve Your Writing Skills.

Sometimes our dialogue can seem forced and dull or a particular, non-cliché words or phrases elude us. Often times, when I am reading, I come across a well turned phrase or a particular way of describing something that captures my attention. Just like I learned from the masters when I began reading the classics and studying their style, I often pick up contemporary tips and tricks from the books that I review and add them to my toolbox.

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Increase your library of ideas and characters. Besides running across well turned phrases which become a part of my tools, I sometimes create an image in my mind that develops into a new book. In the past year alone, I have added at least a dozen novel ideas or character sketches that lend themselves to, at some point in the future, become novels or be incorporated into other novels. The author does not even have to be writing in your genre to foster an idea in your mind that can grow into something bigger. If you take notes, you will find plenty of ideas to boost your collection.

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Helps avoid writer’s block.

Every writer has a different method for avoiding, preventing or overcoming writer’s block. The methods suggested are as numerous as there are authors, but two that often show up in nearly every author’s suggestions are inspiration and action. Inspiration can easily come from a well turned phrase or image that is gained from reading another book. The second, the action of writing out a review, often times, will get a writer’s mind flowing in the right direction and get them back on track.

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Bil Howard is an indie publisher and novelist whose works include: “The Wolf of the Highlands”, “Zipaquirá” and “Rionegro”. Bil is also the author of a blog, which discusses reading, literacy and language development. Bil lives in a small town near Medellin, Colombia where he teaches English, writes and reviews books. Enjoy his blog or visit his website at Bil-Howard.net.
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If you would like to get more support in all things publishing, have your book intensively promoted and learn how to navigate social media sites – or to learn how you can make yourself a name as an author through content writing: We offer all this and more for only $179 for three months – or less than $2 per day! Learn more about this customized Online Seminar / Consulting for writers: http://www.111Publishing.com/Seminars Or visit http://www.e-book-pr.com/book-promo/

to advertise your new book, specials, your KDP Select Free Days or the new Kindle Countdown Deals.

Please check out all previous posts of this blog (there are more than 1,015 of them : ) if you haven’t already. Why not sign up to receive them regularly by email? Just click on “Follow” in the upper line on each page – and then on “LIKE” next to it. There is also the “SHARE” button underneath each article where you can submit the article to Pinterest, Google+, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and StumpleUpon.

Thanks a lot for following:

@111publishing

http://bit.ly/VmtVAS 111Publishing @ Google+

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