The Order of Importance in Self-Publishing
In my exploits into the Indy publishing world so far, both from an ePublisher and doing it myself, this is what I've realized when it comes to getting your book read.
*Please note that this list comes AFTER you have written the best book you possibly can. This is AFTER you have revised, and revised, and read it again to make sure it is your best effort. Content is the most important factor in your continued success.
These are the five most important areas of self-publishing in my experience, in this order.
1. COVER
For the love of god people, get a good cover! Pay the money for it, because this is the stop sign that makes people stop perusing and look a little closer. If your cover sucks, readers won't even pause to have a peek. If you have a budget, make sure this takes precedence.
2. BLURB
You've stopped them with the cover. Now what?
You've got to reel them in, obviously. Make sure this blurb sounds good, reads well, and will entice someone to crack the book and get a sample.
3. EDITING
I made the mistake of self-editing the first time around. Why? Because I'm a moron. I got great reviews on content...that dropped to terrible reviews because the typos and misspellings were way too distracting. You can't have a book full of errors if you want to keep selling. Get it fixed up.
4. WEBSITE
You need a home base. If I were you, I would have this in effect before the first book is published. At the end of that book, direct readers back to your website with a link. If you have another book in the series, the end of the first book will direct them to the next. Getting people to your website helps them find out about other things you've written.
Websites don't have to be hard to do, and can be free. You can have a blog that acts as a website, if you want, and direct readers to the post you want them to see after they finish your book. Or you can sign up with Host Gator or Go Daddy or someone, and then use their website builder thing. That is really cheap and pretty easy.
Make sure you have a proper domain name. Don't use ImAwesome.BlogSpot.com. Instead, pay the $15/year to get ImAwesome.com. It makes you seem more professional, and looks matter. After the inner beauty, obviously...
5. FACETIME
No, not the calling thingy on your iPhone. This relates to social media. Get a Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Pinterest and (whatever else is trending right now) page up. I really only use Facebook and Twitter, but do as many as you want. Make sure you are working in your demographic, too. For example, Tumblr is for the younger crowd, so...
You want to talk to people. 'Hang out' with them. Chat. This is for you as much as them. They give you support, which is badly needed when the bad reviews come in (and they always do), and you give them a way to interact. Put in the effort, and NEVER take anyone for granted.
*Please note that this list comes AFTER you have written the best book you possibly can. This is AFTER you have revised, and revised, and read it again to make sure it is your best effort. Content is the most important factor in your continued success.
These are the five most important areas of self-publishing in my experience, in this order.
1. COVER
For the love of god people, get a good cover! Pay the money for it, because this is the stop sign that makes people stop perusing and look a little closer. If your cover sucks, readers won't even pause to have a peek. If you have a budget, make sure this takes precedence.
2. BLURB
You've stopped them with the cover. Now what?
You've got to reel them in, obviously. Make sure this blurb sounds good, reads well, and will entice someone to crack the book and get a sample.
3. EDITING
I made the mistake of self-editing the first time around. Why? Because I'm a moron. I got great reviews on content...that dropped to terrible reviews because the typos and misspellings were way too distracting. You can't have a book full of errors if you want to keep selling. Get it fixed up.
4. WEBSITE
You need a home base. If I were you, I would have this in effect before the first book is published. At the end of that book, direct readers back to your website with a link. If you have another book in the series, the end of the first book will direct them to the next. Getting people to your website helps them find out about other things you've written.
Websites don't have to be hard to do, and can be free. You can have a blog that acts as a website, if you want, and direct readers to the post you want them to see after they finish your book. Or you can sign up with Host Gator or Go Daddy or someone, and then use their website builder thing. That is really cheap and pretty easy.
Make sure you have a proper domain name. Don't use ImAwesome.BlogSpot.com. Instead, pay the $15/year to get ImAwesome.com. It makes you seem more professional, and looks matter. After the inner beauty, obviously...
5. FACETIME
No, not the calling thingy on your iPhone. This relates to social media. Get a Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Pinterest and (whatever else is trending right now) page up. I really only use Facebook and Twitter, but do as many as you want. Make sure you are working in your demographic, too. For example, Tumblr is for the younger crowd, so...
You want to talk to people. 'Hang out' with them. Chat. This is for you as much as them. They give you support, which is badly needed when the bad reviews come in (and they always do), and you give them a way to interact. Put in the effort, and NEVER take anyone for granted.
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