Theodore’s Comments (group member since Apr 01, 2017)

Theodore’s comments from the Navigating Indieworld Discussing All Things Indie group.

Carmel wrote: "I'm glad to hear it appears to have gone relatively smoothly, even if having to add second categories, and waiting. When there are so many things that could go wrong, it always feels like a victory..."

And the same to you, Carmel.

On another topic related to moving from CreateSpace to KDP, for those of you who've had a book in-process on CreateSpace but NOT yet published it, even if you've already received proof copies of your book, the bad news is that you'll have to start all over again on KDP.

The good news is: it's not difficult. They will assign you a new ISBN (if you've been using those provided by CreateSpace), and if you need the 10-digit ISBN for one reason or another, you can determine it using the following Website:

https://www.isbn.org/ISBN_converter

Just re-enter your book's basic data, upload the text in whatever format you've been using, reload your cover, and wait (and wait!) for their system to process both. I was pleasantly surprised to see that they accepted the cover I had created using the CreateSpace specifications. For some reason, I had been led to believe I might encounter problems unless I used the KDP cover specifications, but they accepted my composite cover and added the barcode without a problem.

For some reason, it seemed to take forever for their system to review the material submitted, and I finally exited the process, expecting to have to resubmit. However, when I hit the Proviewer button, the book appeared...which was nice, because I was using Google's Chrome, which, not employing Java, previously did NOT support CreateSpace's viewer function.

In any event, I'm sanguine the move to KDP may not be as onerous as previously anticipated, and I hope the rest of the publication process proceeds as quickly as did today's effort.

So, more on moving to KDP from CreateSpace...

Just as has been mentioned earlier (I can't find the posting), I found IN EVERY CASE that my paperback books listed only ONE category. I had to go in and in every case add a second category. (near the bottom in the first of three windows)

As well, NOT ALL MARKETS were checked. So, I simply checked ALL MARKETS to enable sales worldwide (I think it was for 249 countries).

Once finished, I simply clicked Done and the rest is up to KDP. Meanwhile, books on sale will remain on sale, pending any changes made.

I just moved my 24 books to KDP from CreateSpace in ten minutes...the process is quite simple. It took me more time to figure out what was going on than to actually move my books.

If you're tried to sign into CreateSpace lately, then you know the Website is gone. Here's what you have to do:

Go to the following URL:

https://www.createspace.com/?forceLog...

Sign in and follow the instructions. When you get the authentication e-mail, respond, and then, proceed to your KDP page, where, one by one, select your books and link the paperback editions to the Kindle editions.

More specifically, select a book, and when the window opens, you'll see the book you've selected and below it, options (in the case where there are multiple books in a series, for example). Click on the (proper) book (e.g., Book 3, if more than one book is shown), click to proceed, and the books will be linked ON THE KDP WEBSITE (this does NOT link them on Amazon.com...you'll still have to contact Author Central, for example, to link your Kindle and paperback pages).

Anyway, it took all of 10 minutes, as I said, to go through my books.

If I've overlooked something, or if someone has something to add that might help others, by all means jump in here.

I wish everyone a Joyous Holiday Season.

Ted

Dennis wrote: "If a human died in a vat of pickle relish, would they float or sink?"

To make sure the vic sinks, have the perp tie a cinder block to their ankles. Works every time.

If it's very salty, they would float (think the Dead Sea). If people are worried about their salt intake and go for the low-salt variety, then you might be in trouble unless it's very thick and gooey. (;>)

The fact is, I really don't know for sure.

Judy wrote: "Theodore wrote: "I was just out on The Jerusalem Post's Website, checking on the news in the Middle East, when an ad from Barnes & Noble popped up, featuring four of my books. Now, we all know that..."

Who knows what these retailers do with our books...and when?!

Dale wrote: "But is it your good side? ;-)"

Well, for my bad side, I browse using 'incognito' windows (;>)

Dale wrote: "Theodore wrote: "I was just out on The Jerusalem Post's Website, checking on the news in the Middle East, when an ad from Barnes & Noble popped up, featuring four of my books. Now, we all know that..."

Yes, of course you are correct...it fits my "profile." See how dangerous all this online profiling is?!

I was just out on The Jerusalem Post's Website, checking on the news in the Middle East, when an ad from Barnes & Noble popped up, featuring four of my books. Now, we all know that our movements on the Web are tracked, but this is ridiculous! Why would anyone (app developer, in particular) think an author is going to purchase copies of his own books, much less at retail?!

Dumb, dumber, dumbest!

Carole wrote: "Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!"

And the same to you and your son, Carole.

Anita wrote: "Ted-- I sure agree. I'm running an ENT ad today for A u 7 9. Of all my advertising over the last two years for three books, ENT was the only one that had any significant sales. I am hopeful today w..."

Good luck, Anita. I always kept my discount price available for a week after the date of ENT ad because the sales usually kept coming in the days after the ad ran. Hope you did the same.

Kimberly wrote: "I released my 4th book in September. My publisher and I both thought it would do really well because of the topic and amazing book cover. Have only sold a couple. None of my books are selling in la..."

The only way I found to sell books over the last several years was to confine myself to KDP and run discount sales linked to promotions on Ereader News Today (ENT).

https://ereadernewstoday.com/

I used both their regular service as well as Book Of The Day. In some cases I sold well over one hundred books over the course of a week (I think the best week got up near 200 books), but of late, the best effort has been around 80 books. Mysteries sold the best, short stories and flash fiction not so much. My YA novel didn't do well. I'm not sure how poetry would do. Romance, of course, does best.

In all, as Carole says, given what you have to sell a book for these days (and mindful of the number being given away free), by the time you add up marketing costs, it's almost impossible to make a buck today in the indie marketplace.

Carole wrote: "I was thinking of going back on KU for the first three months of the year- because people give KIndles away as gifts. I was thinking it might be a good time to get some interest in the books. I'm n..."

I can't offer any advice here, Carole. Frankly, I don't think it much matters. The problem is: marketing!!! If you make a big enough noise and can drive people to your books, it doesn't matter where they're posted for sale. It's getting them to click on YOUR books, wherever they may be found. SSDD (Same story, different day!)

Alex wrote: "Oh yes, they resolve problems well, they're polite and I have no issues with them, I just wish they were a little quicker at times.

Hopefully they'll get the promo tab sorted quickly for you. If ..."

I'll have to wait until at least mid-January. As of now, I only have six books on Kobo. By the end of January, the number will be more than 20.

Alex wrote: "Theodore wrote: "Just came across an interesting page regarding the format of the URLs you will want to use if you post hotlinks on your Websites to books sold on Kobo:

https://kobowritinglife.zen..."

As they say:

"By removing the country and language indicators in the link, anyone can click on the link and it will automatically open up in their localized Kobo store. This is great if you have international readers, because you can post one link and it can be opened in over 190 countries."

Alex wrote: "Theodore wrote: "Alex wrote: "Theodore wrote: "D.J. wrote: "Email just in: "The KDP Select Global Fund for November is $23.6 million" Splendid. Of which I will receive exactly 0. Thrilled for every..."

Okay...I just did that. And yes, it does take a day or so for them to respond, but they eventually do. I have found them very helpful in resolving my problems.

Thanks.

Ted

Just came across an interesting page regarding the format of the URLs you will want to use if you post hotlinks on your Websites to books sold on Kobo:

https://kobowritinglife.zendesk.com/h...

Alex wrote: "Theodore wrote: "D.J. wrote: "Email just in: "The KDP Select Global Fund for November is $23.6 million" Splendid. Of which I will receive exactly 0. Thrilled for everyone else. Grudgingly..."

LOL ..."

Alex, tell me more about the Kobo promotions...I see nothing on their Website. Can you find it and post the applicable URL here?

I did find this, but I doubt it's what you were referring to:

https://kobowritinglife.zendesk.com/h...

Thanks.

Alex wrote: "Theodore wrote: "D.J. wrote: "Email just in: "The KDP Select Global Fund for November is $23.6 million" Splendid. Of which I will receive exactly 0. Thrilled for everyone else. Grudgingly..."

LOL ..."

That's where the books are going. I already have some books on their other site, some that were place there by another publisher I used, some by me...I'll leave them there. But the ones I spoke of above are going on KWL. In fact, they're already uploaded...just need to wait for the date KDP cancels and push the Publish button on KWL. Ditto, B&N...books already are uploaded.