Adventures in Epublishing: Strategy
There are a ton of sales strategies out there for your ebook: contests, blogging, getting it to reviewers, forcing it on friends and relatives, etc. But after reading a Joe Konrath blog post regarding Amanda Hocking's ebook success (as well as countless other articles) it's quite clear that the most important thing to do to promote yourself is to WRITE. And get those books out!
The ebook authors that are selling well are in fact ebook authors that have multiple ebooks available. The key is, first and foremost, to write an excellent book. But not just one...many.
I would also argue that creating a series will help sales as well, for obvious reasons. Readers (myself included) love series and are always eagerly awaiting the next installment of a story with their favorite characters. If you have one developed or are considering what to write, I think that's a sure-fire way to build up an audience. Karen McQuestion, another ebook author, does buck that trend a little, she has a few books out, but no series and is still selling well.
Over the past couple of weeks, I've been thinking of ways to help sales, but the bottom line is I need to get more books done, and I'll see sales rise. So that's my current goal...write write write. I'm going to put my focus on getting the next books done and not worry so much about current sales, which are growing slowly. My goal for 2011 is to get 2, maybe 3 new YA novels out. 1 is already finished, 1 is halfway done, and 1 has been started.
But I'm confident that getting these new books out will really cement my place as well as push sales up. It's going to be a couple of months before I'm able to put those out, but in the mean time, Into the Shadows will hopefully be making some good rounds and getting my name out there. I'm also lucky that it's part of a series...so I need to get the next one written for people that are eagerly waiting. I'm anticipating big things for 2011, but I've got to do my part to make sure I get it done!
The ebook authors that are selling well are in fact ebook authors that have multiple ebooks available. The key is, first and foremost, to write an excellent book. But not just one...many.
I would also argue that creating a series will help sales as well, for obvious reasons. Readers (myself included) love series and are always eagerly awaiting the next installment of a story with their favorite characters. If you have one developed or are considering what to write, I think that's a sure-fire way to build up an audience. Karen McQuestion, another ebook author, does buck that trend a little, she has a few books out, but no series and is still selling well.
Over the past couple of weeks, I've been thinking of ways to help sales, but the bottom line is I need to get more books done, and I'll see sales rise. So that's my current goal...write write write. I'm going to put my focus on getting the next books done and not worry so much about current sales, which are growing slowly. My goal for 2011 is to get 2, maybe 3 new YA novels out. 1 is already finished, 1 is halfway done, and 1 has been started.
But I'm confident that getting these new books out will really cement my place as well as push sales up. It's going to be a couple of months before I'm able to put those out, but in the mean time, Into the Shadows will hopefully be making some good rounds and getting my name out there. I'm also lucky that it's part of a series...so I need to get the next one written for people that are eagerly waiting. I'm anticipating big things for 2011, but I've got to do my part to make sure I get it done!
Excellent points! I agree on write, write, write. Smashwords just had an article about an author breaking $200K/year in ebook sales. His secrets: lots of books, at least 1 series and at least 1 free book (usually first in the series) that hooks the reader. Even free short stories/novellas help to pull the reader in. So let's get to it, KK! We can do this in 2011! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm with you girl, I think 2011 is going to be the big year for both of us...you've got the head start with the second in your series out...but I'm not far behind! It's going to be *awesome*!!!
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