Marketing on EditionGuard

How to Build an Online Presence Before Publishing Your Book

Tue, 26 May 2026 10:56:00 +0000

Building an online presence before your book is published gives readers a way to discover you, trust you, join your audience, and stay connected before launch day. It also gives you more control over how you promote your book instead of relying only on retailers, algorithms, or last-minute marketing. If you are self-publishing, this matters even more because you are not just the author. You are also part marketer, part publisher, and part business owner.

How To Market Your eCommerce Store On A Budget

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 22:30:00 +0000

Running an ecommerce store on a small budget can feel limiting, but budget is not the only factor that determines whether your store grows. A large ad budget can help you reach more people, but it cannot fix unclear messaging, weak product positioning, poor follow-up, or content that does not answer what buyers actually need to know.

As an Author, Do You Need Your Own Website?

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 09:23:00 +0000

The short answer is yes, you definitely need to have your own website.

If you write books and want readers to find you reliably, you need a website you control. Social platforms can help you get discovered, but they are not a stable home for your author brand, your book catalog, your email list, or your long term marketing.

Increase Your Reach with YouTube in 2026

Wed, 31 Dec 2025 08:00:00 +0000

The Why and How - Too Long to Read

YouTube is essential in 2026 because its 2.7 billion-strong monthly audience and powerful search engine give indie authors and small publishers unrivaled visibility and SEO reach. By posting Shorts for quick discovery, seven-to-fifteen-minute deep dives for sustained watch time, and live or Premiere events for real-time engagement, creators meet viewers where they already spend hours each day.

Social Media and the Indie Author in 2026: A Complete Guide

Fri, 28 Nov 2025 08:00:00 +0000

Why Social Media Still Moves Books in 2026

Global social media users climbed to 5.41 billion in July 2026, equal to 65.7 percent of the world’s population. (DataReportal – Global Digital Insights)
Readers spend an average of 2 hours 24 minutes every day on their favorite networks. (Exploding To pics)
Your audience is already scrolling; the only question is whether they will discover your stories or someone else’s.

How to Set Up Your Author Website

Fri, 13 Sep 2024 13:04:58 +0000

Creating a professional author website is crucial for building your brand, connecting with readers, and showcasing your work. As the digital landscape evolves, having a well-designed and functional website becomes increasingly important. This guide will walk you through the process of setting up your author website, incorporating tools and integrations unique to EditionGuard to help you maximize your online presence.

10 Ways to Sell More eBooks

Fri, 01 Apr 2022 17:49:12 +0000

What does it take to sell more ebooks?

You wrote your ebook, had it edited, put a great cover on it, and launched it. And then you waited for the sales to roll in.

Networking with Other Indie Authors

Tue, 04 Jan 2022 16:35:20 +0000

One of the most important ways to maintain your motivation, grow your visibility, and sell more ebooks is by networking with other indie authors. Your indie author network is made up of other writers who understand the challenges and joys of being an indie author. They are often the first people to help you reach new readers and are always happy to help you promote your new titles. These are the people who most understand the difficult role you have in being both author and marketer. ‘

Indie Marketing 101: Marketing Your eBook as an Indie Author

Wed, 03 Nov 2021 15:09:47 +0000

One of the biggest challenges of being an indie author who self-publishes is that the responsibility for getting the word out about your ebook falls to you. Marketing your ebook as an indie author, many authors would argue, is harder than writing the book itself. There are a variety of marketing strategies, services, and tools that can make it easier.

How to Drive More Leads for your eBook

Wed, 03 Mar 2021 12:28:16 +0000

To drive more leads for your ebook, you will require a multipronged approach. As an independent author, you’re often responsible for your own marketing. Learning how to drive more leads for your ebook as efficiently as possible can help you achieve success. There are multiple angles from which you should attempt to drive leads. We’ll go over the most effective methods here.

The Ultimate Indie Author Resource Guide Part 1: Marketing Your eBook

Wed, 03 Jun 2020 12:32:24 +0000

We’re all spending more time at home and getting out less, whether because our favorite stores are closed, or we simply are trying to flatten curves and reduce risk. All this extra time can be put to good use – if you have ever dreamed of writing an ebook, now is a great time to do so. To help you, we’ll be spending the next few weeks sharing our ultimate indie author resource guide, starting where every good indie author should start – with marketing.

Creating an Author Website Designed to Sell eBooks

Thu, 30 Apr 2020 12:56:28 +0000

Do you have an author website? As the world looks at ways to slowly reopen, there will still be another few months of more people spending more time at home. Big festivals for the summer have all been cancelled - even Oktoberfest in Germany has been cancelled this year. With all of that extra downtime, we anticipate ebook sales will continue to rise, so if you're an author or publisher, now is the time to make sure your ebook marketing is reaching as many people as possible. An author website is a crucial marketing piece that sometimes gets overlooked.

Make More Money Selling eBooks with Better Marketing

Thu, 23 Apr 2020 14:18:07 +0000

It can be difficult to reach your audience on social media unless you’re willing to pay for advertising. Boosting posts on Facebook can be an effective way to expand your reach, but if you have an email list, why pay Facebook when you can reach an entire audience with ebook email marketing? With effective ebook email marketing, you can make more money selling ebooks.

Marketing Templates for Publishers and Authors

Tue, 14 Apr 2020 21:47:07 +0000

While the impact of COVID-19 is being felt around the world and many businesses are struggling under the weight of closure, there have been some silver linings. First, the air quality has improved measurably around the globe.

50 Questions for Authors

Thu, 09 Apr 2020 14:04:15 +0000

Are you a blogger or journalist interviewing an author? A publisher promoting a new author? An author developing a website from which you can market yourself and your books? To truly engage with your audience, you need to get them interested in the writer of the book. These 50 questions for authors are designed to do just that:

Selling Your eBook Takes Marketing Right

Thu, 19 Mar 2020 20:12:06 +0000

Writing and publishing your ebook is only part of the work you'll have to do to find success; to be able to sustain your publishing business or independence as an author, you'll also need to be able to find success selling your ebook. Marketing an ebook requires you to have an audience, a platform to market it, and a clear idea of the niche the ebook is in.

How Do I Promote My Self-Published Book?

Mon, 26 Feb 2018 06:56:05 +0000

Independent authors must navigate a fast-paced and competitive marketing landscape to promote their books.

Self-publishing as a practice continues to expand. The latest data available shows ISBN registrations for indie authors rising 21% between 2014 and 2015. With the growing success of easy-to-use self-publishing platforms like Lulu and Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), many authors are also turning to bootstrapped, DIY methods to promote their books.

How to Market a Self-Published Book Effectively: Digital Marketing for Authors

Mon, 05 Feb 2018 10:49:42 +0000

There is no secret to marketing a self-published book online.

The real secret is that there is no secret technique to get people to buy your book - because they won’t. If someone does not want to buy a surrealist children’s book with existential overtones, they probably won’t come across some promotional material and be persuaded to.

The Indie Author Business Plan: A Step-By-Step Outline

Mon, 28 Nov 2016 14:55:45 +0000

Successful indie authors have one thing in common: they realize that they are not only writers, they are also business owners, marketers, salespeople and much more.

The reality is that authors can no longer be solely writers. If you aren’t willing to wear the other hats mentioned above, you will struggle to find success. Sure, you could try to hire people to help, but that gets expensive quickly. For the sake of this post let’s assume that you are like most indie authors and money is tight. Hiring a full-team to run your author business is out of the question.

How We Use eBooks To Grow Our Email List and Make Money

Wed, 23 Nov 2016 14:09:35 +0000

At EditionGuard we use eBooks to not only educate our audience, but also to grow our email list and make money. We truly believe that every business should be creating eBooks and in this post you will see why.

How Authors Can Use Guest Blogging To Sell More Books

Mon, 21 Nov 2016 13:55:55 +0000

Have you ever felt envious of how many readers other blogs attract? If so, you aren’t alone. As an author it is normal to imagine how much easier it would be to gain exposure and sell more books if only we had a larger audience.

10 Authors Share The Book Marketing Mistakes Authors Should Avoid

Wed, 02 Nov 2016 10:43:42 +0000

At EditionGuard we are lucky enough to interact with authors nearly every day. Over the past few years we have seen plenty of mistakes derail the success of authors, but one area stands out more than any other.

Most authors do not know how to effectively market their book(s).

Whether you are a self-published author or have gone the traditional publishing route, marketing your book will ultimately be your responsibility.

In an effort to help authors avoid the book marketing mistakes that we have seen over the years, we reached out to several book marketing experts and successful authors to get their opinion on the following topic:

What is the biggest book marketing mistake authors make and what should they be doing instead?

Below are exact answers we received in response to the the question above. If you find these responses helpful, please share this post.

1. Forgetting That Social Media Is Social

“I think the biggest online book marketing mistake new authors make is forgetting that social media is social. They broadcast "buy my book" everywhere and fail to interact with people.

Authors need to remember social media is for making friends, not direct sales. The sales come later. Don't expect immediate results. It's a marathon, not a sprint. Plus, you're writers, not marketers, so write!

That's why I think blogging is an author's best marketing tool.”

Anne R. Allen is an author of eight comic mysteries and a collection of short stories and poems. She is also the co-author of a guidebook for writers, written with Amazon superstar Catherine Ryan Hyde. Before becoming an author, Anne was an actress, bookseller and the former artistic director of the Patio Playhouse in Escondido, CA.

2. Failing To Interact With Readers and Fellow Writers

“One of the biggest book marketing mistakes authors make is failing to interact with readers and fellow writers as human beings. Too many marketing strategies come across as self-focused and/or robotic. Not only do pushy me-me pitches and mechanical sales-only approaches turn off readers, they are also wasted opportunities.

Approach your marketing with an attitude of genuineness, openness, and generosity. Put yourself in readers’ shoes. What messages would you appreciate from authors? What messages would annoy you?

Same goes for networking with fellow authors. Don’t pitch “trades” (for Facebook likes, book reviews, link promotions) that compromise your integrity, and don’t ask for favors you wouldn’t wholeheartedly grant yourself.

Ultimately, good marketing is about empathy. Put yourself in the other person’s shoes and learn to think and feel the way they do.”

K.M. Weiland lives in make-believe worlds, talks to imaginary friends, and survives primarily on chocolate truffles and espresso. She is the IPPY, NIEA, and Lyra Award-winning and internationally published author of Outlining Your Novel and Structuring Your Novel, as well as Jane Eyre: The Writer’s Digest Annotated Classic. She writes historical and speculative fiction from her home in western Nebraska and mentors authors on her award-winning website Helping Writers Become Authors.

3. Not Starting To Market Their Book Early Enough

“One of the biggest book marketing mistakes most authors make is: They don't start marketing their book early enough. Reviewers need lots of lead time, book tours should be organized months before the actual tour begins, your local book library and bookstore often arrange their scheduled author appearances six months before a book is actually published.

It's important to have a carefully thought out marketing plan, but the real trick is to put it to work long before your book is ready to launch.”

Betty Kelly Sargent is the founder of BookWorks.com, the Self-Publisher’s Association, an online community and resource for indie authors and professional service providers. Betty is the former Editor-in-Chief of William Morrow, Executive Editor of Harper Collins and Delacorte Press, Fiction and Books Editor of Cosmopolitan, and book reviewer for CNN.

4. Having Vague Goals and Not Having A Marketing Plan

“One of the biggest mistakes an author makes is having vague goals and not having a marketing plan in place. It’s essential to having a marketing plan around your book. Books don’t just sell themselves. This is probably where you’ll spend most of your time and a good chunk of your money.

As an indie or self-published author it’s really important to do your research before making any vendor, retail, or editorial services decisions. It’s a lot of work, but thinking through all the pieces will prevent you from wasting potentially thousands of dollars and hours of time.”

Miral Sattar is founder and CEO of BiblioCrunch, an award-winning author services marketplace that matches authors with quality, aware-winning professionals to get new books and apps to market. She has working in the media industry for 11 years, most recently at TIME where she launched several digital initiatives including an iPad and mobile site, mobile apps, a video and podcast channel, blogs and SEO. Her writing has been featured in TIME, CNN, NY Daily News, among other media publications.

5. Not Realizing That Being An Author Is A Business

“One of the biggest book marketing mistakes is not realizing this is a business. Everything stems from that because if you treat writing, publishing and promoting your book like a business, you make decisions that are aligned with growing a business - as opposed to simply appeasing your ego.

I’m an author myself so I can say that’s a very real thing! If you treat being an author like running a business you will also start to realize that (like a business) things take time. It took me three years to make AME profitable – time and patience and hard work – are keenly important when running a successful business.

So don’t sit back and wait for success to find you just because your book is finally up on Amazon. There are over 4,500 books published every single day. An author’s work is not over when the book goes up for sale, in a lot of ways it’s just beginning. Most of us write because it comes easy, it’s the promotion and marketing that are foreign to a lot of people, it’s growing the business that trips people up.

A quick fix is to find trusted sources and commit to not only learning from them, but implementing their tips and recommendations. A step up from that would be finding a company to partner with, that can help take you to the next level. But don’t lose sight of the fact that even if you hire someone, this is still your business to run, so be the CEO your book deserves and do everything you can to aid in its success.”

Penny Sansevieri, CEO and founder of Author Marketing Experts, Inc. (AME) and Adjunct Professor at NYU, is a best-selling author and internationally recognized book marketing and media relations expert. Her company is one of the leaders in the publishing industry and has developed some of the most cutting-edge book marketing campaigns. Find out more at http://www.amarketingexpert.com.

6. Expecting Amazon To Generate Sales

“One of the biggest book marketing mistakes I see authors make is not doing it at all. They put their eBook up on Amazon and expect sales to roll in magically, then they're disappointed with the results.

The fundamental thing about marketing a book is the same as marketing any other product; it's a multi-channel and continuous effort that yields results in the mid to long term. Starting this effort as early as possible, even before the launch of the book itself is of paramount importance.

Also, instead of focusing on just one or two channels like social media or forums, spreading the word out on as many channels as possible is more prudent, as it's difficult to tell which channels will return the best results and making more informed decisions will be easier with a variety of data at hand.”

Turgay Birand began his entrepreneurial career while still a student in college in 2001. Since then he's been building and operating many digital assets such as e-commerce stores and SaaS businesses. As the founder of EditionGuard he's currently focused on helping and shaping the eBook self-publishing sector by empowering smaller authors and publishers with the secure distribution tools they need.

7. Not Obtaining Endorsements Prior To Publishing

"One of the biggest book marketing mistakes many independently published authors make is to wait until their book is published to market it. Instead of waiting until the birth of a book, marketing should start with the conception.

One largely underutilized marketing technique that begins prior to publication of a book is obtaining endorsements. The majority of independently published authors neglect this very powerful and free marketing tool. Endorsements are secured prior to the publication of a book from influencers and other authors who speak to your target audience. They help you sell more books by expanding your audience and signaling readers that an influencer has deemed your book worthy of their time and money."

Sarah Bolme is the author of the award-winning Your Guide to Marketing Books in the Christian Marketplace (www.marketingchristianbooks.com), now in its third edition. As the Director of Christian Small Publishers Association (www.christianpublishers.net) she helps independent authors and small publishers market their books in the Christian marketplace.

8. Not Understanding Who Their Exact Audience Is

“One of the biggest book marketing mistakes authors make is not understanding who their exact audience is and instead engaging in general "buy my book" promotion on social media.

Investing time to uncover what makes one's book special (a subject, interest, theme, or other element) will allow the author to search online to find people interested in this same element. The author can then put their energy toward building genuine relationships with this potential audience using their favorite social spaces. By interacting authentically (through discussion, sharing, and adding value) rather than promoting, the author builds trust and friendship, turning readers into fans and influencers."

Angela Ackerman is a writing coach, international speaker, and co-author of the bestselling book, The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Character Expression, as well as four others. Her guides are available in six languages, are sourced by US universities, and are used by novelists, screenwriters, editors, and psychologists around the world. Angela is also the co-founder of the popular site Writers Helping Writers, as well as One Stop for Writers, an innovative online library built to help writers elevate their storytelling.

9. Focusing On The Launch Period To The Exclusion of the Pre-Lauch Period

“The biggest book marketing mistake authors make when marketing books is that they focus on the launch period to the exclusion of the pre-launch period.

Marketing for a book begins the moment you get the idea (or decide to become an author). Whether you write fiction or nonfiction, you need to build an author platform. That can take years! But it is the foundation for all book marketing. Without platform, you have no audience to which to market.

When you know you have a book to launch--and you know when it will launch, set up promotion for the month prior to that release. This builds up pre-sales, which help the book become a bestseller. When it trends on the Amazon Top 100 list in its category, it gets noticed by potential readers, which increases sales.

With a platform and pre-launch marketing plan in place, develop a launch strategy for the month or two after the book launches. Books are marketed over time. In fact, book marketing is ongoing...for the life of the book.”

Nina Amir is an author, with 14 books written to date, an Author Coach, Blog and Blog-to-Book Coach, nonfiction Book Coach and High Performance Coach. She is also a nonfiction book proposal consultant and editor.

10. Not Realizing That They Aren’t Just Authors — They Are Also In Sales

“One of the biggest book marketing mistakes authors make it not realizing that they aren’t just authors — they are also in sales.

Your book’s success will be based almost entirely on how much you actively market it.”

Ann Handley is a veteran of creating and managing digital content to build relationships for organizations and individuals. Ann is the author of the Wall Street Journal bestseller Everybody Writes: Your Go-To Guide to Creating Ridiculously Good Content and the co-author of the best-selling book on content marketing, Content Rules: How To Create Killer Blogs, Podcasts, Videos, Ebooks, Webinars (and More) That Engage Customers and Ignite Your Business. She is the Chief Content Officer at MarketingProfs: a LinkedIn Influencer: a keynote speaker, mom and writer.

http://www.slideshare.net/EditionGuard/10-authors-share-the-book-marketing-mistakes-authors-should-avoid

Now it is your turn! What book marketing mistakes do you think authors should avoid? What strategies should authors use to increase book sales? Let us know in the comment section below.

7 Reasons Why Every Business Should Create eBooks

Tue, 25 Oct 2016 11:55:29 +0000

Attention all business owners. You should be producing eBooks regularly as part of your content marketing strategy. If you aren’t, you are missing out on a massive business opportunity. Let me explain.

Hey Authors, Social Media Doesn't Work

Wed, 19 Oct 2016 02:55:54 +0000

Social media doesn’t work for authors. At least not how most authors are using it.

Hearing that social media doesn’t work might be shocking to you, considering how popular social media is right now. Every author dreams of sending out a tweet and selling 10 books as a result.

How To Market Your Book With Slideshare

Thu, 13 Oct 2016 12:42:47 +0000

Well written books don’t always sell. Well marketed books almost always do. Whether you self-publish or go with a traditional publisher, your success will depend on your ability to market your book.

Self-Publishing A Book: 16 Things Authors Need To Know

Wed, 05 Oct 2016 05:42:19 +0000

A lot has changed in the past 20 years in terms of publishing a book. The barriers to entry have disappeared, digital publishing is on the rise and more authors are turning to self-publishing. If you are a self-published author or are think about going the self-publishing route, there are a few things you should know.

Self-Published Authors: How To Find The Perfect Price For Your Book

Mon, 03 Oct 2016 13:21:33 +0000

You can improve your book cover, spend more on book marketing or even do a complete rewrite, but usually the easiest way to boost your book sales is to play around with your pricing.

How Authors Can Gain Thousands of New Twitter Followers With Tweepi

Mon, 03 Oct 2016 12:59:58 +0000

Do you want to drastically increase your following on Twitter? What if I told you that you could gain 75-100 new Twitter followers everyday for free? Even better, these new followers would be highly targeted and active.

Why No One Will Read Your Next Book

Mon, 12 Sep 2016 05:45:15 +0000

Here is the harsh reality: no one will read your next book. Thats right, all of the hard work you put into completing the book will go to waste.

How To Promote Your eBook With Facebook Ads

Thu, 01 Sep 2016 01:37:20 +0000

Once you finish writing your eBook you will have to figure out how to promote it. There are many ways to promote your eBook, but none give you access to more potential buyers than Facebook Ads. Below are a few reasons you should use Facebook Ads to promote your next eBook:

Market Your eBook: Beyond Basics

Thu, 28 Apr 2016 05:00:33 +0000

An indie author is part writer and part marketer, and the effort you make to market your eBook is always worthwhile. Marketing an eBook is different than marketing a print book. There’s no hard copy on the shelves at your local bookstore, and there is nothing tangible that you can sign at book fairs or festivals. Nonetheless, there are a number of ways that you can successfully market an eBook beyond the realm of social media.

Understanding Social Media

Thu, 28 Jan 2016 05:00:10 +0000

Being visible on social media is a great way for eBook authors to connect with readers, advertise new eBooks, and create an overall online presence. But with all the social media options available to you, it may be hard to determine where and how you should place your focus.

When to Market your eBook

Tue, 19 Jan 2016 05:00:25 +0000

As an indie author, the effort you make to market your eBook is essential, and it’s not something you want to wait for until the last minute. Marketing your eBook should start as soon as your pen hits the paper. It’s also a good tactic to help keep you motivated and writing consistently. By marketing before your eBook is even on the shelves, you have time to grow an audience and generate some excitement.

Sales Strategies for Indie Authors

Tue, 12 Jan 2016 05:00:42 +0000

If you’ve published an eBook, there’s quite literally no time to rest before you begin implementing sales strategies. There is nothing worse than finally publishing your eBook only to have it collect virtual dust when no sales come through. As an indie author, you’re also responsible for eBook marketing. For new or unknown indie authors, it can be difficult for your eBook to gain traction. You want readers to take a chance on what you’ve written, but how do you filter through all of the other eBooks? There are several key sales strategies you can use that may help improve your eBook visibility. The goal at this beginning stage is more about becoming known and less about garnering profits.

Presentation is Everything

Thu, 07 Jan 2016 08:00:48 +0000

In today’s day and age, eBooks are still holding their own against print books. eBooks are easily available on any mobile device and laptop, and consumers love the ease with which they can be purchased and read. However, it’s not enough to convert your eBook into a PDF and place it on electronic shelves. You still have to capture the attention of your readers at first glance if you want your eBook to sell.

Expand Your eBook Audience

Thu, 17 Dec 2015 05:51:40 +0000

It’s a great time of year for eBook sales, which means it’s also an opportune time for you to expand your eBook audience. You can build a loyal readership and get the word out about your current and future eBooks to a larger number of people. And by reaching out to more readers, your eBook sales can improve.

eBook Marketing Tips from the Pros

Fri, 24 Jul 2015 13:30:47 +0000

These eBook marketing tips can help you grow your eBook sales and visibility more quickly. eBooks are growing in popularity despite the groans from traditional publishers to the contrary. Fiction eBooks from indie authors are selling better than ever, and free eBooks are the number one leadgen performer for companies and entrepreneurs. As an independent author or publisher, marketing is a necessary part of your toolkit. We’ve gathered some great marketing tips to help you sell more and have more visibility with your eBook.

Content Marketing for Indie Authors

Wed, 08 Jul 2015 21:55:05 +0000

Content marketing - creating content that serves the dual purpose of providing valuable information while at the same time making a company or individual more visible - is a tool many authors overlook. However, content marketing can be an author’s best friend, leading to better eBook sales and more opportunities for you as an author. The trick is remembering that for content marketing to work for you, it needs to truly be information of value.

Yes, Put the Cart Before the Horse

Mon, 27 Apr 2015 08:00:36 +0000

When it comes to selling eBooks, you need to put the cart before the horse. In other words, you need to start marketing your eBook and positioning yourself as a writer from the minute you have the idea. Don’t wait to market your eBook until after it’s written. By then, it will be an uphill battle. Instead, adopt an eBook marketing state of mind from the start.

Gain More Readers with Contests and Giveaways

Thu, 02 Apr 2015 14:14:08 +0000

It’s easy to gain more - and new - readers with contests and giveaways. Everybody likes free stuff and everybody likes winning. Social media makes it easy to both host your contents and giveaways and promote them. If you’ve read our series on social media for the indie author, you’ll already understand the importance of leveraging social media to increase your readership, and this is just another way to make the most of the tools you should already be using. You can also leverage your blog for contests and giveaways.

Anatomy of an Author Blog, Part Two

Fri, 30 Jan 2015 18:26:48 +0000

We’ve been discussing the importance of an author blog for indie authors. Last time, we talked about the tools you need behind the scene to make your blog function well. Today, we’ll discuss the anatomy of author blog content that will help your blog be more successful.

Anatomy of an Author Blog, Part One

Tue, 27 Jan 2015 08:00:23 +0000

As an indie author, your author blog is one of your best marketing tools for promoting your eBooks, engaging with your readers, and sharing insights into your personality. But to make your author blog work well for you, it helps to design it properly. In this post, we’ll discuss the tools you need behind the scene to make your author blog work. In the next post, we’ll discuss what you need to include in your content.

Using Reddit to Expand Your eBook Sales

Wed, 03 Dec 2014 14:05:26 +0000

Reddit, launched by two students from the University of Virginia, is a social networking and news site that allows members to submit content. In addition to sharing links, community members can also post to reddit. Registered users then vote the posts up or down by degree of importance or popularity, the idea being that each user will help the most popular content become viral.

The Anatomy of an eBook Launch Press Release

Wed, 22 Oct 2014 08:00:06 +0000

One of the most powerful marketing tools at the disposal of any eBook author is a press release. A press release is a formal news announcement; it is different than social media posts, blog posts, and other content because of its structure and its ability to get picked up by other major news sources.

4 More Non-Traditional eBook Marketing Techniques

Wed, 17 Sep 2014 08:00:40 +0000

We had such a great response from our last blog, where we explored some of our favorite non-traditional eBook marketing ideas, that we decided to bring you more. Be sure to let us know how these work for you!

Non-Traditional eBook Marketing Ideas

Mon, 15 Sep 2014 08:00:51 +0000

We often talk about the more obvious ways in which indie authors can market their eBooks, from hosting a blog tour to launching a website to being active on social media. But there are many, many, many other less obvious avenenues you can explore to improve your eBook marketing efforts and sell more eBooks.

There's No Magic Formula to eBook Marketing

Fri, 12 Sep 2014 13:30:21 +0000

There is no magic formula to eBook marketing. Much like the advice we offer to indie authors who haven’t yet achieved their goals (keep writing!), our advice regarding marketing your eBook is to keep experimenting.

Digging Deeper into eBook Pricing Strategy

Wed, 27 Aug 2014 08:00:36 +0000

The simple fact is that because there is no measurable overhead cost to eBook publishing, prices for eBooks must be lower than prices for print books. That doesn’t mean you can’t make money on eBooks; in fact, indie eBook authors are making quite a bit of money.

The Cover Reveal

Fri, 08 Aug 2014 08:00:19 +0000

Building Excitement for Your Upcoming eBook

If you will be publishing your eBook within the next few months, there are many things you can do to market your eBook and build excitement before the eBook is launched. One of the ways you can build buzz and excitement is by holding a cover reveal event.

Make Your Cover Reveal Event a Success

To ensure that your cover reveal event is a success, you must ensure these three things:

1. Your cover image needs to really rock.

Cover Reveal, Editorial Reviews and Launch Party

Wed, 06 Aug 2014 22:14:51 +0000

What You Need to Do before Your eBook is Published

The big day is finally more than a distant hope. You can see the light at the end of the tunnel and you know you are close to finishing your eBook. So, NOW is the time to start promoting the eBook. Don’t wait until after the book is published. You should be planning cover reveal events, soliciting for editorial reviews and planning a launch party.

Market Your eBook Now

You can begin to market your eBook before it is published – up to a year prior to publishing, in fact. But when you’re in the home stretch, you need to make sure to put as much focus and effort as you do anything else into making your potential readers aware of the eBook. Since you need to focus on writing, it may mean that you must outsource your eBook marketing. We recommend having a professional branding-and-visibility person help you market your eBook.

Building Excitement for Your eBook: The Cover Reveal

There are a number of different ways you can build excitement for your upcoming eBook, from holding a cover reveal event to hosting a blog tour. A cover reveal event can be a great way to build excitement for the eBook, like allowing your readers to peak behind the curtain. But that means you need to have a cover worthy of attention. If you have not yet done so, start working with a designer to create the perfect cover. You don’t necessarily need to spend a fortune. Publishing Insider has a great article about the importance of eBook covers.

Next time, we’ll talk about how to create excitement about your cover reveal.

eBook Pricing Revisited Again

Fri, 01 Aug 2014 08:00:25 +0000

We have been talking about eBook pricing and the challenges it presents to indie authors. In this post, we’ll discuss how certain factors can impact eBook pricing.

eBook Length

Readers are likely to be willing to pay slightly more for a 400-page fiction eBook than they are for a 30-page how-to eBook. In a way, page count does impact your sales price. However, if your 30-page how-to eBook is something everyone wants to read, you may be able to demand more. Alternatively, if your 400-page eBook is long because it’s never been through an editing process, you may have issues getting the price you want.

Content Curation: Enhancing Your Visibility

Mon, 28 Jul 2014 08:00:38 +0000

While this isn’t a tool exclusively used by indie authors, curating content through one of the popular content-curation tools can certainly work for indie authors who are trying to enhance their online visibility.

Marketing Your Free eBook

Fri, 18 Jul 2014 16:10:35 +0000

There is more to marketing a free eBook than just dropping the price. To get the most out of offering your eBook for free, be sure that you market it well. Not only will this be an excellent time to launch a blog tour, but you can also benefit from the many sites that feature free eBooks. While many of these sites are driven by Kindle, there are plenty of sites that work with authors who sell eBooks on their own websites as well.

Fiction eBook Writer Tools: Personal Connections with Readers

Tue, 08 Jul 2014 18:56:28 +0000

The non-fiction eBook writer has a plethora of tools at his or her disposal, including professional knowledge or reputation, clients or business partners to help promote the eBook, and education that allows the author to be considered an expert. In many ways, it can be easier for the non-fiction eBook author to reach an audience because the writer is often targeting a niche audience or offering specialized information. While competing in a larger arena, the fiction eBook writer likewise has tools, albeit of a different variety.

Building a Loyal Fan Base

Thu, 03 Jul 2014 20:48:28 +0000

Unless you are only ever planning to write one eBook and then go back to whatever life and job you already had, you will want to do whatever you can to build a loyal fan base so that selling subsequent eBooks is not as difficult as it might have been to sell the first. There are a number of ways to build a loyal fan base, but it all begins with having a way to capture the email address and name of each person so that you can keep in touch with them.

How to Launch a Successful Blog Tour

Fri, 27 Jun 2014 15:05:54 +0000

As promised, we’re going to dig deeper into the strategy of initiating a successful blog tour to promote your eBook. Blog tours require a lot of logistics; planning, coordinating and communicating are critical. You may want to enlist the help of a virtual assistant or a branding-and-visibility expert to help you.

Why You Should Have a Blog Tour to Promote Your eBook

Wed, 25 Jun 2014 05:00:59 +0000

What’s better than an indie author promoting his or her own eBook?

An indie author with an entire street team of evangelists, talking about how amazing an eBook is, combined with a limited-time sale of the eBook, and timed with a press release for the eBook is a stellar way of promoting a completed work.

Press Releases for your eBook

Fri, 13 Jun 2014 08:00:36 +0000

A press release is an announcement to the world of an event designed to generate buzz. While some authors question whether or not they have any value, a well-written press release can do wonders for visibility. The format of your press release should include your date and location, an attention-grabbing title, a short excerpt to draw people in, a well-written release that announces something important, like the release of your eBook or a big sale on your eBook, and links to where the eBook can be purchased. Additionally, the press release should contain either your own contact information or that of your publicist.

Market Your eBook: Resources You Can Use

Wed, 11 Jun 2014 08:00:29 +0000

No eBook author can be successful tackling the marketing of their eBook on their own. In fact, the most successful authors know when to say, “This isn’t my specialty.” Those indie authors who recognize that they are great at writing but that doesn’t make them great at proofreading their own work, designing their own covers, or marketing their own eBooks are much more likely to have success.

Marketing Your eBook: the eBook Website or Sales Page

Mon, 05 May 2014 08:00:51 +0000

While many eBook authors rely on their blog and social media as methods for communicating the availability of their eBook publications, a dedicated sales page is an important option for increasing visibility and ramping up sales when marketing your eBook. In fact, you may want to consider creating an entire website dedicated to your book. But at the very least, a sales page dedicated to your eBook is a necessary marketing tool.

Do You Use EditionGuard? Our eBook Reviews Help You Get Visibility!

Wed, 30 Apr 2014 08:00:19 +0000

As an EditionGuard client, you have the benefit of being able to sell your eBooks on your own website, keeping all of the profits from your sales rather than having 30 percent taken out of every sale by publishers. You also have the ability to take advantage of our digital rights management (DRM) system, to prevent your eBook from being distributed without your knowledge.

Turning eBook Readers into Marketers of Your eBooks

Thu, 03 Apr 2014 18:52:51 +0000

eBooks are magic, really. They are more than just words on paper. They are interactive, interconnected opportunities to deeply engage with your readers. You can hyperlink to web pages, detailed research and audio; you can even include a link for your devoted reader to buy your other eBooks. One of the most important things you can do at the end of your eBook is to offer your reader the opportunity to share the news that they’ve read the book.

WordPress Plugins for Indie Authors, Part 1: Visibility

Wed, 05 Mar 2014 08:00:09 +0000

One of the easiest and most powerful website and blog builders for indie authors to use is WordPress. If you’re planning on building your eBook marketing website in WordPress, there are several plugins you can take advantage of to help make marketing your eBook even easier.

Free Marketing for Your eBook

Wed, 26 Feb 2014 23:11:31 +0000

When you’re an indie author, you don’t have an agent or a big publishing house taking on the role of marketer, which means you have to write, publish and market your eBook on your own. So, there is nothing better than finding free marketing opportunities to promote your eBooks.

Market Your eBook on Pinterest

Thu, 20 Feb 2014 15:09:42 +0000

Pinterest is not just a social media platform for recipes and pictures of your favorite fashions. Pinterest is a powerful social network that provides some of the best referrals back to your website; if you are an indie author, those referrals can be linked back to the website on which you sell your eBooks.

How to Market Your eBook on LinkedIn

Tue, 18 Feb 2014 13:05:54 +0000

Unless you are writing a book that is not directly associated with your professional identity, you should market your eBook on LinkedIn.

If your eBook is considered adult erotica and you feel it would take away from your professional image, or if you have written something highly political that might prevent you from networking or obtaining employment in the industry you desire, then LinkedIn might not be the perfect fit for your marketing efforts. However, if you are an indie author and writing is your primary effort, then marketing your eBooks on LinkedIn can provide you with additional exposure.

Market Your eBook on Facebook

Thu, 13 Feb 2014 08:00:31 +0000

Most people are familiar with Facebook because it is a popular way to keep in touch with family and friends. And there is a real advantage in telling them about your eBook to help with word-of-mouth sales. But creating a Facebook page so that you can market your eBook on Facebook can help you reach a larger audience and sell more eBooks.

Market Your eBook on Google+

Tue, 11 Feb 2014 08:00:50 +0000

We’re continuing our series on eBook marketing in social media. One of the most promising social media platforms on which you can market your eBook is on Google+. Not only does Google+ give you a platform for connecting with like-minded individuals – other writers and your fans, as well as graphics artists, ghostwriters and proofreaders – but Google+ Hangouts provide a wonderful way to connect in real time with readers and fans.

Marketing Your eBook on Twitter

Fri, 07 Feb 2014 18:04:50 +0000

Twitter is one of the easiest social media platforms to master, so we’re beginning our eBook social media marketing tutorial here with a guide to marketing your eBook on Twitter.

What Is Twitter?

Twitter is a microblogging platform, in which your entire message must contain no more than 140 characters, including the link. However, if you want real traction with your tweets, you need to leave some of those characters available for retweets and quoted tweets. So, we recommend keeping your messages even shorter, around 100-120 characters.

How Do I Market My eBook on Twitter?

When it comes to marketing your eBook on Twitter, you can create a lot of buzz both before and after the eBook is published. If you don’t have a Twitter handle that is your name or the name of your book already, create an account. Follow indie authors and conduct searches on Twitter, to find other people to follow. Try to send at least four tweets per day, but do not focus on your own content and promotions alone. Be sure to share other author’s tweets, relevant quotes and great articles; comment on what others are talking about.

Remember: Twitter – and all social media eBook marketing – are not just about pushing your sales but about connecting and engaging! Follow these four tips to market your eBook on Twitter:

How Social Media Can Improve eBook Sales

Wed, 05 Feb 2014 22:29:59 +0000

Writing your eBook might be satisfying, but when you find an audience willing to buy your eBook, the validation you feel at having been successful is a great feeling. While there are a number of ways you can market your eBook, it sometimes seems as though indie authors (who are often writers, not publishers or marketers) have a harder time selling eBooks than writing them.

Can I Improve My eBook Sales by Giving Away eBooks?

Thu, 16 Jan 2014 08:00:18 +0000

While it may seem counter intuitive to give away an eBook you are trying to make money selling, reserving a segment of your budget for giving away eBooks can actually help you improve eBook sales overall. There are a variety of tactics that work well for giving away eBooks, but we like the following:

Improve Your eBook Visibility, Part 4

Fri, 27 Dec 2013 08:00:17 +0000

This is the final installment in a four-part series on creating enhanced ebook visibility through a variety of easy and cost-effective measures, thereby helping you increase sales in 2014.

We have been closing the year with an in-depth discussion of increasing ebook visibility. Our posts have already covered how to improve your optimization, why you need an author bio and how to create a website that boosts your sales. To wrap things up, we’re going to provide a list of the 20 things you can do to improve your ebook visibility.

Improve Your eBook Visibility, Part 3

Tue, 24 Dec 2013 08:00:37 +0000

This is the third part in a four-part series on creating enhanced visibility for your ebook through a variety of easy and cost-effective measures, thereby helping you increase sales in 2014.

One of the most important things you can do to help enhance your ebook visibility is to build and maintain a website that can function as a sales funnel, ultimately increasing your ebook sales. There are four major components in a good website. We recommend using WordPress to create your website, as much of the design work can be done by simply installing a good theme.

Improve Your eBook Visibility, Part 2

Thu, 19 Dec 2013 08:00:49 +0000

This is the second part in a four-part series on creating enhanced visibility for your ebook through a variety of easy and cost-effective measures, thereby helping you increase sales in 2014.

When striving for better ebook visibility, you should not rely solely on the description of your ebook to do the work for you. You should also flesh out your biography. Whether you have an “about the author” page on your website or use social media platforms to help promote yourself as an indie author (and hopefully you are doing both), you should create a well-polished about-the-author description of yourself.

Improve Your eBook Visibility, Part 1

Tue, 17 Dec 2013 08:00:56 +0000

This is the first part of a four-part series on creating enhanced visibility for your ebook through a variety of easy and cost-effective measures, thereby helping you increase sales in 2014. Consider this our list of New Year’s resolutions that every indie author should make for the coming year.

How Do I Use Video Marketing for My eBook?

Wed, 11 Dec 2013 08:00:44 +0000

We’ve already talked about the importance of using video marketing for your ebook, but we’ve had a number of questions about how to use video marketing, so we’re revisiting the topic with more video marketing tips.

How Can I Use My eBook Content To Grow Visibility?

Mon, 09 Dec 2013 08:00:39 +0000

Once you’ve written an ebook, you can use the content from it in a variety of different ways to help gain more visibility and, ultimately, sell more ebooks. If you have written an ebook, then you have quite a bit of content to work with. There are a number of ways you can reuse the content to help increase your visibility, but here are our favorites.

Can Video Marketing Increase Your eBook Sales?

Mon, 02 Dec 2013 08:00:47 +0000

Video marketing is beneficial for many kinds of businesses that sell products or provide services, but can video marketing increase your eBook sales? We believe that video is a great way for you to reach out and connect with prospective readers. You may want to show some of your unique personality and let your potential readers get to know you better as an individual and as an author, or you may want to keep your video focused on the eBook. In any event, you can use video marketing to extend your reach.

Improve Your eBook Sales During the Holidays

Wed, 20 Nov 2013 08:00:41 +0000

More people will be shopping online during the next few weeks, hoping to avoid the madness of shopping malls and to complete their last-minute holiday shopping. You can benefit from this holiday rush and sell more of your eBooks by making a few simple changes to your marketing strategy.

Working with Bloggers to Promote Your eBook

Mon, 07 Oct 2013 08:00:23 +0000

One of the best ways to obtain free exposure to promote your ebook is to work with bloggers, to roll out a larger marketing campaign than you otherwise could do on your own. Bloggers often want to participate in events like these because it benefits them to offer giveaways and host events that drive traffic to their site.

Marketing Your eBook Before It’s Written

Wed, 25 Sep 2013 08:00:24 +0000

Are you writing an ebook? Are you planning on marketing your ebook once you get it published? While you can certainly wait until you publish your ebook before you start marketing it, there are some real advantages to getting the marketing started right now.

3 Easy Steps for having your own eBook Website

Mon, 22 Jul 2013 08:00:05 +0000

Setting up a website for your ebook is not difficult. We have broken it down into a three-step process.

Step One: Obtain Your Domain

Whether you purchase your domain from GoDaddy or from a web host, choosing your domain name is one of the most critical aspects of the entire process. If your ebook title is available as a domain, the choice is easy. Alternatively, your name as a domain is perfect for an author site that can host several books. If neither of those is available, then a site name that reminds people of your book can work.

Step Two: Design the Website

Whether you use your hosts’ templates or install WordPress, designing the website is an easier task when you realize that an ebook site fares better when the site is clean, easy to navigate and not too cluttered. Don’t worry about adding a lot of widgets or extra material to your site; simply focus on describing your ebook and adding a few appropriate images.

Step Three: About the Author

Every ebook site should include a page about you: the author. This page allows you to share those details that help readers connect with you, transforming them from basic readers to adoring fans. Don’t be afraid to show your personality – or your picture.

That’s all there is to it. Creating a website to market your ebook is a relatively painless process; sometimes we can make it more complicated than it needs to be. Follow these steps and keep your website simple.

Creating a Description for Your eBook

Tue, 16 Jul 2013 08:00:14 +0000

Congratulations! You have written your ebook! You have also chosen a highly searchable title, and you are well on your way to being an indie author superstar. Right?

Not yet.

There are a few more steps you must take to be sure that your ebook is visible to readers who search for it online, and one of the most important steps is to create a description for your ebook.

How to Title Your eBook Effectively

Thu, 11 Jul 2013 08:00:54 +0000

There can be significant differences in your approach to choosing a title for your ebook and your approach to choosing a title for print publication. Regardless of what type of ebook you write, you want people to discover it online, even if they don’t know about it or aren’t looking for it specifically. In order for readers to find your ebook online when they search for your topic, how you title your ebook is crucial: it needs to be search-engine friendly.

How to Use QR Codes to Market Your eBook

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 08:00:12 +0000

One of the most recent innovative and technological developments is something so innocuous, you may not even realize its importance. The QR code has the ability to revolutionize how much space it requires for you to tell your customers everything they need to know – about you, your ebook and how to buy it.

Can Your Library Be the Key to Better Visibility for Your eBook?

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 08:00:48 +0000

Even some of the smallest libraries around the country are recognizing the shift to digital and are trying to accommodate their patrons by providing digital media. Yet as an ebook author, is there any benefit to allowing your ebook to be included in a library’s borrowing system?

Market your eBook the Right Way: Speaking Engagements

Thu, 30 May 2013 08:00:52 +0000

To successfully market your eBook, it may seem illogical to consider speaking engagements when you do not have a physical book to sign and sell, but this form of marketing can actually be very effective. While it’s not the same as a traditional book tour, you can boost your sales considerably.

Market your eBook the Right Way: Blogging

Tue, 28 May 2013 08:00:05 +0000

One of the most effective ways to market your eBook and let your readers get to know you is to have a blog. A blog is a place where you can write about your life, your eBook and your upcoming speaking engagements. It’s a place where you can let your personality show.

Market your eBook the Right Way: Social Media Marketing

Thu, 23 May 2013 08:00:45 +0000

Last week we discussed the importance of having a website to successfully market your eBook. One of the reasons a website is important is because you can further enhance your marketing efforts through social media, driving interested readers back to your website for more information.

Market your eBook the Right Way: the Website

Tue, 21 May 2013 08:00:21 +0000

There are a number of things you can do to successfully market your eBook , but to really get the most exposure, you need to take a multi-pronged approach that includes the use of a website, social media marketing, blogging and speaking engagements. In the next few posts, we’ll go over each of these in turn, beginning this week with how to use a website to market your eBook.

How To Use Youtube To Increase eBook Sales

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 14:51:46 +0000

Once upon a time, the TV was the most popular platform to sell just about anything, and the price of advertising minutes increased exponentially to reflect the great demand for airtime. Although in some ways this is still true (this is why a 30-second commercial during the Super Bowl costs millions of dollars), for many people Youtube is the most popular website to go to for videos. Close to a billion people visit Youtube regularly and that kind of potential exposure shouldn’t be ignored for increasing your eBook sales.

Why Authors Need eBook Protection

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 21:44:51 +0000

Authors, as a group, tend to consider their eBooks almost as dearly as they would their own child; thus eBook protection is of paramount importance. This kind of concern often goes beyond proprietary and business concerns, and although some may consider it in a way irrational, it is also natural.

What’s not irrational, however, is the concern that piracy can have on the earning potential of an eBook. Books in digital form offer several benefits that do not come with traditional printed books. For one, it does save a lot of trees from being cut down to make paper. Another reason is that ebooks are much more convenient to distribute than traditional printed books. Unfortunately, ebooks are also easier to pirate so that the benefits of the work go to unscrupulous individuals instead of to the author.

How to Use Contests and Giveaways to Get More Followers

Tue, 08 Jan 2013 13:44:40 +0000

From reading the series of posts that we have on promoting your self-published book, you already know how to use social media for online marketing, specifically Facebook and Twitter.

You also know three ways in which you can use your blog for book promotion: by using it as your online identity, as a way to increase email subscriptions, and by engaging with your readers.

There is one more thing you can do through your blog, though, to get more followers and drum up more awareness of your portfolio as an author: hold contests and giveaways.

3 Ways to Use Your Blog to Promote Your Book

Wed, 02 Jan 2013 10:18:00 +0000

As mentioned in the post Create an Online Presence…Even Before Your Book is Published, you need to maintain a blog as one of your online marketing strategies if you’re aiming to earn from your self-published book. Why? There are several reasons.

How to Promote Your Book on Twitter

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 09:24:12 +0000

You have probably heard how effective social media can be when it comes to promoting small businesses. In most cases, yes, it is true. Social media can be very powerful; if used wisely, it can boost sales beyond expectation.

However, is social media promotion as simple as sending 1,000 tweets a day, asking your followers to buy your book?

Definitely not.

5 Ways to Promote Your Self-Published eBook

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 13:52:15 +0000

Now that your book is published, you can just sit back, relax, and watch the sales come in. Right? Wrong!

There’s one crucial thing you must do if you expect to earn anything from your book, and that’s to promote it. After all, according to the New York Times, hundreds of thousands of new books are published every year. How will people buy your book if they don’t know it exists?