Tag: self-publishing

Social Media is just ONE Way to Get the Word out About Your Book

Highwater High School orders copies of Black History Facts

For many authors who use social media to promote their books, it’s a game-changer. From Instagram reels to TikTok, people are making decent income from their talents.

However, social media is only ONE of many places to sell and promote your book in 2024 and onward.

Bulk Sales to Schools, Universities, Corporations

It’s fantastic to sell $20–30 books one at a time on your author’s website, Amazon, and other online merchants, but selling 10 or more copies at a time in bulk orders is even better.

Why is it better?

Because large organizations and networks have the budget to spend much more than your average consumer trying to make ends meet just like you are. Depending on the organization, you might even sell hundreds if they truly feel you. In fact, everything else we talk about in this post comes back to bulk sales since all these organizations can buy your book in bulk to some extent, whether five copies or 500 copies.

Book Clubs, Book Talks, Open Mic

Offline book clubs are not appreciated talked about enough. Here are groups of people deciding to read one book together and discuss it. What a wonderful way to spread a book’s message and buy that book in bulk! Author events, book talks, and open mics are also good. They also provide great networking opportunities. You’ll meet people with great influence you probably would not have met online.

Queenz Cirlce of ATL gave me gifts!

I once met an older woman at a book signing who was interested in using The Women with Blue Eyes for a book club she hosts. She is old enough to be my mother and does not have social media. However, she does have a book club full of women who read and said she will talk with them about the book. She never got back with me, but this is an example of an opportunity I could have used to sell that book in bulk.

Another example that worked out was meeting a young lady who invited me to be a keynote speaker at her book club back in 2018 (Queenz Circle of ATL) to discuss Even Salt Looks Like Sugar. It was a private, offline dinner. We read from the book, laughed, ate a delicious meal, took pictures, and I sold copies of the book. It was amazing and none of it was online.

Podcasts, Radio Shows

Podcasts can be on or offline since many of them are also streamed on YouTube or Spotify these days, but this is another great way to get the word out about your book. Radio shows are also a great, offline way of promoting your book to listeners. The perk here is that you get to articulate in your own words why your book is so special and what sets it apart. You can then take clips from your interviews and cut them down to fit on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, or wherever you engage online.

This leads me to my next point.

The Work You Do Offline Creates Your Online Content

How you show up offline, whether taking better care of your mind and body, eating, or networking with business professionals, becomes the content you can repurpose online. Attending an event, being interviewed at a radio station or on a podcast, meeting up with readers for an author talk, and whatever work you do in the background becomes the content you post online. This can be photos, videos, testimonials, or whatever you captured from the event.

If you know how to utilize it, social media is a powerful tool for marketing, selling, and promoting your book. It is not the only option, though. Traditional networking techniques and in-person meetings are quite effective and provide you with content for your online posts!

Click here for more Indie Author Basics to encourage you through the Self-Publishing / Indie Author Process!

Vending at Large Events Does Not Mean Large Sales: What Self-Published Authors Should Know

Before I went on vacation, I attended Black Writers Weekend (BWW). The event itself was okay, but what made it worthwhile for me was my conversations with the vendors. We talked about so much more than books; the historical conversations were like a glass of cold water on a hot day. I love basking in the brilliance of people.

But not all conversations were positive.

I noticed many first-time vendors were not happy. Considering the cost and the traveling many did to get to Atlanta, they expected a much bigger turnout, and many people left feeling some kind of way.

I didn’t have to travel far or stay at a hotel, but I understood their frustrations and empathized with the lack of focus on the marketplace. Some people who opted to have books shipped found their books didn’t arrive on time!

But this is not about what BWW did right or wrong.

This is about what authors should expect from vending at events; unfortunately, making a profit is not one of them.

Depending on what an author pays for a table, the cost of books, travel, and board, the chances of making that money back are slim.

Can you make good sales from vending? Certainly, but vending is more about networking than it is about sales. Vending at large events also does not mean large sales.

Finally got to meet the amazing writer and historian William Spivey!

Authors choosing to pay for vending should consider the cost of the table, any books or merch they’d need to purchase, travel, and board.

  • Will you have to book a flight or drive?
  • Will you be staying at a hotel?
  • How many books do you need to purchase in advance?
  • How much is this going to cost with the vending fee?
  • What is included in the fee? Do you get a table and chairs or will you have to bring your own? (Yes, some event hosts require you to bring your own table. I don’t vend at those events.)
Thank you beautiful!

While self-publishing my books since 2010, I was not always a full-time author. My background is in Medical Assistance and teaching. When I decided to go full force into this author thing (2017), I did a lot of vending and events. It was a lot of fun, but I rarely vend anymore because a) it is not always financially feasible, and b) I am at the point now where I prefer to get paid to speak or capture content.

When I vend, it is because the event has an element that aligns with my brand or belief system and will allow me to build my network. When I published Black History Facts You Didn’t Learn in School, I knew I would attend Black Writers Weekend because the crowd is full of people interested in my type of content.

Vending at events of any size can benefit authors at any stage of the process. I would primarily recommend vending to new authors and authors who want to get their names out there and connect with other writers and literary professionals.

For authors looking to sell books, I recommend vending at smaller events that align with your brand and that focus on books, such as book festivals. As I joked about before, it’s much more challenging to sell someone a book standing next to the Shea Butter lady. Definitely do not overlook smaller gatherings. They tend to have a better vibe than the popular ones.

For seasoned authors or those ready to advance, I recommend hosting your own book signings, events, and workshops or requesting to be a guest speaker at an event instead of vending.

This is where my focus is geared now.

Click here for more Indie Author Basics aimed at encouraging you through the Self-Publishing / Indie Author Process!

What Value Does Your Book Offer Readers?

When promoting your book online, you must do more than post pictures of your cover if you want people to buy it. To be more precise, I want you to focus more on the message and why it matters to you than on trying to sell the book.

What are some of the topics your book covers? Use those topics as stepping stones to reach your target audience. If your book is about how you survived an abusive relationship, you should be finding communities dedicated to eradicating domestic violence and creating content around how you survived it based on what you’ve written in your book. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, so you will want to work hard to share your expertise with the people who need it.

If you wrote a fiction book, what kind of escape does it provide readers? Is it entertaining? Romantic? Educational? Does it make us stop to think? Is it thought-provoking? Does it make us laugh until our stomach hurts? The world is hurting now, so people are looking for that getaway.

If you wrote a poetry book, consider participating in open mic nights or reciting poems live on Instagram or TikTok. Join poetry contests, and of course, you cannot miss National Poetry Month in April!

The idea is to focus less on selling the book and more on building community around its content. Think about how your book can add value to readers in your community rather than how you can make a sale.

Click here for more Indie Author Basics to encourage you through the Self-Publishing / Indie Author Process!

4 Ways New Self-Published Authors Can Maximize Book Sales

Share Your Journey and Expertise at Least 1 Year Before Publishing Your Book

I released Black History Facts on February 24, 2024. However, the book has been selling steadily since September 2023, when I placed it on preorder. I attribute this largely to how I readied my audience for the book years before it was released. They were prepared when it arrived.

As soon as I knew I would publish the book, I posted black history videos and behind-the-scenes content of my trips to museums and historical landmarks, and I shared new information I found.

I took my people everywhere I went, and they couldn’t wait to see the final product. It became more than a book, but a movement they were just as much a part of as I was.

Post Your Preorder/Buy Link At the Same Time as Your Cover Reveal

Revealing the cover of your new book can be thrilling, but failing to include a buy link means missing out on a lot of potential sales. Whether you’re putting up preorders or announcing the book’s publication, keep your cover reveal for when you’re ready to begin collecting orders. People will be ecstatic to learn you wrote a book and will be willing to buy it right away after viewing your cover, especially if it’s dope!

Pay attention to those who are traditionally published. When these authors show you the cover of a new book, you can also preorder it.

Increase Your Book Reviews

Book reviews are still underrated. Many people do not think they matter, but they do and help authors! And you can work to increase it no matter what stage of the process. Even months or years after release, you can still increase the reviews you receive.

Seek the help of book bloggers, beta readers, and reputable paid review services such as Kirkus and Yecheilyah’s Book Reviews.

The biggest perk to reviews is that they act as social proof. Anyone can call themselves a best-selling author, but reviews help verify that other people think the book is dope, not just the author who wrote it.

It will be odd for someone claiming to be a best-seller to have no book reviews. If it’s such a great book, people should be talking about it.

Book reviews also increase the author’s Amazon rating and expose the book to people who have never heard of it.

I strive to get at least 5-10 book reviews on Amazon in the first few weeks of release and increase from there. However, Amazon is one of many places where people can leave reviews. Blog book reviews are also helpful. Remember, a review is just feedback, so if someone emails you or direct messages you praise for your book, you can use it as a review! (with permission) Slap that bad boy on a graphic and post it to social media as social proof.

Have a Post-Publishing Strategy (Don’t Forget About the Book Once It’s Published)

Too many authors focus solely on the publishing date, but your book is much more than that. Consider how to continue spreading the word about your book after publication. Visit your local libraries and bookstores to inquire about readings, look for interview opportunities, and participate in events, contests, and more. You still want the book to sell after it has been published, so make sure you are working to make that happen.

Click here for more Indie Author Basics to encourage you through the Self-Publishing / Indie Author Process!

People Don’t Buy Books

Photo by Pixabay

I was listening to a podcast with Myron Golden (he’s brilliant) about high-ticket coaching and sales, and I realized something: It’s hard to sell books because people don’t buy books.

They buy into the message behind the book, and its perceived value.

It’s not even about the book’s quality because people don’t buy quality either. They expect it.

I call this series Indie Author Basics because it focuses on the fundamentals of creating high-quality books. Every reader wants the book they buy to be well-produced. At the most basic level, we want to produce a high-quality book that meets that expectation.

But to go deeper, even more than quality, is what people feel. People will pay you when something is worth more than the money to them, and that’s the perceived value and the message.

This is why, as authors, we do interviews and podcasts, book signings, and meet and greets. It is why we write blog posts, post to social media, collaborate with other authors, and build relationships: to create an environment that helps us amplify our voices.

“Dig your well before you’re thirsty.”

– Harvey MacKay

Before I published Black History Facts, I published over fifty articles on Black History Fun Fact Friday. I then headed to IG and TikTok, turning those fun facts into posts and videos. It did better than I expected. In fact, it did so well that people asked me about the book, which wasn’t published yet.

I created an appetite for the book before I wrote the book.

I also set my preorder price for the ebook to $9.99 on Amazon and sold the hardcovers for $34. I also offered a bundle package which I sold for $97. From this, I learned two things:

  1. To quote Golden, “Your price is part of your branding.” It tells people how valuable you are.

I knew I needed to upgrade my mindset and prices for this kind of book. People who buy premium-value products will buy something just because it’s expensive. Their own sense of intrinsic value will cause them to pay more because it reminds them that they are worth it.

A person who purchases a Rolex probably didn’t do it because they wanted to wear a watch. They could buy any watch if they just wanted to tell time. But what they want is the prestige that comes with wearing an expensive watch.

This means that people also buy status.

SN: This does not mean throwing something together and then charging people up the ass for it. Remember, a good quality product is basic.

  1. People will pay you when the perceived value is worth more than their money.

People buy belonging, confidence, safety, knowledge, and solutions to their problems.

They buy reassurance and peace of mind.

So, I will not try to sell books because I now know that people don’t buy books.

Instead, I will continue to share my message (restoring black historical truth) and create an appetite for it by delivering value!

Drop a comment if you’re with me!

Understanding the Power of Distribution as a Self-Published Author

We hear a lot of the cons to self-publishing. Now, let’s talk about some perks!

One exciting benefit of self-publishing is not just being in control of how you will publish the book and who you want to help you, but you are also in control of distribution.

Remember, all self-publishing means is you are your own publisher.

You can decide where to sell the book and offer discounts and deals to bookstores and larger corporations who want to carry your title.

Publishing with Amazon is just one step in your author journey. You can also set up an account with Ingram Spark to configure these discounts, returns, and wholesale prices.

This becomes important when you start petitioning booksellers offline.

Navigating this part is exciting for authors who always dreamed of seeing their titles on the shelves of bookstores and libraries. (Do people still visit the library?)

It can also be a learning curve, though.

For instance, while getting books into bookstores is thrilling, the job is only complete once the book has been sold.

If the book does not sell, it will have to be returned, which means that your books will be returned to you if they do not sell.

For this reason, booksellers tend to put self-published authors on trial periods, only accepting so many books for a specified time, to test demand for the title.

However, you can also sell your book to booksellers and corporations as a publisher.

The world of self-publishing is extensive!

Should we go deeper into this side of the business? Let me know if you enjoyed this post and want to hear more on this topic!

Check out more Indie Author Basics articles here.

Why Adding “Amazon Best Seller” to Your Book Cover Is Not a Good Idea

The Amazon Best Seller Badge is something to be proud of, no matter how small you believe your success is. However, I wouldn’t put it on my book covers.

Adding “Amazon Best Seller” or “#1 Amazon Best Seller” to your book cover is not a good idea because the title, unfortunately, holds little weight among industry insiders and quickly goes away when the book drops in rank.

I would also not add the badge if my book became a bestseller when it was free. This means people downloaded the book, I didn’t sell copies which could make the “Best Seller,” misleading.

If your book is picked up by a traditional publisher and reaches best seller status, they will create a new cover with the label.

“Being an Amazon Best Seller is a credential that could mean you sold 10 books in a sub sub sub category.”

Luvvie Ajayi Jones

What Luvvie means is you can get a bestselling ribbon or become a bestseller in a random, obscure category by selling just a few books.

This doesn’t mean the author shouldn’t be proud of themselves.

This means the author should wait until they see themselves on the list consistently (holding steady for days, weeks, or months at a time) or if they are in the top categories of all books on Amazon, not just one random category.

There are many bestseller lists, and being named on any of them is an accomplishment worth celebrating. 

Unfortunately, Amazon Best Seller holds the least weight, and people are so inundated by it that it no longer means much. Adding it to your book cover looks cool, but it will not help you sell more books, nor will it help you look like an accomplished author.

It could, in some ways, make you look like an amateur.

In fact, unless you are among more recognized lists, such as USA Today or the New York Times, I would leave bestseller off the cover altogether.

However, this is only my opinion so if you do it, I advise:

  • Award Winning Author (if you’ve won any notable literary awards)
  • Best Selling author of (Your Best Selling Title) but leave the Amazon part out
  • USA Today Best Selling Author (If applies)
  • New York Times Best Selling Author (If applies)

Check out more Indie Author Basics articles here.