1. Ego will hold you back from publishing.
We’re used to hearing that books take years to publish. That’s because the traditional publishing industry moves slowly.
Self publishing your book does not have to be a “Big Deal.”
We’re used to hearing that books take years to publish. That’s because the traditional publishing industry moves slowly.
Self publishing your book does not have to be a “Big Deal.”
2. Your book doesn’t have to kill you.
Some people say you’re committing career suicide if you don’t put every fiber of your being into your first book.
Not surprisingly, these people are in bed with the traditional publishing industry somehow.
Some people say you’re committing career suicide if you don’t put every fiber of your being into your first book.
Not surprisingly, these people are in bed with the traditional publishing industry somehow.
3. A book is not a book.
People have old ideas about what a book has to be. Books are being reinvented. The factors changed long ago, but our idea of books has been slow to change.
People have old ideas about what a book has to be. Books are being reinvented. The factors changed long ago, but our idea of books has been slow to change.
4. A book can be short.
Most traditionally-published books are a blog post with 200 pages of filler. This is thanks to old ideas of what a “book” is.
No matter the length of your book, it gets the same landing page on Amazon as War & Peace.
Most traditionally-published books are a blog post with 200 pages of filler. This is thanks to old ideas of what a “book” is.
No matter the length of your book, it gets the same landing page on Amazon as War & Peace.
5. Books can get to the point.
There used to be a thriving “pamphlet” market, which fueled revolutions & made money for their authors.
Blogs were supposed to be the new pamphlet, but the economics suck.
I have a 40-page book that makes several hundred dollars each month.
There used to be a thriving “pamphlet” market, which fueled revolutions & made money for their authors.
Blogs were supposed to be the new pamphlet, but the economics suck.
I have a 40-page book that makes several hundred dollars each month.
6. Each book you publish is a learning experience.
It’s better to publish a bunch of books, & learn a little each time, than to die with your first book still inside you, just because you were trying to make it perfect.
It’s better to publish a bunch of books, & learn a little each time, than to die with your first book still inside you, just because you were trying to make it perfect.
7. Kindle will get you the lion’s share.
You can publish to other outlets/formats with more work, but Kindle will get you 80% of the English ebook market.
Start with Kindle.
You can publish to other outlets/formats with more work, but Kindle will get you 80% of the English ebook market.
Start with Kindle.
8. You don’t have to launch all formats at once.
Traditional publishers have the resources to launch hardcover, ebook, & audiobook all at once.
You can do one format at a time. I launched the hardcover of The Heart to Start 2 years after Kindle.
Traditional publishers have the resources to launch hardcover, ebook, & audiobook all at once.
You can do one format at a time. I launched the hardcover of The Heart to Start 2 years after Kindle.
9. A Kindle book is just an HTML document.
You don’t have to know HTML to publish a Kindle book, but if you do, you have an advantage. Plus, tools such as Vellum can make layout easy.
You don’t have to know HTML to publish a Kindle book, but if you do, you have an advantage. Plus, tools such as Vellum can make layout easy.
10. The Kindle is a paid web browser.
Blog posts suck because the economics suck. Books are an honest exchange: value for value.
You can write something short that people search for on Amazon, & get paid for your writing.
Blog posts suck because the economics suck. Books are an honest exchange: value for value.
You can write something short that people search for on Amazon, & get paid for your writing.
11. You can publish a book as easily as you can publish a blog post.
If it can be a long-ish blog post, it can be a book.
Use Vellum or Sigil for formatting – even Microsoft Word will do – then upload to Kindle.
If it can be a long-ish blog post, it can be a book.
Use Vellum or Sigil for formatting – even Microsoft Word will do – then upload to Kindle.
12. You can publish under any name you want.
If you’re nervous about self-publishing, try publishing under a pseudonym.
If you’re nervous about self-publishing, try publishing under a pseudonym.
13. You can publish your first book today.
Search for Amazon KDP, then publish 500 words on anything, using any name you want.
Learn the publishing process. Then, you can un-publish the book (it will always be visible in reports).
Search for Amazon KDP, then publish 500 words on anything, using any name you want.
Learn the publishing process. Then, you can un-publish the book (it will always be visible in reports).
14. You can publish a paperback for free.
You can publish on KDP Print, or distribute to bookstores around the world with Ingram Spark. I live in South America, & never touch one of my books.
No up-front expense, just print on-demand, & instant profit.
You can publish on KDP Print, or distribute to bookstores around the world with Ingram Spark. I live in South America, & never touch one of my books.
No up-front expense, just print on-demand, & instant profit.
15. You can only be on Kindle Unlimited if you’re Amazon-exclusive.
KU is like a Netflix for books. You get paid by the page read. Readers in some genres read heavily on KU.
The catch is, you can only have your ebook on Amazon.
KU is like a Netflix for books. You get paid by the page read. Readers in some genres read heavily on KU.
The catch is, you can only have your ebook on Amazon.
16. Amazon forces your hand on pricing.
From 99¢ to $2.98, you get 35%. From $2.99–$9.99, you get 70%. $10 & above is 35% again.
Amazon makes it hard to list a book free, or “perma-free.”
This is why you see lots of $2.99. Lowest price at which you earn 70%.
From 99¢ to $2.98, you get 35%. From $2.99–$9.99, you get 70%. $10 & above is 35% again.
Amazon makes it hard to list a book free, or “perma-free.”
This is why you see lots of $2.99. Lowest price at which you earn 70%.
17. Amazon is too powerful. Build an email list.
Amazon gives authors great opportunities, but they’re not your friend. Build an email list.
I use @ActiveCampaign, but it gets complicated. I recommend @ConvertKit for authors.
Amazon gives authors great opportunities, but they’re not your friend. Build an email list.
I use @ActiveCampaign, but it gets complicated. I recommend @ConvertKit for authors.
18. Categories & genres matter.
It’s tempting to write a book that “defies genre,” but it’s a great way to fail.
Spend some time browsing to see in what categories your book belongs.
It’s tempting to write a book that “defies genre,” but it’s a great way to fail.
Spend some time browsing to see in what categories your book belongs.
19. Know sales potential before you write.
You can get a feel for revenue potential within a category by looking at the overall Amazon rank of the top book (and 100th book) within a category.
You want to see some sales, but less competition.
You can get a feel for revenue potential within a category by looking at the overall Amazon rank of the top book (and 100th book) within a category.
You want to see some sales, but less competition.
20. Books sell by keyword, or word-of-mouth. There are two approaches to books:
1) Invent an idea that spreads through the culture
2) Solve a specific problem
It's harder to get some sales w/ #1, but the sky is the limit. Easier to get some sales w/ #2, but there’s a ceiling.
1) Invent an idea that spreads through the culture
2) Solve a specific problem
It's harder to get some sales w/ #1, but the sky is the limit. Easier to get some sales w/ #2, but there’s a ceiling.
21. You get up to 200 characters in title/subtitle.
If your book is searchable, use them all!
My book, How to Write a Book, has a crazy-long subtitle, full of relevant keywords, which drive sales.
If your book is searchable, use them all!
My book, How to Write a Book, has a crazy-long subtitle, full of relevant keywords, which drive sales.
22. You can have 7 keyphrases associated with your book.
You choose these as you publish on KDP. You can change them as often as you want.
It’s best to find phrases of 2-5 words, not seen in your title/subtitle, & that people actually search for.
You choose these as you publish on KDP. You can change them as often as you want.
It’s best to find phrases of 2-5 words, not seen in your title/subtitle, & that people actually search for.
23. You can add your book to 10 categories.
This is a little-known secret! The Amazon publish process only allows 2 categories.
But you can email support & add your book to up to 10! (for Kindle & Paperback, each) Great way to improve organic visibility.
This is a little-known secret! The Amazon publish process only allows 2 categories.
But you can email support & add your book to up to 10! (for Kindle & Paperback, each) Great way to improve organic visibility.
24. It’s easy to have a bestseller.
Because your book can be in 10 categories, if you make some sales, your book has a good chance of ranking #1 in one of the less-competitive categories you choose.
The trad. world will tell you it's not a "real" bestseller. They're wrong.
END
Because your book can be in 10 categories, if you make some sales, your book has a good chance of ranking #1 in one of the less-competitive categories you choose.
The trad. world will tell you it's not a "real" bestseller. They're wrong.
END
If you'd like to see one of these self-published books in action, The Heart to Start is $1.99 on Kindle TODAY!
As a self-published book, it's gotten:
–A Publisher's Weekly review
–An endorsement from Seth Godin
–Selected for a BookBub (sent to 1M people)
amazon.com/Heart-Start-In…
As a self-published book, it's gotten:
–A Publisher's Weekly review
–An endorsement from Seth Godin
–Selected for a BookBub (sent to 1M people)
amazon.com/Heart-Start-In…
