Nine Big Reasons to Learn to Love Amazon

By Carolyn Howard-Johnson, 
author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugallySeries of books for writers

 

Remember the little greeting card girl who looked like Pipi Longstockings? She put her hands on her hips, stamped her little foot, glowered out of the card at her audience and said “Get Over It!” That’s a little like I feel when I hear an author complain about Amazon. Not that I don’t understand their complaints, even sometimes agree with them. What worries me is that sometimes these authors resort to boycotting Amazon which leads to their selling their books out of their garages…or worse. Though what you might have heard about Amazon may be true but we authors still need to just take the advice of Pipi’s look alike and “get over it.” For the good of our books. If you are one of those authors, here’s why Amazon is good for your book and by extension, good for your peace of mind, and, yes, good for your book sales: 

 

1.     Amazon sells far and away more books than any other online 
bookstore. And far and away more books than all traditional bookstores in the US combined.

2.     Amazon provides easily accessed associate sites from Japan to the UK that let you sell your books overseas—even if you haven’t sold foreign rights to your book.

3.     Amazon provides a search engine arguably second only to Google’s—especially if you view this statistic from the standpoint of an author or publisher. Your prospective reader can find you by typing your name, title, or important key words like your genre into the search window.

4.     Promotion packages like Amazon’s Vine Program are available for getting reviewed by their top reviewers. Some are free, some are costly, but they all work.

5.     Amazon offers an author profile. You can even feed your blog and Twitter stream to it and so your readers know more about you instantly. If you don’t have a profile page, go to AuthorCentral.com and explore how you can add all your books to it and a knock-out biography, too.

 

Tip: I include a shortened URL in my e-mail signature that takes my contacts directly to my Amazon author profile.

 

6.     Amazon offers all kinds of ways to promote your book on a dedicated buy page where your readers get to buy your book, often with one click. That page includes:

o    Add-on features that let you highlight your credentials by choosing the best categories and subcategories for Amazon’s logarithms to find and rate your sales numbers against other similar books. (To make the most of these, the author must promote bestselling ratings when they achieve them—perhaps on Twitter.)

o    A new feature is available on your Kindle buy page. It is called “Amazon Plus.” Either the author of a book or its publisher may add five enticing quotations from your book and illustrate each with an arresting image of your choice for entry. Find the A+ entries my publisher (Modern History Press) added for the Kindle version of The Frugal Editor or any of the other books in my HowToDoItFrugally series to get ideas for your own book(s). (It works equally well for books of fiction.)

o    There is a place on your buy page to install an author- or book- related video.

o    The “What other customers buy after they’ve reviewed this item…” feature may feel uncomfortably competitive, but it connects your book to other top sellers on Amazon as well as others’ books to yours.

 

7.    Amazon’s Kindle Select marketing program is free if you can see your way to committing your book as an Amazon exclusive for ninety days. After that period is up, you can publish at Smashwords or anywhere else you want to and you can make marketing hay with the Select program when your book is released.

8.    Amazon offers an annual contest for e-books in partnership with some of the biggest names in publishing.

9.    When you publish new editions, Amazon offers a widget (gadget) for your backlist book’s buy page that directs readers to your new editions. See how one leads you from the second edition of my The Frugal Editorto the new third edition at my buy page. (Find it a little below the title of the book at the top of the page.

 

Tip: You may enter some typical “back of the book” features on your buy page yourself. That includes the more about the author, your favorite review, and more. Do watch this important page for changes. Amazon adds features to it and also taketh away. (It’s also the place that lists your book sales ratings. 

 

Don’t Forget: When your book becomes a bestseller in the ratings (or highly rated in its genre!) that news can become highly convincing marketing material for your book. You’ll find a screen shot of one of the ratings Modern History Press recently made for me during the release of the third edition of The Frugal Editor at the top of this blog page.

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About the SharingwithWriters blogger: 

 

Cover image supplied by Amazon on their new Series Page

 

Carolyn Howard-Johnson is a frequent contributor to this #WritersontheMove blog. Her The Frugal Editorwas just released in its third edition from Modern History Press. It is the second multi award-winning book in her multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writers. Find it on Amazon in paper, hard cover, or as an e-book at the new Amazon page especially for series . (That’s a new Amazon feature, too!) This new edition has been fully updated including a chapter on how backmatter can be extended to both help readers and jumpstart book sales.

Writers Conference at Beach? What could be better?

I love that the 805 #WritersConference offers opportunities for authors in person and at a Covid-19 safe distance...and at California's gorgeous beach!   Be an Early Bird!  ~ Carolyn

AUTHORS, Are you looking for book buyers? Are you having trouble building an audience? Then become an author/exhibitor at the 805 Writers Conference and Book Expo on November 5 & 6 in Ventura, California. It's hard to find readers, especially if: • You released a book during the pandemic and haven't been able to get in front of book buyers • You have more than one book or a series and want to find more readers • Your book has merchandise attached, and stores don't take it. Why not be part of the 805 Book Expo?  • It will be a small, compact exhibit so all attendees will walk past your table. • Inside the expo, authors/speakers from the conference will hold book signings to draw in people. • There will be advertising across weeklies, online, social media, and radio. • Exhibit both days or just one.  • Share a table or have one for yourself. Please take a look, it's a fair price, so it's easy to JOIN US!

Want to sell your books in the 805 Book Expo? Click here.

The 805 Writers Conference is not only for people wanting to learn about the craft and business of book publishing but for book lovers too. Three ways to enjoy, learn, or find your new favorite book. New this year—the 805 Book Expo features over 40 regional authors daily and all conference speakers signing books at scheduled times. The Expo is open to the public for free. The entire conference is available in-person or via Zoom for people unable to attend. Zoom attendees will have a special extra – the ability to schedule a talk with a book editor about their manuscripts. In-person attendees will have the opportunity to meet with a literary agent. Four half-day workshops will cover memoir, characters, book marketing, and author branding. Registration for these workshops opens on August 15.

Learn more about the sessions, speakers, or register

Carolyn's new Audiobook from Modern History Press

MORE ABOUT THE BLOGGER 

 Howard-Johnson is the multi award-winning author of fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. She is also a marketing consultant, editor, and author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writers including the multi award-winning The Frugal Book Promoter (https://bit.ly/FrugalBookPromoIII), now offered in its third edition by Modern History Press. Carolyn's latest is in the #HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writers is How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically. She has two booklets in the #HowToDoItFrugally Series, both in their second editions from Modern History Press. Great Little Last Minute Editing Tips for Writers (https://bit.ly/LastMinuteEditsII) and The Great First Impression Book Proposal (https://bit.ly/BookProposalsII) are career boosters in mini doses and both make ideal thank you gifts for authors. The one on writing book proposals is also available as an Audio Book. The Frugal Editor (https://bit.ly/FrugalEditor), now in its second edition, is the winningest book in the series. Carolyn also has three frugal books for retailers including one she encourages authors to read because it helps them convince retailers to host their workshops, presentations, and signings. It is A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In-Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques (https://bit.ly/RetailersGuide). In addition to this blog, Carolyn helps writers extend the exposure of their favorite reviews at TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com. She also blogs all things editing--grammar, formatting and more--at The Frugal, Smart, and Tuned-In Editor (https://TheFrugalEditor.blogspot.com). Learn more and follow for news on her new releases direct from Amazon at https://bit.ly/CarolynsAmznProfile.

Guest Post: Book Sales Ideas from Book Fair Director

Organize Your Book Sales

by

Valerie Allen

Writing was on your mind. Publishing was on your mind. Now, you have your books, and selling is on your mind. What to do first? To maximize your sales opportunities get yourself, your books, and your displays organized. Start with these basics:

You:

• Dress the part. What message to you want to send to your reading public?
• Formal – business attire, shirt and tie, high heels, three piece outfit?
• Relaxed – slacks and dress shirt; dress, shirt/slacks and blouse?
• Casual – jeans, T-shirt, button down; capris, shorts?
• Dress in character – especially for children's authors, period novels, or historical manuscripts.
• Be comfortable. Bring a seat cushion, a jacket, and a change of shoes.
• Stand at your table or display area whenever possible.
• Smile, greet others, make conversation, engage your readers,  have your blurb ready to discuss your books.

Your Books:

• Autograph each book ahead of time.
• Place two business cards in each, one as a bookmark, and one for the reader to give away.
• Put a gold/silver sticker on the cover to indicate this is an autographed book.
• Note on book cover any awards it has won with a sticker, or with a flier inside.
• Put a label on one book as Display Copy Only.

Your Displays:

• Place each of your Display Copy Only books on a small easel.
• Put a price sticker on each display book. Note if this is special event price.
• Place business cards in a holder on table in front of each book.
• Keep a small stack of books on the table behind each Display Copy Only book easel.
• Keep extra books protected in zip bags or plastic covers.
• Use a table cloth.
• Have handouts with your book titles, blurbs, awards, your contact information, and where you will be next.
• Find items or music related to your book to attract people to our display.
• Have a small candy dish with individually wrapped candy. (No chocolate!)
• Make a book basket to give as a prize; collect name, email, and phone #.
• Have pen and pad available. 
• Have bowl to collect business cards for networking.
• Collect email addresses and ask permission to email them information about your books.
• Have supplies: pens, pencils, paper, markers, tape, tacks, rubber bands, and cash.

MORE ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Valerie Allen is director of several book fairs in Brevard County, Florida. She is also a prolific author. Reach her at:

VAllenWriter@cs.com                                          ValerieAllenWriter.com

Facebook.com/Valerie.Allen.520

Amazon.com/Author/ValerieAllen

Her books are:  

 Beyond the Inkblots: Confusion to Harmony

Write Publish Sell!

Summer School for Smarties

Bad Hair, Good Hat, New Friends

The Prodigal Son

Amazing Grace

Sins of the Father

Suffer the Little Children

'Tis Herself: Short Story Collection, Vol 1

-----

 Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of This Is the Place; Harkening: A Collection of Stories Remembered; Tracings, a chapbook of poetry; and how to books for writers including the award-winning second edition of, The Frugal Book Promoter: How to get nearly free publicity on your own or by partnering with your publisher; The multi award-winning second edition of The Frugal Editor; and Great Little Last Minute Editing Tips for Writers . The Great First Impression Book Proposal is her newest booklet for writers. She has three FRUGAL books for retailers including A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In-Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques. Some of her other blogs are TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com, a blog where authors can recycle their favorite reviews. She also blogs at all things editing, grammar, formatting and more at The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor .

Love Buzzing My Books with Bookbuzzr

Opportunity to Look Great!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I’m excited as anything about what Bookbuzzr.com (also known as Freado.com) does for our books. Think about the success of Amazon’s Look Inside feature. Now apply that to anything and everywhere online you’re promoting your book. Your Web site. Your blog (s). Your e-mail signature. I’m assuming your e-mail service like Mail Chimp (though I haven’t tried it there!). Your potential customers get to peek inside your book, get a taste of your voice, see the brilliant first line (and more) of your novel! Even read all the way to your hook! (That’s because you get to tell Bookbuzzr when to quit letting them peek and you can choose right there at the hook or cliffhanger!) Now, how can that not make a difference in sales? 

You also get a lovely profile page on Bookbuzzer. Mine is at http://www.bookbuzzr.com/Carolyn-Howard-Johnson (and, yes, they provided the nice, readable URL!) You can add just one book or all your books. Your choice. And once your visitor has read a sample using what Bookbuzzr calls your flipper (presumably because the pages "flip" like the pages of a book!), the widget makes it very, very easy for them to buy.

You know how I am about great e-mail signatures. Nag, nag, nag! This will make them work for you even better with many e-mail providers. But mostly it will do for you what you probably can’t do for yourself—let prospective readers get close up and personal.

CHJ

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 Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of This Is the Place; Harkening: A Collection of Stories Remembered; Tracings, a chapbook of poetry; and how to books for writers including the award-winning second edition of, The Frugal Book Promoter: How to get nearly free publicity on your own or by partnering with your publisher; The multi award-winning second edition of The Frugal Editor; and Great Little Last Minute Editing Tips for Writers . The Great First Impression Book Proposal is her newest booklet for writers. She has three FRUGAL books for retailers including A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In-Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques. Some of her other blogs are TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com, a blog where authors can recycle their favorite reviews. She also blogs at all things editing, grammar, formatting and more at The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor .

Book Sales: Targeting Education Sellers

I'm sharing another of the continuing Q&A a la Ann Landers feature from my #SharingwithWriters newsletter with you again. There is something satisfying about knowing I have helped an individual with a specific problem.  Subscribers are welcome to send their own question so why not subscribe. Send me an e-mail with SUBSCRIBE in the subject line to HoJoNews@aol.com.

Q&A A La Ann Landers

Getting Your Book Into Campus Libraries and More!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

QUESTION

Re university bookstores: I know that Random House had my book in their catalog targeting educational sellers. Is there more than that I can do? How would I 

1. identify them and

 2. approach them?

ANSWER

I'm going to use my husband's experience with his What Foreigners Need to Know About America from A to Z as an example because he was so successful with it. 

He put together a form letter (which he tweaks)depending on who it's going to. He goes online and finds areas on campus that could use his book. That includes 

1. Libraries

 2. International Student Programs 

3. International Student Course Teachers 

4. Campus Bookstore Buyers  

He spends about 30 minutes a day sending the letter to the correct person when possible. Sometimes that's only 1 contact. Some days, when research goes well, it's three or four.  He's had some amazing successes like having his book chosen as gifts/recommendations by the university that hosts the Fulbright Scholars in the US each summer.  There is a cost to it beyond time. He offers a free book to those influencers who show an interest, but these most often don't result in single book sales, either.  The top sale we could trace to his letters (it's sometimes easier for self-published authors to trace sales to a specific effort) was 59 copies. 

One more secret. He keeps at it. 

An alternative for you that isn't as frugal and not as effective because the contact is not personal (but a lot less time-consuming!:

 IBPA (Independent Book Publishers Association) had a catalog that they send out to libraries, a separate one to university libraries and one to reviewers.  I've used that. It can be good...or not. Depending on the title. 

Be aware, that if you find an instructor who recommends your book or uses is at class reading, the bookstore often stocks the book automatically. But not always. It doesn’t hurt to mention that your book was ordered or that Professor X showed an interest in your book in a followup letter to the buyer.  

----- Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of This Is the Place; Harkening: A Collection of Stories Remembered; Tracings, a chapbook of poetry; and how to books for writers including the award-winning second edition of, The Frugal Book Promoter: How to get nearly free publicity on your own or by partnering with your publisher; The multi award-winning second edition of The Frugal Editor; and Great Little Last Minute Editing Tips for Writers . The Great First Impression Book Proposal is her newest booklet for writers. She has three FRUGAL books for retailers including A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In-Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques. Some of her other blogs are TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com, a blog where authors can recycle their favorite reviews. She also blogs at all things editing, grammar, formatting and more at The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor .

Best SharingwithWriters Tip of the Year for Book Sales

I usually don't tread on the release of my own newsletter, but here it is: The Most Important Tip of The Year for the promotion of your new book. If you don't have a new one coming out, put this on your calendar with an alert for about 120 days before your expected
 the release. It's that important!

My Most Important Tip of the Year:

Did you know that you can now run a pre-order for your Kindle book in advance of its release—just like J. K. Rowling and Harper Lee did? (-:  

A pre order promotion gives you more time to do all the things needed in the 12 to 16 weeks before a release like get great reviews. (I describe the process for getting reviews--both the difficult-to-get and the accessible reviews--in The Frugal Book Promoter and even lead you to a page on my Web site of the top journals—meaning the journals most likely to get you noticed.

This link will take you to Amazon’s description of how to make arrangements for a pre-order on their site it when you upload your manuscript:

https://kdp.amazon.com/help?topicId=AGSSZQVFKECO5&ref=86&ref_=pe_390220_143142980  Just think! 90 Days of sales are now available to use while you market your book and add buzz to your launch!

Though you already have this tip, there are lots more coming in my August SharingwithWriters issue and every issue after that (I've been doing this since 2003!). To subscribe and get a free e-version of my Great Little Last-Minute Edits booklet, go to http://howtodoitfrugally.com . There is a subscription form at the top right of almost every page. Great Little Last-Minute Edits is available as a slim paperback at http://bit.ly/Last-MinuteEditing   

-----
 Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of This Is the Place; Harkening: A Collection of Stories Remembered; Tracings, a chapbook of poetry; and how to books for writers including the award-winning second edition of, The Frugal Book Promoter: How to get nearly free publicity on your own or by partnering with your publisher; The multi award-winning second edition of The Frugal Editor; and Great Little Last Minute Editing Tips for Writers . The Great First Impression Book Proposal is her newest booklet for writers. She has three FRUGAL books for retailers including A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In-Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques. Some of her other blogs are TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com, a blog where authors can recycle their favorite reviews. She also blogs at all things editing, grammar, formatting and more at The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor .

So How DO You Get People to Buy and Read Your Book

Why People Buy Books

Guest blogged by

Valerie Allen, codirector of the

Brevard Authors’ Book Fair in Cocoa Beach, Florida

 

Studies have revealed people's book buying habits are influenced by various factors. Authors need to consider the investment of time and money when marketing to potential buyers. The trend has moved from “writing” your book, to “publishing” your book, to “discovery” of your book. The focus now is how to draw readers to your work.

The top six reasons individuals make a book purchase, in order of importance, are:

 

1.  Author Reputation

• An author who writes in an area of interest to you (psychological thrillers, romance, westerns, horror, fantasy, etc.)
• An author who writes well, can move you emotionally or lead you to gain insight
• An author who delivers on the promise to educate or entertain

 

2.  Personal Recommendations

• Friends, family members, co-workers tell you about a book they really enjoyed or a book they think you will like

• Discussions about books, book clubs, library picks, best seller lists

 

3.  Price

• Fewer pages, lower price
• Sale price always attracts consumers
• Buy one, get one free or at a reduced price
• Bonus packages combine book(s) with another itme (perfume/hand cream/book mark)
• FREE book with purchase of another non book item
• FREE for the asking, donations to community service events or non-profits

 

4.  Book Reviews

• Included in book forward or on the back cover
• Online by publishers, agents, or readers
• Newspapers, magazines, book review print or online venues

 

5.  Cover/Blurb

• Attractive cover, title and subtitle. or with a blurb about book
• Back cover summary, blurb, reviews
• Reviews inside book forward or in the end pages

 

6.  Advertisements print and online

• Media blast by authors, publishers, agents, etc.
• On line Emails, Twitter, Facebook, and other social media
• Paid ads in newspapers, magazines, book venu magazines/brochures/fliers 

About Today’s Guest Blogger

Valerie Allen is a psychologist, author, and speaker. She is a popular presenter at writer conferences and workshops for new and experienced authors. Her presentations focus on writing, publishing, and marketing, using her book, Write, Publish, Sell! Quick, Easy, Inexpensive Ideas for the Marketing Challenge, Second  Edition.

 

She is a member of the Space Coast Writers' Guild, the National League of American PEN Women, Cape Canaveral Branch, and serves on the Board of Directors of the Creative Arts Foundation of Brevard, FL. She is also a cofounder of Authors For Authors.

Authors For Authors supports and encourages writers, providing venues for book talks, book launches, and two book fairs a year. The Brevard Authorss Book Fair will be held on March 28, 2015 at the Cocoa Beach Library, Cocoa Beach, FL. Non-local authors can take advantage of this promotional opportunity to have their books and materials on display all day at the book fair. More information can be found at AuthorsForAuthors.com.

 

Valerie's published books include novels: Suffer the Little Children, Sins of the Father, and Amazing Grace. Forthcoming is her next novel, The Prodigal Son. Recently, she published, 'Tis Herself: Short Story Collection. She has published two books for children grades three to five: Summer School for Smarties and Bad Hair, Good Hat, New Friends. Her most recent nonfiction book is, Beyond the Inkblots: Confusion to Harmony, which is used in her presentations about motivation and the psychology of everyday living.

To have your book displayed at this year’s fair (frugally!) , reach her at VAllenWriter@cs.com. Learn more about her at www.ValerieAllenWriter.com .

 

 

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Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of This Is the Place; Harkening: A Collection of Stories Remembered; Tracings, a chapbook of poetry; and how to books for writers including the award-winning second edition of, The Frugal Book Promoter: How to get nearly free publicity on your own or by partnering with your publisher; The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success; and Great Little Last Minute Editing Tips for Writers . The Great First Impression Book Proposal is her newest booklet for writers. She has three FRUGAL books for retailers including A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In-Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques. Some of her other blogs are TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com, a blog where authors can recycle their favorite reviews. She also blogs at all things editing, grammar, formatting and more at The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor .