Self publishing news and insight. Hosted by Dr. Heidi Thorne, MBA/DBA
My new book, Understanding Your Creativity: Discover the Internal and External Factors that Affect Your Creative Life, is available now in print, Kindle eBook, and audio book on Amazon, Audible, and Apple Books. I hope you'll check it out. Thank you for your support!
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07VYTDFYB
Do readers really judge a book by its cover these days? I contend they don't. I explain why in this rant on self published authors' obsession with book cover design.
YouTube video: https://youtu.be/0kHh0nAv_K4
Timestamp show notes (click on timestamp to view segment on YouTube):
0:11 Authors are obsessed with their book covers
0:53 Why I think readers don't judge a book by its cover these days
1:12 Why your book cover matters less on Amazon
2:48 How your book cover could make you lose money
4:10 The era of author branding
6:12 Your book cover is just packaging
Blog: Should You Hire a Graphic Designer for Your Book Cover Design? http://hub.me/akxPZ
What if you sell your books off Amazon on either your own website or at events and expos? Should you pursue getting unverified purchase book reviews from them? I discuss these reviews in this episode.
YouTube video: https://youtu.be/IQJtm1IFgsQ
Timestamp show notes (click on timestamp to view segment on YouTube):
0:12 Author questions about unverified purchase book reviews on Amazon
0:36 Authors who are most concerned about unverified purchase book reviews
1:49 Should you encourage unverified purchase book reviews?
2:34 Why unverified purchase book reviews may have less value
4:04 Why book buyers do and don't leave book reviews
7:04 Why authors who sell direct to customers may not care about Amazon reviews
"But they said they bought my book!" That's a common lament from first-time self published authors. If you didn't sell it to them directly, how do you know if your family and friends actually bought your book? I explain book sales reporting and customer review issues for off-Amazon sales. I also discuss why sales of your book to your family and friends can be the worst sales.
Blog: The Problem with Convenience and Pity Buys http://hub.me/al1YX
YouTube video: https://youtu.be/EUY_UG6lXOg
Timestamp show notes (click on timestamp to view segment on YouTube):
0:11 Authors panic over who bought their book
0:49 Only way to know if a certain person bought your book
1:32 Tracking book sales on Amazon and expanded distribution
2:46 Why friends might lie about buying your book
5:01 How long does it take for book sales to show on reports?
6:50 Book sales may have slow growth
7:13 Worst book sales ever: Pity buys
8:11 How do expanded distribution book reviews show on Amazon?
Udemy course, How to Sell Your Self Published Book on Amazon:
I've been using email marketing since 2005. I discuss why email marketing isn't the powerhouse tool it used to be, along with what to do now in this new marketing era.
YouTube video: https://youtu.be/iEtMuxdelLw
Timestamp show notes (click on timestamp to view segment on YouTube):
0:12 Why I'm not subscribing to email newsletters
2:23 Email opt-in incentives aren't the answer
2:53 How information overload impacts email marketing
3:26 Why multichannel marketing makes sense now
6:01 Why I'm concerned about Facebook Messenger type marketing
8:16 Watch social media trends and adjust your marketing
More resources on email marketing from my blog:
