OLD POST ALERT! This is an older post and although you might find some useful tips, any technical or publishing information is likely to be out of date. Please click on Start Here on the menu bar above to find links to my most useful articles, videos and podcast. Thanks and happy writing! – Joanna Penn
In the video, we discuss:
- Why we get excited about the Kindle over other platforms. As a reader, the device is a great experience and is dedicated for reading vs the multi-functional devices which has a lot of distractions. As authors, it's exciting as the readers are on Amazon who have 70% of the market.
- The most important thing for Kindle sales is reviews. If a page has no ratings and no reviews, there is no social proof. The cost of the book and the cost of your time is critical so the book page has to prove that it's worth the money and time. The only way to get reviews is to ask for them. People are reading on a digital device so you can put a link in and ask people to review it. You just have to ask, for example, whenever you get a fan email, ask them nicely to add a review.
- On Amazon algorithms (i.e. how the rankings work and how Amazon promotes other books). A powerful aspect is “people who bought this book also bought that book” so more sales beget more sales. Amazon definitely puts more emphasis on books that are selling and also have a good number of reviews. We also discuss other Amazon tools e.g. Listmania and also maintaining your Author Connect site, plus “So you want to…”. You also need to get off Amazon and make sure people can connect on social networks.
- We discuss the 99c price point (and disagree!) Steven thinks the 99c price point isn't good for authors because the costs are still there and you have to sell a lot more volume to make up the price than if you sell it for $2.99. I think there is a difference between non-fiction and fiction, especially a book series because you can sell the first one cheap and then upsell the rest. Non-fiction authors don't have so many books to sell and people won't necessarily buy the whole backlist. Here's the post from John Locke who sells a 99c ebook every 10 seconds. Each writer needs to make up their own mind in terms of what they want to achieve. We also talk about Stephen Leather, the UK's bestselling kindle author.
- Misconceptions about the Kindle. You don't need a Kindle to read a Kindle book. Get the kindle app on the iPad or the iPhone or the computer. Some people are also romantic about the printed book but realistically, it's about the love of reading that trumps all. As authors, seeing your own book on the Kindle also gives you a sense of pride. You can also use print-on-demand to have your book in physical form as well.
- Another misconception is that publishers don't want you if you've self-published. But with the success of Amanda Hocking, it's demonstrable that this isn't true.
- Steven started Taleist.com in order to share his lessons learned with the technical element of the Kindle as well as marketing. It's easy but it's not that easy to publish an ebook.
View Comments (16)
Another excellent video Joanna. How do you keep finding these people? Do you have time to write? Rhetorical questions you don't need to answer. :)
Thanks Christopher. I will answer this as I am not getting enough time to write so I will be cutting back on interviews for the next few months. Podcasts will be Q&A with me and videos with me :) I will resume interviews later this year once I am settled ! (and maybe when the next book is finished!)
I love this interview! Christopher clearly knows what he's talking about. His information makes me so glad that I spent the extra time (as in over 50 hours) of my time seeking reviews and guest blog spots to launch my book.
Thanks again, Joanna. Thanks Christopher!
Jeff Bennington
Author of REUNION - a supernatural thriller
Hi Jeff,
I've been called many things in my life but Christopher isn't one of them :-)
I'm glad you enjoyed the interview and your time was definitely well spent. Reviews are critical. We are social animals and they're the social proof on Amazon.
One of the things discussed was about agents wanting somebody who is self published. I am looking to publish by the end of the month, on Kindle. Is it possible to publish on Kindle and then find an agent to get published the old fashioned way for the same book? I mean obviously they'd want to yank it off Amazon and put it on later under their publishing. Basically, I'm asking, are we allowed to do that?
Hi Caleb, absolutely. This is what has happened to Amanda Hocking recently and a number of other authors who have gotten print deals after Kindle success e.g. Boyd Morrison with The Ark. Sales success on Kindle can really help your agent submissions. It's a new world...
Great interview. I will definitely check out Steven's site because I need to do some research on the Kindle formatting process.
I know Steve has some extra stuff on formatting - if you're into being a bit techy you can definitely DIY!
Hi Gary,
Joanna's right, I have written a guide to Kindle formatting, which will go on sale within the next couple of weeks. If you're subscribed to my blog, you'll get a pre-launch discount, too.
Even if you go with paying someone to do it or doing it for you, it's always going to be worth at least understanding what formatting for the Kindle is. It helps when you're talking to the person doing the job for you to know what can and can't be done.
Being familiar with the greater abilities and limitations the Kindle offers will help you get the best result.
Great interview Joanna and Steven.... You inspired me to email every single person who has purchased my kindle book (Marketing & Shameless Self-Promotion for Authors) and ask them for a review. I am so pumped about that tip, and it was easier to do than I thought. (I was resisting it for a while!) Thanks so much, Anita
I'm glad that helped Anita - and thanks for your email - I look forward to hearing more from you.
Hi Joanna,
I really enjoyed your post. As I am working really hard trying to finetune my 'brand', ebooks is one area that I have not explored much. Kindle is another thing that I haven't researched much on. This certainly pushes me to start asap. Thanks for the reminder.
Totally enjoyed the interview, Steven and Joanna! I am writing my debut novel, the first in a trilogy, and I absolutely plan to self-publish for Kindle, other eReaders and POD. It sounds like the best way to go. So, I'll be subscribing to your blog, Steven, to keep up with all I need to know about publishing with Amazon/Kindle. Joanna, I'm waiting for your book, Pentecost, to arrive in the mail in a day or two...can't wait!
Thanks so much for your support of the book Marcia!
Hi Marcia,
Thanks for that and you're right about self-publishing being the way to go.
I have had a tiny snafu with the subscription form on the website. I hope you weren't caught up in it but, if you were, it's working now!
Great interview. Lots of great, useful information here. I will definitely be following up on much of it.