Tuesday, April 30, 2024

Zero Errors #AtoZChallenge

#AtoZChallenge 2024 letter Z


Zero errors...
Nothing, seriously nothing, will cause errors to be found like publishing.
What will you do when readers find your mistakes?
Do you fix them and re-upload your manuscript so future readers have a better experience? 
Sometimes there are limits to the number or corrected copies allowed. But most self-publishers allow chances to update fixes.

  • Even the most famous authors make mistakes.
  • Different styles make some errors debatable. 


 

#AtoZChallenge2024 J Lenni Dorner theme

#AtoZChallenge 2024
Please check out the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge
#AtoZChallenge a-to-zchallenge.com

Monday, April 29, 2024

You Want More Books #AtoZChallenge

#AtoZChallenge 2024 letter Y


You want more books.
Because readers may want more. One book can sell another. If a reader likes a book, they might see what else the author has to offer. This is why many authors give short stories away for joining email lists and such. They like the free sample, they come back for more. 🤞 That's the hope and goal.

So don't stop at just one. Write more books. Enter more writing contests. Keep readers coming back for more and telling others about you. Keep making connections. 

 

#AtoZChallenge2024 J Lenni Dorner theme

#AtoZChallenge 2024
Please check out the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge
#AtoZChallenge a-to-zchallenge.com

Saturday, April 27, 2024

X, Facebook, Instagram, and the Social Media Promotion Circle #AtoZChallenge

#AtoZChallenge 2024 letter X


Promoting a book using social media is almost required nowadays. Doing it too often will annoy your followers and cause them to flee. People don't want to just see ads. (Proof is in the people who will pay extra on streaming services to not see commercials.) 

Your fans do want to know you have a new release.
They just don't want to be "hit over the head" with the message constantly.

Getting five followers to share a post about your new release is known to be good for sales. More so if those shared posts get liked and shared. Likes give you evidence that someone saw the post. 

The Social-media Promotion Circle:

First, a possible reader learns your book exists via social media.
Second, that possible reader goes to the buy site and considers your book.
Third, your possible reader acquires your book.
Ideal Fourth, the reader leaves a review and gives stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Astounding Fifth, the reader shares their thoughts about your book on their social media!
🤩 Magical Sixth, followers of that reader learn your book exists. ⭕ Circle repeats.



#AtoZChallenge2024 J Lenni Dorner theme

#AtoZChallenge 2024
Please check out the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge
#AtoZChallenge a-to-zchallenge.com

Friday, April 26, 2024

Winner for Contest #AtoZChallenge

#AtoZChallenge 2024 letter W

If you held a contest, mention your winner. Congratulate them on your blog and social media.

https://jlennidorner.blogspot.com/2024/04/find-title-atozchallenge-win.html  I appreciate the comments, but I'm not sure that I found any extra title suggestions I especially want to use. "Dark Bequest," was pretty close though. Thank you, Frewin55

Maybe 
Dark Bequest at the Shamlin Ruins

Thoughts?



#AtoZChallenge2024 J Lenni Dorner theme

#AtoZChallenge 2024
Please check out the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge
#AtoZChallenge a-to-zchallenge.com

Thursday, April 25, 2024

Verify Publication #AtozChallenge

#AtoZChallenge 2024 letter V


Verify Publication

Tale as old as ... well, as old as self-publishing online.
You think you've done everything right. Uploaded your correctly formatted manuscript, correctly sized cover, spell-checked book description, and intriguing author biography. 
But then the publication date rolls around, and your precious book isn't for sale?
First, Amazon uses the Pacific timezone. So it might not be available until a certain time during the hours they use.
Second, something could be wrong. Contacting customer service is known to have mixed results.

Ideally, have a friend buy a copy on release day to verify that it works, that they get the product you intended, and that everything looks as you desire. 



#AtoZChallenge2024 J Lenni Dorner theme

#AtoZChallenge 2024
Please check out the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge
#AtoZChallenge a-to-zchallenge.com

Wednesday, April 24, 2024

Update Profiles #AtoZChallenge

#AtoZChallenge 2024 letter U


This was touched on yesterday. Update your social media profiles and biographies to include your new publication. Books sell better when readers know they exist. 

This may seem like a foolish checklist item. But consider if someone writes a nice review and tries to tag you when they share on social media. How do they know they've found the right author? There are new sites cropping up all the time. Maybe you don't have one listed in your book bio because it didn't exist at the time of publication. This is why it's best to keep sites updated as much as possible.
 

#AtoZChallenge2024 J Lenni Dorner theme

#AtoZChallenge 2024
Please check out the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge
#AtoZChallenge a-to-zchallenge.com

Tuesday, April 23, 2024

Tie in Goodreads, Book Bub, etc #AtoZChallenge

#AtoZChallenge 2024 letter T

Once you have your release date and book description, tie your book to as many online places as possible.

https://allauthor.com/submit-your-book/?r=featuredbook The AllAuthor site has excellent promotional opportunities. 

Add the book to your Goodreads profile, Book Bub, etc.

Put it in your profiles. Think of all the ways someone might search for your book. Your author's name, the book title, and the characters. Find ways to make those searches lead back to you, to a buy link.

If you get your book in a library, put that link somewhere fans can find it (your blog, social media, etc).

http://216.164.218.250:8080/#section=home
NAPL screenshot




#AtoZChallenge2024 J Lenni Dorner theme

#AtoZChallenge 2024
Please check out the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge
#AtoZChallenge a-to-zchallenge.com

Monday, April 22, 2024

Select Pre-Readers #AtoZChallenge

#AtoZChallenge 2024 letter S


Select Pre-Readers

Better known as Beta Readers (you being the alpha). Developmental editors may also be needed. There are readers and editors for books that foster diversity, equity, and inclusion. 

Many sellers prohibit buying, paying, or trading for reviews. Genuine reviews written by the release date are especially valuable for initial sales. A zero-star, unreviewed book can be intimidating for many readers (unless they are already fans of the author). 



#AtoZChallenge2024 J Lenni Dorner theme

#AtoZChallenge 2024
Please check out the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge
#AtoZChallenge a-to-zchallenge.com

Saturday, April 20, 2024

Release Date #AtoZChallenge

#AtoZChallenge 2024 letter R


Release Date

The sooner you know this, the better. 
You need to know you'll be done with your editing, cover, and formatting.
Let as many people as possible know your release date. Put it in your email signature. Create social media posts. 
Some publishing sites will promote your book if you give your release date in time. (Check out BookBub.) This also builds time for pre-orders.



#AtoZChallenge2024 J Lenni Dorner theme

#AtoZChallenge 2024
Please check out the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge
#AtoZChallenge a-to-zchallenge.com

Friday, April 19, 2024

Quantity #AtoZChallenge #SocialMedia #Author #Writer

#AtoZChallenge 2024 letter Q


Quantity

Consider if the manuscript will be a stand-alone or part of a series.  Should people follow you as an author? If there are plans for more books, yes! 

https://amzn.to/3Q0m6Cb Amazon

You could just post links and say what sites they lead to. Or you can get icons (some free, some paid, depending on your search skills-- I bought the coffee cups years ago, along with a blank to edit).


Please visit the author page of J Lenni Dorner on Amazon Please follow @JLenniDorner on BookBub Follow and friend author J Lenni Dorner on Goodreads please Please visit author J Lenni Dorner on Smashwords J Lenni Dorner on Storygraph Visit @JLenniDorner on AllAuthor
There are author-specific sites to ask readers to follow you on, but also social media sites.


Follow @JLenniDorner on Twitter please WhatAreThey is the Facebook fan page of @JLenniDorner — Please click Like and Follow! Follow @JLenniDorner on Pinterest please Please connect with J Lenni Dorner on LinkedIn Please follow J Lenni Dorner on Tumblr Become NaNoWriMo buddies with J Lenni Dorner please Instagram of @JLenniDorner Mastodon sunny.garden/@JLenniDorner

Remember to interact with your followers. Grow friendships. Put the social in social media!


dlvrit image from April 2024

It's important to keep your latest blog posts linked to your social media.

The above are ones I use. But there are PLENTY more. 
Do you have a favorite site to follow authors?  
 


#AtoZChallenge2024 J Lenni Dorner theme

#AtoZChallenge 2024
Please check out the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge
#AtoZChallenge a-to-zchallenge.com

Thursday, April 18, 2024

Print Copies #books #AtoZChallenge

#AtoZChallenge 2024 letter P


Sales of print books are on the decline. However, it is still an option for self-publishers. (Mostly with print-on-demand, where the book is only printed if it is ordered. Thus, no waste from unsold copies.)

Because of the cost of printing (paper, ink, binding, shipping, etc), print books tend to cost more. 

Fractions of Existence --Paperback
Proof of Existence --Paperback
Writing Book Reviews As An Author: Inspiration To Make It Easier -- Paperback

The choice to have a print version, or not, is up to the self-published author.



#AtoZChallenge2024 J Lenni Dorner theme

#AtoZChallenge 2024
Please check out the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge
#AtoZChallenge a-to-zchallenge.com

Wednesday, April 17, 2024

Orders #AtoZchallenge

#AtoZChallenge 2024 letter O


Orders 

Orders or ... pre-orders? 
With proper planning, a new book can be set up to get pre-orders. Sales for a book shortly before it is released. Most sellers require the manuscript to be in place first so they can guarantee something will be sent to buyers. There are a few people who suggest a reader who buys a book before it comes out is more likely to forget to read and review it. (Difficult to prove, given the low percentage of readers who bother to write a review. OR counting who spends enough on Amazon to have the privilege of writing reviews there.) 

Do you pre-order books? If so, do you remember to read and review those books?

 

#AtoZChallenge2024 J Lenni Dorner theme

#AtoZChallenge 2024
Please check out the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge
#AtoZChallenge a-to-zchallenge.com