5 Things This Self-Published Author Did to Sell Over 20,000 Books With Almost No Money
If you don’t know anyone who can competently edit your writing, hire someone. Rob Dircks self-published his first novel and sold 10,000 copies in the first year.
2. Build your “platform”
If you’re self-publishing a book, you’ll need a website to spread the word and keep the conversation going. You’ll get zero traffic at first, but after a while (be patient), the clicks and email signups will start to come in. If you’re writing a graphic novel, Pinterest and Facebook might be right for you. John Scalzi is a successful sci-fi author with a large Twitter following.
3. Relentlessly pursue book reviews and exposure
Because I actively looked for reviewers on Amazon, Goodreads, and Audible, I had 25 reviews on my Amazon sales page on day one. More people than you’d think have told me that my asking them to leave a review prompted them to write their first review.
4. Promote your book
If you publish on Amazon, you’ll be offered KDP Select, which allows you to sell the digital version of your book exclusively on Amazon. I was able to run four Countdown Deals in the first year of my first novel, which allowed me to promote my book through paid ebook promotions.
5. Record an audiobook
How to record an audiobook on a budget; Amazon’s subsidiary, ACX, can help you find narrators and producers; audiobook sales increased by 148 percent from 2010 to 2015. Audiobooks account for a significant portion of my sales.
What types of self-published books sell the best?
Self-published romance, science fiction, and fantasy books are the best-suited for self-publishing; in fact, half of Amazon’s e-book bestsellers in these genres are self-published!
What is the most successful self published book?
E.L. James’ 50 Shades of Grey is the most successful self-published book to date, selling over 100 million copies worldwide and holding the record for “fastest-selling paperback,” staying on the New York Times Bestseller list for 133 weeks.
Do self-published books ever become best sellers?
While some argue that if it isn’t a New York Times best-seller, it isn’t a “real” best-seller, authors should not be discouraged; it is entirely possible for best-selling authors to become millionaires through Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing platform.
Are self-published books successful?
A debut self-published novel is unlikely to become a bestseller and make the author wealthy; in fact, most successful self-published authors have multiple books to their names because a series increases the likelihood of sales. The lesson to be learned is that no book will sell itself.
How do I get my book noticed?
The suggestions below may assist you in getting noticed and growing and maintaining a large readership.
- 1) Create an awareness campaign. 2) Create a reviewer list. 3) Create a mailing list. 4) Use social media tools to assist you.
How much do authors make a year 2020?
Depending on experience, writing subject matter, contract terms, and book sales, a novelist’s salary can range from $15,080 to $127,816 per year. As with many business owners, a novelist’s salary can fluctuate depending on the amount of product sold.
Can you make a living self-publishing on Amazon?
Self-publishing books isn’t a get-rich scheme, but you’d be surprised how much money you can make on Amazon. According to The Guardian, the average self-published author earns around $1,000 per year, which includes many authors who have multiple books and a large following.
Is JK Rowling self-published?
J.K. Rowling never self-published; for her first book, she contacted a number of literary agents and publishers, and received a number of rejections, just like any other writer, until one publisher decided to take a chance on her, and the rest is history.
Can a self-published book become a NYT bestseller?
It’s impossible for a book to make the list without bookstore distribution (along with a lot of promotion), but don’t give up hope just yet: The New York Times also publishes a bestseller list for ebooks, which is based on sales reported by Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Apple, and Google.
How many books do you have to sell to be a bestseller?
What does it take to be named a best-seller? The general consensus is that if you want to make it onto a best-seller list, any best-seller list, you must sell at least 5,000, if not 10,000, books in a week; after that, things get complicated depending on which list you’re aiming for.
Is Self-Publishing worth it?
Self-publishing does not hurt your chances with a traditional publisher; in fact, having a successful self-published book can increase your chances of being published by a traditional publishing house. Major publishers prefer their authors to have an advantage.
How much do self published authors make on Amazon 2020?
According to Amazon, the company paid out more than $220 million to authors last year. Regardless of whether or not they participate in KDP Select, authors who self-publish on Amazon through KDP earn a 70% royalty on books priced between $2.99 and $9.99, and a 35 percent royalty on books priced higher or lower than that.
Why you shouldn’t self publish?
Self-publishing, like self-published authors, does not have the best reputation in the book world, which means that the quality of your novel will be comparable to that of best-selling authors. If you want all of your books picked up by a publisher, self-publishing is not for you.
Is Amazon self-publishing worth it?
The highest paid authors on Amazon have a series of books and have spent years building that up, and the highest paid authors on Amazon KDP tend to be fiction writers, too. Self-publishing on Amazon is also worth it if you can use the clicks and views that your eBook receives to boost another venture.
Why is self-publishing bad?
The third reason self-publishing is an outcast in the publishing world has to do with design u2014 both exterior and interior. Too often, DIY authors want to save money, so they hire cover and interior designers who have little experience with book design.