Bob Baker's Book Promotion Blog

Author Website Critique - Get Yours Here

Is your author website firing on all cylinders? Is it helping you attract more fans and sell more books?

I'd love to send you a personalized 15-minute author website critique video. Read below to find out how to get yours ...

When done right, your author or publishing company website is the center of all your online activities. That means you can't just slap something up there and hope it works out for you.

You need to put some thought into the design and purpose of your online home base. There should be a solid strategy behind it. And it helps to have an objective eye to look at your design and let you know what's right and what's missing.

For the first time, I am testing a new service with a limited number of people

If you qualify, I will take a close look at your author or publishing company website. I will then send you a 15-minute video critique that will reveal:

How your site stacks up against the "5 Elements of an Effective Author Website" I cover in my live workshops.
What you're doing right, what's missing, and how to fix the weak areas.
How well your site reflects your genre and brand identity.
Ways you can get a lot more sales and email list signups.

I'll upload your author website critique video to YouTube as an "Unlisted" video (not available to the public). I'll send you the link so you can watch it and share it with your web designer, virtual assistant, and anyone else you choose.

Special Introductory Rate

The regular fee for this service is $150, but for a limited time I'm offering an introductory rate of only $97 USD.

I can take on only 7 to 10 of these, so I need to hand select the sites and authors I critique.

If you are interested, do this:

Send an email to me at MrBuzzFactor AT Gmail DOT com (replace the AT with @ and the DOT with .)
Put "Author Website Critique" in the subject line.
Include a link to the website you'd like me to critique.
Let me know you're seriously interested and ready to pay the $97 fee.
I will let you know within a day or so if I can critique your site. If I can, I'll send you a PayPal ebill.)

So, would you like me to critique your author website? Space is limited, so get in touch with me ASAP.

-Bob

Get more tips and inspiration when you subscribe to my free "Full-Time Author" ezine. I'll even send you a free download of my Self-Publishing Confidential report. Learn more about the free subscription here.

Or just sign up using this quick and easy form:

Your email address will not be shared. Unsubscribe at any time.

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How to Sell More Books: The 3-Step Process

There’s a mistake I see many authors make when it comes to creating and promoting books and other info-products, such as online courses, teleclasses, webinars, etc.

It’s a blunder that causes dwindling cash flow and frustration over slow sales. But there’s a simple remedy I can sum up in three simple steps.

First, let’s identify the problem …

This mistake occurs when an author, speaker or consultant realizes that he or she has a message or story that people need to hear. The key word there is “need.”

There’s nothing wrong with feeling that way. It’s perfectly understandable. If you have an epiphany or discover some secret to living a better life or doing something more efficiently, you want to share that insight with the world.

“People need to know this!”

The problem is, what you feel people need to know may not be what a lot of them want.

And that’s the key to creating and promoting books that sell. You have to find the overlap between what you think your readers need to know and what they eagerly want to know.

Here’s an example …

My niche is music marketing for independent songwriters, musicians and bands. I’ve spent the past couple of decades building a reputation and a series of books and info-products on this topic.

A couple of years ago I wanted to create a new workshop. I knew that musicians really needed to know the importance of engaging with fans and building relationships with them. My mantra has always been “focus on fans” (a principle every author would do well to embrace as well).

Most self-promoters put the bulk of their energy into creating awareness (getting their name “out there”) and then asking for the sale (putting up a sales page with a “buy now” button).

The missing ingredient is fan engagement, which includes building and using a mailing list, interacting with fans on social media, replying to emails, etc. This is what my musician followers really “need” to know.

The problem is, there isn’t much of a “want” for a workshop called “The Importance of Engaging With Fans.” Not a very sexy or appealing title.

However, I knew that one topic most musicians eagerly want to know is how to make more money from their music. Knowing this, I created a workshop called “How to Make Money as a DIY Musician: Fours Steps to Converting Fan Attention Into Sales.”

Guess what one of those four steps is? You guessed it! Engaging with fans and building relationships with them. I ended up giving my customers what they want AND what I felt they need to know.

So here’s the easy three-step formula I used (that you can use too) to create and sell more books:

Sell the want
Deliver the want
And deliver what you feel they need to know

It’s such a simple process that most authors overlook it completely.

The key factor is discovering the want

The best way to uncover what your readers and fans want is to pay attention to what they’re saying. Here are some things to consider:

What questions do you get most often by email?
What common topics come up from your readers on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Goodreads, Amazon customer reviews, etc.?
What blog posts, YouTube videos, or podcasts of yours get the most web traffic, views, and downloads?

One great way to discover wants is to directly ask your fans (via email or social media) what their biggest challenge is related to your topic or area of expertise. Once you identify a widely held problem, the solution to that problem is usually a big, fat want waiting to be satisfied.

The strongest wants often involve some aspect of these three traits:

1) Results – A specific outcome is identified, such as “Lose 10 pounds in two weeks” or “Double your income in 30 days.”

2) Ease – People naturally want to avoid pain and complication. Let readers know about some aspect of your book or info-product that delivers a simple way for them to get the result they want.

3) Speed – Even though patience is a virtue, we all want our desires to manifest sooner rather than later. If you have a way to speed up the process, let potential buyers know.

In fact, I used these exact same principles to craft the title of this blog post. I could have called it “Wants vs Needs: What Authors Need to Know.” But would that have gotten your attention? Probably not. But “How to Sell More Books: The 3-Step Process” most likely did grab your attention. Why? Because it taps into something you truly want to know. And it stresses an “easy” way to look at the topic.

The bottom line is this …

The next time you find yourself saying, “People need to know this, so I’m going to publish a book or course about it” …

Stop and consider if there’s a true “want” for the thing you want to communicate. If not, is there some aspect of your message that can be molded to directly appeal to a known want (while staying true to your message)?

Can you position your content to be the solution to a widespread challenge? Can you transform your information so it appeals to a specific outcome, an easy implementation, or a quick result?

Above all, take these three simple steps:

Sell the want
Deliver the want
And deliver what you feel they need to know

What do you think of these three steps to selling more books? How has this wants vs needs aspect affected your sales? I welcome your comments below.

-Bob

How to Price Your Self-Published Book

If you have about three minutes to spare, I'd like to answer this common question ...

How do I price my book?

It's a question that comes up a lot -- especially from self-published authors.

In this new video I try to give you my best answer:

At the very beginning of this video you'll see a new 10-second intro bumper I created using Screenflow on a Mac. Let me know what you think of it. It features a song I wrote and sang :)

This video clip was taken from a recent live book marketing webcast I did. Since it clocked in at about 75 minutes, there's a good chance you missed this short segment.

So, what do you think of my book pricing advice? As always, I welcome your comments below!

Bob

Book Marketing Webcast Q&A Replay

On New Year's Day I hosted a live Book Marketing Webcast.

For nearly 75 minutes I answered questions about Amazon book reviews, the best ways to get your indie books printed, ebook distribution options, and a few other tips from my 21 years as a published author.

You can watch the replay here:

What other questions do you have about book marketing or self-publishing? Post them in the comments section.

I may answer them in an upcoming blog post or video.

-Bob

Free Video for Authors: How to Make 2014 Your Best Year Ever

I love the holiday season and the feeling of being on the cusp of a new year. It's a time for fresh starts and new opportunities.

But instead of keeping all this goodness to myself, I just created a free video training called "How to Make 2014 Your Best Year Ever as an Author and Book Publisher."

In a few weeks I'll celebrate 10 years as a full-time, self-employed author. It's been more than 20 years since my first book was published.

Over the years I've learned a few things about what it takes to succeed as a writer and indie publisher.

In this new video training I share the three most powerful things you can do to turbo-charge your life and writing career in 2014.

These simple steps will help you make major progress, attract more readers and book buyers, make more of an impact, and make more money in the new year.

Click here to access the free video now ...

Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!

-Bob

Need a Book Marketing Plan and Assessment?

Would you like my help crafting a book marketing plan just for you?

Watch this video for a special, limited-time offer:

In the video I explain my new 21-Point "Assessment and Book Marketing Plan."

This is the first time I have offered this to the public (after taking a handful of clients through the process "under the radar" and getting amazing feedback on it).

If you're ready to take the plunge, use one of the links below to secure your session now:

Click here to reserve your 21-Point "Rock Star Marketing Assessment and Action Plan"

OR

Click here to lock in your Premium "Rock Star Marketing Assessment and Action Plan" Upgrade

I would love to create a simple book marketing plan that will help you make major progress without overwhelming you!

Bob

Kindle Ebook Business: How Steve Scott Cranks Out a New Title Every Month

Would you like a peek inside the life of an entrepreneur who has built a successful online business based on Kindle ebook publishing?

As part of my Creative Entrepreneur series over at www.DIYcareerManifesto.com I just posted an interview with Steve Scott, author of 61 Ways to Sell More Nonfiction Kindle Books and many other titles.

During this in-depth interview he also reveals some useful habits that allow him (and now YOU) to be incredibly productive.

Steve also shares:

His unique approach to the 80/20 rule
What to do during the first two hours every work day
Why Amazon is the ideal online platform
How and why he cranks out one new Kindle ebook every three to four weeks
Why depending too much much on Google (or Amazon) is a big mistake
How Steve uses the Pomodoro Technique to focus and get things done

Watch it now!

Show notes and links:
Steve's main website
Steve's good habits website
61 Ways to Sell More Nonfiction Kindle Books
The Pomodoro Technique
"Getting Things Done" by David Allen
"The 4-Hour Work Week" by Timothy Ferriss
"Replay" by Ken Grimwood

Want to know when new Creative Entrepreneur interviews are posted? Get on the DIY Career Manifesto VIP List. It's free and easy. And you'll get a big free sample of my new book. Click here ...

"The Creative Entrepreneur" is an audio podcast too!
Click here to subscribe to "The Creative Entrepreneur" on iTunes

Click here for the audio podcast RSS feed

You can also listen via Stitcher.

Crowdfunding for Authors: How to Fan Fund Your Next Book

Guest post by Stephanie Chandler

Lately a lot of authors have been asking me about how to use crowdfunding sources like Kickstarter and Indiegogo to raise funds for book publishing. Unfortunately, many have asked for advice after launching their campaigns, which doesn’t leave much time to make adjustments. If you’re going to go through the work of setting up a crowdfunding campaign (and it is a lot of work), there are some best practices you should know before you proceed.

What is Crowdfunding?

Crowdfunding for Authors: How to Fan Fund Your Next Book

Services like Kickstarter and Indiegogo provide a platform for you to launch a funding campaign and invite people to contribute money to your project or cause. Campaigns can support all kinds of ventures from publishing books and producing movies to developing videos games and apps.

When you create a funding campaign, you will define various donation levels. Most importantly, you are required to offer the contributor something in exchange for their donation. For example, if you’re publishing a book your offerings might look something like this:

$5 – Moral support donation, in exchange for good karma. Thanks!

$15 – Digital copy of the book once it’s available.

$25 – Autographed copy of the book.

$50 – Autographed copy of the book, plus a matching t-shirt.

$100 – Five signed copies of the book to share with your friends.

$250 – Five signed copies of the book, plus you will be thanked in the book.

$500 – 25 copies of the book, a bonus audio program, and thanked in the book.

$1,000 – 25 copies of the book, five hours of consulting time with the author, and thanked in the book.

$2,500 – Spend a day in wine country with the author and enjoy some one-on-one consulting time, and thanked in the book.

$5,000 – 50 copies of the book, plus the author will speak at your event on an agreed upon date and time.

How to Create a Crowd Funding Campaign

Kickstarter is the largest of the crowd funding services, but it’s also harder to get a campaign approved. Authors have reported having to create several iterations of a funding campaign before finally getting approved, while others have had their projects turned away completely. There are quite a few rules that must be followed, and you can see the latest guidelines here.

When you create a new campaign with Kickstarter, you need to set a funding goal. However, if you fall short of meeting your goal when your campaign ends, you won’t be allowed to keep the contributions you collected. So if you want to raise $5,000, and feel confident you can raise at least $2,500, you may want to set your goal to the lower amount. You can still accept contributions well beyond your goal, provided your project is still open and active. Note that this rule is unique to Kickstarter. With some of the other funding platforms, like Indiegogo, you can keep all of your contributions even if you don’t meet the funding goal.

After having spoken to many authors who have used these funding platforms, here are some best practices to keep in mind:

You need to bring the audience. Campaigns are usually 50% to 90% funded by the fund raiser’s own audience. Don’t launch a campaign and expect the world to flock to it—you need to promote the heck out of it to your business colleagues, family, and friends. Ask them to help spread the word, too. Leverage social media, your blog, mailing lists, and any other resources you can get your hands on.

Load up your campaign with lots of details and try to appeal to the emotions of your contributors. Provide photos if you have them.

Video is mandatory. Well it’s not required, but it’s strongly recommended as it can have a big impact in attracting contributors.

Offer great rewards for contributions. Don’t just offer copies of your book. Think of other rewards such as tickets to an event you’re hosting, access to training that you offer, time spent with you, or experiences. I’ve seen authors off one-on-one consulting time in a limousine to top dollar contributors!

Study other campaigns similar to yours. You can browse these sites for completed projects to see what rewards were offered, how many people selected each reward, and how much each project earned. There is a lot you can learn from simply studying the success of other projects.

I don’t view crowdfunding as a quick and easy solution by any means, but it can certainly be effective if you have a large network, a compelling project, and can offer up some great rewards. Plan to invest quite a bit of time and effort to assemble your campaign and then promote the heck out of it. Then come back and share your results with us! We’d love to hear about them.

[Note from Bob: Pubslush is a site I recently discovered that looks very promising. It's described as "Crowdfunding for books only."]

Stephanie Chandler is the author of several books including The Nonfiction Book Marketing Plan: Online and Offline Promotion Strategies to Build Your Audience and Sell More Books. Stephanie is also CEO of AuthorityPublishing.com, specializing in custom book publishing and social media marketing services, and NonfictionAuthorsAssociation.com, a marketing community for authors. A frequent speaker at business events and on the radio, she has been featured in Entrepreneur, BusinessWeek, and Wired magazines, and she is a blogger for Forbes.