I believe I do a fair job of teaching people how to write.  I can easily teach people how to make book covers.  I can even lead them through the self-publishing process.

Then comes book marketing.

Uh…

Book marketing is tough, but let me take a serious swipe at providing some tips:

1. Name Your Book to Be Found

Name your book by joining keywords associated with your book into meaningful sentences (e.g. add connectors).  Find additional keywords by typing a keyword into the Amazon Search field and making note of search string completion suggestions that amazon displays.  Repeat you keywords in you title/subtitle/seris name, book description and keywords.

2. Write Books in a Series

Always write in a series.  If writing fiction, write a series of books about your characters.  If writing non-fiction, write a series of books about your topic.  Once you’ve captured a reader, don’t let them go.  Always write in a series.

3. Price Your Book to Be Sold

Price your book at $2.99.  This is the cheapest price that you can set on Amazon and still receive a 70% commission.  Set your book to $0.99 and you’ll only receiv4e 30%.  Set your price higher and you won’t compete as well.

4. Copywrite your Book Description Page

Your book description or blurb is the first thing of yours that your reader will read.  You’d better make it your best work.  It’s sad that most writers spend so much time writing a book and then try to market the book using a short or poorly written blurb.

5. Publish a POD Paperback via CreateSpace

You will sell few to no paperback books, but the mere fact that a paperback version is available bulsters the credability of you eBook.  Plus, CreateSpace paperback prices are relatively high and will be displayed in comparison to the cheaper eBook on your Amazon product page.

6. Enter the Kindle Select Program

Publish your eBook exclusively on Amazon so that you can enter the book into the Kindle Select program.  You’ll make more money from Amazon loans and promotional deals (both exclusive to Kindle Select) than publishing outside Amazon.

7. Reference Your Mailing List in Your Book

The first chapter in your book should offer something free if readers sign up to your mailing list.  Don’t have a mailing list?  Make one.  Again, you don’t want to lose your readers when you have their attention.  Market the rest of the books in your series using your mailing list.

I’ll see you in the classroom,

—Brian