The last three weeks, we have discussed the number one reason why writers today choose self-publishing over and over again – CONTROL.
Via self-publishing, writers control our book titles, book covers, book content (story and words), publishing, copyrights, and promotion.
We spend countless hours in front of the computer and our notebooks researching, writing, and editing our manuscripts to perfection. We work through blood, sweat, and tears, until we fall in love with every aspect of our stories.
By taking CONTROL, we announce to the world that we are not only the author, but the publisher, agent, and promoter as well.
Many of us didn’t go to school to study business and or marketing, while some of us might have. Many of us don’t have the first clue as to how to promote our products. Heck, many of us aren’t even that comfortable with promoting ourselves.
But we can; we can do it.
Last week we suggested that writers create a few social media pages to get started with their e-book’s promotion:
Kindle Author Page, also known as an Amazon Author Central Account
Facebook Author Page, also known as Fan Pages
Goodreads Author Page, also known as joining the Author Program
Before we continue, let us mention that the Amazon Author Central Account also provides International Pages (UK, France, Germany, etc.). Unfortunately, it appears that each page will require separate creation; but we feel doing this would be highly beneficial for the author. One of our star clients found this blog by Alan C. Baird, consisting of the step-by-step process for setting up the Amazon International Pages. To learn more about Mr. Baird’s experience, click here.
Okay, so what do we do now?
Perhaps we should have mentioned this first, but we experienced a blonde moment here at DCC so we’re bringing it up now. One of the most important “pages” for an author to create to promote his or her book is an Author Website.
This website will serve as the primary launch pad or landing page for selling our e-books. We can create different pages on this website for different aspects of our writing: a home page, including our book cover/s and blurb/s; an author page, including biography and head shot; a blog page, linking back to our blogs if we have one; and perhaps even a shopping cart page.
Digital Content Center makes it possible to sell all e-book versions in one location via the personalized shopping cart service. DCC’s shopping cart service/check out system includes three professional services to the author:
#1 – The Custom Shop Check Out System. This system includes:
- A Shopping Cart/View Cart Page
- A Check Out Page
- A Purchase Confirmation Page
#2 – The Marketplace. The Marketplace also provides the Custom Shop Check Out System, plus it allows the buyer to view additional products for sale at the same time while free for the user.
#3 – PayPal Pro (Professional). PayPal Pro allows users to accept credit cards via the Custom Shop Check Out System. This service also offers payment methods via the basic PayPal account and Google Checkout.
It’s important that we include that Digital Content Center is P.C.I. compliant, thus protecting all credit card information.
In addition to the shopping cart system, Digital Content Center’s system generates BUY Buttons and Shopping Cart Buttons. These buttons are also available to add to a user’s website, blog, and social media pages (such as Facebook).
DCC also provides Limited Use Coupons. By limited use, we mean that once a coupon has reached its use threshold, it is no longer valid. These coupons incentivize sales but also protect the user from “giving away the farm”.
It’s important to have a central location for readers to find information about our books. Each and every one of the promotional pages mentioned last week and today have the ability to point back to the primary author website — our primary launch pad — our landing page.
While there are other benefits to having a personalized author page, for now…
Now we’re ready. We’re ready to convert. We’re ready to self-publish. We’re ready to promote. We’re ready to take CONTROL of our story.
Want to take control of your story?