During the month of April, we discussed the number one reason why writers today choose self-publishing over and over again — CONTROL.

Via self-publishing, writers control 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.

Previously, we suggested that one of the most important pages for an author to create in order to promote his or her book is an Author Website or primary launch pad.  Last week, we also stressed the importance of launching a blog tour.

But what else can we do?

Who all has read best-selling author James Patterson?  Ever notice how at the end of his novels, he includes a snippet (usually a few chapters) of his next book?  Talk about promotion that leaves a reader wanting more…

The same can be accomplished with selling e-books — whether an author writes a series or not.

If the writer doesn’t want to include chapters, he or she can also include picture images of his or her book covers.  Everyone says a picture is worth 1,000 words, right?  Or that many judge books by their covers?

Isn’t it in our best interest to promote our stories by advertising the book covers in as many places as possible?

We can take it even one step further… program these cover images with direct links to the sites where the books are sold (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, the iBookStore, and Author Websites).   One can even include a bitly code that will enable the author to track which covers receive the most clicks.   For more information about bitly, click here.

We’ll use our star client Jillian Dodd as an example…

Last year, Jillian self-published her first e-book, That Boy.  She knew immediately that That Boy would become a series, and she has since self-published her second installment, That Wedding.

With what we’re recommending, Jillian could promote That Wedding at the conclusion of That Boy, by either inserting the opening chapter/s, or at least by adding the cover image of That Wedding with a direct link to her website or Amazon selling page.

Wouldn’t that leave the reader wanting more, almost immediately?

We think so!

Ready to take CONTROL through self-publishing?