Source: http://www.keeparticles.com/how-to-find-an-e-book-marketing-niche_a2926.htm

I truly believe in the fact that there is a market for just about everything. This does not mean that every person in the world is going to want what you are trying to sell, no matter how pretty it is packaged, but there is someone out there that will buy it. Case in point, have you ever really looked at eBay and examined what is for sale on there? for more detail you can login to www.eazy-ebook-money.com This is true for your eBook as well.

To start, there are some people that are collectors and they just browse the internet and buy eBooks, for no other reason then to just have them. I am sure that they read them and gather some information out of them and then move on to the next one. However, there are also people that are looking for specific eBooks due to interests that they have, to further their education on a particular subject. Chances are greater then not those people are looking for an eBook on a subject that you could be consider and “expert” on.

The key to getting your eBook to those people that are looking for your eBook is the trick. There is a fairly simple way to find them though. I am going to assume that you can write and write well enough to convincingly write an eBook. At least, this is my hope, I have paid for eBooks that appeared to be written by second graders, numerous spelling and grammatical errors. So if you aren’t going to spend the time to make your eBook look like it was written by an educated adult then don’t write an eBook.

Ok, to find you market you are going to write an article. Remember that all great things start small. Write an article that is about 500 to 800 words long. This article is going to be a brief overview of one of the topics you will cover in your eBook. Let’s say that you are going to write and eBook on how to grow bonsai trees. One topic in that book should be how to care for bonsai trees. So your article is going to be about that topic. Please proof read your article, no one is going to pay for your eBook if it looks like a child wrote it.

Take that article and post it to the various article sites on the net, post it in the paper, go to www.ebook-marketing-exposed.com do an internet search to find groups that are interested in bonsai trees, gardening places, start a blog, etc.

What do you know, you found your market. Once you have this list you can then use it for viral marketing. Viral marketing is really no more then those people that already have what you are selling or are interested in what you are selling telling all their like minded friends about you so that they then will buy what you are selling.

See there usually is a market for everything, including the eBook that you want to write. The trick is really all about finding that market and I just gave you an ironclad way to find that market. Happy writing to you!

Author - Hitesh Rattan

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Source: http://www.writerswrite.com/selfpublishing/hollowell.htm

Written by Jennifer Hollowell

A Basic Guide for Self-Published and Print on Demand Authors

You’ve written your book, gone through the editing gauntlet and decided to publish the finished product yourself. You’ve researched all the self publishing options, decided on a company, approved the book’s cover and polished the book’s final lay-out. All you’re “i’s” are dotted and “t’s” are crossed. Now, you’re ready to go to press. Right?

Wrong!

Day after day, week after week, my inbox is filled with marketing questions all centered on the same commonality:

• “My book was doing really well in the beginning, but sales have fallen off. Do you have any idea why this happens?”
• “My book has received some great reviews, but they aren’t resulting in any sales. Do you know why this is happening?”
• “I sent out one hundred press kits, but no sales have turned over. Why could this be happening?”

These are just a small sampling of the distressed messages landing in my inbox. How are these situations the same? No pre-publication marketing plans or efforts. Each author felt the impact of “missing the boat” on sales opportunities in one way or another.

What’s the solution?

A book won’t sell itself. (This is very obvious to some, but not to others.) That’s a reality many self-published authors don’t anticipate until it’s too late. They’ve spent their entire budget without looking at the “entire picture.” The “entire picture” includes setting up a “selling plan” before your book hits the press. These efforts will make or break you. It’s my hope that you’re reading this piece before you’ve gone too far.

How do you formulate a selling plan?

Step one: target your audience

Where do they shop? How much do they spend? What’s your competition? How can they be reached?

Step two: outline your goals and objectives

1. Events:
   • Do you plan to do book signings, tours, seminars interviews, radio shows and television appearances? If so, you’ll need press materials and enough books printed to substantiate all these efforts.
   • Setting up a workable event schedule for all parties involved is essential.
2. Pre-pub reviews:
   • Line up pre-publication reviews. These are professional reviews published in newspapers (New York Times) and magazines (Publisher’s Weekly).
   • Read all submission guidelines thoroughly and adhere to all schedules, deadlines and policies. If the guidelines states self published books aren’t accepted, don’t send an ARC anyway. You’re wasting your budget and the publisher’s time needlessly.
   • Be sure to add the cost of ARC’s (Advanced Reader’s Copies), postage and supplies to your budget.
3. Distribution:
   • Research distribution. Remember, brick and mortar booksellers (and some electronic booksellers) won’t stock your title unless it’s carried by one or more major distribution center.
   • Add the costs to your budget.
4. Marketing and Publicity:
   • Do you plan to hire someone for marketing and publicity? If so, this needs to be done before the book goes to press. Figure a three to six month campaign into your budget. Explore your options before making your choice. There are a lot of firms following the same “cookie cutter syndrome” as some traditional publication houses tend to follow.
   • Do you plan to do the marketing and publicity yourself? If so, READ! There are mountains of books, reports, periodicals and articles’ focusing on the how-to’s of good marketing strategies.
5. Post-publication reviews:
   • Don’t forget to obtain reviews even after the book has already been published. Consumers are driven by both professional and unprofessional opinions.

Step three: determine and realistic budget you can stick to.

This is where the most mistakes occur. Without looking at the “big picture,” authors don’t know how much money should be devoted to what aspect of the game. Organization and prioritizing are very important during this stage. Get quotes and estimates for everything (and be prepared for unexpected costs):

1. Printing: galleys and finished copies.
2. Press kits: supplies and postage.
3. Flyers: design, printing and distribution.
4. Publicity: what’s included and for how long?
5. Distribution centers.
6. Print advertising: how long will the ad run? Will it be in color or black and white?
7. ISBN numbers: is it included in your printing fee?
8. Web site: registration, designing, maintaining and hosting.
9. Postal and email address purchasing for booksellers.
10. Posters, post cards and bookmarks for events.

Rule of thumb: blind submissions are bad. Never ever send out materials unsolicited. There are individuals out there selling lists suggesting authors practice in this way and, in reality, it isn’t the way to go. Query first, otherwise your ARC’s are destined for used booksellers and your press materials the recycling bin. This is where I see a lot of authors dwindling down their budgets. Avoid this reality by sending to *interested parties. *There will always be exceptions to any rule, however. If guidelines posted to reviewer databases or publications states querying isn’t necessary, than adhere to that claim.

There are numerous other points to ponder in regards to formulating your pre-publication marketing plans. (Remember: pre-publication marketing plans aren’t defined solely as what you do before your book is released, it’s defined as your complete marketing plan outlined in preparation for all eventualities both before and after publication.) Examples of these points include:

1. Don’t overlook the Internet: get yourself interviewed and or profiled for sites both about writing and about the subjects covered in your book. Build a web site to provide another avenue for ordering, a virtual press kit and link exchanges. Position your book with virtual booksellers and establish link partners.
2. Remember to be sure your book is listed in Books-in-Print. Don’t assume it’s already there.
3. Print/Electronic publications provide longevity to your marketing campaign in terms of having something tangible to reference. Radio shows and television appearances are good during the new release phases, but are often forgotten within hours of the broadcast. Focusing time and attention to an enduring effort is key.

Final thoughts:

As the old saying goes, your book is as successful as the efforts put forth by the author, particularly in the cases of self-publishing and print on demand.

Jennifer Hollowell has been in the writing and publishing business for a decade bringing forth 100’s of nonfiction articles covering a wide variety of subjects. In addition, Jennifer has made it her goal to provide authors, both traditional press and self-published, the services and resources necessary to achieve their goals in a realistic manner. For more information, please visithttp://www.myspace.com/writerjennh.

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Self-publishing is business whether you agree or not. Being independent involves a lot of financial investment. As an entrepreneur and a self-published author, it is necessary that you consider ways to utilize monetary investment and generate a substantial return on your investment.

For most people, budgeting is never an easy task. Money is something that everyone else in the world worries about.

Mistakes, no matter how small, can cost you dearly. You should decisively look at the “big picture”. Decide on how much money should be devoted to what stage of your book’s publication. Learn to organize things according to their priority. Identify the things that are not necessary to fully optimize your budget.

Here are a few suggestions to determine a realistic budget for your pre-publication marketing plan:

(1) Have a list of quotes and estimates for all publication, distribution, marketing, and promotional activities.

Printing

-          book printing (number of finished copies)

-          ISBN numbers (do you have to pay an additional fee?)

-          Advance Reading Copies (are all your recipients interested?)

Distribution

-          list of distribution centers (local, national, or international)

-          postal or online purchasing for booksellers

Marketing

-          bookmarks, flyers, posters, and postcards (design, printing, and distribution)

-          book launching (date, venue, expected number of guests, gimmicks, and reception)

Online Marketing

-          author website (hosting, content, domain, design, and maintenance)

-          ads (banners, e-mail ads, pay-per-click ads, etc.)

-          online bookstore fees

Publicity and Promotion

-          PR (number of copies, type of media outlets and organizations, and distribution)

-          press kits (supplies, shipping and postage fees)

(2) Spend more on interested parties.

Marketing and publicity can be quite a risk, especially when you are new in the industry. It is wise to ask first before sending out your ARCs (Advance Reading Copies). Identify which individuals or media outlets may be interested. This way, your efforts and publicity materials will not most likely to end up in paper shredders.

(3) Take advantage of the Internet.

Blogging will definitely help you disseminate information about your book – at no cost. By joining and participating on social media sites, you can develop reader to writer relationships. You don’t only sell your books; you have to market yourself as an author. Have your author website provide another avenue for getting more readers, online book orders, and link exchanges.
(4) Embrace innovation.

Create a perfect media mix for an effective and extensive marketing campaign. Radio and television appearances can be quite pricey for self-publishers. Print and online publications, on the other hand, are tangible and are perfect for references. Read and take time to adopt what’s new. Learn how to maximize micro blogging and how to keep your prospective readers following you. Technology and innovation have endless marketing and promotional possibilities.

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The Importance of Doing Pre-publishing Preparations

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The effectiveness of your book marketing campaign lies on good planning and timely performance. The things you carry out, from writing the manuscript to launching your book could affect sales. Although there are other millions of reasons that could affect sales, not doing pre-marketing routines can bring down a campaign that has the potential of being successful.

This article will talk about the importance of strategically planned pre-publishing activities.

We can observe how free sampling booths make people fall in line (even long lines) at the supermarket. This is because introductions make people involved. Advancer treats make people long more for something that they have just experienced in small quantities.

The following information will help you plan and conduct broad publicity campaigns before and after your book is launched:

Formulate Small and Big Sparks. Getting the attention of the media is not about quantity. It doesn’t really matter how frequent you bug them to publish your book’s press release. The main point is to create win-win press relations. Let the media experience that they have the edge over others. Send them advance reading copies of your book. Simply tell the media what you can offer and what makes you extraordinary among the other millions of books that are being published. Moreover, separate yourself from your book. Create professional relations with bookstores, editors, reviewers, and the like.

Speak in Front of a Crowd. Doing speaking engagements will give you the opportunity to share personal insights that can persuade and inspire. It increases your visibility towards potential readers. Getting in front of your market will breed benefits for years to come.

Learn that Criticism is Normal. The act of marketing inevitably invites criticism. However, the fear of being critiqued should not stop you from marketing your books. You should not take criticisms personally. Learn to pick out constructive criticism from nonsense.

Get Your Right Mix of Marketing Options. Do not just focus on one media. A successful campaign is always a combination of a good media mix. Offer different kinds of marketing components. Remember that response rates from media outlets differ. That’s why it is equally significant for you to multitask. You cannot waste time. Keep a lot of things brewing, and in the end, you will realize how much you have accomplished.

Don’t impulsively Over-extend Publicity. Learn to pace yourself and stick to your financial plan. Cramming does not give long term results. Preparation and what you do in the first few months of your campaign are what really matters. Make sure you don’t blow up and go beyond your entire budget on the first six months of your marketing stint. Leave a budget to finance and sustain the first half of your campaign.

Premature Publicity is a Risk. Timing is a very significant part when doing publicity. If you get the media drawn in too early, like even before the book is finished, it will create high demand for something that is not even there yet. Should you consider advance publicity, you may want to have an author website to direct the media to for updates. Make sure that you do often update your author website though.

A self-published author should leave no room for inactive time once he decides to step up and cut through the reading market. Remember, you are not the only entity who is fishing for attention. For a successful book marketing campaign, it’s only important to plan out ahead, even before your book is launched. Advanced planning and alternative options always make it much easier.

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