Book Sales Dismal Lately

Good Times for Gold-Diggers are Gone …

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Future-of-Publishing
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Molly Greene wrote in a recent blog post “Book Sales Dismal Lately? Could Be The Big 5!” about flagging independent book sales, and at the same time desperation-book-discounts by established publishers who are continuing to consolidate.  She interviewed several bestselling authors about their sales.

Bad News the Burgeoning Amount of Competition
Mimi Barbour also wrote about the future of indie books:  ”Amazon’s algorithms are spinning with so many choices that the cutthroat era will be soon upon us if it hasn’t already started. I remember not too long ago when for every few books given away free, Amazon credited us with one book sold and increased the book’s ranking to reflect that sale. Today that number has changed and the difference is more like fifty free books equal one sold.”
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Wheat Separates from the Chaff
Do you remember these books: “How I Sold 1 Million Books” or “Writing an eBook in One Week”? These get-rich-quick hype is a thing from the past.It seems that the time has come when the wheat separates from the chaff. Or as author Christine Nolfi said “The dreamy, strike-it-rich-as-an-indie phase is ending. Many writers entered the field either because they thought this was an easy road to riches or they had one novel from the heart they felt compelled to write. Which is great, but writing one novel doesn’t make one a career novelist.”
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Which means only authors:

  • who are willing to write book after book,
  • who are willing to learn all about publishing and marketing,
  • who plan their books, its creation and distribution

will survive in the future, and strife as an author.

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Judith Briles wrote in another blog post: “The POD—print-on-demand method of printing—has created more trash than the book buying public needs, or wants. Why? Simply because authors are “publishing” without caring or knowing the ins and outs of being an author and publishing a book. They get duped by publishers and others who want their money.”
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Predictions Became True
One year ago, bestselling author Toby Neal  gave in her blog some predictions  regarding the author-publishing world and lots of tips how to deal as an author with changes in publishing. Most of it already happened or is about to – and not always to the benefit of indie authors.
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Her Tips How to Prepare for Changes in Author-Publishing are Timeless.
Notably this one:
“Continue to focus on building an individual, loyal fan base for your books. She explains: The great advantage of self publishing is that there’s no middleman and we can reach readers directly. I’m doing this by promoting my email sign-up for new titles, strengthening relationships with readers via Social Media, and hand-selling books locally via speaking gigs with Rotary, etc. Those email names are your hardcore fans and are worth gold!”
Every indie author should have a live link in their e-book that lets a reader signup to be notified when the next book by the author becomes available.
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Mimi Barbours’ Advice:
“I know a large back list has always been important and will continue to be even more so in the future. I also suspect that we’ll have to spend a lot more money on promotion and that marketing experts will become as crucial as good editors.”

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Or visit http://www.e-book-pr.com/book-promo/  to advertise your new book, specials, your KDP Select Free Days or the new Kindle Countdown Deals.

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Tagged: Book Sales Dismal Lately, Christine Nolfi, how to prepare for changes in publishing, Mimi Barbour, Molly Greene, Publishers Consolidate, Toby Neal