BOOK TITLES

It seems that no matter how much I write about giving a book a title, people just don't get it. Authors just don't seem to understand the importance of a good title. It's all about marketing. The goal is to have people easily remember your book. The title must say what the book is about in a few words without being absolutely literal about it. The title must be an enticing clue about the book's subject matter - it does not need to spell it out as if I the reader is in a boring class that is just a lot of work. I, the reader, want to be intrigued. The title must spark my imagination and draw me in, causing my hand to reach out involuntarily to pick up the book.

Once the book is in my hand I will look further but I must pick up the book in the first place to get more information or I will not buy it. I cannot buy what I did not pick up.

Also, I want to have already heard about the book before I buy it, thus creating the importance of the title. It must be easily recognized. Imagine if I was interested in a book, but the book's title was How to Properly Groom Your Dog. Boring. Easily forgotten because it is just one book of many on the same subject. But what about if it was called Dogs and Suds? My imagination has been excited, making me smile and want to read more. I will also be more inclined to talk about the book to my friends, and that is what you, the author, is aiming for.

So, think long and hard about your book's title. It matters.

Denise
www.inktreemarketing.com

SELLING EBOOKS - INTERNATIONAL OR NOT?

For everyone who is selling ebooks on Amazon, the link at the end of this blog is very interesting reading. We like to think that once our ebooks are on Amazon our books are available anywhere in the world. It seems that technology has a long way to go before all ebook readers are compatible. If you are selling in the U.S., Canada or Australia you are fine but the rest of English-speaking in the world might be excluded. If you are not aware of the restrictions you could be excused for wondering why your sales are not better. Again, it's a matter of buyer beware. Read the fine print.
http://thewritersguidetoepublishing.com/how-much-does-a-99c-ebook-cost-on-amazon


Denise
www.inktreemarketing.com

LEARN HOW TO WRITE

Before you start writing a book, learn how to write. It you do not write with style, you will not sell books. It's as simple as that. Today I listened to an interview with an award-winning author who offered great advice. He said, "Read The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White." You may remember Mr. White as the author of Charlotte's Web, a most touching and memorable story.

Why is Charlotte's Web so memorable? Simple. The writing is so good that it resonates and it is memorable, which are the two elements that make a book a classic. You, the author, want your book to be in that category.

As my father always told me, "Anything worth doing is worth doing well." Don't waste your time writing something mediocre - write for long term success and write with style. It will pay off.

If you think that your writing is not stellar, no problem. You can learn how to write. The rules are written in many books, but The Elements of Style is a great place to start. Follow the advice of those who have achieved success and you will do well.

Be hard on yourself and you will create a work worthy of pride.

Denise
www.inktreemarketing.com

MORE ON TECHIE STUFF

So, I wanted to add a Twitter button to the blog. What I discovered is: it's not that easy. The button has to be added into the html background of the blog site. Yikes!! I love technology when it works for me, not when I have to figure out HOW it works. Thank goodness for Joni, who understands the background workings of a website. Even for her, though, it was a bit of a challenge.

In the process of all this technology research, I was researching how to format an ebook. Yikes again!! It gave me a headache just reading the first page of instructions because really, it was like reading a foreign language (which for me, it is). Don't look for an actual ebook from me soon - this could take a few months.

So anyway, while it is important to publish your books in ebook format, don't expect it to be all that easy. Take your time and learn the "foreign language".

Denise
www.inktreemarketing.com

The Twilight Saga - Breaking Dawn

Last night I saw the new Twilight movie. I feel like that's a confession, like it's something I should be embarassed about (my husband sure thinks so), but it was so entertaining. Cheesy, yes, but very entertaining. Perhaps it's because I've read all the books. You heard me. I'm a 30-something Mom of two and I read the Twilight books. There. And you know what? So have all of my other 30-something Mom friends AND the Mom of one of those friends who was with us last night! I read them, and I liked them. I think my friend's husband summed it up best after he saw it: "it was garbage, but it was good" (by the way, I'm pretty sure he would deny to the death that he went to see it, but that's here nor there). That's kind of how I felt about the books when I read them. They're cheesy, not exceptionally well written and incredibly basic, but I'll admit that there were times I sat my kids in front of Dora or Diego so I could finish one.

So, what is up with that? The books aren't great in terms of quality and certainly would not be described as a feat of literary excellence, but you know Stephenie Meyer is a bazillionaire now. What gives? Marketing people. Straight up marketing. Check into it.

If you haven't already signed up for our free Self Publishing Newsletter on our website, now would be a good time. For the next several newsletters, we're going to give you a taste of what's in our Ultimate Book Marketing Kit. In each newsletter we'll give you an excerpt straight out of The Kit itself. Listen to me when I tell you that the biggest value in The Ultimate Book Marketing is the free consulting it comes with. The Kit itself is meant to be your baseline and the place where you get all of the basics of publishing your own book. It is then up to you to customize the publishing and marketing plan so that it is best implemented for YOUR book. You do this WITH OUR HELP. The consulting time is meant to be used. We are here waiting to help you --  we want to help you.

Because, I'm sure at least a few of you would be ok with several million 30-something Moms paying $20 at the theatre for your "garbage-good" movie...

Joni

RESURRECTING THE BLOG

RESURRECTING THE BLOG

A blog is something that requires a chatty person, I think - something I'm not. However, I do like to write, so perhaps my interest in writing can translate into some chattiness. Here goes. The best thing is that I get to communicate with like-minded people. Recently, I joined Twitter just for that reason. It's kind of interesting, although it's another learning curve. Well, you should learn something every moment until you die - that's what makes life interesting. When I decided to publish a book I had no idea of the learning curve which I had just jumped onto. Wow! It was like discovering another dimension. My son says that physicists know of at least ten dimensions, which blows my mind, but I know of at least five: length, width, height, time and publishing. Actually, I know of six: technology. That has been another learning curve, from finding out about computers, the internet, cell phones, email, external hard drives, personal video recorders, Twitter, Facebook. I guess that I will never run out of things to learn.

Anyway, my goal is to help other people who want to learn - about publishing. Not about technology. I'll just stick to what I know. So, if you are interested in learning about how to publish a book, and ebooks follow the same principles, let me know.

Denise
www.inktreemarketing.com