Post on 01-Apr-2015
Creating and Marketing
Your Ebook
Rachel Gregory, Ebook Programme Manager, Matador
Rosie Grindrod, Marketing Assistant, Matador
#SPConf14@matadorbooks
• It’s estimated that half of Americans bought an ebook by the end of last year. (Bookboon)
• According to the Digital Reader, ebook sales rose by 20% in 2013. That's £80 million worth of sales. One in five of those were self-published titles.
• How can you harness the ebook hype and maximise your sales by tapping into this expanding market?
#SPConf14@matadorbooks
Creating and Marketing Your Ebook
Creating and Marketing Your Ebook
#SPConf14@matadorbooks
• Make sure you’re producing a high quality ebook.
• Know your strengths and limitations, and identify the areas where people can help you.
• Familiarise yourself with suppliers’ requirements and the ebook format in general.
• ISBNs and metadata
• Maximise distribution links
• Decide about DRM
• Discoverability and maximising sales
Recognising and avoiding
potential pitfalls
Creating and Marketing Your Ebook
#SPConf14@matadorbooks
• Word file or PDF
• Image resolution and text formatting
• Cover design
• Conversion
• Distribution
• Sales!!
The production process
Sounds simple… right??
Creating and Marketing Your Ebook
#SPConf14@matadorbooks
‘By following a few simple steps, an author will be able
to make an informed choice in naming [/his] her price,
and not feel like a losing contestant on The Price is
Right.’
(Publishers Weekly article, March 2014)
Creating and Marketing Your Ebook
#SPConf14@matadorbooks
What’s so great about ebooks?
• Ebook sales look set to overtake hardback and paperbacks
• Technology has helped more people to read more
But why market one..?
Creating and Marketing Your Ebook
#SPConf14@matadorbooks
It’s all in the ‘e’
• KNOW THE DIFFERENCE!
• Think about where people are looking.
• Does an ebook work for you?
• Know the benefits.
• A note on pricing.
Plan, plan, plan!
Creating and Marketing Your Ebook
#SPConf14@matadorbooks
• Start planning as early as possible!
• Go stationary shopping.
• Create yourself a ‘Media Kit’.
• Work on your BRAND.
Creating and Marketing Your Ebook
#SPConf14@matadorbooks
Creating and Marketing Your Ebook
#SPConf14@matadorbooks
Be a social butterfly
• Social media is 100% free!
• Don’t spread yourself too thin.
• Facebook – visual, informative, product specific.
• Twitter – concise, immediate, comment.
• Get connected.
• Plan a schedule – hootsuite.com
Think you’re hopeless at technology? Recruit a helper!
Creating and Marketing Your Ebook
#SPConf14@matadorbooks
Getting your ebook reviewed
• What is NetGalley?
• Free to join as a reviewer – have to pay as a publisher.
• NetGalley has a worldwide reach.
• Ebooks are DRM protected.
• Saves on postage!
Creating and Marketing Your Ebook
#SPConf14@matadorbooks
Join the reading & writing community
• Connect with your potential fan base.
• Goodreads – readers and book recommendations.
• Join the Goodreads Author Program.
• Wattpad – where writers are the stars.
• Link up your Facebook & Twitter accounts.
Creating and Marketing Your Ebook
#SPConf14@matadorbooks
• Make sure you know what an ebook is and why you are publishing one.
• Consider your target audience and which sites will suit your ebook.
• Plan, plan, plan your author brand!
• Master your social media.
• Be an interesting part of the community.