Let’s Get Digital Summary (7.5/10)

Let’s Get Digital is a book about digital publishing, it includes good information about the online publishing industry, and outlines some way an aspiring novelist can market their content.

Royalties

How much do writers make in traditional publishing? Not much.  Below is the distribution of revenues by most large publishers.

$25 Hardback

  • Retailer: 50%
  • Publisher: 37.5%
  • Writer: 12.5%

$8 Paperback

  • Retailer: 50%
  • Publisher: 40%
  • Writer: 10%

Trade-Published E-book.

  • Retailer: 30%
  • Publisher: 52.5%
  • Writer: 17.5%

Whereas the situation changes with self-publishing.

Self-Published E-book.

  • Retailer: 30%
  • Writer: 70%

The problem is that an editor is available with traditional publishers, which is a disadvantage for self-publishers, but not fatal. It is possible to hire editors as a self-publisher.

A literary agent doesn’t understand: Amazon rankings, Google PageRank, Twitter, Facebook Pages, Goodreads, SEO, cover design, formatting, editing, CPC, CPM, regional targeting, AdWords, blogging, spam laws, Shelfari, blurb copywriting, tagging, proofing, pricing strategies, DRM, giveaways, digital piracy, EPUB, Kobo, link tracking, mailing lists, MOBI, effective back-matter, Smashwords, KDP, Pubit.

Kindle Direct Publishing

The rights-holder (i.e. the publisher or author) could set the price they chose and receive 35% commission with Amazon keeping the rest. After Amazon started their own digital publishing platforms in 2007, other companies such as Sony, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and Apple began offering digital platforms 3 years later.

Print is doomed.

Step 1: Write Your Story

Get a second opinion.

Step 2: Design Your Cover

Resources:

http://davidgaughran.wordpress.com/covers/

http://bookcoverarchive.com

http://thebookdesigner.com

Step 3: Edit Your Story

http://alanrinzler.com/blog

http://tomup.wordpress.com

http://pimpmynovel.blogspot.com

http://karincox.wordpress.com

Step 4: Format Your Story

E-Book Formatting

Guido Henkel: http://bit.ly/qjjBKR

Smashwords Style Guide: http://bit.ly/pqvphb

The Nitty Gritty

  • A MOBI file for Amazon
  • An EPUB file for Barnes & Noble
  • Clean Microsoft Word document for Smashwords

Smashwords

Smashwords has a style guide available for free. It is also how you get on Kobo, Sony, Diesel.  

Testing

Guido Henkel recommends in his guide to test your work on your browser as you make changes. You should also test them on Kindle or the free Kindle app.

Step 5: Uploading and Pricing

Use all online publishers, not just Amazon.

Amazon pays 35% royalty across the board, except for sales that qualify for the higher rate. If you price between $2.99 and $9.99, you will receive 70% royalties.

Blogging

Google

If you link to a popular blog and they link back, it greatly increases your rankings.

Amazon

Build an Amazon author page.

Social Media

Word of Mouth is necessary. Twitter and Facebook are good tools for that.

If you’re an entrepreneur and you want a quick guide to know what to think about before launching you business, check out The Myth of Entrepreneurship.

"A gilded No is more satisfactory than a dry yes" - Gracian