3 Ways Apple's Tablet, iSlate or iPad Will Change the Ebook Game

Today Apple is set to finally unveil its newest creation, rumored to be a tablet-like ebook reader and multimedia mobile device. We'll know soon enough whether it's called iTablet, iSlate, iPad or something else ... but most tech experts agree its release will be a game changer.
Here are three ways Apple's new gadget may impact you as an author and book publisher:

1) Amazon Kindle royalties are now higher

In an effort to take some of the steam out of Apple's announcement, Amazon has raised the percentage it pays Kindle book authors and publishers from 35% to 70% for qualifying titles. See this Forbes article for some details.

Competition for ebook consumer dollars can be good for the creators of content. When authors have options, the companies that control the supply chain are compelled to make it more attractive for publishers.

2) More widespread acceptance of ebook readers and mobile reading

Ebooks and their acceptance as a viable reading format have been slow in growing over the years, but the past year or so (especially after the release of the Kindle) has seen a significant sales spike.

With Apple entering the ebook reader game, if its new device is even half as hip as the iPod, we could see an even bigger boost in the format.

3) An expanded definition for ebooks and the digital reading experience

According to this article, "It is believed that the Apple Tablet will change how electronic books are read because the new ebooks will be enhanced versions of their previous selves and will be accompanied by video, author interviews and social-networking applications."

Lesson: Be ready to embrace multimedia in a variety of forms. Paper books aren't going away, but consumers are increasingly absorbing information and entertainment on computers, cell phones, ebook readers, and other mobile devices.

How are you preparing yourself to make the most of this new era in book publishing?

-Bob

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Branding Yourself Online

How to Use the Internet to Become a Celebrity or Expert in Your Field

Consumer Electronics Show: Lessons for Authors & Book Publishers

The Consumer Electronics Show is taking place over the next few days in Las Vegas. According to an article on MSNBC ...

"After years of being about the Next Big Thing, the annual International Consumer Electronics Show this week is all about the next little thing - small-in-one devices that are blurring the distinctions among tiny netbook computers, dedicated media players, e-book readers and cell phones."

But it was these sentences that really caught my eye:

"... content is the new king. As different people use electronics in different ways, publishers are under the gun to deliver whatever content people want on whatever devices they have."

So, are you meeting your readers where YOU want them to, based on your idea of what the right platform is?

Or ... are you meeting them where they ARE?

Think about the next little thing as you plan your book promotion in 2010.

-Bob

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Mega Book Sales 2.0 workshop w/ Peter Bowerman & Bob Baker Dec 28 in St. Louis

If you're in the St. Louis area (or know someone who is), here are details on a great workshop just three days after Christmas. (Come on, you'll be over the holidays by then and ready to kick-start the new year!)

Mega Book Sales 2.0
Advanced Marketing Strategies for Serious Writers, Authors & Experts

Monday, December 28, 2009
7:00 to 9:00 pm

Ready to boost your book sales and income in 2010? Come learn as two full-time, self-published authors share their strategies for generating revenue with their books. While this workshop is best suited for non-fiction authors, it's also ideal for speakers, consultants and anyone who wants to make a living while making a difference with their knowledge and expertise.

Some of the topics to be covered include:

- How to create irresistible offers that inspire customers to spend more
- Best ways to pre-sell your book and start getting paid before you even finish writing it
- How to generate extra income via mentoring and coaching services
- When to use virtual assistants and how to delegate the workload
- Why taking a nontraditional, anti-mainstream route to publishing success works best
- The ins and outs of distribution for independent publishers

Your workshop presenters (both of whom make a full-time living from their self-publishing efforts) are:

Peter Bowerman is the author of "The Well-Fed Writer" (the revised and expanded 2009 version was just published), "TWFW: Back For Seconds," and "The Well-Fed Self-Publisher." The WFW books are how-to "standards" in the lucrative field of commercial freelancing -- writing for businesses, large and small, for hourly rates of $50 to $125+. His award-winning, independently published books have been featured selections for Book-of-the-Month Club, Quality Paperback Book Club, and Writer's Digest Book Club. Learn more about Peter at http://WellFedWriter.com.

Bob Baker has developed a successful niche writing about music marketing and self-promotion for indie songwriters and bands. He served three terms as president of the St. Louis Publishers Association, is a regular presenter at IBPA's Publishing University, and is an advocate for the self-publishing movement. His books include "55 Ways to Promote & Sell Your Book on the Internet," "Guerrilla Music Marketing Handbook," and many more. Bob publishes an ezine, blog, podcast, and video clips at http://FullTimeAuthor.com and http://TheBuzzFactor.com.

Admission: $20 at the door
($15 for current members of the St. Louis Publishers Association, National Speakers Association, and the St. Louis Writers Guild)

Doors open at 6:30 PM; Workshop starts at 7 PM.

Location:
The Heights
8001 Dale Avenue
Richmond Heights, MO 63117

This is the Richmond Heights community center. After going in the main front entrance, head down the hall to your right to find the conference room.

Presented by the St. Louis Publishers Association, http://www.stlouispublishers.org/

Indie Author or Publisher? The True Meaning

We hear the term "indie" bounced around a lot these days. It's become quite a trendy word (although some of us have been preaching about it for more years than most :-). So, let me ask you …

What's your definition of indie?

Many people think of it as a reference to a musician, filmmaker or author who has no affiliation with a major corporation. That's true, but I believe it has a much deeper meaning than that.

(By the way, "indie" is an abbreviation for "independent." The "ie" at the end is the proper spelling, as opposed to "indy," which is usually a reference to Indiana or Indianapolis -- as in the Indy 500. There's your grammar lesson for the day.)

I think of indie in much the same way I think of the term "guerrilla." It's more than a simple, surface-level reference to your financial backing. I believe it's a state of mind and a way of life you must bring to your entire pursuit of publishing and marketing.

The best way to explain my angle on this is to use an acronym. So here's my definition of I-N-D-I-E, with every letter standing for a separate concept (and I didn't even use the word "independent," which was tempting considering I had two I's to work with).

I - Inspired

To embrace the indie frame of mind, you must be inspired. You have to know in your gut that sharing your gifts with written word is what you are meant to do. You must become energized when writing and speaking about the content of your books. Hopefully, this is something you already experience fully, without having to force yourself to feel that way.

When this kind of natural inspiration comes over you, it's a sure sign that you're on the right path. And you will need this desire to carry you through the ups and downs that you will surely encounter as you pursue indie publishing on your own terms.

N - Nontraditional

Indie authors don't mind learning about what has come before, and they are happy to listen to the "rules" that others say are required to have a successful publishing career. However, the smartest indie authors keep their minds flexible and constantly question whether the supposed "rules" of the past really apply to them. They actually develop a mindset that seeks out the road less traveled. And when they spot a good idea that's off the traditional path, they fearlessly go after it without apologies.

D - Determined

Successful indie authors are fixated on their goals and determined to reach them. They leave room to veer from the original plan, when needed, but they are steadfast in their desire to produce great material, reach fans with their message, sell more books, etc. With this attitude, obstacles become short-term learning experiences along the road to higher levels of success.

I - Innovative

Being indie means thinking outside of the proverbial box and looking at fresh opportunities from every angle. It means not promoting yourself the same way a thousand other authors have. It means being resistant to knee-jerk marketing tactics and open to new ideas and overlooked avenues for exposure.

E - Empowered

Indie authors don't wait for someone or something else to come along and rescue them. They don't pray for a "lucky break" or to "be discovered." They know to the core that the power to succeed with their books resides inside of them. And they understand that it's their mission to tap into that personal power and use it to share their message with the world.

Let's recap my definition of INDIE:

I - Inspired
N - Nontraditional
D - Determined
I - Innovative
E - Empowered

Commit this acronym to memory. Better yet, make a photocopy of this post and pin it up where you'll see it every day.

Being INDIE has nothing to do with what company you are or are not affiliated with. It has everything to do with how much you take control of your own life and take steps to build the kind of book career you deserve.

-Bob

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Are You Ready to Fully Harness the POWER of the Internet to Market Your Book?

This new title reveals the most practical and cost-effective ways that Bob and other successful authors have promoted themselves and their books online. It demystifies Internet book marketing and makes it accessible to any author at any skill level.

Learn more about it here ...

7 Steps to Reaching Your Book Publishing Goals

A couple weeks ago I posted this question on Facebook, Twitter, and other social networking sites:

What's the #1 Thing That Keeps You From Reaching Your Goals?
I received a flood of great responses, most of which I posted here. I encourage you to look over the list and see how many of them you can relate to. But don't use the list to get comfortable and think, "I'm in good company when I don't reach my book-related goals, so I should just relax."

Instead, use the list to realize that you are not alone when it comes to distractions, resistance, and excuses. Authors and publishers who succeed at greater levels don't have some secret code and aren't immune to the everyday obstacles we all encounter.

What they do have is a different mindset and a different approach compared to the masses that get lulled into accepting stagnation as a way of life.

Since this is such a widespread issue (and one I wrestle with myself), I wanted to share my version of the Cycle of Success -- a concept I first heard from Jack Canfield. It's a bare-bones outline of the simple steps you must take to accomplish worthy goals. It may appear simplistic at first glance. But I ask you ...

Honestly, how well do you embrace each of these steps ... and on which ones do you typically get hung up?

1) Decide

The first step to reaching any goal is to know where you're headed. The clearer the target, the more purposeful your actions will be. That's why the first step to accomplishment is to set a specific, measurable goal (or set of goals). "Be a successful author" is a nice idea, but it's a fuzzy goal. A more concrete goal would be "Book four speaking gigs a month that generate $3,000 in total revenue" or "Sell $1,500 a month in ebooks from my web site and $1,000 a month in paperback sales." Decide what you want and be crystal clear about what it is.

2) Plan

Once you know exactly what you want, the next step is to craft an action plan that will move you toward it. Take some time to brainstorm on paper. Make lists of the different types of activities you will need to engage in to reach the goal. Who will you need to contact, what do you need to learn, and what tools will help you get there? Work backwards from the goal and determine the specific steps you'll need to take.

3) Start

Now it's time to dive into the step that holds back most human beings: taking action! Look over your grand plan and ask yourself, "What's the very first thing I need to do in each category?" Focus only on those initial things and ... do them! Don't worry about the entire project or the immensity of your goal. Just do the very thing that needs to be done today: make a phone call, send an email, design a web page, buy a new software program, or sit down to write the next chapter (or finish one you started).

4) Continue

Taking those initial actions in the Start phase may actually come easy if you're exciting about the goal. Your enthusiasm is running high and you're eager to get busy. But what happens after a week or two, when other life demands grab center stage or when you don't make as much progress toward the goal as you had hoped? This step is another biggie that trips up many authors and publishers. But people who succeed muscle through the distractions and "continue" taking action, even when they're short on time and energy. If your goal is truly important, you will find time to chip away at it and make progress -- on a consistent basis.

5) Evaluate

If you get this far, congratulations! You've accomplished more than the majority of creative people (as sad as that is to say). You have decided what you want, created an action plan, started taking action, and have continued to work toward it, despite many temptations to do otherwise. Now you must take a little time to measure the results of your efforts. Don't just stay busy for the sake of movement without knowing how effective your actions are. Are you moving closer to the goal, or further away? What has generated the best results? Now is the time to evaluate your progress.

6) Adjust

Once you look at the actions you've taken thus far and measure the results (as in the number of books sold, number of new fans on your mailing list, amount of web site traffic, etc.), you'll have a clearer picture of where you stand. Then look over your plan and tweak it. How you do that is super simple: Do more of what's working and less of what isn't working. Also, this is a good time to introduce a new goal or strategy that makes sense based on what you've learned from your actions so far.

7) Continue

Once again, consistent action and progress is key. So with your adjusted plan in hand, continue to move forward. Another trait that will help you in this phase is the ability to simultaneously see two contrasting perspectives: 1) Keep the big picture vision alive of where you are headed -- the specific and measurable goal you have set, and 2) Focus on the micro task at hand and realize where you actually are on the path. There will almost always be a wide gap between where you are and where you want to be. But don't let that disparity frustrate you. Instead, let it pull you toward the goal even more fervently.

Bonus Step: Repeat Steps 5 through 7. From here on out, your progress will be a series of evaluating your efforts, adjusting your goals and action plans, and getting busy pursuing them again.

There you have it: 7 Simple But Effective Steps to Reaching Your Book Publishing Goals.

Are you truly incorporating all of the steps? Where do you get hung up the most? Did I miss anything? Let me know in the Comments section below.

-Bob

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The #1 Thing That Keeps You From Reaching Your Goals

I posted this question on Facebook, Twitter, and other social networking sites this week and got a flood of great responses.

Below you'll find a summary of the top reasons that authors (as well as musicians and other creative people) cite for falling short of their goals and not making as much progress as they desire.

Recognize any of them?

• Lack of time
• Lack of money
• Lack of confidence
• Self-sabotage
• Not setting goals to begin with
• Not planning well enough
• Procrastination
• Having too many goals
• Not prioritizing my goals
• Spreading myself too thin
• Lame but convenient excuses
• Popular trends not going my way
• Not knowing where to start
• My day job
• Not putting what I know into action
• The government and its stupid rules
• Setting really BIG goals
• Perfectionism
• Fear of failure
• Not knowing how to raise things to the next level
• Clutter
• Me, Myself, My own mind
• Facebook

If I missed something, please add your own obstacles in the Comments section below. Also leave some extra thoughts on what holds you back, along with any tips you have to overcome these hurdles.

I'll post my own ways of conquering these personal demons in future blog posts, and may even turn this into an ebook some day.

-Bob

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Are You Ready to Fully Harness the POWER of the Internet to Market Your Book?

This new title reveals the most practical and cost-effective ways that Bob and other successful authors have promoted themselves and their books online. It demystifies Internet book marketing and makes it accessible to any author at any skill level.

Learn more about it here ...

Promote Your Book, Start a Group Online!

15 Places to Start an Online Group or Community Around Your Topic -- and Attract Book Readers and Buyers

One of the things I stress on this blog, in my live workshops, and in my new book is the importance of identifying your ideal readers and fans ... and then going to the places where those specific types of people hang out -- both online and off.
But there's another aspect to this you can use to promote your book and your identity as an author. Instead of looking only for existing social hangouts, why not create one? Don't limit yourself to looking for targeted destinations. Be one yourself!

That's what I did with my Guerrilla Music Marketing and Internet Book Promotion groups on Facebook. In addition to seeking out your ideal fans, create an inviting place that causes them to come to YOU! What a concept!

Here are 15 ways to create your own group and community online (also see my warning note below):

Facebook Groups

Twitter Groups

LinkedIn Groups

Ning

Flickr Groups

YouTube Groups

Amazon Customer Communities

Scribd Groups

Slideshare Groups

GoodReads Groups

Shelfari Groups

Yahoo Groups

Google Groups

MySpace Book Groups

Friendfeed Groups

Warning: It would not be wise to start groups at all 15 of these places. Pick one to three sites to start with and concentrate on building those.

To make a group attractive to your ideal readers, you must be actively involved with it. So ... respond to member posts, start conversations, and generally be "visible" and proactive within the group.

Here are some links to additional resources on this topic:

Tips for Starting Your Own Facebook Group

How to Build and Grow a Successful Facebook Group

5 Tips to Revive a Fading Facebook Group

How to Create a YouTube Group

Ning Help Pages

Twibes - Create a Twitter Group for Free

-Bob


Are You Ready to Fully Harness the POWER of the Internet?:

This new title reveals the most practical and cost-effective ways that Bob and other successful authors have promoted themselves and their books online. It demystifies Internet book marketing and makes it accessible to any author at any skill level.

Learn more about it here ...