tl;dr I’ve published a lot of eBooks. There are 5 things I wish I knew before self-publishing my first book.
#1: Create A Strong Book Title
FACT: Your book title helps people find your self-published book.
I wish I knew that a title was so important! Creating a strong book title is important for several reasons. First, it can help you attract attention from potential readers. Second, a strong title can help you sell more books. Finally, a good title can help you generate interest in your book and encourage people to buy it.
People search for books to read in online stores, like Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP). When they search, they’re search for keywords that grab their interest. Write your title and use keywords that return as search results for your potential readers.
#2: Write Two Descriptions
FACT: People read book descriptions and buy based on them.
I wish I knew my book needed TWO descriptions! When you are self-publishing your book, it’s important to have two descriptions – short (for the back cover) and long. Not only will this help you sell your book, but it’ll also help potential readers find and buy your work. Here are tips to help you write a great description:
1. Be Specific When writing your descriptions, be specific. This helps potential readers understand what they’re getting into and make an informed decision about whether or not to buy your book. For example, if your book is about a character who falls in love with a vampire, be sure to mention that in the description and keywords.
2. Cover Art Make the cover support your description. Writing about vampires? The cover could have images of blood and coffins, if that’s in your story. This will help potential readers see if it’s scary and decide whether to buy your book.
3. Use Headlines and Paragraphs To Catch the Reader’s Attention Want your description to be seen by as many people as possible? Use headlines and paragraphs that are attention-grabbing. For example, if you’re writing a romance novel with vampires, try using phrases like “bloody love story” or “a vampire love story.”
4. Use Keywords In Your Description Using your selected keywords in your description will help potential readers find and buy your book. For example, if you’re writing about vampires, include phrases like “bloody love story” or “a vampire love story.”
#3: The Importance of Editing When Self-Publishing
FACT: A self-published book needs to look like a book; typos can generate bad reviews.
I wish I knew how important an editor was! Editing is essential for any self-published book. Not only does editing help to improve the content of your book, but it can also help to make it more readable and error-free. Editing can also help to ensure that your book is consistent in terms of style and format. Finally, editing can also help to ensure that your book is well-organized and easy to follow.
#4: Create Eye-Catching Cover Art
FACT: Covers sell. Use cover art that supports your story.
I wish I knew how important the cover is! Creating eye-catching cover art for your self-published book is important. Not only will it help promote your book, but it can also help sell more copies. There are a number of different tools and techniques you can use to create a great cover, and if you don’t have them or know how to use them, consider hiring a graphic designer. Look at a stock photo site to see if one fits your book perfectly.
#5: The Importance of Self-Publishing Your Book Correctly
FACT: Self-published novels must be formatted correctly or will fail to publish.
I wish I knew all the KDP publishing rules! Self-publishing is a great way to get your book published, but it’s important to publish your book correctly if you want to have a successful self-published book.
Format Your Book Correctly. Make sure your book is formatted correctly for Amazon Kindle and other e-reader devices. Use headings and subheadings, break up long paragraphs and follow the publishing rules for margins, fonts and line spacing.
Self-publishing a book can be a great way to get your work out there, but it is important to do your research and prepare properly. These 5 tips will help you on your journey to self- publishing success. Publishing a book can be a daunting task, but with careful planning and execution, it can be a great success. Use these tips to help you get started on your journey.
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