By BookBaby author Scott McCormick Estimated reading time: 7 minutes It’s probably not a surprise to you that Amazon is the world’s biggest bookstore, but do you know just how big it is? According to available data, Amazon distributes between 50 percent of printed books and 75 percent of eBooks in the US. So, to say that Amazon sales are vital to authors is an understatement. Table of Contents: • Do Amazon book reviews matter? • Amazon’s algorithm • Book discoverability • Credibility • Optimize your book’s Amazon page • The importance of authentic reviews • Tips for getting book reviews on Am ..read more

By BookBaby author Scott McCormick Estimated reading time: 8 minutes Speaking engagements and writing go hand-in-hand. This may seem weird, as many writers get into writing specifically because it does not involve public speaking. But speaking engagements are a time-tested way for authors to engage with their readers and drive more book sales. Speaking engagements can also be lucrative in and of themselves, especially in the business world. So much so, that many nonfiction writers specifically write books to establish themselves as experts in their fields so that they will land choice speaking ..read more

By BookBaby author Scott McCormick Estimated reading time: 6 minutes A book tour may sound like some fanciful dream for an indie author, the kind of thing that’s only available to traditionally published authors with six-digit advances. But plenty of independent authors plan and execute successful book tours. In the end, bookstores don’t care if your book was published by one of the Big 5 publishers or if you self-published it; they only care that you can drive traffic to their store. Table of Contents: • Before contacting bookstores • Create a sell-sheet • Scaling your tour • How can I find ..read more

By BookBaby author Brian Jud Estimated reading time: 8 minutes How can people invest their book-marketing time, money, and skills most effectively? I wanted to find the most complete and accurate answer, so I decided to consult a higher power: Warren Buffett. After all, Mr. Buffett is the ultimate value investor. Table of Contents: • Stick to the basics • Seize opportunities • Build upon success • More non-bookstore resources • Offer a deal • Know your readers • Find a hero (and their origin story) • Publish a high-quality book I know the Oracle of Omaha is not a book marketer, but some of h ..read more

By BookBaby author Scott McCormick Estimated reading time: 8 minutes Advance reader copies (ARCs) are copies of books sent out to book reviewers, book bloggers, publicists, and others in advance of publication. ARCs are used to ensure authors have as many reviews as possible by the time a book is officially published. They are also used to send to other authors to get endorsements that can be printed on the published version of the book. Table of Contents: • Why produce advance reader copies? • How do ARCs differ from finished books? • What are the best practices for creating an ARC? • Who do ..read more

By BookBaby author Michael Gallant These strategies can help you summon a vibrant audience for your next big literary event or book signing. Estimated reading time: 4 minutes In “How To Get People To Your Book Signing,” I shared some ideas on how to increase turnout for your next book signing. Here are more specific strategies to help you grab your community’s interest, grow their enthusiasm, and get them to show up. Table of Contents: • Go for multiple touchpoints • Include all relevant information • Consider social media advertising • Do personal outreach • Plan for last-minute reminders ..read more

By BookBaby author Michael Gallant Creative and thoughtful planning will help you fill the house for your book launch, book signing, or next big literary event. As both a writer and a musician, I regularly see how getting people to come to live events is about more than the quality of art being presented. For better or worse, creatives like musicians and writers must often adopt a marketer’s mindset to help gather the audiences their works deserve. This point was hammered home by a recent Washington Post article entitled “Margaret Atwood, Stephen King rally around new author after no-shows at ..read more