The idea of publishing an e-book is a huge leap for would- be writers. In the past, the only opportunity for budding new authors to get their work published was either to get a book deal with a traditional publisher or to pay to have their work self-published.
Digital readers have re-articulated the field, and the thirst for content has never been greater. Now, new indie authors can compete effectively for the first time ever.
But how do you do it? Where do you begin and how do you profit? First, you need to have a complete, edited, and revised manuscript. It seems reductive, but you don't want to release something that can be picked apart for silly oversights. Keep in mind that comments inevitably will be posted online. If negative, they can form obstacles for your project before it even gets off the ground.
Next, you need to get the manuscript uploaded to a credible online publisher. Some suggestions include Smashwords, Lulu, and, of course, Amazon Kindle. Make your book available on multiple platforms and locations, so that no matter where a reader looks, he can find your book. The websites mentioned above also can serve as collection points for royalties and profits.
So now that you've got a live e-book, you need to start selling. To succeed with your e-book, you need to give your audience what they want, when they want it, and for a price they'll be willing to pay. To achieve this goal, you need look no further than indie publishing sensation Amanda Hocking.
Amanda was a struggling writer who had been rejected again and again. Instead of quitting, she looked at what she was doing and made the appropriate changes. Her first books were dark, which was a style in which she knew she wanted to write. She went to the bookstore and researched what kinds of books were on the same shelves she wanted to be carrying her own books. She found hundreds of books following a common trend. She went home and wrote her own version of what people obviously wanted, taking into account themes and serializing her storyline. So, she wrote the “My Blood Approves” series that went on to sell a million copies.
What else did she do to be successful? She made sure that the readers’ first impression of her books was positive by creating attractive and enjoyable covers. She didn't price herself out of the market. She sold her e-books at prices between 0.99-$2.99. This pricing made it easy for newcomers to give the new series a chance.
As for marketing, Amanda discovered the wonderful world of book bloggers. She contacted some of these bloggers, asking if they'd be willing to review her book. Many did and recommended her work to their fan base. These recommendations generated an onslaught of new readers rushing to her sites to make purchases and download them instantly.
In addition, she credits her constant self-promotion and accessibility to her success. Amanda states on her blog, “I'm on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, Amazon, KB. I'm anywhere I can be. I always try to respond to readers, even though most of my responses are lame.”
The moral is, if you want to profit from selling your e-books, look to those authors who already are successful and follow in their footsteps.