New NEWS from The Book Shepherd this week /tracking book sales

Book Marketing and Publishing Tips for Authors–

eZine Issue #131 –July 8, 2020

Publisher: Judith Briles

Practical Publishing Advice and Guidance for Authors

In This Issue

1. Author Tools … Discover and USE Author Central

2. AuthorYOU VIP Member Benefit … Meet Melody Jones

3. New Webinar … Create Big Payoffs with Tiny Content

4. Speaking Unplugged is Rescheduled for September 18-19!

5. Hot podcasts for JULY … Add to your calendar and listen/learn

6. Question of the Week … How do I track my book sales?

7. Book Shepherd “Fun” of the Week … dog doesn’t want another lockdown

It was my pleasure to create the copy for all the social media pushes, set up, and coordinate it. On my Friday Coaching, I went through my 16 step-by-step process in a “tell-all” to my coaching clients with the reveal of what we did for The Last Request push. Using a fireworks of a read theme, we started on Thursday and carried it through Saturday—all three days, 24/7. Yes, I know, there are those out there who say that getting a bestseller status on Amazon doesn’t matter. Those are the “traditional snobs” … spouting that the only bestseller lists are the majors.

Now, I know snobs well—I’m a recovered NY publishing snob, firmly believing and mouthing that only legit books came via the NY publishing route for years … until I did the crossover in 2000 and started my own publishing persona. I learned the business side, the marketing side, and the money side … and have never looked back with the next 19 books under my own imprint. What utter nonsense this publishing snobbery can be.

Amazon sells most of the book retail today—print and eBook. That means that there are millions of eyeballs on book pages everyday—that there are millions of searches using an author’s keywords looking for books as each day rolls out. The keywords that you added to your description of your book become a lure. When those who are on a peruse mission for the next book, they look at reviews. And anything … anything … that can add more eye candy helps as a lure. Bestseller claims and images do.

And this was another delight when I checked on download counts for the AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing podcast—something I do daily. It was an OMG when I saw Saturday’s, the 4th of July’s numbers: over 90,000 that day alone. Holy Moly Buttercup!

Settling into the heat of July, I’m looking forward to my back deck makeover—I’ll be the voyeur in the far corner, writing and watching the takedown and build up that starts today. Replacement outdoor rugs ordered … and a maybe next—an expanded table. We need to seat eight regularly—so the search begins.

Grandkids are here every other day to water and deadhead flowers since I can’t get out and into the gardens to do what I like to do during the summer months. Love it that they have never missed a day. Ryan at 16 dons his “farmer wide brim hat” when he arrives and asks for any adds that need to be done and goes to work. He is loving making mobile deposits when I pay him.

This is a writing-intensive month for me to get a book done that I’m ghosting for a client. How about you—what’s on your “to do – get done” list? Would love to hear from you.

Onward …

Have you ever explored the network website where I store all my podcasts? Over 200,000 authors download episodes during May. In June … will June was nuts! One day, over 65,000 downloads. As the last day of June closed out, I checked one more time … Holy Moly … over 700,000 downloads of various podcasts over the month … 700,000! And July … we are marching to the million download mark. That’s a sizzling wowsa for sure!

This week, John David Mann joins me for a fast hour on Writing Smarts and Working with Collaborators. Lots of excellent tips the AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing podcast. Loved on how to deal with the “barking dog” and it’s not a four-legged one. Join me.

You can select which podcast is for you from over 350 shows … the latest will always be posted on top of the show page: http://bit.ly/BookPublishingPodcast--it goes directly to the Show Page, where you can view all podcasts at once—just scroll … you’ve got a lot to pick from to expand your learning and how to curve.

1. July 11 – AuthorYOU Salons-free for AuthorYOU members only

2. July 14 – Webinar-For Authors: Create Big Payoffs with Tiny Content

3. August 8 – AuthorYOU Salons-free for AuthorYOU members only

4. August 11 – Webinar-For Authors: Targeting Book Reviewers

5. August 22 – Member BBQ???? Fingers crossed that we can do this!

6. September 12 -- AuthorYOU Salons-free for AuthorYOU members only

7. September 18-19 – Speaking Unplugged – LIVE in Denver

8. August 5, 12, 19, 26 – Write your book in draft format in 4 weeks, online

AuthorYOU members … the JULY second Saturday AuthorYOU Salons of the year is slated for July 11th WILL BE either live in my home or virtual—it depends on the status of where Colorado is on “Stay home”. It starts at 8.30 a.m., ending at 11.30 a.m.

As of this writing, it will be an in-person event—if it changes and goes virtual via Zoom, a special email blast will be created with a password on Friday, June 12th… it’s a day by day scenario in a COVID world. BRING YOUR QUESTIONS—see you there.

If you have a book that is available on Amazon and haven’t created the “custom author page” on there, get to it—TODAY. Amazon Author Central is a gold mine for any author who has a book for sale on Amazon.

Author Central provides authors a platform to link their website, biography, and books all in one place. You can add images and videos. Post whatever events that you have popping up. Make sure your blog is connected so that it can bring looky-loos to your website. Other features include sales and trends tracking. The two things I do live on an ongoing basis is to get LIVE help.

Melody Jones, Founder & CEO of Social Media Aspirin™ for Writers and Authors, is here to take your pain away.
Melody@SocialMediaMelody.com
303-946-3848

www.SocialMediaMelody.com

Learn how to use social media successfully in the company of fellow authors by joining her online community Social Media Aspirin™ for Writers and Authors at www.SocialMediaAspirin.com. There are two subscription levels for your convenience: annual and monthly.

· Expert individual coaching sessions to help you learn to manage social media effectively via Zoom or possibly in person for those who live in the Denver Metro area

· Customized workshops, seminars and keynotes to author groups and organizations seeking to learn current social media strategies and management techniques

Sometimes called low content, my guest for this all new webinar workshop calls it tiny content. I like that!

Whatever it is—it’s all about doing just a small amount of work to generate on-going profits in your author and publishing business.
Get ready to learn:

- what low content products are and where you can pull content from.
- how they are so simple to create and put up for sale and get traffic.
- and how they can be very lucrative for virtually anyone. ANYONE!

You can register for free right here:
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5390076887006824976
The best thing about this model is that you don't need special skills or a special degree. Nothing. All you need is YOU and your tips and follow a 5-step simple "C" process.

We are going to cover A LOT and you are going to see a complete demo of how to make a tiny content product. You don't want to miss this! I’m in … are you?

Date: July 14th at 4 pm Mountain time (3 PT, 5 CT, 6 ET)
Look forward to being with you for an hour to show you how to add to your product mix.

Is there a Workbook in your midst? Have you thought about taking your sage advice within the covers of your books and creating a WORKBOOK? One that you can sell as a new product?

Why not create one … or several?

June’s webinar was all about the “how to” for Workbooks. Lots of tips and strategies. It’s ideal for the established author, coach … anyone who has advice that can be turned into a new product … and did you know that WORKBOOKs sell for more per unit than a book? Now you do.

Listen to replay: https://debbiedrum.lpages.co/workbook-wealth-judith/

Would you like to turn the book you have or are creating into a money machine that cements your expertise and authoring success?

Would you like to know how powerful you, your book and experiences are and how they can influence and change others one word at a time?

Would you like to turn your book, your ideas, your mouth into a business that creates a lifestyle woven with travel, fun, global friends and financial success?

If that’s a YES, get yourself to Denver and show up for the 4th annual Speaking Unplugged bootcamp next month. You can with the smart and savvy strategies, you will reveal in this interactive and fun intensive workshop. With over 35 years of speaking on the platform, Dr. Judith Briles will show you how to become a successful professional speaker … a speaker that will soar your book sales. Since the 80s, speaking has been her #1 way to sell books … over 1,000,000 of them!

You can always listen in via our websites: www.AuthorYOU.org (click on the On the Air image on the Home page—wait for it to upload. Or
www.TheBookShepherd.com (click on the Resources tab).

July 2 – Author Website Makeovers for Influence– Sandra Beck

July 9 – Author and Book Collaborations – John Mann

July 16 – PR POP for Remote Authors – Anne Jennings

July 23 – Social Media Moxie for Authors – Karen Allen

July 30 – How to Grab An Audience with Remote Presentations – Jaclyn Kostner

Question: How do track my book sales?

Answer:

· If you are on Amazon’s Author Central (see above on Tools), you can get sales by logging in for anything connected with KDP—print and eBooks. KDP pays out 60 days after a month ends.

· If you are on Amazon’s Advantage, you log into your account and click on Sales Details. Advantage pays monthly.

· If you are in Amazon Seller Central, log into your account for sales details.

· If you are using IngramSpark, login and check your Sales page.

· If you are selling from your website, login to your sales platform portal.

· If you are with a publisher, determine when they report to you. Traditional publishers typically pay twice a year, three months after a closing period.

· If you are selling direct copies, keep track whether on an Excel sheet, an online program, or whatever works for you.

This is how each call starts: I share a few strategies, tips and tools that attendees can immediately start to use. All share … and ask plenty of questions. They get answers. Definitely an excellent way to start a Friday. Those of you who aren’t participating, you are making a mistake. I love the variety of books and authors who have chosen to participate. What’s also fun, is the energy that can be felt with what everyone is working on. Love it!

Here’s the link to take advantage of it and subscribe: https://thebookshepherd.com/product/author-friendly-fridays-subscription

About Judith Briles, The Book Shepherd ™

Book Publishing expert Judith Briles, aka The Book Shepherd has shepherded more than 1,000 authors and created 500 best-sellers and award-winning books. She knows publishing inside and out from both the traditional and independent sides. Judith is an advocate for authors within her blogs, podcasts and speaking engagements. What’s her pet peeve? Two words: publishing predators.

She hosts the podcast AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing that generates over 100,000 downloads a month. Her website is www.TheBookShepherd, email: JudithBriles.com and phone: 303-885-2207.