Self-published author Connie Rossini shares how you can find success as a writer. Whether you are a beginner or advanced in self-publishing, you can learn something here. Watch the video of the webinar Connie gave with these slides on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvEmSkBYGbw

1. Successful
self-publishing
With Connie Rossini
OF Indie Catholic Authors

2. What does it mean to succeed?
• See your name in print?
• Have a moderate amount of faithful readers?
• Advance the Gospel?
• Bring joy to others?
• Be able to quit your day job?

3. When you self-publish,
you decide what success means.

4. My goal was to make at least $5000 my first year,
but I was going to try to make $7500.
I passed that number in January,
6 months after publishing.

5. First 2 Months of KDP Sales
$1260.52

6. 5 steps to success
1. Build your platform.
2. Write a great book.
3. Have it professionally edited.
4. Get a professional-looking cover.
5. Market for the long term.

7. 1. build your platform first
if you can.
Don’t try to do this on Facebook and Twitter.
Start a blog and build your email list.
You own your list. You don’t own your social media
accounts.

10. Started Free Download
and Pop-up
Published First Book
First Post at
SpiritualDirection.com

11. 2. write a great book.
•Practice
•Read and Research
•What does your audience need?
•Join a critique group
•Use beta readers

12. 3. hire a professional editor

13. 4. get a professionally designed cover
Not this!
But this!

14. 5. market for the long term
Simple marketing strategies:
Always carry a book with you.
Add your book (and sales link) to your email
signature.
Write a press release.
Put your cover on all your social media profiles.
Give away review copies.
Go on a blog tour when you launch.

15. Path one: e-book only.
KDP Select
Smashwords
Scrivener
choose a publishing strategy
Photo by Intel Free Press, Creative Commons

16. Path two: paperback & ebook
CreateSpace
Lightning Source

18. the power of free
1.Perma-free
2.KDP Select free days
3.Generosity with readers and other writers

21. KDP Select Free Days
Offer your Select title free for up to 5 days in each 90-day period.
Increase your visibility.
Get more reviews.
Some authors have great sales numbers following their free days.
Advertising with BookBub or other services can help.
(You can choose to do a Kindle Countdown Deal once each period instead.)

22. Ongoing Generosity is Best Free
Blogging and guest blogging.
Giveaways and downloads.
Exchange critiques with other authors.
Joint promotion of others’ work.
Sharing your knowledge in groups, on webinars, etc.

23. social media for authors
Pinterest is best for promoting blog posts.
Facebook is best for connecting with fellow Catholics.
Use Facebook and Google+ for groups (like Indie Catholic Authors).
Google+ is best for SEO.

24. how twitter works for me

26. 8 paperbacks
sold on Jan.
26

27. what else has worked?
•Public speaking
•Offering a deal on bulk paperback sales
•Enthusiastic fans sharing with others

28. don’t waste your time on:
•Print ads
•Ads on other Catholic websites
•Spamming your friends and followers with “buy my
book” posts on social media

29. Future ventures
More joint marketing with other self-published
authors.
Audio book.
Spanish translation.
Hybrid publishing.