This presentation was given April 11 in San Antonio, TX at the Texas Library Association annual conference. It details how public libraries have an exciting opportunity to launch community publishing initiatives, the goal of which is to marshal local community talent to produce and publish ebooks.
How Libraries Can Launch Community Publishing Initiatives with Self-Published...Smashwords, Inc.
Libraries have long provided an essential community service by making books and other information products freely available and accessible to local community patrons. Libraries play a critical role in promoting literacy, a culture of books and the joys of reading.
With the rise of ebooks, public libraries are at a crossroads. Some large traditional publishers, which fear digital lending might cannibalize retail sales of both print books and ebooks, have been hesitant to supply ebooks to libraries at the very time that library patrons are clamoring for access to such products.
This three-part presentation outlines the opportunity for libraries to expand their community role by developing programs that promote a culture of authorship. By holding seminars and classes, and by bringing local authors together with readers and aspiring authors, Libraries are uniquely qualified to orchestrate community resources and talent to help local writers become professional self-publishers. Unlike traditional publishers, self-published authors are pro-library. By developing community publishing initiatives that promote best-practices for professional self-publishing, libraries will help ensure a steady and diverse supply of high-quality books for library patrons and readers worldwide.
This series of three presentations was delivered by Mark Coker, founder of Smashwords, on March 21, 2013 at the Midwest Collaborative for Library Services symposium held in Lansing, Michigan.The presentations have been combined here for ease of access.
Additional text has been added so viewers will gain contextual background for information that was delivered verbally.
How to Reach More Readers with Self-Published EbooksSmashwords, Inc.
This presentation was given by Mark Coker, founder of Smashwords, at Self Publishing Boot Camp in San Francisco on February 18. The presentation summarizes the best practices of the most successful self-published ebook authors.
Authors: Learn to reach more readers with your books. Mark Coker's fifth annual 2016 Smashwords Survey. Reveals quantifiable ebook sales data to help authors reach more readers. The 2016 survey answers such questions as: Do readers prefer longer or shorter ebooks?; Do ebooks that start out as preorders sell better?; How do I price box sets?; what are the sweet spots for ebook pricing?; Do series books sell better than standalone books?; which ebook genres are most popular?; do series with FREE series starters earn more money than other series; and much more. For historical context, check out the prior three years of Smashwords Surveys, all here at Slideshare.
Mark Coker's annual Smashwords Survey provides authors and publishers a treasure trove of data about how to make ebooks more accessible, desirable and enjoyable to readers. This sixth annual Survey explores the top fiction and non-fiction categories, the pricing sweet spots to maximize readership and earnings, box sets, series, preorders and the best word counts. If you enjoy this Survey, please share it with a friend! Mark Coker is the founder of Smashwords, the world's largest distributor of self-published ebooks.
10 Trends Driving the Future of Authorship (Smashwords tutorial series, #4) Smashwords, Inc.
Learn the 10 publishing industry trends that will most impact the future for book authors. Mark Coker, founder of Smashwords, examines how the simultaneous rise of ebooks, self-publishing and democratized access to retailers will forever transform the publishing landscape. Learn how the power center in the publishing industry is shifting from publishers to writers, and how self-published authors now how the tools to out-sell and out-compete the big publishers. Learn why the former stigma of self-publishing has been replaced with growing pride as indie authors scale all the international bestseller lists. Meanwhile, the stigma of traditional publishing is increasing as publisher missteps cause authors to lose faith in big publishers. View the companion video of this presentation at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbT7r-DUa6M
How to Reach Readers at Apple iBooks - Merchandising Secrets for Indie Author...Smashwords, Inc.
This comprehensive online workshop, The Alliance of Independent Authors, teaches authors how to reach more readers at the Apple iBooks Store. Mark Coker of Smashwords teaches authors how to maximize merchandising opportunities and sales at the world's second largest ebook store. This was part II of a two-part ALLi series featuring Mark Coker. View part I at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3quE1... Learn more about ALLi at http://allianceindependentauthors.org/
2014 Smashwords Survey - How to Sell More EbooksSmashwords, Inc.
Mark Coker's third annual 2014 Smashwords Survey. Examines quantifiable characteristics of ebooks that give books an incremental advantage in discoverability and desirability. The 2014 survey attempts to answer such questions as: Do readers prefer longer or shorter ebooks?; Do ebooks that start out as preorders sell better?; How should I price my ebook?; Do series books sell better than standalone books?; do series with FREE series starters earn more money than other series; and many more.
Hit the Ebook Bestseller Lists with Preorders: A Guide to Preorder StrategySmashwords, Inc.
This presentation from Mark Coker, founder of Smashwords, teaches indie authors how to make their book release more successful by leveraging ebook preorders. Multiple Smashwords authors have hit the top of the charts using preorders. Learn the successful strategies behind preorder timing, promotion and marketing. Learn how some retailers such as Apple iBooks and Kobo give preorder books a merchandizing and discovery advantage. Learn why authors who do preorders have an advantage over those who do not.
How Libraries Can Launch Community Publishing Initiatives with Self-Published...Smashwords, Inc.
Libraries have long provided an essential community service by making books and other information products freely available and accessible to local community patrons. Libraries play a critical role in promoting literacy, a culture of books and the joys of reading.
With the rise of ebooks, public libraries are at a crossroads. Some large traditional publishers, which fear digital lending might cannibalize retail sales of both print books and ebooks, have been hesitant to supply ebooks to libraries at the very time that library patrons are clamoring for access to such products.
This three-part presentation outlines the opportunity for libraries to expand their community role by developing programs that promote a culture of authorship. By holding seminars and classes, and by bringing local authors together with readers and aspiring authors, Libraries are uniquely qualified to orchestrate community resources and talent to help local writers become professional self-publishers. Unlike traditional publishers, self-published authors are pro-library. By developing community publishing initiatives that promote best-practices for professional self-publishing, libraries will help ensure a steady and diverse supply of high-quality books for library patrons and readers worldwide.
This series of three presentations was delivered by Mark Coker, founder of Smashwords, on March 21, 2013 at the Midwest Collaborative for Library Services symposium held in Lansing, Michigan.The presentations have been combined here for ease of access.
Additional text has been added so viewers will gain contextual background for information that was delivered verbally.
How to Reach More Readers with Self-Published EbooksSmashwords, Inc.
This presentation was given by Mark Coker, founder of Smashwords, at Self Publishing Boot Camp in San Francisco on February 18. The presentation summarizes the best practices of the most successful self-published ebook authors.
Authors: Learn to reach more readers with your books. Mark Coker's fifth annual 2016 Smashwords Survey. Reveals quantifiable ebook sales data to help authors reach more readers. The 2016 survey answers such questions as: Do readers prefer longer or shorter ebooks?; Do ebooks that start out as preorders sell better?; How do I price box sets?; what are the sweet spots for ebook pricing?; Do series books sell better than standalone books?; which ebook genres are most popular?; do series with FREE series starters earn more money than other series; and much more. For historical context, check out the prior three years of Smashwords Surveys, all here at Slideshare.
Mark Coker's annual Smashwords Survey provides authors and publishers a treasure trove of data about how to make ebooks more accessible, desirable and enjoyable to readers. This sixth annual Survey explores the top fiction and non-fiction categories, the pricing sweet spots to maximize readership and earnings, box sets, series, preorders and the best word counts. If you enjoy this Survey, please share it with a friend! Mark Coker is the founder of Smashwords, the world's largest distributor of self-published ebooks.
10 Trends Driving the Future of Authorship (Smashwords tutorial series, #4) Smashwords, Inc.
Learn the 10 publishing industry trends that will most impact the future for book authors. Mark Coker, founder of Smashwords, examines how the simultaneous rise of ebooks, self-publishing and democratized access to retailers will forever transform the publishing landscape. Learn how the power center in the publishing industry is shifting from publishers to writers, and how self-published authors now how the tools to out-sell and out-compete the big publishers. Learn why the former stigma of self-publishing has been replaced with growing pride as indie authors scale all the international bestseller lists. Meanwhile, the stigma of traditional publishing is increasing as publisher missteps cause authors to lose faith in big publishers. View the companion video of this presentation at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbT7r-DUa6M
How to Reach Readers at Apple iBooks - Merchandising Secrets for Indie Author...Smashwords, Inc.
This comprehensive online workshop, The Alliance of Independent Authors, teaches authors how to reach more readers at the Apple iBooks Store. Mark Coker of Smashwords teaches authors how to maximize merchandising opportunities and sales at the world's second largest ebook store. This was part II of a two-part ALLi series featuring Mark Coker. View part I at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3quE1... Learn more about ALLi at http://allianceindependentauthors.org/
2014 Smashwords Survey - How to Sell More EbooksSmashwords, Inc.
Mark Coker's third annual 2014 Smashwords Survey. Examines quantifiable characteristics of ebooks that give books an incremental advantage in discoverability and desirability. The 2014 survey attempts to answer such questions as: Do readers prefer longer or shorter ebooks?; Do ebooks that start out as preorders sell better?; How should I price my ebook?; Do series books sell better than standalone books?; do series with FREE series starters earn more money than other series; and many more.
Hit the Ebook Bestseller Lists with Preorders: A Guide to Preorder StrategySmashwords, Inc.
This presentation from Mark Coker, founder of Smashwords, teaches indie authors how to make their book release more successful by leveraging ebook preorders. Multiple Smashwords authors have hit the top of the charts using preorders. Learn the successful strategies behind preorder timing, promotion and marketing. Learn how some retailers such as Apple iBooks and Kobo give preorder books a merchandizing and discovery advantage. Learn why authors who do preorders have an advantage over those who do not.
How Data-Driven Decisions *Might* Help Indie Ebook Authors Reach More ReadersSmashwords, Inc.
This presentation was given at the RT Booklovers convention in Chicago April 11, 2012. It analyzes a nine-month chunk of Smashwords sales data, aggregated across multiple Smashwords retailers (Apple iBookstore, Sony, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Diesel, Smashwords.com), to determine if there were potential data-driven metrics that might reveal new viral catalysts that authors can put to work to make their books more available, discoverable and enjoyable to readers. By utilizing the right mix of viral catalysts, authors can maximize reader reader word-of-mouth. Some of the findings are eye-opening, and some are simply just fun. Learn more about viral catalysts and ebook publishing best practices by reading Mark Coker's SECRETS TO EBOOK PUBLISHING SUCCESS, available at most major ebook retailers.
2015 Smashwords Survey - How to Sell More EbooksSmashwords, Inc.
Mark Coker's fourth annual 2015 Smashwords Survey. Examines quantifiable characteristics of ebooks that help authors reach more readers. The 2015 survey attempts to answer such questions as: Do readers prefer longer or shorter ebooks?; Do ebooks that start out as preorders sell better?; How should I price my ebook?; Do series books sell better than standalone books?; do series with FREE series starters earn more money than other series; and many more. For historical context, check out the prior three years of Smashwords Surveys, all here at Slideshare.
Five Big Trends that Will Rock the Future of PublishingSmashwords, Inc.
This presentation examines five big trends impacting the future of book publishing. It explores how technology is disrupting the book publishing industry, how Big Publishers are threatening the future of books, and how indie authors + ebooks have the power to expand book consumption and promote cross-cultural understanding for the good of all humanity. Keynote address presented by Mark Coker of Smashwords at the 27th Annual Central Coast Writers' Conference held in Morro Bay, CA. Presented September 17, 2011
This presentation was given by Mark Coker to the Published Authors Network (PAN) group at the Romance Writers of America (RWA) 2012 annual conference in Anaheim. It explores the major trends facing authors and book publishers.
This presentation was given by Mark Coker at the Edinburgh Publishing Conference held June 12, 2013 at the University of Edinburgh business school in Scotland. The conference examined the innovation, disruption and new business models that are helping to shape the future of publishing. In this presentation, Mark Coker, the founder of Smashwords (a global ebook distributor serving over 60,000 indie authors and small publishers), examined ten trends that are shaping the future of publishing.
119 Book Marketing Ideas That Can Help Authors Increase SalesBookBub
There’s a wide array of tactics you can use to amplify a book's exposure & reach more readers. Check out these 119 book marketing ideas for inspiration! See the full post here: http://insights.bookbub.com/book-marketing-ideas
Smashwords Survey Helps Authors Sell more eBooks (Smashwords tutorial series,...Smashwords, Inc.
Writers will learn how to make their books more appealing to readers in this comprehensive (and unconventional) tutorial presented by Mark Coker, founder of Smashwords. Have you ever wondered if readers prefer longer or shorter books? How about pricing? Will you sell more books at a lower price or a higher price? Which price yields you the greatest overall earnings? Which price helps you grow your readership the fastest? How and why might your book sales fluctuate over time? Do books with shorter titles appeal more to readers than long titles? These and many other questions are answered in the annual Smashwords Survey. This video examines the results of the 2013 Smashwords Survey, first published in May 2013. Smashwords analyzed over $12 million in book sales covering over 120,000 books over an 11-month period, and then posed useful (and some not-so-useful) questions at the data, all with the goal of identifying tips and tricks that could help authors make their books more desirable to readers. Some of the results are insightful and other results were just plain silly. Enjoy! View the video of this presentation at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rrl4NExo3Y
This presentation by Mark Coker, founder of Smashwords, examines the future of book publishing. The presentation was given at the Fremont Writers chapter of the California Writers Club on December 8, 2012.
7 Core Elements to Building a Powerful and Engaged Audience for Your BookKimberley Grabas
A powerful marketing step is to build an engaged community of supporters for you and your work. Learn the 7 core elements to building a thriving and passionate audience for your book – plus tips to help you take action immediately.
Publicize, promote and market your book with little or no marketing budgetTom Corson-Knowles
Most authors are so exhausted by the time they’ve finished their books – and often so strapped for cash – that they don’t know where to start a publicity and marketing campaign, especially with little or no budget. You don’t need a $20,000 publicist. Or a $5,000 assistant. If you have more time than money, you can do most of the publicity and marketing work yourself like a professional if you know what to do.
How Indie Ebooks Will Transform Future of Publishing (presented at NYU Summer...Smashwords, Inc.
This presentation was given by Mark Coker of Smashwords on July 9, 2010 at NYU's Summer Publishing Institute. It examines how indie ebooks will transform the future of book publishing.
BookFuel presentation at AuthorU conference: Finding your SuperfansBill Van Orsdel Jr.
How can an author find and market their books to their "Superfans". A quick marketing guide for authors with actions they can take to identify, connect with and recruit Superfans for their author brand.
Self-publishing vs Traditional Publishing, and the Options in BetweenRicardo Fayet
If you've written a book and are unsure whether to self-publish it or seek a publisher, this presentation is for you! I go over the main benefits and drawbacks of self-publishing and traditional publishing. I also explain how to make the most of each route, and go over a few alternative and hybrid options.
Made by https://reedsy.com
Ready to turn your manuscript into a book? This will walk you, step by step, through the self-publishing process, from deciding your format to checking the details of the final files.
You’ve published a book—now how do you get it into readers’ hands? We explore best practices and creative ways to get yourself and your writing in front of readers -- from pricing, packaging, and distribution, to long-term platform-building strategies, to targeted promotions like media pitches, giveaways, events, influencers, affiliates, contests, and more.
Description: Introducing Amazon Bestseller Genie — Conjure up Some Magic and Skyrocket Your Book Sales! Inside this eBook, You will discover the topics about how to quickly and easily skyrocket Your book onto the Amazon bestseller lists for maximum exposure, how to use social media to build a loyal following of buyers who will buy every book you put out, the built-in marketing methods Amazon makes available to everyone, but almost no one knows about, the real secrets to getting people to review Your book, and why reviews can make or break Your book before You even get started and so much more!
About the Webinar
In the six years from 2006 to 2012, the number of self-published books grew an astounding 270% to more than 235,000, almost as many as were published "traditionally." The easy access to publication tools and distribution mechanisms has ushered in a new era of how content is created and disseminated. No longer do authors need to work through a publisher to have their content accepted, processed, and distributed. The impacts of this revolution in publishing extend well beyond what used to be called "vanity publishing." A variety of best-selling books in recent years have come out from successful self-publishers sharing their tips on how others can follow in their footsteps.
How can publishers capitalize on this author independence? How do libraries incorporate self-published works into their acquisition processes? When there is no publisher reputation behind a title, how does a library or user separate the wheat from the chaff? This webinar will explore these issues and the impacts of the self-publishing movement on both publishers and libraries.
Agenda
Introduction
Todd Carpenter, Executive Director, NISO
When Authors Assume Their Own Risk
Laura Dawson, Product Manager for Identifiers, Bowker
Self-Publishing with Smashwords
Mark Coker, Founder, CEO and Chief Author Advocate, Smashwords
Helping Libraries Help Themselves: The Library Publishing Toolkit
Allison Brown, Editor & Production Manager, Milne Library, SUNY Geneseo
How Data-Driven Decisions *Might* Help Indie Ebook Authors Reach More ReadersSmashwords, Inc.
This presentation was given at the RT Booklovers convention in Chicago April 11, 2012. It analyzes a nine-month chunk of Smashwords sales data, aggregated across multiple Smashwords retailers (Apple iBookstore, Sony, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Diesel, Smashwords.com), to determine if there were potential data-driven metrics that might reveal new viral catalysts that authors can put to work to make their books more available, discoverable and enjoyable to readers. By utilizing the right mix of viral catalysts, authors can maximize reader reader word-of-mouth. Some of the findings are eye-opening, and some are simply just fun. Learn more about viral catalysts and ebook publishing best practices by reading Mark Coker's SECRETS TO EBOOK PUBLISHING SUCCESS, available at most major ebook retailers.
2015 Smashwords Survey - How to Sell More EbooksSmashwords, Inc.
Mark Coker's fourth annual 2015 Smashwords Survey. Examines quantifiable characteristics of ebooks that help authors reach more readers. The 2015 survey attempts to answer such questions as: Do readers prefer longer or shorter ebooks?; Do ebooks that start out as preorders sell better?; How should I price my ebook?; Do series books sell better than standalone books?; do series with FREE series starters earn more money than other series; and many more. For historical context, check out the prior three years of Smashwords Surveys, all here at Slideshare.
Five Big Trends that Will Rock the Future of PublishingSmashwords, Inc.
This presentation examines five big trends impacting the future of book publishing. It explores how technology is disrupting the book publishing industry, how Big Publishers are threatening the future of books, and how indie authors + ebooks have the power to expand book consumption and promote cross-cultural understanding for the good of all humanity. Keynote address presented by Mark Coker of Smashwords at the 27th Annual Central Coast Writers' Conference held in Morro Bay, CA. Presented September 17, 2011
This presentation was given by Mark Coker to the Published Authors Network (PAN) group at the Romance Writers of America (RWA) 2012 annual conference in Anaheim. It explores the major trends facing authors and book publishers.
This presentation was given by Mark Coker at the Edinburgh Publishing Conference held June 12, 2013 at the University of Edinburgh business school in Scotland. The conference examined the innovation, disruption and new business models that are helping to shape the future of publishing. In this presentation, Mark Coker, the founder of Smashwords (a global ebook distributor serving over 60,000 indie authors and small publishers), examined ten trends that are shaping the future of publishing.
119 Book Marketing Ideas That Can Help Authors Increase SalesBookBub
There’s a wide array of tactics you can use to amplify a book's exposure & reach more readers. Check out these 119 book marketing ideas for inspiration! See the full post here: http://insights.bookbub.com/book-marketing-ideas
Smashwords Survey Helps Authors Sell more eBooks (Smashwords tutorial series,...Smashwords, Inc.
Writers will learn how to make their books more appealing to readers in this comprehensive (and unconventional) tutorial presented by Mark Coker, founder of Smashwords. Have you ever wondered if readers prefer longer or shorter books? How about pricing? Will you sell more books at a lower price or a higher price? Which price yields you the greatest overall earnings? Which price helps you grow your readership the fastest? How and why might your book sales fluctuate over time? Do books with shorter titles appeal more to readers than long titles? These and many other questions are answered in the annual Smashwords Survey. This video examines the results of the 2013 Smashwords Survey, first published in May 2013. Smashwords analyzed over $12 million in book sales covering over 120,000 books over an 11-month period, and then posed useful (and some not-so-useful) questions at the data, all with the goal of identifying tips and tricks that could help authors make their books more desirable to readers. Some of the results are insightful and other results were just plain silly. Enjoy! View the video of this presentation at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rrl4NExo3Y
This presentation by Mark Coker, founder of Smashwords, examines the future of book publishing. The presentation was given at the Fremont Writers chapter of the California Writers Club on December 8, 2012.
7 Core Elements to Building a Powerful and Engaged Audience for Your BookKimberley Grabas
A powerful marketing step is to build an engaged community of supporters for you and your work. Learn the 7 core elements to building a thriving and passionate audience for your book – plus tips to help you take action immediately.
Publicize, promote and market your book with little or no marketing budgetTom Corson-Knowles
Most authors are so exhausted by the time they’ve finished their books – and often so strapped for cash – that they don’t know where to start a publicity and marketing campaign, especially with little or no budget. You don’t need a $20,000 publicist. Or a $5,000 assistant. If you have more time than money, you can do most of the publicity and marketing work yourself like a professional if you know what to do.
How Indie Ebooks Will Transform Future of Publishing (presented at NYU Summer...Smashwords, Inc.
This presentation was given by Mark Coker of Smashwords on July 9, 2010 at NYU's Summer Publishing Institute. It examines how indie ebooks will transform the future of book publishing.
BookFuel presentation at AuthorU conference: Finding your SuperfansBill Van Orsdel Jr.
How can an author find and market their books to their "Superfans". A quick marketing guide for authors with actions they can take to identify, connect with and recruit Superfans for their author brand.
Self-publishing vs Traditional Publishing, and the Options in BetweenRicardo Fayet
If you've written a book and are unsure whether to self-publish it or seek a publisher, this presentation is for you! I go over the main benefits and drawbacks of self-publishing and traditional publishing. I also explain how to make the most of each route, and go over a few alternative and hybrid options.
Made by https://reedsy.com
Ready to turn your manuscript into a book? This will walk you, step by step, through the self-publishing process, from deciding your format to checking the details of the final files.
You’ve published a book—now how do you get it into readers’ hands? We explore best practices and creative ways to get yourself and your writing in front of readers -- from pricing, packaging, and distribution, to long-term platform-building strategies, to targeted promotions like media pitches, giveaways, events, influencers, affiliates, contests, and more.
Description: Introducing Amazon Bestseller Genie — Conjure up Some Magic and Skyrocket Your Book Sales! Inside this eBook, You will discover the topics about how to quickly and easily skyrocket Your book onto the Amazon bestseller lists for maximum exposure, how to use social media to build a loyal following of buyers who will buy every book you put out, the built-in marketing methods Amazon makes available to everyone, but almost no one knows about, the real secrets to getting people to review Your book, and why reviews can make or break Your book before You even get started and so much more!
About the Webinar
In the six years from 2006 to 2012, the number of self-published books grew an astounding 270% to more than 235,000, almost as many as were published "traditionally." The easy access to publication tools and distribution mechanisms has ushered in a new era of how content is created and disseminated. No longer do authors need to work through a publisher to have their content accepted, processed, and distributed. The impacts of this revolution in publishing extend well beyond what used to be called "vanity publishing." A variety of best-selling books in recent years have come out from successful self-publishers sharing their tips on how others can follow in their footsteps.
How can publishers capitalize on this author independence? How do libraries incorporate self-published works into their acquisition processes? When there is no publisher reputation behind a title, how does a library or user separate the wheat from the chaff? This webinar will explore these issues and the impacts of the self-publishing movement on both publishers and libraries.
Agenda
Introduction
Todd Carpenter, Executive Director, NISO
When Authors Assume Their Own Risk
Laura Dawson, Product Manager for Identifiers, Bowker
Self-Publishing with Smashwords
Mark Coker, Founder, CEO and Chief Author Advocate, Smashwords
Helping Libraries Help Themselves: The Library Publishing Toolkit
Allison Brown, Editor & Production Manager, Milne Library, SUNY Geneseo
The present and future of publishing for writersBob Mayer
The industry is changing faster and faster. Here's a snapshot view from someone who has been in the business for 30 years and done traditional, hybrid and indie publishing with great success.
Harnessing the Power of Library Loan Stars - Jennifer Hubbs - Tech Forum 2017BookNet Canada
Librarians all over Canada are ready to read, nominate, and champion your titles. Are you ready to help them? With almost a full year’s worth of top 10 lists under its belt, the Loan Stars program is geared up to continue shining a spotlight on exciting new titles for library staff and their patrons. Find out how the program works, how it can help you reach readers, and the most useful ways to get involved.
March 24, 2017
NCompass Live - http://nlc.nebraska.gov/ncompasslive/
July 16, 2014
Libraries are well positioned to encourage customers and community in fiction writing and content creation. The Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library's Community Novel Project is an opportunity for the Topeka community to work together to conceptualize, write, edit, narrate, and publish a complete novel. Each successive year we experiment and expand our annual project to model the evolving skill set necessary for writers wishing to self-publish their own work in digital, print on demand or audiobook formats. Engage with your community of writers and readers and establish the library as a trusted resource for 21st century writers!
Presenters: Lissa Staley and Miranda Ericsson, Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library.
NCompass Live - April 19, 2017
http://nlc.nebraska.gov/ncompasslive/
Learn how Lincoln City Libraries' Library Mom's Night Out Program became a Library Makers Night Out Program by listening to what our patrons and community wanted. Attendees will also learn that a maker space does not require a 3-D printer or other technology in designated space.
Presenters: Jodene Glaesemann, Vicki Clarke, LeeAnn Harvey, Lincoln City Libraries.
How Libraries Can Launch Community Publishing Initiatives with Self-Published Ebooks
1. LAUNCH COMMUNITY PUBLISHING
INITIATIATIVES WITH
SELF-PUBLISHED EBOOKS
How Libraries Can Foster a Culture of Authorship
April 11, 2014
San Antonio, TX
Mark Coker
Founder, Smashwords
Twitter: @markcoker
2. What We’ll Cover
Publishing past and present
5 Trends shaping the future of
publishing
Aligning the common interests of
writers, libraries and patrons
How libraries can promote a
culture of authorship
How to publish and distribute an
ebook (checklist) 2
5. Publishers Said “No”
• Despite great efforts of our
agent, every major NY
publisher said NO (TWICE!)
5
6. I evaluated our options
1. The rational (conventional) option
Give up, admit failure
2. The irrational option
Believe in ourselves
Try to fix the problem
6
7. How to fix a problem
1. Identify the problem
Big 6 Publishers!!!
Toxic to the future of publishing
Don’t value all writers
Unable to take a risk on all writers
2. Visualize the utopian solution
Every writer should have the freedom to publish
Readers should have the freedom to judge what’s
worth reading
3. Create the Solution
7
8. My Answer: Smashwords
• * FREE * eBook Publishing Platform
Free ebook publishing tools help writers
become ebook publishers
Free learning materials to help writers
adopt best practices of professional
publishers
Distribution to ebook stores and libraries
8
11. How Smashwords Works
• UPLOAD
• Author uploads their manuscript to
Smashwords (Word .doc or epub)
• Instant, free ebook conversion
• For sale within 5 minutes of upload
• DISTRIBUTE
• Distribution to retailers and
libraries
• GET PAID
• Author earns 60-80% list
• Quarterly payments 11
15. Writers (and libraries) were taught to
bow subservient before the altar of
Big Publishing
15
16. Publishers were the bouncers at
the pearly gates of author heaven
• Promised Perks of the Writer’s Afterlife
• editing
• printing press
• distribution
• marketing
• royalties
• fame and respect
• readers
• “published author” inscribed
on their tombstone 16
17. writers taught they couldn’t graduate to
author heaven until a publisher blessed
them
… and unless they got a book deal, they
were a failure
17
18. … and in a sense it was true
Publishers held all the power to connect
books with readers
18
19. Writers were told to keep toiling, and
waiting…
Rejection would make them stronger
“You’ll get published when you perfected
your craft like these other great writers” …
19
24. The old model of
publishing is broken
It has become harmful
to writers
to readers
to libraries
to the future of books
24
25. Publishers have amassed too
much power
• Publishers Decide
• What writers can publish
• What readers can read
• What libraries can buy
• limiting ebooks at libraries
• outrageous pricing of ebooks
25
26. Big Publishers Not Friendly to
Libraries
• Reluctant to sell ebooks to libraries
• Publishers fear library ebooks
• will cannibalize print books
• will cannibalize retail ebook sales
• don’t wear out
26
27. Big Publishers Fail to Understand
that Libraries Drive Discovery
and Sales
• Libraries help reach new readers
• 41% of library cardholders who read
ebooks purchased their most
recently read ebook (Pew)
• 50% of library card holders go on to
purchase books by authors they first
discovered at the library (Library
Journal, Bowker)
27
39. TREND TWO
The Rise of Ebook Self-Publishing
(a.k.a indie ebook publishing)
39
40. Number of books published indie
vs. traditional
Indie
books
Today?
New trad.
books
40
41. Readers are Embracing Indie
Ebooks
• Indies scaling all the bestseller lists
• Every week, indie ebooks are in the bestseller lists
of every retailer
• Almost every week, an indie ebook is hitting the NYT
bestseller list
• Every week, every retailer is featuring Indie ebooks
41
42. Advantages of Indie Authorship
• Indie ebook author advantages
• faster time to market
• creative control
• better distribution to global market
• immortal ebooks never go out of print
• lower expenses
• lower prices to consumers
• earn more per book
44. Indie Ebook Authors Earn Higher
Percentage of List Price
• Indies earn more at lower prices
• At $2.99, an indie author earns more (~$2.00) than
a traditionally published author selling an ebook
at $10.00 ($1.20-$1.70)
• Lower price = reach more readers = more sales at
higher profits per sale
60-80% 12-17%
Indie Traditional
44
46. Big Publishers Losing Their
Monopoly
• Publishing tools and
know-how are freely available:
• Printing press
• Distribution
• The knowledge of professional publishing
best-practices
• Writers asking:
• “What can a publisher do for me that I can’t
do for myself?”
• “Will a publisher actually harm my ability to
reach readers?”
46
48. Stigmas to Reverse: More Authors
will Aspire to Indie Publish
Aspire
Traditional
Aspire
Indie
Today?
Aspire
Indie
Aspire
Traditional
6 yrs ago Soon? 48
49. TREND FIVE
As Publishers Turn their Backs on
Libraries, Self-Published Authors
Ready to Embrace Libraries
49
50. Self-Published Authors Are
Pro-Library
• Survey of 200+ Smashwords
authors/publishers (June 2012)
• 82% believe by exposing their books to
library patrons, they’ll sell more books at
retail
• 2/3 said they’d price their books for libraries
equal to or lower than the retail price
• 24% said they’d give their books to libraries
for FREE
50
57. Libraries have an exciting
opportunity to create a brighter
future for books
57
58. THE PATH FORWARD FOR
LIBRARIES:
1. Embrace ebooks
2. Promote a culture of
authorship
58
59. Embrace Indie Ebooks (Step 1)
• Implement ebook checkout
systems. Three options:
1. Outsource
• Baker & Taylor Axis 360, Overdrive, 3M Cloud
Library, EBSCO, others
2. Insource
• Douglas County Model + Smashwords Library
Direct + direct relationships with progressive
publishers
3. Hybrid
• Multi-library cooperative such as Califa/ENKI 59
60. Utilize Crowd-Sourced Models of
Curation (Step 2)
• Aggregated retailer bestseller lists reveal
what paid readers are purchasing
• Smashwords can provide purchase lists
• Leverage social reading sites
• Library Thing, Goodreads
• Library Journal and Publishers Weekly now
reviewing select indie ebook titles
• Implement patron-driven models
• Gardners UK example
• Multi-library collaboration on reviews by
librarians? 60
61. Promote Culture of Authorship
(Step 3)
• Facilitate Community Publishing
• Orchestrate workshops, seminars, panels
to promote best practices for writing and
publishing
• Help your community of writers to publish
locally, distribute globally
• Smashwords can help
• Free training materials
• “Publish to the library” with co-branded
Smashwords publishing platform
61
62. Community Publishing Pilot Program
with Los Gatos Public Library
• Kudos to Henry Bankhead of LGPL for his
mentorship and encouragement
62
64. Community Publishing Pilot Program
with Los Gatos Public Library (Goals)
• Goals:
1. Marshal local resources to develop
and promote a culture of authorship
• Library staff
• Graphic designers
• Published authors
• Patrons
2. Develop a future supply of library-
friendly authors and books
3. Help authors publish
locally, distribute globally 64
66. Community Publishing Pilot Program
with Los Gatos Public Library
(Implementation)
• Implementation:
1. Education:
• In partnership with Smashwords, educate local
writers about ebook publishing best practices
• Leverage the physical space of the library to bring
together patrons, published authors, aspiring
authors, library staff
2. Co-branded publishing portal
• Help authors publish locally, distribute globally
3. Partner with local high school to
publish ebooks in the classroom
66
67. 1. Education: LGPL/Smashwords
Community Publishing Program
• Working with LGPL, Smashwords
presented a 3-part seminar series of
one-hour workshops
1. Introduction to ebooks (patrons, writers, library
staff)
2. Introduction to ebook publishing (writers, staff)
3. Ebook publishing best practices (writers, staff)
Smashwords will supply updated
presentations to any library that
requests them
67
68. 2. LGPL Co-Branded Publishing
Portal
• Co-branded publishing portal
with Smashwords
• Free ebook publishing and
distribution services for library
patron authors
• Local writer asks, “How do I…”
• publish an ebook?
• make my ebook available to my
community’s library? 68
71. 2c. LGPL Publishing Portal
• Free publishing and global distribution
• Smashwords manages end-to-end relationship from
publishing to payments 71
72. 2d. LGPL Publishing Portal
Free Author Tools
• FREE publishing platform
• FREE, best-practices resources:
• Smashwords Style Guide (how to format an ebook)
• Smashwords Book Marketing Guide (how to market any book)
• Secrets to Ebook Publishing Success (best practices of
successful authors) 72
73. 3. Ebooks in the Classroom:
LGPL/Smashwords Community
Publishing Program
• A first-of-its kind experiment
• 125 freshman high school poetry students across
five classroom periods will collaborate with
Smashwords and LGPL to professionally
produce, publish, distribute and sell a class poetry
anthology
• Mark Coker addressing five classrooms to teach two
classes:
• Introduction to Ebook Publishing
• Ebook Publishing Best Practices
• Students collaborate with one another to
write, edit, format, publish and promote anthology
• Will be used as a freshman class fundraiser
• Official book launch will happen at Los Gatos Public
Library May 6 73
74. Future plans for
LGPL/Smashwords Collaboration
• Future plans
• Underway: LGPL and Smashwords are
partnering with local high school (LGHS) to
integrate ebook publishing into creative writing
curriculum
• Once LGPL implements an ebook checkout
system, the building blocks will be in place for
local authors to “Publish to the Library”
• With over 90,000 authors, Smashwords has
authors in nearly every zip code in the US.
• These authors can be invited to the library to for
seminars, workshops and panel discussions to mentor
fellow writers about ebook self-publishing
74
76. Checklist for Publishing an Ebook
Finish a super-awesome book
Format the book prior to conversion
Prepare cover image
Prepare the metadata
Ebook conversion to multiple formats
Pricing
ISBNs
Copyright
Distribution to retailers, libraries
Piracy
Marketing
76
77. Finish Your Super-Awesome Book
• Ebook publishing tools make
publishing fast, free and
easy, but…
• They don’t make it easy to write a
great book
• The author is the publisher, so must act
like one
• Edit, edit, edit, revise, revise, revise
• Involve beta readers (then revise again)
• Hire professional editor if necessary
77
81. Formatting Secrets
• Forget (some of) what you know
• Don’t try to make e- look like p-
• Ebooks consumed differently than print
• Less = more with ebooks
• Remove narrative from images
• Liberate text from complex formatting
and layout
• Design for reflowability, small screens
81
82. Reflowability: Ebook devices
(and customers) shape shift text
• Example of Smashwords novel, Heller
by JD Nixon as viewed in iBooks e-
reading app
• Users can select font style, font size and
nightime mode, or view in portrait or
landscape mode. Reflowability enables
this!
84. Create Your Ebook Cover
• Covers are important
• First impression
• Great covers make a promise
• Make it:
engaging, matched to target audience
professional
good as thumbnail
good as B&W, greyscale
85. DIY Cover, or Hire Professional?
• Unless the author is an expert graphic
designer or cover designer, they hire
someone (covers are inexpensive!)
• Email list@smashwords.com for low cost
cover designers and formatters
• $50-$150 (Mark’s list) or under $300
elsewhere (still cheap!)
• Library Idea: Find patrons expert in
graphic design to leverage library’s
multimedia lab to produce covers
93. Metadata is data that makes your
book discoverable in a store
Book title
Book description
Author name
Book category
Price
Publication dateISBN
Language Tags
99. Pricing
• Determine objective
• Platform building, sales, or both?
• Non-fiction supports higher prices than
fiction
• If you publish multiple books, cover
multiple price points to capture the
most readers
• FREE, $.99, $2.99, $3.99, $4.99+
• Pricing strategy is integral to building
readership
101. What’s an ISBN?
• What it is:
• Unique digital identifier
• A 13-digit number
• Helps supply chain communicate about
book
• Required for distribution to
Apple, Sony, Kobo
• What it is NOT:
• Does not connote ownership or copyright
• Does not imply “professional” or “real”
• Not a common discovery method 101
102. Where to Obtain an ISBN
• Go to Bowker.com
• Expensive unless you purchase blocks of
10+
• Lists you as “publisher” in Books in Print
• Go to Smashwords
• FREE ISBNs
102
107. Maximize Availability, Avoid
Exclusivity
• Ebook retailing is not like sports, religion or
politics
• If your book is not available at every
retailer, it’s not discoverable or purchasable
• Exclusivity
• angers fans
• limits audience
• increases your dependence upon a single
sales outlet
108. Two options for getting your book
on a retailer’s virtual shelves
1. Use a Distributor (such as Smashwords)
• Spend more time writing, less time on everything else
• Upload one file, reach many retailers
• Centralized metadata management
• Time-savings, consolidated payments and tax reporting
• Preorders to Apple, B&N, Kobo
2. Direct to Retailers
• Format for each specific retailer
• Upload to, and manage each retailer separately
• Some retailers (Flipkart, Oyster, Scribd, etc) and Libraries
require distributor
110. Libraries and ebooks
• Libraries are important to the future of
books. Libraries…
• Make books available and accessible to
everyone
• Promote literacy and a culture of books to
children and adults alike
• Facilitate community around books
• Bring readers face to face with authors
• Beginning to offer ebook lending
110
111. Smashwords and our 90,000
authors and publishers see
opportunity
• Smashwords library initiatives:
• Custom library pricing
• Smashwords Library Direct (direct
sales to libraries)
• Distribute via library aggregators
• Baker & Taylor Axis 360
• Overdrive (coming soon!)
• 3M Cloud Library (future)
• Others in the works 111
113. Everything you need to know
about piracy
• Obscurity is bigger risk
• Black hat pirates who steal your book
wouldn’t have purchased it anyway
• Most piracy is accidental – it’s an
enthusiastic fan marketing your book
for you
• Combat piracy by making your book
easier to purchase than steal
• Broad distribution
• Low, fair price
114. Irrational fear of piracy leads
leads to obscurity
• The only reliable method of piracy
prevention is to NEVER PUBLISH
• Anti-piracy measures such as DRM only
limit availability, accessibility and
enjoyment
114
116. Traditional marketing isn’t as
important as you think it is
• Marketing is a catalyst, not fuel
• Your book is your best marketing
• Reader word of mouth determines your
success
• Viral catalysts amplify word of mouth
• Build permanence
• Platform building
• Platform is your ability to reach readers, or people
who can help you reach readers
116
118. Summary: How to Foster a
Culture of Authorship in Your
Community
• Indie authors are
• the future of publishing
• pro-library
• It takes a village to publish a great book
• Help your community publish great books
• Marshal local talent of patrons to mentor next
generation of pro-library writers
• Hold events featuring local authors who can help
mentor the next generation of authors
• Help your patrons publish locally and
distribute globally (Smashwords PubPortal
can help!) 118
119. Learn how to e-publish like a pro with
Smashwords Tutorials at Youtube at
youtube.com/user/Smashwords
119
120. Free Ebook Publishing Resources
• NEW! Secrets to Ebook Publishing Success (best
practices of successful authors)
• Smashwords Book Marketing Guide (how to market any
book)
• Smashwords Style Guide (how to format an ebook)
120
122. Q&A
Connect with Mark Coker and Smashwords:
Web: www.smashwords.com
Blog: blog.smashwords.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/markcoker
Facebook: facebook.com/markcoker
HuffPo: huffingtonpost.com/mark-coker
Twitter: @markcoker
122
Editor's Notes
Refuse to sell despite libraries being interesting in purchasing the books. Told “your money is no good here”Print book sales or retail ebook salesSo, no need to purchase replacements
What is Smashwords doing to support libraries?Reach new readers through word of mouth, or by purchasing books after checking them outMany price books lower than retail or at freeSmashwords Direct – helps libraries establish an opening collection of books
What is Smashwords doing to support libraries?Reach new readers through word of mouth, or by purchasing books after checking them outMany price books lower than retail or at freeSmashwords Direct – helps libraries establish an opening collection of books
What is Smashwords doing to support libraries?Reach new readers through word of mouth, or by purchasing books after checking them outMany price books lower than retail or at freeSmashwords Direct – helps libraries establish an opening collection of books
What is Smashwords doing to support libraries?Reach new readers through word of mouth, or by purchasing books after checking them outMany price books lower than retail or at freeSmashwords Direct – helps libraries establish an opening collection of books
What is Smashwords doing to support libraries?Reach new readers through word of mouth, or by purchasing books after checking them outMany price books lower than retail or at freeSmashwords Direct – helps libraries establish an opening collection of books
Which Henry will discuss in further detail in just a moment.
What is Smashwords doing to support libraries?Reach new readers through word of mouth, or by purchasing books after checking them outMany price books lower than retail or at freeSmashwords Direct – helps libraries establish an opening collection of books