Monday, December 31, 2018

How to Create Your Books Media Kit for a Book Launch






How to Create Your Book's Media Kit for a Launch.
In this Self-Publishing Manual training, I show you how to create all the graphics and swipe files you will need for launching your book.

In this video, I cover how to make a flat book cover shots, 3D book, and headshots of you and your book. These are super easy to make. We then go to your books swipe file which has your book description, author bio, Amazon book links, social media links and any other info you might need to launch your book.

J. Bruce Jones is an international best-selling author. He has created or authored over 40 published books. The Self-Publishing Manual shares Bruce's secrets from over 30 years of graphic design and publishing.

The Self-Publishing Manual is available at Amazon.com
https://www.amazon.com/Self-Publishing-Manual-Create-Publish-Book/dp/1791870643/


Friday, December 28, 2018

The Book Launch Checklist for Launching Your Self-Published Book





Learn the Steps for Launching Your Self-Published Book

Pulling from my book, The Self-Publishing Manual, Create and Publish Your Own Print and e-Book, I walk you through the steps for Pre-Launching, Launching and Post-Book Launching your book.



Self-Publishing Book Launch Checklist

It is time to get your book out into the world. Use social media and all your connections (your platform) to highlight and showcase your book. Let people know your book is published. Be sure to include a live web link from any posts back to the Amazon sales page so people can buy your book. Here are some basic steps you can take.

Pre-Book Launch Day

1. Write Out Your Launch Plan, prepare a calendar
• Research some other book launches and their descriptive text for inspiration on how to write yours. Google “how to run a successful book launch”

2. Prepare a media kit with launch graphics: this is your library of elements for launching your book.
The media kit should include all the graphics assets you will need to promote your book. JPG images of your book cover, flat and 3D. Your headshot, a good book and author description, a book trailer video for YouTube and your blog. Have a physical copy of the paperback version to hold up in photos.
• Includes a good book description and author bio. All the links for your book on Amazon and anywhere else
• Have a links list of your Social Media and web properties for easy access.
• Create a book trailer video. This can be posted on Amazon and in your Amazon Author Central Account

3. Work on building an e-mailing list, increasing your platform, and getting greater exposure. Pre-release a pdf version of your book. Use several chapters as a lead magnet to attract subscribers.

4. Set up your Amazon Author Central Page. Link your book, update your bio, add images and videos once the book is published.

5. Set up some launch day interviews. Develop some articles based on your book that you can post on a blog. Develop a virtual book tour. This should be an ongoing effort while you are writing your book. Develop connections to influencers in your market, join Facebook groups, Twitter, Bloggers. Build a Dream 100 of influencers.

6. Set up a Launch Team. Team members should purchase a copy of the book and post an honest review on Amazon. Try to have some international members. This will be helpful on launch day.

7. Prepare an Event for Launch Day. Using a Facebook Group and Facebook Live you can hold a live summit with experts. Have additional training around your topic. Take questions. Host an and broadcast a party.

8. Prepare for Launch Day
• Make a launch video, “What I have (my new book), What it includes (table of contents), What I want you to do (where to get it, Amazon)”
• Prepare all your links for handy access, Twitter, Facebook groups, websites, social media sites
• Have a swipe file with a series of pre-written announcements for social media, different lengths. Be sure to have the Amazon book link in the announcements.
• Media kit ready
• Launch team ready to go, access to announcement swipe file and media kit.
• Blog announcement ready
• Record a couple of interviews that you can post, prepare for a Facebook Live broadcast
• Have a physical copy of the book that you can hold up in interviews
• Have pictures of you holding your book.
• Write a Press Release

Extra
Look for local media in your community. There are local newspapers, magazines, websites, libraries all around you. They love it when a hometown author releases a new book story.


Book Launch Day

1. Make sure your book is live on Amazon and can be purchased, buying a copy will start the ranking.

2. Announce the Release your new book, live video works well for this. Post in all your social media channels. Include your Facebook Page, LinkedIn, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube.

3.  Post your book launch notices everywhere you can. Release your announcement video and a book trailer video, Blog the announcement, Facebook Live and posts. All social media. Send the announcement to your e-mail list. Blast out as much as you can. Ask for everyone’s support.
• Be sure all posts are linked to the book’s Amazon sales page.
• Update all of your online bios and listings.
• Use your announcement swipe file to speed up posting

4. Your Launch Team should also be posting on their social media sites. Send your swipe to file to all Team members.

5. Create an event if possible, make the launch fun. Do interviews. Show behind the scenes. Do some special training.

6. Thank your fans for buying your book, build social proof. Ask for reviews. Like and Repost any comments.

Screenshot your books Amazon Ranking

7. Record your book’s rank progress on Amazon with screenshots. This is located in the Product Details area of the Amazon book page.
• Continue to post updates about your progress during the day, post screenshots of any progress on Amazon in your social media sites.

8. In the evening do another round of launch notices. Encourage people to push you over the top if you are getting close to a #1 Category ranking. Also look at the Hot New Releases for rankings.
• Be sure to screen capture all results. Amazon updates every hour. The rankings do not last that long on Amazon, so pay attention. You can use these screenshots for marketing. Your Team can be very helpful in monitoring Amazon and grabbing screenshots.

Extra
Give your book out to current and potential customers. Your book is now your brochure or business card. People don’t throw away books. Make sure all your contact info and services are in your book.


Post-Book Launch

1. Thank your fans again for their support. Do this on social media, maybe add a thank you video. Be sure to include the book link to Amazon.

2. Follow up on international sales, sometimes they happen the next day.

3. Announce the launch again on social media.

4. Post the results of how high you got in the Amazon rankings. Did you get bestseller?

5. Update all your bio’s, profiles and listings on your social media sites that you have a new book and maybe new best-seller. Update your blog author bio.

6. Start posting sections of your book on your blog. Include a short bio and sales line with links to Amazon on everyone.

7. Drop an ad for your book around the blog postings. Use the power of Google to bring visitors to your site using your book’s content. There are free blogs and websites you can use.

8. Save your new book as a pdf file and use it as a lead magnet to continue your marketing. Give your book away in exchange for someone signing up to your email list.


Extra
On your website set up an email sign-up box to gather email names. Using a service like AWeber.com or MailChimp.com, you can set up an auto-responder series that sends out emails with some of your book’s content and links to the book sales page on Amazon.

Resources
• AWeber.com, https://www.aweber.com/
• MailChimp.com, https://mailchimp.com/
There are many companies you can use to manage your email list.

J. Bruce Jones is an international best-selling author. He has created or authored over 40 published books. The Self-Publishing Manual shares Bruce's secrets from over 30 years of graphic design and publishing.

Click below to check out the book on Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Self-Publishing-Manual-Create-Publish-Book/dp/1791870643

Launching The Self-Publishing Manual, Create and Publish Your Own Print and e-Book



Launching The Self-Publishing Manual, Create and Publish Your Own Print and e-Book

Bruce introduces his new book and the upcoming book launch in the How to Publish Your Book Facebook Group. Over the next several weeks I will be conducting a series of training broadcasts on all aspect of launching my new book.


The Self-Publishing Manual Ranked at #3 in Electronic Documents

What is amazing is that this video pushed my book from #225 to # 3 on Amazon in Electronic Documents and #12 in Book Design. What is unusual is that most people do book launches with Kindle e-books and price them at $.99. I did this with a $30 paperback book. A huge thank you to all. I think it is partly the power of having an engaged platform and active fans. And having a much better book title that tells you exactly what the book is about. Having a platform to launch your book into is essential. I recommend using video to promote your books in any way that you can

You can check out the book on Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Self-Publishing-Manual-Create-Publish-Book/dp/1791870643

Sunday, December 23, 2018

Tons of New Content Being Released into the Public Domain Area January 1, 2019


As of January 1, all works published in the US in 1923 will be in the public domain. We have been waiting 21 years for this date to happen in the copyright world. This will include poems by Robert Frost, and films by Cecil B. Demille. It includes books, musical compositions, paintings, poems, films, and photographs. There has been a 20 year freezing of content and that is ending a New Years. This also means we have tons of new content to make into books, films, and songs.

You can read more about it on the Smithsonian.com site.
For The First Time in More Than 20 Years, Copyrighted Works Will Enter the Public Domain

Mentioned in the article
HathiTrust Digital Library

Google.com/books

Tuesday, December 18, 2018

Where Do I Self-Publish My Book?



Where Do I Publish My Book?
The main self-publishing path leads to Amazon and Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP). Kindle publishes both e-books and paperback–print-on-demand books. You create your book using programs like MS-Word, Adobe InDesign and PowerPoint. Once that is complete you create a cover. The two files are upload to kdp.amazon.com. Files get reviewed for any technical issues but not editorial. Once approved, you hit publish and you are a published author. Now starts the hard part, marketing and selling your book. With self-publishing, everything is under your control. You keep all the rights to your content.

There are also many other outlets for publishing your book.  Sites such as Lulu.com, Blurb.com, Barns & Noble Press, Bookbaby.com, Direct2Print.com, Smashwords.com, and IngramSpark.com and more. The message here is that you can publish your book when and how you want and under your own control.

Resources, Self-Publishing:

E-Book Publishers
KDP.Amazon.com, the main e-book site, an e-book reader, free, https://kdp.amazon.com
Smashwords.com distributes e-books to over 80 outlets and devices, free,
https://www.smashwords.com/
Draft 2 Digital.com, free, https://www.draft2digital.com/

Print-on-Demand Paperback Books
• KDP.Amazon.com, paperback, print-on-demand, a division of Amazon, free, 
https://kdp.amazon.com

Combination of Paperback, Hard Cover and e-books
These companies offer a variety of options including e-book, print, spiral/coil binding, saddle stitch/staples and pdf with distribution options 
IngramSpark.com, print-on-demand, world’s largest book distributor to book and gift stores, some fees, http://www.ingramspark.com/
Lulu.com, similar to KDP.Amazon but with more printing options, paperback, hardcover, spiral, saddle, free, https://www.lulu.com/
•  Barnes & Noble Press, formally Nook Press, a new, revised publishing platform from Barnes & Noble, now offering print, e-book and a possible relationship with their stores if you can sell 1,000 books over a year. https://press.barnesandnoble.com/
BookBaby.com, a variety of different pay packages, fee, https://www.bookbaby.com/
Books-A-Million D.I.Y. with BAM! Publishing, write, publish, print and distribute in print or e-book, http://www.bampublish.com/
• Blurb.com, photo and art books, free, http://www.blurb.com/

Book Printer with Access to Bookstore Distribution
IngramSpark.com, print-on-demand, world’s largest book distributor to book and gift stores, some fees, http://www.ingramspark.com/

Excerpt from my new book, The Self-Publishing Manual: Create and Publish Your Own Print or e-Book, by J. Bruce Jones. To get a PDF version Click Here

The Self-Publishing Manual is Now Available on Amazon.com, Please click here to buy the book 

Sunday, December 9, 2018

The Self Publishing Manual Create and Publish Your Print and eBook Updates


The Self Publishing Manual Create and Publish Your Print and eBook Updates

News on my progress for my Publishing Manual. The book has been update, and edits complete. I have now printed out and bound a color copy to do a final review of the book before I upload to KDP.Amazon. You can still pick up a pre-published edition by clicking on the cover over on the right.



The new edition covers the changes that have been going on this year with KDP.Amazon and CreateSpace. Exciting stuff is coming in the self publishing world.

To pick up a pdf pre-publication copy, Click Here

Saturday, December 8, 2018

Creating Your Own Journal Empire



Creating Your Own Journal Empire

A friend of mine. Rebecca Holman, recently hit an amazing goal. Her goal was to create 2,000 journals. She succeeded this fall with 2,001 journals and low content books on Amazon. Low content books are journals, coloring books, template books, planners, blank comic books that you can use to create your own stories.

Out of this effort she created a course called Journal Tsunami 2.0 about how to do it. The course covers how to Research Your Market, Create Books Quickly, Uploading them to Amazon and then Do it Again. The course is fill with Templates, training, layouts, images and more.

Journal Tsunami 2.0 Course Covers

  • Looking at the Low Content Market
  • The opportunity and how to get started
  • What makes the books so awesome
  • The tools to use
  • Watch as she creates a 190 page book in under 10 minutes
  • Creating covers


To learn more about Rebecca's Journal Tsunami 2.0 course Click Here (Affiliate Link).

Wednesday, December 5, 2018

Interview with The Good Life Coach Podcast and Michele Lamoureux on Self-Publishing





Interview with The Good Life Coach Podcast and Michele Lamoureux on Self-Publishing

Big thanks to Michele Lamoureux for asking me to appear on The Good Life Podcast recentlyu. We talk about self publishing and how to get started with your book.

Key Takeaways:
• The difference between traditional publishing and self-publishing
• The main companies where you can self-publish your book
• Which types of books are best suited for self-publishing vs a traditional route
• Bruce explains how and why he got started with his writing at 53 years old
• How to build your authority using a book you created
• The people who tend to choose self-publishing or traditional and why
• Where you can find an illustrator if you need one
• The first step you need to take to begin
• How to begin writing and outline your book to make the process simpler
• The cost range to self-publish a book
• Where to find editors, designers, etc, to help you with all of the pieces of the puzzle

You can listen to the podcast here





To listen to on iTunes Click Here

Monday, December 3, 2018

Equipment I Use for Creating My Online Training and Marketing Videos


Equipment I Use for Creating My Online Training and Marketing Videos

I had an excellent question come in today on what were the tools and products that I use for creating my training and marketing videos. I have made a lot of videos over the years and have tried to keep my equipment to a minimum and as affordable as possible. Ok here we go.

Computer: I use an iMac, 27" Apple computer. I love the big screen, but you can easily do this with any Apple laptop or smaller iMacs. The Mac computers just work great. If you were upgrading just get a computer with a lot of storage. Video takes up a lot of space. I think I have a terabyte of memory.
Apple.com

Camera: Most of my videos are shot with the iSight Camera that comes with my computer. It works just fine for creating most of my videos. I will occasionally use a Logitech C920 camera. They are excellent. They also have a mic in them but I tend to use the Blue Yeti instead.
Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920 Camera. USB plug in, $49-$100

Use the camera in your pocket. Your iPhone or Android phone works just great. The camera and the mic are more than fine. I recommend getting a little tripod to hold the camera and keep it steady. Find a quiet spot, record your video and move it over to your computer for editing.
Tripod, I have one of these Paladinz Phone tripods. It is lightweight, holds your phone, expands to 42". Pick it up at Amazon for about $15.00


Microphone: My go to mic is a Blue Yeti. It is a pretty standard USB microphone. It plugs right into the computer. I also use the mic that comes with the iMac, it is also excellent. The Blue Yeti gives a little deeper, richer sound.
Blue Yeti USB Microphone, $119


Lighting. I use a simple clamp on painters light with an LED bulb from Home Depot or Amazon. Super cheap and easy. Clamp it to a shelf, bounce the light off the wall and you are ready to go. There are lots of great lighting kits that are also very cheap. There is the Cowboy Lighting and Video Studio for under $80. Just swap out the bulbs and replace with LED lights. Keeps the temperatures a lot cooler.
Cowboy Lighting Kits keep your lighting simple.

Screenflow for video editing

Editing Software: Hands down the best video recording and editing program is Screenflow on a Mac. It only comes on a Mac. What is great about it. Super easy to use for recording and exporting the final mp4 files. None of the complicated stuff of Adobe Premier. It is a linear editing application, affordable and has plenty of features. It also records two tracks of video, that is why you can see my face on the screen. Everything can move around, easy to change. Easy to add additional images and more video. On the PC people use Camtasia, it is fine and will a good job. But if you are making a bunch of training videos then Screenflow is the best. Worth buying an iMac just to use this program.
ScreenFlow is available from Telestream, Mac only, $129
Camtasia, available from TechSmith, $249, PC or Mac


Video Hosting: I use Vimeo.com to host video if it is not hosted in my course site. You can also use YouTube and it works great. Why Vimeo? Because I have control over it. A year ago I got suspended from YouTube for some mystery community violation. What I have figured out is that is was for putting web links in my training videos. I like to give people the resources for what I teach. But that seems to be against YouTube these days. In fact you won't see any web links at all in any video from YouTubers these days. Ok to put them in the description area, but not on the video. I still use YouTube, but not so much anymore. I host everything on Vimeo where I pay to have control. Vimeo is not a place to host videos if you want people to find you through video, that is YouTube. Vimeo is a hosting site for video, I will host here and then use the embed code to put them on my blogs. They are excellent at hosting.
Vimeo.com $240/year
YouTube.com free


Video Conference, Webinar, Training: I use Zoom.us for online video training with a group of people or for a 1 on 1 session. It is a fantastic program that just works. Has great screen share and chat if you are doing training or a group video hosting. If you buy the bigger package you can also stream through Facebook live. Another cool thing about Zoom is that it records both a video recording and an audio recording. A lot of people use it for recording podcasts with a video backup.

For Facebook Lives I use Belive.TV. It is a great little product for broadcasting through Facebook. Facebook Live is pretty good but with Belive.TV you can screen share for training. You can do interviews. It has lower thirds and the ability to add graphics to your screen. You can so solo interviews, interviews or talk shows-which is really screen share. You can download the video for hosting somewhere else.
Zoom.us,  $14.99/month
Belive.tv $20/month


Training and Course Hosting: I use Teachable.com. It works pretty well. I understand it now. You can host as many courses as you want there. I have the middle package. If I want to do something quick with just a couple of videos or pdfs, I will also use Gumroad.com. It is a great little site for selling products and videos on line.
Teachable.com $38/month
Gumroad.com free or $10/month

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