Yes, it really is December already, the calendar has ticked over to its final stop through the year. And today you may want to settle down and sit a bit because there’s a lot of great reading for you here, from driving traffic to the latest developments in subsidy publishing, crowdfunding, a nifty tutorial and one more examination of whether those book trailers are actually worth the time. A glass of red might go well. Enjoy.
Jane Friedman (@JaneFriedman) on Jane Friedman
10 Ways to Build Long-Lasting Traffic to Your Author Website or Blog
“Your website, whether it gets a lot of traffic or not, is an essential part of a strong author platform. It serves as your hub—or command central—for all online activity, and should give your readers, as well as the media, a way to engage with you.”
Nick Thacker (@NickThacker) on Livehacked
Hey Simon & Shuster: I’m Calling You Out!
“Find the self-publishing company that will let you keep all of the royalties; one that will let you be in charge of your book — from beginning to end. Find the company that will allow you the freedom to decide where and when your book will hit the market, and how it will be received.”
Kristine Kathryn Rusch (@KristineRusch) on Kristine Kathryn Rusch
Getting Rid of the Middle Man
“I’ve mentioned before how I appreciate the loss of the middle man. But this week truly showed me on a deep level what kind of world we’d live in if crowdsourcing hadn’t gone mainstream.”
K.S. Brooks on Indies Unlimited
Tutorial: Author Central Book Merge & More
“What the hell is merging books? Well, even if you claim your books to Author Central, you may have multiple versions or what they refer to as editions: Kindle, paperback, hardcover, audio, etc. If you merge these, they will show up under one title heading, and the shopper will be able to see every type of edition available in one place.”
James Moushon (@jimhbs) on James Moushon – Mystery Writer
Book Trailers: Do Authors Get Enough Bang for Their Buck?
“Because book trailers are becoming a popular online marketing tool, I thought it was time I did a study of what was going on in this phase of book promotion. I reviewed 50 trailers, some from the HBS Author’s Spotlight group and some from high-profile authors… Are they worth the time and money? What did I see and hear that made a good book trailer?”