Draft2Digital: a good idea for independent authors?

Draft2Digital offers a very cost-effective distribution route for ebooks (print on demand also, but that service is still in beta, for various reasons). Its sale channels cover all of the large ebook retailers. It has a very simple and attractive service proposition:

We are Self-Publishing with Support. Your book is your priority. Our priority is you. We build tools and services that let you focus on writing while we take care of layout, publishing, distribution, print-on-demand paperbacks, and more. Keep writing. We’re here for the rest.

In a long and very informative blog post, author services firm Reedsy describes them as “The gold standard for self-publishing aggregators, Draft2Digital distinguishes itself with excellent customer service and a user-friendly interface. They’re the best way to sell your book with dozens of retailers without tearing your hair out.”

Kindlepreneur also has a largely positive review that dives into the details of uploading a new title and how the royalty payments and update fees work.

Users discuss vcry specific pros and cons of the service on a reddit thread. Important note: the 10% Draft2Digital fee is charged on retail price, not on profit, and comes on top of the share taken by the end seller.

Writers Weekly has published a number of very negative user reviews that indicate some administrative problems.

• Plenty of users had complaints about the non-payment of royalties.

• Draft2Digital books cannot access Amazon advertising or other Amazon sales tools.

In summary, a service that will be useful to many authors, but go in with your eyes open and aware of the moderate drawbacks, especially the Amazon advertising issue.

Tips for Building an Effective Website (guest post)

 Unveiling the Blueprint: Crucial Tips for Building a Stellar Website

 In the dynamic landscape of online presence, building a website that captivates users and performs exceptionally well on search engines is a multifaceted task. The journey from conception to a fully functional website involves strategic planning, technical finesse, and a deep understanding of user behavior. In this comprehensive guide, we'll uncover pivotal tips that will serve as the backbone for constructing a website that not only stands out but also thrives in the digital realm.

  1. Strategic Planning: Define Your Purpose and Audience

 Before diving into the intricacies of web development, embark on a strategic planning phase. Clearly define the purpose of your website and identify your target audience. This foundational understanding will shape every subsequent decision, from content creation to design aesthetics. Knowing your audience ensures that your website resonates with the right people, leading to enhanced engagement and conversions.

 2. Thorough Keyword Research: Fueling SEO Success

Keywords are the building blocks of SEO, and their strategic integration is paramount. Conduct exhaustive keyword research to identify terms and phrases relevant to your niche. Utilize tools such as Google Keyword Planner and SEMrush to uncover search volumes and competition levels. Infuse these keywords organically into your content, meta tags, and headers, providing search engines with valuable context and enhancing your website's discoverability.

 3. User-Centric Design: Navigating the Digital Landscape with Ease

User experience (UX) is a critical aspect often underestimated in website development. Craft an intuitive and user-friendly design that facilitates seamless navigation. Prioritize responsive design to ensure a consistent and enjoyable experience across devices. Incorporate clear calls-to-action (CTAs) and minimize clutter, guiding users effortlessly through your digital space.

 4. Effective Content Strategy: Quality Over Quantity

 Content is the heartbeat of your website, and a strategic content plan is key. Prioritize quality over quantity, delivering information that is valuable, relevant, and engaging. Regularly update your content to reflect industry trends and user needs. Consider incorporating various content formats, including text, images, videos, and infographics, to cater to diverse audience preferences.

  5. Optimized Page Speed: Swift Loading for Enhanced User Experience

 Page speed is not just a user preference; it's a critical SEO factor. Compress images, leverage browser caching, and minimize code to optimize your website's loading times. Users and search engines alike favor websites that load swiftly, contributing to a positive user experience and improved search rankings.

  6. Mobile Responsiveness: Adapting to the Mobile-First Era

 In an era dominated by mobile devices, ensuring your website is mobile-responsive is non-negotiable. Google prioritizes mobile-friendly websites in its rankings, making this aspect crucial for SEO success. Choose a responsive design that seamlessly adapts to various screen sizes, providing a consistent and enjoyable experience for users on smartphones and tablets.

  7. Technical SEO Best Practices: Lay a Solid Foundation

 Mastering the technical aspects of SEO is akin to building a robust foundation for your website's success. Create and submit an XML sitemap to guide search engine crawlers efficiently. Optimize meta titles, descriptions, and headers with relevant keywords. Implement clean and semantic HTML, and ensure your website adheres to best practices for canonicalization to prevent duplicate content issues.

  8. Secure Hosting and SSL Certification: Safeguarding Your Digital Presence

 Choose a reliable hosting provider to ensure your website remains accessible and performs optimally. Additionally, prioritize security by obtaining an SSL certificate. Secure websites not only instill trust in users but are also favored by search engines, positively impacting your rankings.

  9. Regular Monitoring and Maintenance: Keep Your Website in Prime Condition

 Building a website is not a one-time task; it requires ongoing monitoring and maintenance. Regularly check for broken links, update content, and ensure that all features are functioning as intended. Conduct periodic SEO audits to identify and address any issues that may arise, ensuring your website stays in peak condition and continues to attract and retain visitors.

 Embarking on the journey to build a website is an exciting venture laden with opportunities. By following these crucial tips, you'll be equipped to navigate the complexities of web development with confidence. Remember, a successful website is a dynamic entity that evolves with user needs and industry trends. Stay committed to delivering exceptional user experiences, staying on top of SEO best practices, and consistently refining your digital space. With these tips as your guide, you're well on your way to crafting a website that not only meets but exceeds the expectations of your audience.

You can learn more here.

Manuscript to Market: the life cycle of getting your book into print

by Susan Pierotti, writer, editor and proofreader.

Does a burning desire to write a book light a fire in your belly? Have you already begun to write but self-doubts have conquered your self-confidence? Do you have all the material ready to write but don’t know how to assemble it together?

I wrote Manuscript to Market to answer these very questions and more. I’m an editor who polished others’ books for publication. I never in a million years thought that I would write a book, yet I’ve now published four. I know what it feels like to write and then hand over my hours of inspiration (and perspiration) to someone else to get feedback from. Will they like it? Will they loathe it?

I wrote Manuscript to Market in response to a number of prompts.

The first came from a business colleague. He said if I was going into business as a book editor, I’d better write a book to show I knew what I was talking about. So, for all you businesspeople out there, let me tell you – writing a book is a business card on steroids! I have sold so many of my books to prospective authors and they now think I’m an expert.

Am I the only book editor around, or even the best? No, but I’m the only one they have met who can tell them what they need to know. This adds to my credibility and their reassurance. So, if you’re in business and want a product that does the marketing work for you, write a book. (How do you do that? Read mine!)

The second prompt came from my first-time author clients. They had great stories, engaging characters and dramatic plotlines, but few knew how to construct a good story arc with an appropriate pace, many didn’t know who they were writing for, and marketing ... well, isn’t that what the publisher does? Knowing how little some of these authors know about the book publishing world about understanding how they feel about their work motivated me to help them.

Every author I have worked with regards their book (rightly) as if it were their baby – precious, delicate, valuable. This gave me the structure for my book. From the birth of your baby (where the idea is in the head) to going to school (finding your editor) to dressing up (cover design, layout) and graduating (publishing), Manuscript to Market is a step-by-step guide to getting the idea in your head to a book in the hand.

Available at Susan’s website.

Australian Society of Authors Guide to the Australian Book Industry

The Australian Society of Authors (ASP) has just released their 2023-24 Guide to the Australian Book Industry. The book contains the following elements:

Industry organisations

• Industry newsletters

• Literary magazines and journals

• Literary podcasts

• Reading communities

• Sensitivity readers

• Literary agents

• Trade publishers

• International book fairs

• Literary festivals

Funding your work

• Grants

• Residencies and fellowships

• Competitions

• Literary Prizes

Publicising your work

• Book publicists

• Book review services

• Bookshops for events

• Speaker agencies

Understanding self-publishing

• Self-publishing service providers

• Custom publishers

• Print book distributors

• Printers

The book is free with an ASA membership, which is not cheap, but certainly worth considering if you are serious about your writing life. Another ASA title available in Kindle format is the Guide to Getting Published: Understanding and navigating Australia's book industry, available from Amazon.

Manuscript Assessment Agency

If you have completed a first draft of your manuscript, but are unsure of the next step and need experienced guidance, the services of the Manuscript Appraisal Agency are worth considering. Their menu consists of the following:

In the highly competitive world of publishing, getting your manuscript read, assessed and/or edited can be the first step to finding success. The Manuscript Appraisal Agency can help you take those first publishing steps, getting your manuscript ready for agents, traditional publishers, and self-publishing.

We offer:

• Manuscript Appraisals (assessments)

• Editing (structural editing, copy editing and proof reading)

• Publishing Consultancy 

• Author Mentoring

The MAA is an ethical service, not an entry point to a vanity press.

Australian Newsletter for Independent Authors

Thorpe-Bowker publishes an interesting newsletter on the independent publishing scene. Free subscription link here.

Introducing Euan Mitchell, Editor...

We highly recommend the experienced services of Euan Mitchell, an editor with a wealth of experience in large publishing houses and with independent authors. In the words of one of his author clients:

““Working with Dr Euan Mitchell was a wonderful experience. His knowledge and excellent advice have guided me to where I am now, with a growing number of readers. Some of the most positive feedback has been how well-edited, flawless and easy-to-read my novel is. This helped my readers to focus on enjoying the story and, for that, I cannot thank Euan enough. If you want someone to bring the best out of your work at a reasonable price, I highly recommend Dr Mitchell.””

— Homeira Soufi, author of The Tears of Mount Sinjar

How a Browser Works

Ever wondered how your browser really works (or doesn’t, in some cases)? The Chrome-focused article linked here dives pretty deep into the underlying processes that keep your window to the Internet open.

DIY renders of 3D book covers (free)

Boxshot invites users to upload their book cover and spine, then fiddle with a variety of controls to arrive at a striking 3D rendering of said cover. The basic offering is free, with a paid version offering more bells and whistles.

“This 3D book cover generator is constantly rendering a realistic book model with the pictures you loaded. Every time you move the camera or change a parameter — the rendering starts from the beginning. It may take some time for the noise to come away and you get a nice and clear 3D image.”

— Boxshot website

Banner Day for Kathryn Gauci

Independent authors appearing at author events sometimes need additional branded material. Kathryn Gauci wanted her banners to stand out, featuring the covers, an atmospheric background, a selection of her awards and her web address. She kindly sent us a few photographs taken at a recent event.

Books Go Social service for Independent Authors

Books Go Social occupies a niche I have been interested in for a while — helping independent authors unfamiliar with social media to promote their books.

They offer:

• Assistance with Amazon advertising

• Editing of book descriptions

• Netgalley campaigns

• Assistance with email campaigns

• Facebook advertising

• Focus on the UK and US markets only, the two largest English speaking markets

According to their introduction: “Our Amazon and Facebook Ads for authors have received over three hundred million impressions (views) by readers. You will reach more readers with us. We advertise books on Amazon US and UK and have 11 Twitter accounts with 450,867 real followers (Nov, 2021 count). We also can email your book offers to 150,000+ readers. And our YouTube channel has 1,000+ followers who can see any book trailer or video interview you send us.”

“We know where the most effective places to run ads are for your book, and how to build your long-term monthly royalties and your career as a writer.”

Google Reviews are generally positive, and the business responds to comments. A representative sample: “I've used Books Go Social the past few years for a number of services, and they consistently over-deliver. The Books Go Social team is fast and efficient at helping authors figure out how to move their books into the marketplace and get them selling.”

The package prices are not exorbitant, and may be worth trying when you have done your due diligence…

A Directory of AI Tools

With the advent of ChatGPT and Midjourney, natural language AI tools are going seriously mainstream. Futurepedia does yeoman’s work of cataloguing the ongoing explosion of AI powered tools.

Prominent YouTuber Tom Scott thinks this may the beginning of a wave that transforms work and everything else.

An Amazon Tale: He Fought for His Royalties, and (Eventually) Won ....

A very dogged author relates his trying experiences with Amazon KDP and organising the payment of royalties. He does arrive at a solution, but only through sheer persistence:

“Amazon is probably the best outlet for Indie authors, but manage your expectations when dealing with their customer service.

Their help/assistance/advice to me was either inconsistent, vague, given in Amazon’s internal technical speak, incomplete, or simply wrong.

I put my latest novel up on Amazon as I did with my previous two, only this time, I put both eBook and paperback on all markets, not just Australia.

When sales started occurring, I followed those on my KDP account site.  I found their reports informative and helpful.  They gave me statistics for each marketplace and the estimated royalties.

When my Australian royalties started arriving in my Australian bank account by EFT, I thought I would find out why my sales in the other markets were not reaching me.

I then discovered those royalties could not be paid by EFT into my Australian bank account, only by cheque or wire.  Then I found that not only could an EFT transfer not happen, but that Amazon had a withdrawal threshold of 100 units for each market, e.g. US$100, CA$100, €100, or £100.

None of my book royalties in any market outside Australia is ever likely to break these thresholds, e.g. Canada royalties were CA$2.88, Eurozone (Germany)  €7.80.  So, I put the question to Amazon – how do I ever get paid these royalties?

Amazon suggested I open an account with Payoneer for each marketplace, which I did.  So, Amazon from each marketplace could now transfer my royalties to those Payoneer accounts.  However, my problem then became twofold:

1. Payoneer does not have a banking arrangement with UK or Canadian banks. So these royalties could not be transferred to my Payoneer accounts.

2. Then I discovered that Payoneer also has a withdrawal threshold of US$50 per transfer.

Finally, a solution:

1.  In your KDP account go to the Getting paid tab.

2. In your non-US/non-Australian accounts, change your payment method to your US$ account and transfer any outstanding royalties in those other non-US accounts to the US$ account.

3. Under your Amazon US account, click and highlight every tag except Amazon.com.au.

4. All royalties from sales in all those other marketplaces will now be currency converted into your US$ account.

5. If or when your US$ account balance reaches above US$100 you can transfer to your Australian bank account.

6. In my case, I have my Amazon US$ account balance transferred to my Payoneer US$ account (lower withdrawal threshold). Amazon’s US$100 withdrawal threshold does not apply here.”

Author Solutions Scams

Author Solutions is a vanity press publisher with a very bad reputation. David Gaughran recently detailed the way their scam works. Author Solutions is behind imprints such iUniverse, AuthorHouse, Trafford, Partridge, Balboa, Westbow and Xlibris. All make unfulfillable promises and charge unconscionable amounts for dubious / pointless services. Self Publishing dot com also goes into even more detail. Author Solutions even games search results so authors who search for “author solutions scams” are directed to more Author Solutions scam pages! Dudley Court Press details some recent lawsuits against Author Solutions.

Recommended texts for Independent authors:

Independent authors are faced with a bewildering new world when they attempt to promote their books on snd offline. The following authors and sources do an excellent job of making sense of the contemporary publishing and promotional landscape, and all are worth reading.

Euan Mitchell's Your Book Publishing Options

How to Be an Author from Fremantle Press

Let's Get Digital by David Gaughran

Ricardo Fayet's How to Market an ebook

Amazon Ads Unleashed by Robert J. Ryan

Amazon Selling Services from Helium 10

Author 2.0 Blueprint by Joanna Penn

Online Resources and Advice for Independent Authors

If you are a veteran writer who has been in the industry before the internet boom, you may already have known what it was like when writers had to struggle with writing and even more so trying to find a good publisher. This could be why the market stayed relatively small. At least for the talented ones with limited resources and had geographical challenges.

Fortunately, nowadays, with some knowledge and the willingness to labor for your niche and craft, you finally get the opportunity. That is the chance to be able to reach an audience base that would otherwise have taken you forever to find.

 Let's look into some of our recommendations of the best sources on resources for Independent Authors.

Let's Get Digital: How to Self-Publish, And Why You Should (Fourth Edition) (Let's Get Publishing Book 1) by David Gaughran

About the author:
Apart from being an author of a practical guide such as "Let's Get Digital," David writes historical fiction and science-fiction books under a pen name. This particular book has undergone revisions to meet the needs of the self-publishing writer of today, And it includes bonus resources as well. His engaging writing style is simple enough to understand but not to the point of being too simplistic. He covers the essential basics such as:

• Using tried and tested marketing strategies that work to increase sales of your book

• Getting the best editors without spending a ton.

• Attracting more readers by improving how your brand is presented.

• Making your eBooks easy to find, and so much more.

Our Take:

This book will help the new writer who wants to do it right the first time. That is, getting discovered and earning well in the process. Remarkably, it doesn't only cater to newbies but will also be a helpful resource for the more experienced writer who needs updates to this ever-changing landscape of internet publishing.

Overall, this resource is as comprehensive and as informative as you can get. It is a complete go-to reference for both the new and veteran writers alike.

How to Market a Book: Overperform in a Crowded Market (Reedsy Marketing Guides Book 1) by Ricardo Fayet

Ricardo Fayet is an author/consultant and co-founder of Reedsy, an online marketplace that connects authors with editors, cover designers, translators, and publishers. The platform has been successfully helping hundreds in marketing, online ads, growing their mailing lists, and establishing news streams of income.

About the Book

The book itself is a comprehensive distillation of years of coaching and teaching writers to become full-time authors and eventually make a good living out of their writing skills. Just be aware that some points of view of this author are not of an independent publishing writer since he works as a marketer and concentrates on the publishing business.

Nevertheless, you will find everything you need in this book on how to maximize the tools of the internet to snag better revenue and increase readership. He even includes essential tips on logo design to make your book appear even more attractive.

Our take:

This book is all about finding your market and growing it-a practical way of looking at things to help you keep your passion by being profitable too.

Amazon Ads Unleashed: Advanced Publishing and Marketing Strategies for Indie Authors (Self-publishing Guide.) by Robert J Ryan

This book goes into reaching in and tapping into a buying audience and converting clicks into sales. It also talks about what types of ads to avoid and the best practices for optimization. It does a no-nonsense look at how Amazon Ads works. Most of the time, it challenges the effectiveness of Amazon ads and offers methods on how to maximize them and make them work for you.

It takes on a more rigid stance compared to the softer views of other books. Nevertheless, being on top in sales rank and being one of the best sellers in this category does make it a credible source. This is especially if the friend who recommends it to you has already doubled their revenue.

Our Take:

If this book is recommended and in itself has sold more than the others of the same category, then it should be a must-have. Never mind that it is hard to read, provided that it is rich in reference and is an expert in the subject matter at hand, it will profit the author both in the short and long term.

Amazon Selling Services from Helium 10

Helium 10 is an all-in-one Amazon software that will help you sell your self-published book. Assembly recently acquired this software in 2019, which was aimed at helping small businesses increase their revenue through the use of content, education, and community. This software makes use of state-of-the-art resources that contain optimization tools that are intuitive and useful to help you grow your business.

It focuses on research and boosting the visibility of your product in the Amazon search engine.

Our Take:

Helium 10 doesn't claim to produce great listings directly, nor does it promise to increase your revenue for you automatically. But with its advanced management tools puts you in a position that will give you all the opportunities to promote your product on the world's bestselling platform. Not to mention that, currently, Helium 10 is an industry leader in its category today.

With over 1+ million users and 4 billion+ in monthly Amazon GMV, it lets its numbers speak for themselves. And for writers who like real-time marketing leverage using technology, this software is precisely what you need.

The Creative Penn with Joanna Penn

A bestselling author of New York Times and USA Today, Joanna Penn is also a podcaster, speaker, and an awarded entrepreneur. Enough said about her credibility. Ms. Penn has authored over 30 books and sold more than 600,000 copies in 162 countries, translated into 5 languages.

She is offering her book for aspiring writers entitled: "Author 2.0 Blueprint".

She has her website "The Creative Penn."m where she aims to help writers learn the basics of building a "platform" to market a book. She shares her personal experience over the past few years, detailing how she effectively marketed her book and generated and still generates sales as a best-selling author.

Our Take:

Her book "Author 2.0" is now available for free of which can be downloaded directly from her site after you sign up. The book itself is not about writing your best but how to market after writing your masterwork. Learning the pros and cons of publishing with necessary apparatuses like advances, contacts, and royalties, all these coming from the pro herself, is definitely worth the read.

Conclusion

Today, the book publishing landscape for authors has been turned on its head, as it carries both opportunities and some risks. Even minute details like logo design may make or break your masterpiece Self-publishing has finally arrived. And investing in your education on how to do it ultimately pays well in the long run.

Writer: Kieran Fallon is the owner of Logo Design company Éire Graphic Design. We are here to help your organization become more memorable through designing striking logos, eye-grabbing flyers, posters that pop, exciting animated emails and dynamic lightweight digital advertising campaigns – always backed by flexible and insightful support.