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Category Archives: self publishing news

Three Free Amazon Marketing Options Prepare Self-Publishing Authors An Easy Way to Realize Their New Year’s Resolutions

03 Jan

Authors who start with Outskirts Press by choosing the Diamond, full-color Pearl, or Ruby publishing packages will receive over $300 of Amazon marketing options free: an Amazon Kindle edition of their published book, Amazon’s “Search Inside the Book” submission service, and the Amazon Keyword Search tagging function once their book is listed on Amazon.com.  These authors will also receive a free copy of the Amazon bestseller Sell Your Book on Amazon by Brent Sampson.

“This bundled marketing package is not available with any other publisher,” said Outskirts Press Vice President Kelly Schuknecht.  “Taking advantage of these proven Amazon promotional functions is the perfect — and perfectly economical — way for authors to launch their book sales with gusto by choosing to publish now with Outskirts Press.”

The first prong of the Outskirts Press triple marketing approach is a free Kindle edition of the author’s book.  An Amazon Kindle edition is a way to offer one’s book to the fast growing audience of Kindle e-book reading device owners.  Amazon Kindle sales topped 1 million per week in December 2011.  Because Amazon.com customers still love reading actual books, Kindle is an inexpensive way for them to sample a book before buying the paperback or hardback edition.  This is especially true for their readers who love fiction.

With Amazon’s Search Inside the Book feature, the second Outskirts Press marketing tool in this package, authors can also dramatically increase their chances to sell their books.  Amazon has found that books that participate in this program are significantly more successful, on average, than books that do not participate.  Being able to browse through sections of the book increases the confidence the customer has in the product and makes it far more likely they’ll purchase a copy of the book.

The third marketing strategy of the Outskirts Press marketing package is the Amazon Keyword Search tagging service.  Customers who are looking to buy a book are not usually familiar with an author’s name or even the title of the book.  They search instead by keywords or phrases that describe their interest.  Books participating in this option are “tagged” with ten applicable terms and keywords on Amazon’s Product Detail page.  This encourages other visitors to “tag” the book with the same keywords or phrases and this can give more weight to those terms – and hence the author’s book – in Amazon’s search results.

Authors who wish to take advantage of the Outskirts Press Amazon Extreme marketing package only need to enter the valid promotional code, available on the Outskirts Press website at www.outskirtspress.com/promotion.html, while they order their publishing package and place it in their online shopping cart.

 
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Posted by on January 3, 2012 in self publishing news

 

5 Reasons to Use a Self-Publishing Company in 2012

31 Dec

In my previous article, I mentioned that self-publishing requires creativity, effort and innovation in order to tell your story. Simply putting pen to paper is not enough – the final product should be personable as well as professional.

Ironic, isn’t it?

So most of us can write a memoir easily – one that can impress upon everyone that can relate to our story. But don’t forget – a self-publishing book should be as professional as a book from a publishing house.

Why does it matter? Simply put – readers have standards! No one would like to buy a book with an unprofessional cover, or a book with a poorly formatted interior. When you use a self-publishing company, you don’t have to worry about these “issues”. Why not? Here are the top reasons:

  • You don’t have to design your books yourself. We have designed and produced thousands of books, and you can benefit from this experience.
  • We provide you with necessary guidance to make sure your end product is unique and fits requirements.
  • You don’t have to worry about publishing and dealing with different agents for each task. We can do it all for you.
  • We make self-publishing affordable with different packages.
  • You can find your own voice. Instead of traditional publishing houses that want you to produce information that works for them, we suggest you to publish what works for you.

Self-publishing companies can provide a decisive edge to your final product.

Have you set a resolution to publish your own book in 2012? Let’s talk…

 
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Posted by on December 31, 2011 in Advice, self publishing news

 

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Outskirts Press Announces Winner of the free Amazon Kindle in Their 25 Days of Christmas Contest

27 Dec

Outskirts Press, America’s fastest growing self-publishing and book marketing company, announced today the results of its drawing from the among its thousands of Facebook fans.  Jerry Weaver of Panama City Beach, FL will be going “Ho, ho, ho” all the way to his mailbox to pick up his new Amazon Kindle e-Reader.

“We hope Jerry will have many hours of reading pleasure from the new Kindle e-Reader,” said Outskirts Press CEO Brent Sampson.  “Our authors and our fans all love the written word, and it’s our pleasure to present Jerry with this Christmas gift and to thank all of our enthusiastic fans for “liking” us on Facebook.  Happy holidays to all!”

The new Amazon Kindle e-Reader is a high tech treasure for any 21st century reader.  Millions of books, newspapers, magazines, games and documents can be downloaded with this handy device, and one has access, as well, to the archives of the many libraries that now lend out their volumes to be read on e-Readers.  Amazon even has its own lending library now, where readers have access to thousands of books, including more than a hundred current and former New York Times bestsellers.  Those readers who might sometimes be forgetful will incur no past due fees from the Amazon library either.

For lovers of the world’s greatest literature, there are free downloads of pre-1923 out-of-copyright classics such as Pride and Prejudice and The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.  The Open Library, Project Gutenberg and ManyBooks.net offer more than a million other titles ready for free download to a Kindle e-Reader, as well.

The new Kindle is lighter and more compact than ever.  It weighs just six ounces and fits handily in any pocket or small purse.  It holds fourteen hundred books at a time – one’s own personal library – and the new E Ink screen reads as easily as real paper.  There is no glare, and one can read as clearly outside under a bright sun as in the muted light of one’s own living room.

A single charge of the batteries keeps readers turning pages for up to a month – made all the easier with Kindle’s faster new page turner function — and there is always free WI FI access at AT&T hotspots across the country.  One can also connect to WI FI hotspots at home or on the road.  One can also e-mail personal documents or PDF’s direct to a Kindle for viewing and annotation while away from one’s pc.

For all authors wishing their books were available on the Amazon Kindle, Outskirts Press also offers an Amazon Kindle edition service, available conveniently at this link, just in time to start 2012 off right: http://outskirtspress.com/p/kindle.

 
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Posted by on December 27, 2011 in contests, self publishing news

 

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Outskirts Press Christmas Drawing Offers Free Kindle, Nook and iPad Prizes

06 Dec

We are celebrating our writers and Facebook fans with our 25 Days of Christmas contest. 

The twelve days of Christmas expand this year to twenty-five in Outskirts Press’ 25 Days of Christmas contest that awards a Kindle, a Nook or an iPad2 in a drawing from the publisher’s Facebook fans who “Like” them from December 1st to the 25th.

The more fans that “Like” Outskirts Press’ Facebook page at http://facebook.com/outskirtspress, the better the self-publisher’s giveaway will be.

  • If there are 5,000 fans or less by Christmas day, Outskirts Press will have one random drawing from among all its fans to see who wins a free Amazon Kindle.
  • If there are between 5,001 and 10,000 fans, there will be two random drawings; one for a free Amazon Kindle and one for a free Barnes & Noble Nook.
  • If over 10,000 fans have “Liked” Outskirts Press, there will be three random drawings: one for a free Amazon Kindle; one for a free Barnes & Noble Nook; and one for a free iPad2.

 

 

“Tis better to give than to receive,” said Outskirts Press Vice President Kelly Schuknecht.  “This is a way of saying Happy Holidays to our authors and fans from all of us here at Outskirts Press.”

Any of the three e-readers that are available to be drawn on Christmas Day will make a perfect gift for a lover of the written word.

The new Amazon Kindle is a lighter, smaller and faster version of its renowned earlier models.  It weighs only six ounces, and while it has the same six inch screen, its body is eighteen percent smaller and fits easily into a pocket.  It has a built in Wi-Fi®, has a high contrast E Ink® display that allows reading for extended periods without eyestrain, and its battery holds a charge for up to one month.

The new Barnes & Noble Nook allows readers to touch, open a book, make the type bigger, look up words, organize one’s library, lend a book or shop for new titles.  It has a breakthrough E Ink® display with a Best-Text™ function that reads just like a paper, even in the bright sun.  More than two and a half million books are available instantly with the built in Wi-Fi® and, as with the Amazon Kindle, one can borrow books from one’s public library, as well.

The Apple iPad2 is the crème de la crème of Outskirts Press 25 Days of Christmas e-reader gifts this year.  It is only a third of an inch deep, weighs as little as one and a third pounds and allows users to surf the web, check e-mail, watch movies and take pictures.  There are, in fact, two cameras on the device: one on the front that shows the user’s face as he or she talks via the device, another on the back that can be used to pass on a look at one’s surroundings as one talks.

And, yes, the iPad2 can also be used to download and read books, periodicals and other texts — just like the Kindle and the Nook.

Authors are being encouraged to click the “Like” button themselves for the Outskirts Press Facebook page and then to tell all their writer friends to do the same in order to increase their chances of winning.

The drawing(s) will take place and the winner(s) will be notified on Christmas Day, December 25th.

Go ahead. Like us. http://www.facebook.com/OutskirtsPress

 
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Posted by on December 6, 2011 in contests, self publishing news

 

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National Print Advertising Possible for Self-Publishing Authors Via Co-Op Programs

30 Nov

Cost is a major barrier to advertising self published book in national magazines. Outskirts Press has recognized this pain point and introduces a new suite of co-op advertising options available for all authors to share in the cost of promoting their book nation-wide in prestigious magazines and newspapers.

Self-publishing authors often face the big challenge of spreading the word about their book. Often, this can be a costly venture – especially when utilizing more traditional methods, such as print advertising.

This can be rather discouraging for new authors who are looking for a cost-effective method to promote their book. On top of that, uncertain economic times have caused authors to understandably avoid going into debt to promote their books. However, this often means they aren’t able to advertise at all.

To solve this problem for all authors, Outskirts Press has developed a solution that allows self-published authors to share the cost of single, full-page ads in prestigious trade and consumer magazines like:

  1. Boston Review – With over 30,000 intellectual readers
  2. ForeWord Magazine – With over 10,000 influential book buyers
  3. Publishers Weekly – With over 80,000 book enthusiasts
  4. Spirituality & Health – With over 85,000 affluent and spiritual book buyers

Self-publishing authors who market their book through the co-op ad program receive premium, full-color exposure for their book in a 2″ x 2.5″ space along with other select titles within a full-color, full-page ad designed by Outskirts Press. Each ad space features relevant information including the book’s title, byline, cover image, short summary, ISBN, and URL for purchase.

“We are excited to offer all self-publishing authors a more affordable alternative to expensive magazine ads,” said Elise Connors, Manager of Author Support at Outskirts Press. “The co-op ad program offers a budget-friendly model that puts book marketing in reach for even the most cost-conscious author.”

Self-publishing authors who are ready to promote their books to potentially hundreds of thousands of new readers and professionals around the world should visit http://outskirtspress.com/marketing now to reserve space in the next available magazine of their choice.

 
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Posted by on November 30, 2011 in self publishing news

 

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An Amazon-branded Featured Book-of-the-Week Option Offers 3 Key Benefits to Self-Publishing Authors

16 Nov

One of the biggest marketing challenges for authors is generating awareness about their book. Readers have to know a book exists in order to buy it. Outskirts Press has introduced a new book marketing option that puts a self-publishing author’s book in front of over 6,000 potential buyers: the Amazon-branded Featured Book-of-the-Week.

The new Amazon-branded Featured Book-of-the-Week options is a direct marketing campaign to over 6,000 opt-in recipients, all readers, writers, and professionals.  The email features the featured book’s cover image and title as well as an easy to access link for readers to purchase the book directly from Amazon. In addition to the email, each featured book-of-the-week is featured on the Outskirts Press blog and broadcast to Outskirts Press’ social media community via Facebook and Twitter.

“Getting your book in front of readers is an essential part of any book marketing strategy,” said Elise Connors, Manager of Author Support at Outskirts Press. “This new option provides authors with an easy and affordable way to do just that.”

What benefits can a self-publishing author gain from signing up for the Amazon-branded Featured Book-of-the-Week?

  1. Increased Exposure – The Featured Book-of-the-Week is sent to over 6,000 email subscribers, nearly 3,000 Facebook users, and more than 1,000 Twitter followers.
  2. No Effort Marketing – All authors have to do is reserve their Friday. Outskirts Press handles the promotion from there.
  3. Effective Marketing Techniques – Social media and email marketing are two of the most effective marketing strategies in today’s technology-obsessed society. Not only does this option increase a book’s exposure, but it also provides readers with the convenience of online shopping and internet book reviews.
Are you ready to reserve your feature?
 
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Posted by on November 16, 2011 in self publishing news

 

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Two Free Book Marketing Services for Self-Publishing Authors

02 Nov

You spoke. We listened. For the third time!

In September, self-publishing authors voted in a Web 2.0 poll on our blog where feedback was solicited on three choices for the next month’s promotion: an instant 10% savings on publishing services, $300 of “Mad Money” to spend on any pre-production option the author desires or free Amazon Search Inside and Barnes & Noble See Inside submissions after publication.

The first choice, Mad Money, was offered as the publishing package promotion during the month of October.  Now Outskirts Press listens to voters again this month by offering their second choice. With the Search Inside and See Inside features, authors can dramatically increase their chances to sell their books.  Amazon has found that books that participate in this program are significantly more successful, on average, than books that do not participate.  Being able to browse through sections of the book increases the confidence the customer has in the product and makes it far more likely they’ll purchase a copy of the book, whether they are browsing on Amazon or Barnes and Noble websites.

Authors who purchase the Diamond, Ruby or Pearl book publishing packages in November will be rewarded with two of the most popular marketing options available through Outskirts Press: Amazon Search Inside and Barnes & Noble See Inside.

For more information or to take advantage of this promotion, visit www.outskirtspress.com/promotion.html.  You must purchase a Diamond, Ruby or Pearl book publishing package in the month of November. At check out, simply enter the promo code LookInside11-2011. The marketing options will be added to your purchase at no cost.

Ready to start publishing and get free book marketing for your book? Let’s talk…

 
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Posted by on November 2, 2011 in self publishing news

 

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4 Reasons to Distribute Your Self-Published Book on the Barnes & Noble NOOK

25 Oct

Outskirts Press, an Inc. 5000 company, and the fastest-growing self-publishing and book marketing firm, today announced the release of the Barnes & Noble NOOK Submission service. This new service will allow all authors, regardless of whether they have published with Outskirts Press or not, to increase their royalty revenue and reader accessibility by making their book available for the growing number of NOOK e-book readers. Here are four reasons you should consider publishing your book on the Barnes & Noble NOOK:

  1. It is Revolutionary. The Barnes & Noble NOOK is an innovative wireless reading device that allows its owner to instantly download books and newspapers. However, only books that have been submitted via the required process and format are available for NOOK readers to purchase and enjoy. The NOOK is changing how consumers buy and read books; you can stay ahead of this trend by offering your book in this popular format.
  2. It Increases Your Exposure. When you offer your book in the NOOK format, it appears on the Barnes & Noble search page, along with any other formats of your book as paperback and hardcover. This extra link increases your exposure, which increase the possibility of a sale. Plus, Barnes & Noble has a huge reader base, so you are gaining access to a large pool of potential buyers.
  3. It is 100% Profit. Unlike Nook submissions through other publishers or portals, this new submission service from Outskirts Press keeps none of the author’s e-book royalties. Barnes & Noble will still take their share, but the rest of your profit will be directly deposited into your checking account by Barnes & Noble, without any royalty split from Outskirts Press.
  4. The Process is Easy. Turning your book into a NOOK edition is as simple as visiting http://outskirtspress.com/p/nook. You simply add the NOOK option to your shopping cart and Outskirts Press will handle the rest, getting the necessary information from you and taking care of all the technicalities involved with creating and uploading the .epub format to Barnes & Noble. Your book will be available within four weeks. It is that easy.

“We are excited to offer this long-awaited option to all self-published authors,” said Elise Connors, Manager of Author Support at Outskirts Press. “This, paired with the addition of our Amazon Kindle and Apple iPad editions, really rounds out our suite of electronic publishing services.”

Visit http://outskirtspress.com/p/nook to publish your book on the Barnes & Noble NOOK today.

 
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Posted by on October 25, 2011 in self publishing news

 

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5 Tools for Building Your Author Platform with Promotional Materials

11 Oct

Book promotion is an essential part of the publishing process. Readers and sellers must be aware of your book before they can make the decision to purchase it. The Promotional Materials Package provides authors with all of the print materials necessary to successfully market a book. Here are five of the most popular print materials and how they can launch your author platform above all of the rest:

1. Business Cards – These are good for handing out at events, brand building opportunities. They are both convenient and traditional with full-color dimensions of 2” x 2.5”.

2. 25 Posters – These 11 x 17 posters are great ways to promote current events.

3. Bookmarks – Though small, bookmarks are rather valuable and very few people throw away bookmarks.

4. Publication Announcements — In this day and age of email, receiving a notice in the mail has a high perceived value.

5. Postcards – These make for a quick and easy mailing that not only promotes your book but also allows you to share a quick hand-written note with family, friends, and acquaintances.

The goal of this package is to help authors market their books, which in turn allows them to profit from their hard work as well as spread the message in their books.

Regardless of where an author’s book is published, this package can help with achieving promotional goals. A solid author platform can encourage readers to purchase your book. The promotional materials available in the Promotional Materials Package can help authors realize their true marketing potential by aiding in the building of that platform.

To learn more about this package and other services offered by Outskirts Press, please visit www.outskirtspress.com.

Are you ready to start building your author platform?

 
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Posted by on October 11, 2011 in self publishing news

 

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Get Paid to Publish Your Book in October!

04 Oct

How would you like to get paid to publish your book – even before any sales are made?

Outskirts Press, the fastest-growing full-service self-publishing and book marketing company, today announced the return of their popular “Mad Money” promotion. Authors who purchase the Diamond or full-color Pearl book publishing packages in October are rewarded with a credit of $300 applied to their Outskirts Press shopping cart accounts. The $300 of “mad money” can be applied toward any production or marketing option offered by Outskirts Press, including official copyright registration, custom cover design, the Amazon Extreme package, or many others.

Outskirts Press $300 Mad MoneySelf-publishing authors voted in a Web 2.0 poll on the publisher’s blog where their feedback was solicited on three choices for the October 2011 promotion: an instant 10% savings on our publishing services, $300 of “Mad Money” to spend on any pre-production option the author desires, or free Amazon Search Inside and Barnes & Noble See Inside submissions after publication.

“It was a close race between 2 of the 3 options, with the Mad Money promotion squeaking out a very narrow victory,” stated Outskirts Press CEO and Inc. 5000 Honoree, Brent Sampson during the announcement. “$300 in additional production or marketing options goes a long way toward publishing an extraordinary, award-winning book for extraordinary, award-winning authors.”

For more information about Mad Money Month, including the necessary promotion code to receive $300 in spending money, visit: http://outskirtspress.com/monthly_promotion.html

About Outskirts Press: Outskirts Press offers high-quality, full-service self-publishing and book marketing services for writers and professionals who are seeking a cost-effective, fast, and flexible way to publish and distribute their books worldwide while retaining 100% of their rights, 100% of their profits, and 100% of the creative control. www.outskirtspress.com.

# # #

Outskirts Press, Inc., 10940 S. Parker Rd. – 515, Parker, Colorado 80134
http://outskirtspress.com 1-888-OP-BOOKS

Ready to get paid to publish your book?

 
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Posted by on October 4, 2011 in self publishing news

 

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