Admittedly, I left out some details on purpose!

It would be too easy to give out everything at once!

So following up from my last post, I will tell you how you, as a self-publisher, can take advantage of the Espresso Book Machine (EBM).

Espresso Book Machine allows instant ordering and printing of your self-published book at numerous locations (currently including universities and libraries across the world). A simple process allows patrons to quickly order your book from a collection of over 7 million books, available in digital format.

The process has been simplified to keep overhead costs low, and improve user experience. This innovation has been awarded the Time Magazine’s reputed “Invention of the Year” award, bringing a personalized ordering and reading experience to your nearest library, and coffee-shops.

Neal’s self-published book – The Adventures of Chip Doolin has captured the hearts of many readers that have left positive feedback for Neal’s work. You can check out Neal’s book at Amazon’s Kindle store.

You are probably wondering as to how Neal did it, and perhaps if you could use the same technique to launch your self-published book.

Before I tell you that, here is another quick fact about the book’s ranking, as of when I’m writing this post: The Adventures of Chip Doolin is ranked #8 in Amazon’s paid Kindle store in the Baseball category. Pretty cool, right?

So here is how Neal did it:

He gave it away for free.

Seriously.

One fine Sunday morning, Neal gave away his book for free – just for one day. By giving away something for free, that otherwise costs nearly $7, Neal managed to draw in huge crowd of readers, thus catapulting his book into Amazon’s best seller list.

So did he actually lose out on any sales? I don’t have any numbers to prove or disprove this, but offering something for free and then selling it further actually entices more people to purchase. The simple reason that everyone is reading the book (hence the book is on Amazon’s best seller list) as well as purchasing it justifies many readers opening up their wallets to make a purchase.

Several authors have attained great success from selling Kindle-ready books.

Are you interested in becoming a bestseller? We can help make that happen.

Amazon Kindle Edition The Amazon Kindle is a revolutionary wireless reading device that allows its owners to instantly download books and newspapers. This is the new way that people are buying books. However, only books that have been submitted to the Amazon Kindle via the required process and in the required format are available for Kindle readers to purchase and enjoy.

What are you waiting for? Order your Kindle Edition Today and become a bestseller!

The top-ranking options are determined by how many self-published authors sign up for them. Many of these products and services are even available to authors who did not publish with Outskirts Press. Visit our Marketing Solutions page to view the growing list of available book marketing options.

These are the marketing products and services determined to be most popular by our authors for November 2011 — listed below in alphabetical order:

Amazon-branded featured book-of-the-week This option helps you to get your book featured in an email sent directly to over 6,000 of our published writers. The book is also featured exclusively in a posting on our Outskirts Press blog as the featured Book-of-the-Week with an call-to-action Amazon order page.

Amazon Extreme Package This is a package deal that lets you save 25% on three amazing marketing tactics centered around Amazon: The Amazon Kindle Edition, Search Inside the Book, and the Keyword Search Submission Service. Plus a free copy of the Amazon best selling book, Sell Your Book on Amazon.

Amazon Kindle Edition The Amazon Kindle is a revolutionary wireless reading device that allows its owners to instantly download books and newspapers. This is the new way that people are buying books. However, only books that have been submitted to the Amazon Kindle via the required process and in the required format are available for Kindle readers to purchase and enjoy.

Amazon Search Inside the Book This service allows your potential buyer to browse your book online just as they would in a “traditional” bookstore. This alleviates a lot of the the anxiety associated with purchasing books online.

Barnes & Noble NOOK Edition This option will allow you to join 2 MILLION other books at Barnes & Noble NOOK store, showcasing your books in an untapped, and growing market of readers.

Barnes & Noble See Inside This option will allow you to turn Barnes&Noble browsers into buyers by allowing online shoppers to view select pages of your book digitally from the BN.com website.

Book Blast This package includes five of our most popular (and most effective) marketing services, making for very well-rounded book marketing solution. Every Book Blast comes with: a Custom Press Release, PR Publicist Campaign, Book Review Submission Service, Book Video Trailer, and 5 hours with a Personal Marketing Assistant for one price.

Custom Press Release Have our professional press release writer compose an original, unique press release for your book, submitted to you for your review/approval, and then distributed to our news wire service on your behalf.

Personal Marketing Assistant With this option, you can get help on developing a marketing plan, establishing your author platform, book signings as well as assistance with marketing campaigns lead follow-up.

Readers Views Literary Award By ordering this marketing package, you get a chance to become eligible to enter and win a Literary Award. As part of this package, you will also receive expert marketing assistance from renowned marketing experts.

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Is it time to get published and start receiving book marketing services like this?

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.

Although ePublishing offers very few barriers to entry, some authors still postpone offering their book via electronic channels. Why? More often than not, they are intimidated by the formatting and distribution process. That’s where Outskirts Press comes in. We offer a full suite of electronic publishing services available to all authors – regardless of where their book is published. In addition to our Amazon Kindle and Apple iPad formats, we now offer a Barnes & Noble NOOK edition for authors who wish to offer their eBook for sale through B&N’s distribution network.

When authors purchase this option, they experience the white glove service that is promised to any and all authors who purchase any self-publishing or book marketing services from Outskirts Press. We handle all of the “heavy lifting” (i.e. eBook conversion and formatting, submission to B&N’s distribution network, etc.) for you, and you earn all of the money. You can learn more about or place your order for this option by visiting our Barnes & Noble NOOK edition page.

Ready to get started?

Award season is looming. This is a busy time for self-publishing authors. As the top self-publishing and book marketing company, we like to keep our authors abreast of award season happenings – including deadlines and ways to save on entry fees, etc.

The below information was extracted directly from the International Book Awards website:

The 3rd Annual International Book Awards (IBA 2012) are specifically designed to be a promotional vehicle for authors and publishers to launch their careers, open global markets and compete with talented authors and publishers throughout the world.

• Open to all books with a copyright date between 2009-2012, published in the English language with an ISBN and currently available for sale online to global consumers.

• Affordable Entry Fee! $69.00 per title/per category. Over 150 active categories to choose from including e-books, audiobooks,  first time author and design categories. OCTOBER SPECIAL! $20 off regular entry fee! Through October 31, 2011, your entry fee is $49.00 per title/per category!

ENTRY FEES AND DEADLINE

$69.00 USD per title/per category
OCTOBER SPECIAL! $20 off regular entry fee!
Through October 31, 2011, your entry fee is $49.00 per title/per category!

• Final Entry Deadline is April 30, 2012. (All entries must be postmarked on or before April 30, 2012)
• Winners and Finalists will be announced nationally at the Book Expo America in New York City June 5-7, 2012.
• Eligible titles must have a 2009-2012 publication date, published in English and have an ISBN number.
• Galley copies are welcome.
• All entry fees must be paid via online or by check/money order in U.S. Dollars (“USD” must be pre-printed on all international checks/money orders)
• All sales are final. All entry books become the property of JPX Media Group and will not be returned.
• JPX Media reserves the right to refuse/reject any entry into The 2012 International Book Awards for any reason. Refused entries will be returned to sender with the original check intact.

Please visit www.internationalbookawards.com for more details and to enter.

Are you ready to publish your award-winning book?

Due to popular demand, we are now reporting the Top 5 Book Marketing Options each month (as opposed to the Top 10). This way, you’ll have a small list of recommended options and be able to better prioritize your book marketing efforts.

The top-ranking options are determined by how many self-published authors sign up for them. Many of these products and services are even available to authors who did not publish with Outskirts Press. Visit our Marketing Solutions page to view the growing list of available book marketing options.

These are the marketing products and services determined to be most popular by our authors for August 2011 — listed below in alphabetical order:

Amazon Extreme Package This is a package deal that lets you save 25% on three amazing marketing tactics centered around Amazon: The Amazon Kindle Edition, Search Inside the Book, and the Keyword Search Submission Service. Plus a free copy of the Amazon best selling book, Sell Your Book on Amazon.

Amazon Kindle Edition The Amazon Kindle is a revolutionary wireless reading device that allows its owners to instantly download books and newspapers. This is the new way that people are buying books. However, only books that have been submitted to the Amazon Kindle via the required process and in the required format are available for Kindle readers to purchase and enjoy.

Amazon Search Inside the Book This service allows your potential buyer to browse your book online just as they would in a “traditional” bookstore. This alleviates a lot of the the anxiety associated with purchasing books online.

Custom Press Release Have our professional press release writer compose an original, unique press release for your book, submitted to you for your review/approval, and then distributed to our news wire service on your behalf.

iPad/iPhone Premium Edition with Private Label iBooks Distribution Get enhanced, independent distribution of your own iPad/iPhone electronic edition of your book through Apple’s iBookstore with this option.

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Is it time to get published and start receiving book marketing services like this?

“Thank you and your staff for developing this vital marketing tool for your authors. As Writing as a Small Business stresses, a web presence is vital and the wave of the future for marketing and selling books. You all proved it.” said Nash Black, author of Writing as a Small Business.

Here are five steps to successfully launching your book:

1. Have a press release written and distributed by a professional writer.
2. Send your press release to industry contacts. Follow up with phone calls as appropriate.
3. Create a sixty second (or less) video trailer for your book and distribute it through online social networks.
4. Find book reviewers who are committed to providing quality and honest reviews for self-published titles. Submit your book to at least ten of them.
5. Hire a book marketing consultant to help you with the tasks you may not be feel comfortable working on yourself (i.e. developing a marketing plan, setting up book signings, etc.).

Previously, all of these services had to be ordered separately, but now all of them can be purchased together in a cost-effective package that “makes sense” of book marketing for self-publishing authors.

“With one easy order, any author can now save money and get the promotion of his or her book off to an explosive start,” said Outskirts Press Manager of Author Support, Elise Connors.

The Outskirts Press Book Blast Package is now available for all authors through the self-publisher’s web site www.outskirtspress.com/p/bookblast

The top-ranking options are determined by how many self-published authors sign up for them. Many of these products and services are even available to authors who did not publish with Outskirts Press. Visit our Marketing Solutions page to view the growing list of available book marketing options.

These are the marketing products and services determined to be most popular by our authors for July 2011 — listed below in alphabetical order:

Amazon Cover Enhancement This is an option that helps you either get your cover on Amazon faster or enhance the way it looks to increase exposure.

Amazon Extreme Package This is a package deal that lets you save 25% on three amazing marketing tactics centered around Amazon: The Amazon Kindle Edition, Search Inside the Book, and the Keyword Search Submission Service. Plus a free copy of the Amazon best selling book, Sell Your Book on Amazon.

Amazon Kindle Edition The Amazon Kindle is a revolutionary wireless reading device that allows its owners to instantly download books and newspapers. This is the new way that people are buying books. However, only books that have been submitted to the Amazon Kindle via the required process and in the required format are available for Kindle readers to purchase and enjoy.

Amazon Search Inside the Book This service allows your potential buyer to browse your book online just as they would in a “traditional” bookstore. This alleviates a lot of the the anxiety associated with purchasing books online.

Book Blast This package includes five of our most popular (and most effective) marketing services, making for very well-rounded book marketing solution. Every Book Blast comes with: a Custom Press Release, PR Publicist Campaign, Book Review Submission Service, Book Video Trailer, and 5 hours with a Personal Marketing Assistant for one price.

Bookmarks (500 count) Bookmarks are a wonderful promotional item to pass out because people rarely throw them away; they actually use them! They might as well use a bookmark that promotes your book.

Book Review Submission Service This solution offers you the convenience of having someone else do some of the book review “grunt work” for you. The fee includes submission to ten different reviewers. Included in the submission is a professionally-written cover letter/press release and your sales sheet, along with a complimentary copy of your book for the reviewer to consider and keep.

Barnes&Noble See Inside This option will allow you to turn Barnes&Noble browsers into buyers by allowing online shoppers to view select pages of your book digitally from the BN.com website.

Custom Press Release Have our professional press release writer compose an original, unique press release for your book, submitted to you for your review/approval, and then distributed to our news wire service on your behalf.

Frankfurt Book Fair With this option, you can get your book exposed to over 250,000 visitors at the most popular book fair and publishing event in Germany.

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Is it time to get published and start receiving book marketing services like this?

With this recent addition of eighteen new full-color and twenty-one new black & white illustration styles, children’s authors can confidently choose from a wide range of backgrounds that create everything from a Henri Rousseau-like jungle, with “Indigo,” to a Pre-Raphaelite forest full of elves and faeries, with “Chamois.”

“With our amazing new variety of children’s illustration styles, authors can be confident that their artwork will be just what they ordered, and they will never have to split royalties with the artist,” said Outskirts Press Vice President Kelly Schuknecht.  “In fact, authors don’t even have to publish with Outskirts Press, although we will give authors a fifteen percent discount on the illustration pricing if they do.”

Unlike other publishers, Outskirts Press does not have their authors split their book royalties with the artists.  Instead, illustration style packages with Outskirts Press are one-time purchases designed to allow authors to keep one hundred percent of their royalties.

These custom children’s illustrations are purchased in blocks of one, ten or fifteen on a sliding scale pricing structure, and the author may choose from a wide variety of full color illustration styles, from the cartoon-like imagery of Dandelion, Goldenrod or Citrus to the more sophisticated artwork of Maize, Saffron or Sunflower.  Likewise, black and white styles cover a full stylistic spectrum from the simpler sketching of Magpie or Cinders to the more complete line and shadow drawings of Atraus or Licorice.

In short, with the addition of thirty-seven new illustration styles to its already extensive palette, self-publishing authors will have no trouble finding a perfect match for their text. View all of the illustration styles and get started at www.outskirtspress.com/p/art.

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.

Are you ready to take advantage of the new illustration styles?