Tag: ebook

Book Formats

Hardcover, paperback, and eBook—three different formats united for one great purpose!

Promo code: hardbackfree

When you’re an author with Outskirts Press, you make all the decisions, including which format(s) to publish in—hardcover, paperback, eBook, and/or audiobook.

You may choose one, some, or all of those, and that decision will be right for you.

But if your type of book, budget, and goals are open to it, we recommend you publish in at least hardcover, paperback, and eBook. When you start with the Ultimate Black & White or Ultimate Full-Color, we will include a hardcover edition, along with the paperback and eBook editions already included.

We also like hardcovers because many readers still consider that the “deluxe” format or the “perfect gift” format. It not only looks good on their home shelf but also on the bookstore shelf, and hardcover copies are showstoppers at your public appearances. Hardcovers may cost more, but they are also so effective at grabbing readers’ attention that readers may be more likely to buy a hardcover copy.

Just enter promo code hardbackfree during checkout to receive a free hardcover edition of your book.

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Learn more about the different formats you could publish your book in. Your Publishing Consultant or one of our other experts is also available to discuss the possibilities. However you like to connect, we’re here for you.

Or click that button above to order the best publishing package for you today!

Advice, Author Inspiration, Uncategorized

4 Tips for Selling on Amazon

There will come a day – perhaps soon – when your masterpiece is finally complete, and you’ll be ready to publish on all the major bookselling markets. When that day comes, you’ll want to be laser-like in your focus as you position your book to sell. Even before your book is done, it’s helpful to think about how you will market and sell it when it’s done.

For the purpose of this discussion, we’ll focus on the largest bookseller, Amazon. When your book is published, you’ll want to ensure that you’re positioning it properly to sell. The following are some things you’ll need to do to give your book the best chance possible of selling in the competitive Amazon marketplace:

  1. Have a laser-focused description. “What is your book about?” is one of the most common questions an author gets. You should be able to answer this well in just one or two short sentences.
  2. Choose the most appropriate book categories. Most retailers offer a limited number of categories for each book. It’s important to choose extremely carefully so you attract the right readers.
  3. Cultivate a clear mental image of your average reader. For the reason stated above, it’s vital to know exactly who your reader is – before, during and after the writing is done. Is your reader a 45-year-old upper class woman, or a college-age young man? You’ll speak to these two individuals in much different ways.
  4. Choose targeted keywords. Keywords come into play in the process of writing your synopsis. Again, you’re limited in how many you can choose, so think about these keywords carefully.

It may seem straightforward, but remember that all of these elements must be tied up in an Amazon listing that’s not only optimized for all the major search engines, but is also brief enough – less than 200 words, if possible – so potential buyers get the info they need quickly without getting bored and moving on to something else. Not so simple after all!

Let Outskirts Press help you strike that fine balance and get the edge you need to unlock your selling potential.

START PUBLISHING AND GET A FREE AMAZON EXTREME!

Are you ready to jump-start your marketing efforts with the Amazon Extreme marketing package? Start today with the promotion code below!

The Amazon Extreme marketing package from Outskirts Press offers self-publishing authors a head start on book marketing by taking triple advantage of the immense audience of Amazon, the largest online retailer in the United States. This package includes: An Amazon Kindle edition of your book, Amazon’s Search Inside the Book feature and the Amazon Cover Enhancement. These valuable, popular options are free for authors who start publishing in June. Start today with the promotion code below when you choose to publish with our industry-leading Diamond publishing service or our full-color Pearl publishing service to receive the FREE Amazon Extreme Marketing Package.

Enter the promotion code FreeAEJUNE15 when checking out of your shopping cart while purchasing the popular Diamond package or the full color Pearl publishing package by June 30, 2015.

Click to order the Diamond Package
Click to order the Pearl Package
TOP 5 PUBLISHING HEADLINES
AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT & SUCCESS STORY

“After completing my fourth manuscript, and after having already published my previous book with Outskirts Press, I did not hesitate to have my latest book – The Parliament Men – published with Outskirts Press. During the entire process, I was again pleased by both the attention my book was given, and by the timeliness of the process. The entire publishing process was very professional. One of the many positive steps I like about Outskirts is how they handled everything needed to turn my book into a E-book for me! Great job by all!”

Peter F. Warren is retired from the Connecticut State Police Department. An Honor Graduate of the Connecticut State Police Academy, he is also a graduate of the University of New Haven, and of the FBI National Academy. He is also the author of The Horry County Murders, and two Civil War novels. Currently, he resides in South Carolina with his wife.

Peter Warren has again created another extraordinary piece of work with his latest book. As a former homicide commander, this book captured so well the experiences and encounters homicide detectives are confronted with each case they investigate. Readers will find this story riveting and hard to put down as they follow Warren’s detectives and the clues they are pursuing.
– Peter F. Warren, author of The Parliament Men
Advice, Author Inspiration, book marketing

3 Reasons to Get on the Amazon Kindle Bandwagon Now

If you’re on the fence about e-book publishing, this might be the year to pick a side. There are recent developments in the e-book publishing world that could be a boom for self-publishing authors who’ve taken advantage of the ongoing growth in that market.

Namely, Amazon has stepped up its game over the last couple years. The online marketplace and bookselling giant is dangling the proverbial carrot to book buyers with the introduction of new technology and the reintroduction of a popular e-reading device.

Here, we discuss a few developments at Amazon that may convince you to hop on the e-book bandwagon:

  1. The Amazon 3D smartphone. We don’t toss around the term “game-changer” lightly, but the release of Amazon Fire Smartphone is just that. The 3D interface is attractive and responsive, reportedly using face- and eye-tracking software to help readers navigate around the page.
  2. The return of Amazon Kindle DX. The 9.7-inch E Ink reader is back and better than ever, boasting updated software and an attractive $199 price tag. The device includes WiFi and 3G connections, built-in stereo speakers and 3.5mm jack, and enough room to download up to 3,500 books.
  3. Amazon Kindle Fire HDX. Pitted against the iPad Mini, this 8.9-inch tablet is a less expensive option than any Apple device at a paltry $379 and can do most of the same things. With the right apps, this so-called “productivity machine” not only displays ebooks beautifully, but also takes handwritten and typed notes, among other functions.

New and cheaper devices means more readers have, and will continue, to join the e-book revolution, making 2015 the perfect time to get your book on the e-book market!

Marketing Options, Outskirts Press News, Promotions, self publishing news, Uncategorized

Last Day to Get $100 off the Elite Ebook Package!

The Elite E-book Package is priced hundreds of dollars below what an author would pay for a-la-carte electronic publishing services. Plus, the increased ebook exposure means greater distribution and higher sales without the need for additional paperback and hardback printing.

While self-publishing authors can still choose one or two electronic formats, combining the three allows you to reach a wider audience of readers, many of which are loyal to one electronic reading device over another. Outskirts Press simplifies the process by offering one convenient and cost-effective package that includes three popular electronic book editions:

  • Amazon Kindle Edition: Only books that have been submitted to Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) in the required format are available for Kindle readers to purchase and enjoy.
  • Apple iPad/iPhone Premium Edition: This service allows authors convenient, full distribution of iPad/iPhone electronic editions of their own books through Apple’s popular iBookstore.
  • Barnes & Noble NOOK Edition: Inclusion in this virtual bookstore allows self-published authors to tap into an important, and growing, market of readers.

The Elite E-book Package offers Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble Nook, and Apple iPad/iBooks e-book editions with a discounted bundle price, saving you over $200 compared with purchasing each of these electronic edition separately. Now until the end of today, you can save an additional $100!

Get started today. Don’t forget to enter the promotion code: ELITE100 at checkout to take advantage of $100 off this already-discounted package!

Click to order
Marketing Options, Outskirts Press News, Promotions, self publishing news, Uncategorized

Last Chance! Three More Days to Get a Free Standard iPad Edition for that Self-Publishing Book

It’s not too late to make April your most diverse month with a FREE Standard iPad/iPhone Edition from Outskirts Press. Upgrade the exposure of that self-publishing book and increase the chances that your book will be discovered by potential readers.

Here’s what you get with the Standard iPad/iPhone Edition from Outskirts Press:

  • Standard retail price of $9.99. No fretting over how to price your book on the iBookstore.
  • Guaranteed royalty amount. With standard iBookstore pricing, you’re guaranteed a royalty of $4.00 for each and every book you sell. With the added exposure of the Apple format, that could add up to a lot!
  • Quick, seamless publishing. The Standard Edition goes through Outskirts Press, so you can forget all the hassles of exchanging bank account numbers and other private information. We do everything for you behind the scenes.

This option is normally $299 but for the next 3 days it’s FREE! Just enter the promotion code IPADAPRIL when checking out of the shopping cart while purchasing the popular Diamond package or the full color Pearl publishing package by April 30, 2014 and start publishing today!

Click to order the Diamond Package
Click to order the Pearl Package
Outskirts Press News, Promotions, self publishing news

Seven Advantages of Having an E-book Format

Electronic Book imageSelf-publishing authors have more formats and more methods through which to get their books into readers’ hands than ever before. Yet, there’s more competition than ever for a piece of the bookselling pie. So, how do you cut through the clutter and get your book read in the quickest, most convenient way possible?

While many readers still prefer good old-fashioned hardcopies – and you should keep copies of your book on hand at all times for last-minute sales and marketing opportunities – e-books are growing ever more popular among readers and writers alike.

If you’re new to electronic books, consider these seven advantages that an additional e-book format (or multiple ebook formats) may have for you:

  1. Better for the environment. Sell an e-book, save a tree! (By the way, this is the major advantage of print-on-demand paperbacks and hardbacks, too; by printing hardcopies only when needed, you reduce or eliminate the risk of having to dispose of unsold units while respecting the planet).
  2. Easy to update. You can change or correct your ebook at any time and the updated version becomes available quickly and conveniently. Just like print-on-demand books.
  3. Zero inventory. Gone are the days of storing thousands upon thousands of dusty books in your basement or garage. Someone buys your e-book edition only when they want it, with zero hassle for you.
  4. Instant availability. E-books can be downloaded immediately, allowing readers instant gratification when they click to order your book.
  5. Less expensive. Lower production costs means lower upfront costs for you, and the page count has no impact on the retail price, which means you can price that 400 page book at the $9.95 ebook price you want, thus encouraging more sales – and more potential profit.
  6. Easier to share. E-books allow you to provide advance promotional copies to news outlets and reviewers more quickly and at a lower cost to you.
  7. Easier to publish. Writing a book can be difficult. With Outskirts Press, publishing paperbacks and hardbacks and easy. And now with popular e-book formats, publishing that same book across multiple platforms is a snap. You’ve already written the book; make sure it’s available everywhere it can be.

Consider e-books as one of many tools in a book marketing strategy that also includes print-on-demand. You can still choose to sell hardcopies in online and brick-and-mortar bookstores, but it’s nice to know you have attractive alternatives.

The most popular e-book platforms are:

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TOP 10 DIAMOND BOOKS FROM OUTSKIRTS PRESS AUTHORS
TOP 5 PUBLISHING HEADLINES
AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT & SUCCESS STORY


“It was a dream come true. I would like to thank Outskirts Press for simplifying the process and for reminding me often enough that I am in control. I will publish with Outskirts again.”

Iyabo Williams grew up in Lagos, Nigeria. She lives outside San Francisco with her husband, children and grandchildren.

At the age of eight, Aisha Praisso, alongside her great grandmother, became a victim and a rescuer of many during the Nigerian civil war of 1967 between the Hausas in the north and the Ibos in the east. The tales from the war are sporadic and many of the stories are still left untold. Aisha, a survivor and self-proclaimed motor-mouth, would not broach the subject unless her life depended on it. But it did, and her whispers became loudly heard. Born in Port Harcourt, Nigeria and raised by her maternal great grandmother, Aisha had a happy life until the Biafran war bulldozed its way into her idyllic home and turned it into a torture chamber. Her innocence was stolen by an Unknown Soldier while her guardian could only stand by and watch. Though Mr. Braithwaite, a family friend and English merchant sea captain, had rescued her and her great-grandmother from the worst by arranging for their escape to Lagos, it was already too late for Aisha; she had been branded for a lifetime of abuse. When things go awry in an abusive relationship, she finds herself in a state of utter hopelessness after being arrested on charges connected to her past boyfriend. It took her fourteen years…to sort through her pain, including the self-inflicted ones and find the courage to tell her story. Fortunately, her luck turns for the better as she begins to let go and start to re-live her life again.
Iyabo Williams, author of Hidden Scars
Marketing Packages, Outskirts Press News

Self-Publishing Authors Can Now Go Green and Save Green with New Elite E-book Publishing Package

A new Elite E-Book Publishing Package from Outskirts Press gives self-publishing authors increased distribution that promises less impact on the environment and publishing dollars.

Outskirts Press, the leading self-publishing and book marketing service provider, announced today the launch of its Elite E-book Publishing Package, which bundles three valuable e-book distribution services into one discounted publishing package. The package represents more than 25 percent savings when compared to purchasing each electronic edition separately.

The Elite E-book Publishing Package is priced hundreds of dollars below what an author would pay for a-la-carte electronic publishing services. Plus, the increased ebook exposure means greater distribution and higher sales without the need for additional paperback and hardback printing.

While self-publishing authors can still choose one or two electronic formats, combining the three allows them to reach a wider audience of readers, many of which are loyal to one electronic reading device over another. Outskirts Press simplifies the process by offering one convenient and cost-effective package that includes three popular electronic book editions:

    • Amazon Kindle Edition: Only books that have been submitted to Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) in the required format are available for Kindle readers to purchase and enjoy.
    • Apple iPad/iPhone Premium Edition: This service allows authors convenient, full distribution of iPad/iPhone electronic editions of their own books through Apple’s popular iBookstore.
    • Barnes & Noble NOOK Edition: Inclusion in this virtual bookstore allows self-published authors to tap into an important, and growing, market of readers.

For more complete information about each service included in this bundle, visit the product description page at www.outskirtspress.com/ebookpackage.

Market Research, Marketing Options

Vote in this survey about the new Apple iPad/iBookstore Option

We need your help! We are about to launch a new service to help our Outskirts Press published authors publish their books for the iPad/iPhone and distribute those e-books through the Apple iBookstore.  Via the survey poll below, please tell us which service you would value more as an Outskirts Press published author:

Option 1 – iPad/iPhone Edition with Standard iBookstore Distribution for $399

We will create an epub format of your book (which includes a unique ISBN, as required by Apple) and submit your e-book to Apple through our Outskirts Press account, meaning it would be published by Outskirts Press.  You must set your e-book price between $4.99 and $9.99.  For as long as your hardcopy edition was under contract with Outskirts Press, you would earn 50% net royalties. You would not receive the epub file.

Option 2 – iPad/iPhone Edition with ENHANCED iBookstore Distribution for $699

We will create an epub format of your book (including a unique Bowker-provided ISBN in YOUR name).  The file will be submitted to Apple on your behalf, through your own iTunes Connect account at whatever price you set. You will be listed as the publisher.  You would earn 100% net royalties. Your book would continue to be available regardless of your hardcopy edition status with Outskirts Press. You would receive the epub file to pursue other ebook opportunities.

Which option do you like more? Let us know.

Marketing Options, self publishing news

Amazon Kindle Books Now Available in the UK – Great News for Self-Publishing Authors!

Amazon recently announced the new Kindle store on amazon.co.uk.  What does that mean for self-publishing authors?  It means you can earn more royalties!

The Amazon Kindle is America’s revolutionary wireless reading device.  It allows its owners to instantly download books and newspapers, but 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. Kindle editions of books appear on Amazon.com (and now Amazon.co.uk) in search listings just like any other format (such as a hardback edition).

There are several benefits to having your book available in a Kindle Edition.

1. The Amazon Kindle edition will appear in the search results, along with any other formats of your book (such as your paperback and/or hardback editions). This results in an increase of exposure for your book’s cover, which increases the chances of browsers clicking on your cover image and coming that much closer to becoming a buyer.

2. Sales through the Amazon Kindle are not split with Outskirts Press. Amazon will take their share, as they always do, but your profit will be directly deposited into your checking account by Amazon, without any involvement by (or portion for) Outskirts Press. In other words, your Kindle sales are YOUR Kindle sales.

3. As Amazon is expanding the availability of Kindle editions (offering free Kindle apps for iPhone, Blackberry and Android users as well as PC and Mac users, and now the availability through Amazon.com.uk), Amazon customers and readers are growing every day.  While the Kindle is a unique and revolutionary device designed to make reading more convenient, the majority of Amazon customers love actual BOOKS. A Kindle sale is an inexpensive way to offer your book to a potential reader; if they like it, they are more likely to purchase the paperback or hardback edition, too.

ALREADY HAVE A KINDLE EDITION?

If you have a Kindle edition available through Amazon.com and you have worldwide publishing rights for your title, check the Amazon.co.uk Kindle Store for your book.  If you do not see your title for sale in the UK store, then login to your DTP account (http://dtp.amazon.com).  In your Bookshelf, click on Actions and select “Edit rights, royalty, and pricing.”  Select “Worldwide Rights – all territories” if you hold the global publishing rights for this title. Or, select “Individual Territories – select territories” if you hold the publishing rights in some, but not all UK territories (United Kingdom, Guernsey, Isle of Man, and/or Jersey).  Select whether you want your USD price converted to GBP, or whether you would like to set your own amount in GBP. Then reconfirm by checking the box that you have all rights necessary to make the content you are uploading available for marketing, distribution and sale in each territory indicated above, and that you accept DTP Terms and Conditions.

DON’T HAVE A KINDLE EDITION YET?

If you are an Outskirts Press published author, you can order the Amazon Kindle Edition at any time, either during production or after publication, easily and conveniently from the Marketing Options screen of your Author’s Center.

Not published with Outskirts Press?  That’s okay, we can prepare and submit your Kindle Edition, too!  Order now from the Marketing Solutions page on our site: http://outskirtspress.com/options/16285_amazon_kindle_edition.html

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Outskirts Press News

Leading Self-publishing Company Adds Espresso Book Machine Sales Channel

January 5, 2010 – Outskirts Press, the fastest growing full service self-publishing and book marketing company, today announced the availability of an additional sales channel for its already-published and soon-to-be-published authors—the innovative Espresso Book Machine.

Billed as the “Invention of the Year” in 2007 by Time Magazine, the Espresso Book Machine prints perfect-bound, library-quality books with full-color covers in minutes, immediately at the point of sale, whether it be at a bookstore, a library, or a coffee shop. It is an ATM for book lovers, but only selected books by selected publishers that have been distributed directly to the Espresso Book Machine are available to be printed on-site by the machine.

“Outskirts Press continually explores new distribution opportunities for our authors to increase their chances for success,” stated Outskirts Press CEO Brent Sampson. “Authors who add the Espresso Book Machine option will open up a whole new world of point-of-sale possibilities. Best of all, participation does not require any new processes or publishing ‘tools’ to master. We take care of all the details. As a full-service company, we take away the work involved in publishing, printing, and distributing books.”

Currently placed primarily in bookstores and libraries, Espresso Book Machines are already at locations in New York, London, Washington, D.C., and San Francisco, to name just a few, with more locations being added monthly.

The Espresso Book Machine software protects the security of all titles, tracks each transaction, and remits all sales/royalty data back to the book’s source, where the publisher can report sales earnings to the author. Retail price, discounting, and royalties exactly match the traditional paperback edition; and Outskirts Press Espresso book sales are reported in the exact same manner as paperback sales.

“In essence, this is exactly like selling a black/white paperback via a new retail sales channel like Amazon or Barnes & Noble,” continued Sampson. “The impact of this new channel will be most noticeable when Espresso Book Machines start appearing at Starbucks or similar venues, which I have to believe is only a matter of time. Outskirts Press authors will be prepared for this next revolutionary step in point-of-sale book availability.”

With the addition of the Espresso Book Machine distribution channel, Outskirts Press continues to expand the wide array of publishing and marketing services it offers to authors around the world. In 2008 The Denver Business Journal named Outskirts Press the fastest growing small-to-medium sized company in Colorado and in 2009 Inc Magazine named Outskirts Press one of the top 500 fastest growing companies in America and one of the top five “best of the best” companies on the Inc-500 list.

Select authors currently published through Outskirts Press Self-Publishing Services can add the Espresso Book Machine Edition immediately and conveniently by clicking here.

For more details about Outskirts Press, including a free video and free e-book, visit OutskirtsPress.com.

About Outskirts Press, Inc,:

Outskirts Press, Inc., an Inc. 500 company, offers full-service, custom self-publishing and book marketing services for authors seeking a cost-effective, fast, and flexible way to publish and distribute their books worldwide while retaining all their rights and full creative control. Available for authors globally at http://www.outskirtspress.com and located on the outskirts of Denver, Colorado, Outskirts Press represents the future of book publishing, today.

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