Tag: self-publishing services

Marketing Options, Top 10

Top 10 Self-Publishing Book Marketing Tactics for May 2015

Book marketing is one of the most important pieces of being a successful self-publishing author. Outskirts Press is an industry leader in providing post-publication support, products, and services to its growing family of published authors.

Your book is written. Your book is published. Now what? Our list of Top 10 Book Marketing Tactics can help you prioritize your book marketing efforts by providing you with excellent marketing and promotional tactics you should consider pursuing.

These are the marketing products and tactics determined to be most popular by our authors for the month of April 2015, listed below in alphabetical order:

Amazon-Branded Featured Book-of-the-Week: Get your book and cover, along with an easy way to order your book directly from Amazon into the inbox of a wide audience of literary enthusiasts.
Amazon Extreme Package Amazon Extreme Package: Save 25% on 3 of our marketing services focused on Amazon.com. This package includes a Kindle Edition of your book, participation in the Amazon Search Inside the Book and Amazon Cover Enhancement.
Amazon Kindle Submission Service Amazon Kindle Submission Service: Make your book available on Amazon’s Kindle ebook reading device. More formats on Amazon means more exposure on Amazon, and the Kindle is heavily promoted by Amazon.

Amazon Search Inside the Book		 Amazon Search Inside the Book: Amazon claims that books participating in this program enjoy “significant” sales improvement, on average, over books that do not.
Barnes & Noble NOOK Submission Service Barnes & Noble NOOK Submission Service: Millions of books are available on Barnes & Noble’s NOOK. If your book isn’t one of them, you are missing out on tapping a very important, and growing, market of readers.
Book Review Submission Service: Securing positive book reviews is the first step toward building word-of-mouth buzz for your book. In addition to receiving a complimentary copy of your book, the reviewers will also receive a professional cover letter, a copy of your press, and your sales sheet. We take care of all of that for you, including sending the review copy!
Custom Press Release 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 newswire service on your behalf.
Google Books Preview Program Submission Google Books Preview Program Submission: An inexpensive and extremely effective way to get your book in front of millions of readers quickly and easily.
Personal Marketing Assistant Personal Marketing Assistant: Do you need help developing a book marketing plan? Arranging book signings? Establishing/developing your author platform? Hire your own Personal Marketing Assistant today!
Self Publishing Virtual Book Tour Blog Tour Virtual Book Tour: Gain an edge in visibility for your book. When you can’t travel from place to place, a Virtual Book Tour ensures that you and your book are still making “appearances” on the blogosphere and social networking sites.

Outskirts Press Published authors who are interested in any of these (or many of our other available services) can find further details and ordering information from the Marketing Options page of your author’s center.

Not yet published with Outskirts Press? Today is the perfect day to start and take advantage of our current publishing promotion.

Start Self-Publishing Now!

Book Fairs, book marketing, Outskirts Press News, Uncategorized

Get the One-Click Publishing for Coaches and Speakers


One click and you’re done. This is the magic of the One-Click Publishing Package from Outskirts Press. We have taken our decade of industry experience and built the ideal publishing package for speakers, coaches, and other platform professionals. 100% royalties and 0% confusion. You get everything you need and we take care of it all! It couldn’t be easier, faster, or more convenient. You get everything you need and we take care of it all! Easy!

Here’s everything you get for one single, affordable price:

  • A professional production team and publishing consultant
  • 6 x 9 perfect bound paperback format
  • Full-color custom cover
  • Professional cover scribing (back cover copy polish)
  • Up to 20 full-color custom illustrations
  • Copyediting (up to 75,000 words)
  • Official copyright registration
  • Library of Congress number
  • Expedited service
  • Private Label ISBN (either yours or ours)
  • Unlimited, worldwide distribution-on-demand via Ingram to Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Powells, Books-a-Million, and thousands more.
  • Amazon Kindle Edition
  • Secure Ebook Edition
  • Submission to 10 book reviewers
  • Publication press release
  • Custom press release
  • PR Publicist campaign
  • Electronic clipping service
  • Amazon Search Inside the Book
  • Amazon Listing Enhancement
  • Amazon Cover Enhancement
  • 60 second book video & distribution to YouTube
  • 5 hours of personal marketing assistance
  • Marketing COACH tips via email for 2 years
  • Much, Much More!!

With our all-inclusive “One-Click” package for coaches and speakers, you get everything in one easy-to-purchase bundle. It’s never been faster, more convenient, or affordable to publish the book of your dreams! Now is the time, so click here for more details or to order.

Book Fairs, book marketing, Outskirts Press News, Uncategorized

Don’t Miss the London Book Fair!

The London Book Fair is right around the corner and you don’t want to miss this great opportunity to get in front of over 23,000 self-publishing professionals at the largest and most popular industry book fair and publishing event in the UK. The registration deadline is this Friday, February 6, 2015.

The London Book Fair is the ideal place to make a connection with industry professionals, including those who are interested in international rights. It is regarded by many as the most important spring publishing event and welcomes attendees from all over the globe. Capitalize by exposing your book to key industry contacts like acquisitions agents, editors, and translation rights agents.

Your book will receive valuable exposure with other Outskirts Press titles. A representative will be available to personally answer questions about your book. Outskirts Press will provide the necessary copies of the book and all the necessary contact information for both the author and publisher, so interested parties can make further contact, during or after the fair. All inquiries Outskirts Press receives about your book will be forwarded directly to you for personal follow-up.

Get started now!

Step 1) Click here to order

Step 2) Check out of your shopping cart by February 6, 2015 and your book is on its way to London.

It’s really that simple! Now is the time to reserve your spot. Space is limited and is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Remember, you can save 25% on 4 major book events throughout the year (London, BEA, Beijing, Frankfurt) with our Global Book Tour marketing package.

Outskirts Press News, Promotions, Uncategorized

Mad Money is Back!

The most exciting self-publishing promotion of the year gives back $300 to authors to begin publishing a book with either the Diamond or Pearl book publishing services from Outskirts Press in February.

Outskirts Press, the fastest-growing full-service self-publishing and book marketing company, announces the return of “Mad Money”. During the month, authors can get an extra hand in fulfilling their dreams to publish a book with the return of the company’s popular “Mad Money” promotion. Authors who purchase the Diamond or full-color Pearl book publishing packages in February with the promotion code: MADMONEYFEB15 are rewarded with a credit of $300 applied to their Outskirts Press shopping cart accounts.

The $300 “mad money” credit can be applied toward any production or marketing option offered by Outskirts Press, including custom cover design, professional copyediting, cover scribing, an Amazon Kindle edition, or many others.

Now is the time to self-publish that book you’ve been working on, and also get some additional options for free. Authors can use their ‘Mad Money’ toward the production or marketing options of their choice, and an additional $300 to spend on self-publishing services results in a higher-quality, more marketable book.”

For more information about Mad Money Month, click here to receive $300 in publishing money.

contests, Outskirts Press News, Promotions

Win a 15.6 Inch HP Laptop When You “Show Us Your Love!”

We want you to want us. And we’d love you to love us! Now, what if you could love us AND win a free laptop computer with Windows 8.1? What’s not to love about that? Share the love and get a chance to win technology you’ll absolutely adore in our 4th Annual “Show Us Your Love” social media event and video contest. One talented author will be the lucky winner of a brand new HP 2000-2d80nr 15.6-Inch* laptop computer – perfect for getting inspired to write! Here’s how it works:

  • Grab your video camera, smartphone or iPad and record your own artistic 1- to 3-minute video creatively demonstrating your deep and abiding love for your book – and your love for Outskirts Press.
  • Email your video file to love@outskirtspress.com by midnight on Saturday, February 21, 2015.
  • We’ll share your video on our Facebook Page, YouTube Channel and Twitter Feed, increasing exposure for you and your book (Authors who submit videos are giving Outskirts Press permission to post videos to our YouTube channel, on our website and other social media platforms for promotional purposes).
  • The three finalists receiving the most “likes” on our Facebook page from among all the posted entries will be selected for a public vote on this blog to determine the winner from February 23-26.
  • The winner of the free HP laptop computer with Windows 8.1 will be announced on Friday, February 27, 2015.

Get your splendored thing submitted right away: The sooner you submit your video, the more exposure you’ll receive. Have all your friends and family visit our Facebook page at facebook.com/outskirtspress to “like” your video, and don’t neglect to share it on your own social media channels, too!

*Computer Specs (approximate): HP – 2000-2d80nr 15.6″ Laptop Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 operating system preinstalled 4 GB DDR3L SDRAM 500GB hard drive (5400 rpm) Power – 65W AC adapter – 6-cell 47WHr 2.2 Ah lithium-ion battery Video Graphics – Intel© HD graphics 4000 with up to 1696MB total graphics memory Multimedia Drive – SuperMulti DVD burner Network Card – 10/100BASE-T Ethernet LAN (RJ-45 connector) Wireless Option – 1×1 802.11b/g/n WLAN Digital Media – Multi-format digital media card reader for Secure Digital cards Weighs 5.4 lbs. and measures just 1.4″ thin Height: 1.4 inches Width: 14.8 inches Depth: 9.7 inches

That’s it! Happy recording, and good luck! Get a look at some of the creative displays of self-publishing love on our YouTube channel by clicking here.

Are you ready to self-publish?

GET $300 IN FREE UPGRADES WHEN YOU START PUBLISHING!

Mad Money is back! Receive $300 of “Mad Money” with the promotion code below when you choose to publish with our industry-leading Diamond publishing service or our full-color Pearl publishing service. You can apply your $300 of “Mad Money” toward any optional production or marketing option we offer during the pre-production process. And with many of our optional services beginning at just $99, you can get quite a few! Apply it to options such as a Custom Cover, Cover Scribing, Editing, a Kindle Format, or choose from many others. The only question is, how are you going to spend it? Enter the promotion code MADMONEYFEB15 and start publishing today!

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

“I had the golden opportunity to meet with a number of authors who had used various self-publishing companies. One author’s work stood head-and-shoulders above the rest. That’s the author who had used the services of Outskirts Press. The quality of his book rivaled that of the biggest and best publishing houses in the country but for a fraction of the costs. Now that my book has received the dedicated services from Outskirts Press, I too am proud of the end results and the proof is in the interest and buzz it has generated.” Birmingham, Alabama native, Lawayne Orlando Childrey is a national Edward R. Murrow award winning journalist. He has also won numerous Mississippi Associated Press Broadcasters awards. In 2014 the Alabama Community College System named Childrey as one of its most outstanding alumnus in the institutions fifty year history. Every day millions of people lose sight of their dreams when life’s gut wrenching curve balls knock them off their feet and out of the game. With the grace of God, that was not the case for Lawayne Orlando Childrey, who has endured some of the most horrific trauma imaginable, including childhood sexual abuse, depression, a crack cocaine addiction and an HIV diagnosis. Childrey beat all the odds to become an award-winning and respected news journalist, a dream he has had since childhood. In this autobiography, Childrey demonstrates his ability to persevere during times of immense struggle by relying on the faith that was instilled in him as a child. – Lawayne Childrey, author of Peeling Back the Layers
Promotions, Uncategorized

Four More Days To Receive 3X Author Copies!

Now is the perfect time to finish up your work and get published today! There is only a few days left to take advantage of the incredible offer of receiving 3X author copies when you order with the promotion code 3XJAN15.

Authors beginning their self-publishing process are eligible to receive three times as many free author copies with their respective self-publishing package. To receive the promotion, simply purchase the Diamond or Pearl publishing package by Saturday, January 31, 2015. Each of the eligible publishing packages includes a unique ISBN, standard interior formatting, a variety of professional cover styles, and distribution which includes availability through major online retailers such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

For authors choosing the most popular “Diamond” publishing package, this promotion delivers 30 free paperback author copies when the book is published. Authors publishing full-color books with the popular “Pearl” package can receive 15 free paperback copies.

Now through Saturday, simply click here to add this option to your cart, enter the promotion code 3XJAN15 and receive your free copies. Don’t delay, this offer isn’t around long!

Click to order the Diamond Package
Click to order the Pearl Package
Book Awards, Uncategorized

Next Generation Indie Book Awards for Self-Publishing Authors

How would you like some acknowledgment for all your hard work self-publishing? The best path to success in writing is to become an award-winning author. Don’t delay in submitting your work with the Next Generation Indie Book Awards. This is your chance to gain notoriety and instant mass exposure. Your book needs to have a copyright of 2014 or 2015 and this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity you don’t want to miss!

So what do you get when you win?

  1. Cold, Hard Cash! – Win up to $1,500 to the best Fiction and Non-Fiction books. $750 to the second best Fiction and Non-Fiction books. $500 to the third best Fiction and Non-Fiction books. $100 to the winner of each of the 60 categories.
  2. Award-Winning Author Recognition – Each winner/finalist will be able to promote themselves and their book as an award-winning author and award-winning book. We make it easy by offering authors many options to enhance your book covers and online presence upon winning an award.
  3. A listing in the 2015 Next Generation Indie Book Awards Catalog which will be distributed to thousands of book buyers, media, and others!
  4. An invitation to attend the Gala Awards Ceremony at a world famous landmark in New York City.
  5. The top 60 books will be reviewed by New York literary agent Marilyn Allen of Allen O’Shea Literary Agency for possible representation in areas such as distribution, foreign rights, film rights, and other rights. Ms. Allen has over 25 years of sales and marketing experience, including serving as Senior Vice President, Associate Publisher, and Director of Marketing for Harper Collins and directing sales and marketing teams for Simon & Schuster, Penguin Books and Avon Books. Ms. Allen has worked with many best-selling authors including Stephen King, Ken Follett, Barbara Kingsolver, John Gray, Mary Higgins Clark, and many more.
  6. All Finalists for the 2015 Next Generation Indie Book Awards will be selected and notified by mid-May 2015 and winners will be selected and notified before the end of May.

And, if you’re an Outskirts Press published author, the best (and easiest) part is: we can handle all of the submission details for you, including: sending a copy of your book to the judges, paying your award submission fee, and completing the entry forms for you. This all comes with our Indie Book Awards Submission option.

Click here for details or to reserve your spot now.

The registration deadline is this Friday, January 23, 2015.

Advice, Author Inspiration, Bestsellers

Resolutions for 2015 That Every Published Author Should Make

Hopefully you haven’t given up on your New Year resolutions already! During this month of resolving to do certain things you haven’t gotten to, or have been wanting to get to, we’ll get you started with resolutions tailored to the published author.

  1. Make a video. A Book Video Trailer belongs on every author’s list of resolutions. It’s an instant and visually stunning way to let readers and booksellers know what your book is all about and why they should buy it.
  2. Sign away. Resolve to set up book signings at your local bookstores. Independent stores are your best bet, but reach out to specific locations of the big chains as well. Even if your title is not on their shelves, they may let you sign and discuss your book to draw in customers.
  3. Explore other formats. Paperback isn’t the only way to go. If you’re only offering your book as a paperback, look into the advantages of releasing your title in other formats.
  4. Go digital. Take your title to the e-book market. This is practically a must. E-books make up about 20% of the book buying market. Resolve to get a piece of that profitable pie.
  5. Refresh yourself. Plan to update and refresh your Amazon listing periodically throughout the year. This keeps search engines interested as they scan your new content, and it could get you bumped up in the search engine listings.
  6. Talk it up. Resolve to get your voice and/or your face out there with radio, TV and newspaper interviews. Shoot for once a month or once a quarter – whatever you’re comfortable with.
  7. Retool. When sales stagnate, play around with pricing, marketing strategy, even the book itself if necessary. Sometimes a little tweak like a discount or a re-release with bonus material can make a world of difference.
  8. Promote yourself. Yes, we know you’re already marketing, but how are you presenting yourself in day-to-day interactions? Resolve to position yourself frequently as an author – it’s part of your identity!
  9. Get endorsements. Take advantage of valuable celebrity endorsements to lend additional legitimacy to your book. Not only is it effective, but it’s cost-effective.
  10. Go on tour. You can personally visit book fairs around your region – or even around the world – or you can send an Outskirts Press representative out to promote your book on your behalf. It’s affordable and effective.
  11. Go Hollywood. Want to take your book marketing to a new level in 2015? Outskirts Press has relationships with Hollywood insiders that can help you get your book to the silver screen. Look into it.
  12. Book it. Set up a schedule for contacting local and regional bookstores about carrying your book. Be sure to stock up on author copies so you’ll always have one on hand to provide to interested book sellers.
  13. Get reviewed. Submit your book to book review sites. Resolve to submit once a month or bi-monthly, or whatever schedule you can manage.
  14. Share your work. Your social media author platform is the perfect way to tease your book. Offer excerpts to get social media friends interested.
  15. Be comfortable in your own skin. Make peace with your identity as a writer and published author. Your quirks are more charming to others than you realize.
  16. Get more shut-eye. Yeah, it’s that simple. And get more exercise too. Taking care of your health has a way of bringing you confidence and making you sharper – both traits that will help you achieve your goals and keep your resolutions.
  17. Relax! Build in time for decompression. You’ve earned it!

Let Outskirts Press help you with your marketing this year! A Personal Marketing Assistant can help you with a plan or opportunities if you need some assistance.

GET A FREE YEAR IF YOU PRE-PAY FOR FOUR!

Annual storage fees are billed every year in January. This fee covers wholesale digital distribution and on-demand availability for hard copy printing, which is what allows your book to be listed on major online retail sites like Amazon and Barnes & Noble, as well as being accessible via iPage (Ingram’s Ordering Database), and Ingram Book Wholesalers. It is also what allows your book to be printed on-demand when requested by you through your Publisher’s Center.

Outskirts Press now allows you to pre-pay for these annual storage fees 5 years in advance! Pay for the next 5 years NOW and we will give you one year FREE! So, for only $100 you are taken care of for the next 5 years. You can pay securely and conveniently online with a credit card by logging into your Publishing Center and visiting your Shopping Cart.

Don’t wait, this offer is only good through January 31, 2015!

Click to order

TOP 10 DIAMOND BOOKS FROM OUTSKIRTS PRESS AUTHORS
Author Inspiration

Get Your Book Started — or Finished — in 2015 with Help from a Professional Ghostwriter

Could 2015 be the year you enter the self-publishing realm? Why not? It’s only January, and 11 1/2 months is plenty of time to crank out a book.

Professional Ghostwriting Services

Or is it? Perhaps writing that great American novel was your 2014 resolution too. Oh, how the best-laid plans go to the wayside! Between work schedules, kids’ practices and sports events, social events, family obligations and chores around the house, it seems there’s never enough time to spend hours each week on a pet project. Writing, it seems, is always the first thing to get set aside. And, darn it, you had suc

h a terrific idea for a bookl!

Well, get it done anyway — hire a ghostwriter! Ghostwriting is one of the most poorly kept “secrets” in the literary industry. Almost every celebrity autobiography you have ever read or heard of was written by a ghostwriter.  Even hugely successful authors like James Patterson collaborate with other authors to produce high-quality books so prolifically. Ghostwriting is a great option for any writer, but is particularly effective for busy individuals who have a need for a book but simply lack the time to compose (or finish) the manuscript.

Ghostwriting services can be contracted to write the entire book, get you through a particularly difficult part of the manuscript or to finish it up for you. They’ll even rewrite one that’s already complete, but not in the condition you want. Professional ghostwriters are adept at matching the “voice” and “tone” of material that is already written, and they’re always extremely flexible to your needs.

So, if you need a little — or a lot — of help getting that writing finished, consider getting the ball rolling with your own professional ghostwriter.

Need help getting started or getting finished with your book? Let Outskirts Press get you started on your own publishing dreams!

Start Self-Publishing Now!

Author Inspiration, contests, Outskirts Press News, self publishing news, Survey Poll, Uncategorized

31 Ways to Promote a Book During Small Press Month

March is Small Press Month, a month that marks a nationwide celebration of independent publishers and the talented self-published authors they serve. Nowhere in the literary world will you find a more eclectic, determined and talented population of creative thinkers!

This is your month indeed! This month of celebration is your opportunity to get your book published once and for all so you can begin to promote your book with the 31 effective marketing and promotion tactics below. Throughout the month of March, take note of these important book marketing tips that you can use once your book is published. Here are 31 simple book marketing tips for each day of the month:

March 1 – Start up. If you haven’t already, get that manuscript published, Small Press Month is the perfect time to take the plunge. In fact, Outskirts Press has several convenient, high-quality, full-service publishing packages, and one is surely just right for you!

March 2 – Stock up. Once your book is published, you’ll need plenty of hard copies on hand as you pursue the 30 other marketing and promotion tips throughout the month. With Outskirts Press you can save 35-50% by ordering in bulk.

March 3 – Connect. Hook up with other independent published authors in your area – you can enhance each other’s marketing results by pooling your efforts and sharing resources. With the advent of social networking sites, this is easier than ever. For example, Outskirts Press already has a growing community of active and passionate fans/followers on Facebook and Twitter, with whom you can connect at any time. There’s a lot to do, and four hands are better than two!

March 4 – Bone up. Become the local expert on Small Press Month. Do a little research about the history of independent publishing, your publisher (Outskirts Press) and what Small Press Month is all about so you can be a useful resource to local media. This will help you build your platform as a local writer and self-publishing author.

March 5 – Release the press. Send a press release to the local media (newspapers, radio, television) mentioning Small Press Month, your knowledge of the industry, your connection to the community and your (soon-to-be) independently published book. If you’ve planned book signings and other events, mention them in the release as well. Your press release should explain what Small Press Month is, why it’s important, what local organizations are doing to celebrate, and how the media can contact you for additional information.

Want more tips? Visit our blog to read the full post or follow us on Facebook to get a tip each day throughout the month.

GET $300 OF FREE UPGRADES WHEN YOU START PUBLISHING TODAY!

Get $300 of “Mad Money” with the promotion code below when you choose to publish with our industry-leading Diamond publishing service or our full-color Pearl publishing service.

You can apply your $300 of “Mad Money” toward any optional production or marketing option we offer during the pre-production process. And with many of our optional services beginning at just $99, you can get quite a few! Apply it to options such as a Custom Cover, Cover Scribing, Editing, a Kindle Format, or choose from many others. The only question is, how are you going to spend it?

Enter the promotion code MADMONEYMAR14 and start publishing today!

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

“I urge anyone who is even remotely thinking of publishing a book to team up with Outskirts Press. With the vast array of services they have to offer, above average response time and professional staff, why would you want to look anywhere else? I was amazed at the reasonable cost and ‘specials’ that were offered along with marketing tips and follow-up e-mails I received. When my book was delivered, I was overwhelmed with the quality and the attention to detail that it possessed. Yes, I can honestly say that, without hesitation, Outskirts Press will be the publisher for my next novel.”

A proud Chicago native, Tina Louise Brotz has enjoyed a diverse career running the gamut from an assistant in a bank marketing firm to a homeowner association coordinator. Blessed with a quirky sense of humor, her unpredictable plots are derived from her multifaceted career experiences and worldwide travels, which allow her to do what she does best-storytelling. She has resided in the Phoenix area with her husband and their two adopted children.

The edgy streets of Chicago provide the backdrop for a riveting tale that seamlessly blends danger and passion with the high-powered corporate world and the seedier side of the city. Fiercely independent and ultra-sophisticated Michelle Pierson has made a name for herself as a highly successful entrepreneur. Realizing that she is now at a crossroads in her life, she tries to cope with lingering feelings she still has for her sexy ex-husband, Michael Dickerson, head of the largest advertising agency in the city. When Travis, the biracial son she once abandoned, experiences an unfortunate turn of events, Michelle is forced to take matters into her own hands. The situation escalates as she weaves through a tangle of betrayal and deceit. Her quest to uncover the truth takes her to the underbelly of the city, the Symbiotic Section, where she is forced to face a worthy adversary in a final showdown that not only threatens the very foundation of her family but will change her life forever. The Symbiotic Section is a story of greed, corruption, truth, and raw sensuality.

– Tina Louise Brotz, author of The Symbiotic Section