ettieg
New Member
Posts: 6
Joined: Nov 23, 2012 16:08:28 GMT -8
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Post by ettieg on Nov 23, 2012 20:19:58 GMT -8
Hi all, I just published a self-helper on boomerang kids and how to clear them out of your nest. It's a challenge for a grandmother to find her way around some of these platforms - but I'm doing okay so far. Where I'm hitting some uncertainty is locating actual JV agents in this genre. I'm am finding oodles of product to teach me how to utilize them, I just don't know the secret handshake for meeting them. Are there genre-specific hubs for JV that are not subscription marketplaces? Also curious about how long it usually takes for Smashwords to approve Premium status, where they share the work on other platforms. Many thanks in advance. -Ettie How To Help Your Grown Children Move Out: Ettie's Guide To De-Nesting www.smashwords.com/books/view/257931 |
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Post by Ted on Nov 23, 2012 20:31:38 GMT -8
Not sure what you mean by "JV", Ettie. Do you mean Joint Venture or something else?
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ettieg
New Member
Posts: 6
Joined: Nov 23, 2012 16:08:28 GMT -8
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Post by ettieg on Nov 23, 2012 21:11:50 GMT -8
Sorry, yes - Joint benture reps who would promote the book to their contacts for a share of the sales.
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Post by Ted on Nov 24, 2012 9:08:08 GMT -8
Sorry, yes - Joint benture reps who would promote the book to their contacts for a share of the sales. Indie authors have to beware of joint venture reps or agents promoting a work for a share of the sales as there are thousands of individuals and companies - if not millions now-a-days - promising to promote a work in exchange for a share of sales. One problem is that an author 'usually' has to allow 'agent' or 'JV' to sell work to ensure their commission. This makes it extremely difficult for an author to keep track of sales. Another problem is that an 'agent' or 'JV' may only undertake promotional work on a pre-paid basis. Few indie authors ever earn enough from sales to cover marketing costs. Many indie authors have the same problem; got the book but hate marketing or don't want to spend the time marketing and so wish to have someone else do the marketing for them. There is a saying that writing the book is the easy part and marketing the work is the hard part. With so many authors flooding the ebook and POD market it can take a year or more of marketing before any significant sales begin. A few indie authors get lucky and become successful within a year, but the majority of indie authors aren't that lucky. If you haven't already, read Mark's ebook marketing guide to get some ideas about marketing. Join a local writers group and talk to them about how they market their works. Read my free ebook 'The Backward Approach to Ebook Success' available on Smashwords and most retailers - except Amazon - to see what lessons I've learned as an indie author. Once you've started marketing your work, start writing another great ebook and then another great ebook. The best salesman is the person who enjoyed your work and tells his/her friends. Word of mouth advertising beats every of kind of marketing. |
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ettieg
New Member
Posts: 6
Joined: Nov 23, 2012 16:08:28 GMT -8
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Post by ettieg on Nov 26, 2012 7:09:52 GMT -8
Hello, ted - and thanks again for the info. I must say that what you shared makes me re-think the whole approach. I started reading your book yesterday, and I like the straight forward, almost conversational style you use. I always feel like my style reads too official.
Anywho, I have a question about Smashwords I'd like to ask. My book is pending approval for Premium Catalogue. I am wondering if once that is hopefully accepted, does the main file you update at Smashwords also update in the other locations? Does anyone know how long the review process typically takes?
Many thanks agan,
Ettie
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Post by Ted on Nov 26, 2012 9:18:48 GMT -8
Yes. All updates are delivered to retailers per the schedule shown on the Channel Manager page of your Dashboard. Some retailers are slow to update their sites and other retailers update the day a new work is received.
The review process should only take a couple of days to a week depending upon how busy the reviewing staff are, holidays, flu/colds/births/etc. Use that waiting time to prepare announcements for your new work and to begin marketing your announcements on your blog/web site and social media sites. Then when your work appears in the various stores you can copy the URL to your work and announce its availability on your blog, this forum, and social media sites.
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