Ebook Promotion Options

Good morning ebook authors! I just responded to an email from a fellow author and member of EbookoMatic. She asked me for suggestions to help promote her ebook. I decided my response was important enough to share with all of you, so here goes:

I think the first thing you need to examine is the element of time and money. If you've written an ebook that is selling for only a few bucks, you need to ask yourself how much time and money you can reasonably spend to promote the ebook. If you are selling it for $5.00 and are going to have to spend several hours/week as well as invest hundreds or even thousands of dollars for promotion, is it worth it?

Sometimes it is a matter or ego -- you feel you have written the most important ebook ever and you must let the world know about it. Hey, I am not dissing anyone here -- I understand that feeling. I also outgrew it over time.

Sometimes it is a matter of importance -- your ebook covers new ground and the information must be shared to warn people about something or to help people who might not be able to help themselves. This is the more altruistic cause. And sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do to get the word out because what you've written is simply that important -- and it's not about the money -- it's about the cause.

Luckily, you have many options for promotion. Some are reasonable, some are costly. Here are some to consider:

1, Amazon Services does charge $39.99/month plus transaction fees but it doesn't require any time after the initial set-up (won't make much though on a low-cost ebook)

2. Article marketing will cost around $100.00 one time for a piece of software to assist in semi-automated article submission to multiple sites (or you can do manually for free but it takes longer)

3. Google AdWords will require a monthly budget (~$50.00/month) for keywords and phrases you select (it takes time to do research and learn how to use this service but can direct targeted traffic to your site)

Given these options, you could easily spend around $500.00 a year with options 1 or 3. Option 2 is therefore more cost effective and requires less time (though you still must take time to write articles). Article submission tools and their reviews may be found here:

http://www.cooltoolawards.com/software/utilities/autosubmitarticlemachine.htm

http://www.cooltoolawards.com/software/utilities/instantarticlewizard.htm

http://www.cooltoolawards.com/software/utilities/article%20submitter.htm

http://www.cooltoolawards.com/software/business/instant%20article%20creator.htm

http://www.cooltoolawards.com/software/business/instantarticlesubmitter.htm

http://www.cooltoolawards.com/software/utilities/articlepostrobot.htm

http://www.cooltoolawards.com/software/utilities/articlesubmitterpro.htm

Another consideration is to just publish a print on demand version for $499.00 through my strategic partner here in Tulsa.

They will get your book listed through the Lightning Source system, so your book will become available in print through Barnes and Nobles and other major book distributors.

They also work with their authors to promote them through web, radio, speaking engagements, etc. These promotional services do come at a cost, but it is their goal to make serious authors successful.

I'd be happy to introduce you: Todd Rutherford, VP, Yorkshire Publishing:
todd.rutherford@yorkshirepublishing.com or 918-394-2665. Tell him I sent you his way.

Of course, for those of you who have still not joined EbookoMatic.com, you really should. It's a low-cost way to get your work seen across multiple sites. It provides a presence -- a destination to send people -- so they can learn more about you and your work.

Hope this info helps.

All my best,

Steven Schneiderman