These are great tips, @Veronica Llorca-Smith. My deeper question is, what are you optimizing book sales for?
If it’s regular, substantial revenue, that’s a very difficult row to hoe.
However, as a means to get the word out, build community, and promote ideas, selling enough books to enough of the right readers can be very effective.
I’d love to hear your thoughts (and others’) on how book sales fit into an overall brand or business-building strategy.
Hi Veronica! I found your page via Substack Campfire. This is amazing advice and exactly why I've found myself on Substack. I've spent several years working on my memoir about having breast cancer in my twenties, but now I feel good about the shape it's in, I've realised I need to devote some serious attention to my 'author platform.' I'm looking forward to reading more of your content and advice!
I’m so sorry to hear of the loss of your dear friend. I also lost my childhood best friend to breast cancer while I was still on chemo, and my book is really about survivor’s guilt and fighting for your life when you don’t feel worthy of being alive.
I’ll look into buying your ebook! Thanks again. I can’t wait to read more of your content 😊
It depends: most self-published authors use Amazon.
If you sign a book deal with a publisher, they will leverage their own distribution network.
If you are interested in self-publishing, you can check my ebook, From Zero To Amazon Bestseller. It's an actionable step-by-step roadmap based on my experience publishing 3 books on Amazon.
Love this! I joined Substack to publish personal essays on fatherhood that I hope to publish as a book. I like the idea of putting longer form content online, experiment with marketing, and receiving feedback before committing to publishing a book.
That's awesome, Frank and you can totally use Substack to share your chapters in public and create buzz.
If you need more guidance regarding the self-publishing process on Amazon, you can check my (affordable) ebook From Zero To Amazon Bestseller. It's a step-by-step guide with the roadmap I followed to publish 3 books.
Love this article showing the renaissance of newsletters in a social connecting way, Veronica!
Happy that Substack fills a multiple gap that Medium didn‘t close - and LinkedIn tried with mixed results. Although I must admit that 40% of my 2100+ LinkedIn newsletters subscribers are coming from out of network which is great. Just it doesn‘t have the same engagement and visibility as Substack has.
Nice movements in the industry - and great to be employed in a newsletter / email company at this moment!
Good question about moving over. I use my LinkedIn newsletter „Learn From Books“ for decent book reviews of authors who have their audience there including an interview with them (the very first review got me a full time job - no joke!). I then duplicate those to Medium as well which doesn‘t work.
For Substack I take a different angle more towards writing in cafés including books and social media.
This analysis shows in a transparent and at the same time clear and effective way analytically how Substack is impacting and can create value for emerging writers. However, beyond the appeal of the concept of the social newsletter, I think this issue has another interesting hidden side: it is possibly an interesting analysis also for publishers, who should increasingly 'stick their nose' on Substack and observe closely what is happening to seize possible opportunities.
To add any section, just go to Settings and scroll down until you find the List Section. There you can add multiple ones, such as Book Chapters, which is the approach I took.
Thanks again for the great advice, Veronica! I love the idea of a book launch club as a way to get beta readers: I am publishing a revised version of my serial in October, so this might be something I do in September…
Very insightful!
Thank you, Alicia!
This post is absolute gold! Thank you so much! Hope to be as accomplished and helpful to others on here as you are someday
Thank you, Dominic, your words mean a lot to me and I’m sure you will.
These are great tips, @Veronica Llorca-Smith. My deeper question is, what are you optimizing book sales for?
If it’s regular, substantial revenue, that’s a very difficult row to hoe.
However, as a means to get the word out, build community, and promote ideas, selling enough books to enough of the right readers can be very effective.
I’d love to hear your thoughts (and others’) on how book sales fit into an overall brand or business-building strategy.
This is such a great article. Wow. So much value!!
Thank you!
I will use all of these ideas for my future book.
Hi Veronica! I found your page via Substack Campfire. This is amazing advice and exactly why I've found myself on Substack. I've spent several years working on my memoir about having breast cancer in my twenties, but now I feel good about the shape it's in, I've realised I need to devote some serious attention to my 'author platform.' I'm looking forward to reading more of your content and advice!
That's fantastic, Emma!
Welcome to Substack and the Campfire is such a cool community - you are in the best hands.
I just lost a dear friend to cancer in her early 40s and it's important to raise awareness and hear positive stories too.
If you need help with publishing and promoting let me know as I have an ebook and also offer personalized coaching to (aspiring) authors.
Great to be connected!
Thanks, Veronica.
I’m so sorry to hear of the loss of your dear friend. I also lost my childhood best friend to breast cancer while I was still on chemo, and my book is really about survivor’s guilt and fighting for your life when you don’t feel worthy of being alive.
I’ll look into buying your ebook! Thanks again. I can’t wait to read more of your content 😊
“she’s sharing chapters of her ebook about health on Substack before launching it.
Where does one launch their book? On Amazon? Thank you
Hi Charlotte,
It depends: most self-published authors use Amazon.
If you sign a book deal with a publisher, they will leverage their own distribution network.
If you are interested in self-publishing, you can check my ebook, From Zero To Amazon Bestseller. It's an actionable step-by-step roadmap based on my experience publishing 3 books on Amazon.
Cheers!
https://app.gumroad.com/products/ggioe/edit
Thank you so much, I greatly appreciate you taking the time to let me know. It’s all new to me. I will definitely check out your book. ✨💖✨
These are wonderful tips that seem doable, too! With fingers crossed I will have my first book published this fall. These ideas will help!
Absolutely, Cindy!
There's so much you can do by yourself if you leverage the power of digital.
If you need additional resources, I have a very affordable guide to self-publish and promote your book on Amazon:
https://app.gumroad.com/products/ggioe/edit
Good luck!
Notes seems perfect for implementing the "build in public" strategy that worked so well on other social platforms.
I think I'll use it for the book I'm going to write.
Absolutely, Alberto, it's a great way to get exposure and get people interested without being too agressive.
If you need a step-by-step guide to help you self-publish (specifically on Amazon), you can take a look at my ebook From Zero to Amazon Bestseller.
It's basically all the info I wish I had had when I was getting started.
Good luck!
https://app.gumroad.com/products/ggioe/edit
Love this! I joined Substack to publish personal essays on fatherhood that I hope to publish as a book. I like the idea of putting longer form content online, experiment with marketing, and receiving feedback before committing to publishing a book.
That's awesome, Frank and you can totally use Substack to share your chapters in public and create buzz.
If you need more guidance regarding the self-publishing process on Amazon, you can check my (affordable) ebook From Zero To Amazon Bestseller. It's a step-by-step guide with the roadmap I followed to publish 3 books.
Good luck!
https://app.gumroad.com/products/ggioe/edit
Love this article showing the renaissance of newsletters in a social connecting way, Veronica!
Happy that Substack fills a multiple gap that Medium didn‘t close - and LinkedIn tried with mixed results. Although I must admit that 40% of my 2100+ LinkedIn newsletters subscribers are coming from out of network which is great. Just it doesn‘t have the same engagement and visibility as Substack has.
Nice movements in the industry - and great to be employed in a newsletter / email company at this moment!
I love how you used the word renaissance here, brilliant!
Someone told me the other day that Substack is great "because it's adding all the features we have been asking Medium for years." Ouch but true.
I think the concept of a "social newsletter" is brilliant and more platforms will evolve in that direction.
That's great re LinkedIn but not having an email list makes it much more superficial and risky.
Are you trying to move those subs to Substack?
Good question about moving over. I use my LinkedIn newsletter „Learn From Books“ for decent book reviews of authors who have their audience there including an interview with them (the very first review got me a full time job - no joke!). I then duplicate those to Medium as well which doesn‘t work.
For Substack I take a different angle more towards writing in cafés including books and social media.
That's great to have these segmented stratgies.
PS: If you would like to consider me for an interview on LinkedIn, I would be super happy as that's where I have my biggest audience.
Cheers!
Will do for sure!
Well done. Thanks for sharing.
You are welcome, I'm glad you liked it.
I have a new book that I will utilize some of her column. again great stuff. cheers
Excellent. Just wondering if it is wise, in my case, to wait on some of this PR until I have more subscribers?
Hi Shell,
The more you write and promote your book, the more likely you are to gain subscribers and create buzz.
I would say start now, get feedback and let people know about your book.
That was was approach when I started promoting The Lemon Tree Mindset ebook: I only had a few dozen subscribers.
Good luck!
This analysis shows in a transparent and at the same time clear and effective way analytically how Substack is impacting and can create value for emerging writers. However, beyond the appeal of the concept of the social newsletter, I think this issue has another interesting hidden side: it is possibly an interesting analysis also for publishers, who should increasingly 'stick their nose' on Substack and observe closely what is happening to seize possible opportunities.
Hi Riccardo,
That's spot on and that's why I mentioned that publishers are interested in Substack as well - and maybe slightly nervous.
It could well disrupt the industry once again with innovative models, e.g. novels with a pre-launch on Substack, etc.
Exciting times!
PS: do you plan to publish a book?
It’s one of my life-objectives, but not immediately!
How do you set up a 'book section' on your Substack? Seems like a good idea, if you have books you've written/published.
Hi Nicholas,
To add any section, just go to Settings and scroll down until you find the List Section. There you can add multiple ones, such as Book Chapters, which is the approach I took.
Hi Veronica, thanks for your reply - but I don't seem to have a 'lists section' under settings,. The only thing I see beginning with 'L' is Likes.
Sorry, I meant “Sections”
OK, got it. Thanks.
Thanks again for the great advice, Veronica! I love the idea of a book launch club as a way to get beta readers: I am publishing a revised version of my serial in October, so this might be something I do in September…
Absolutely, Holly!
I honestly wish I had done it for my previous books.
It took me weeks to get my first 10 reviews, whereas with a Book Launch Club, I was able to get them within a week.
Looking forward to your announcement!
Thanks for the mention Veronica! 😊
You are welcome, David!
It's great how you are promoting your book across multiple platforms.