If you are writing a book, you should be blogging and otherwise developing your platform (fame). You might also consider joining Twitter because I just got out of a great Twitter chat called #blogchat, which is every Sunday night at 8pm Central Time. Together we learned that shorter blogposts are better, it's good to mix fun with more serious posts, tweet your posts and use hashtags, and take your own photos to store in a "stock photos" file so you have a supply of photos to consider using without a mad scramble or resort to plagiarism (always get permission to use other people's photos). And we argued about what it means to be an expert. Are you an expert?

Here is a good article simplifying SEO Search Engine Optimization (SEO), which you should all know about. SEO is important for your website so people can find you when they do searches by topic. If you have a blog, it is helpful to put keywords into your post titles now and then. Amazon also uses a type of SEO called tags. Be sure to tag your Amazon book listing with keywords, but not keywords that are so popular you get lost in a crowd - be a little specific (this goes for blogs, blogpost titles, and websites, too). 

http://blog.nathanbransford.com/2011/12/what-you-need-to-know-about-seo.html

 

The Book Industry Study Group has produced guidelines for assigning ISBNs to digital books. The committee consisted of major traditional publishers, university presses, Bowker, Ingrams, B&T. Here is a link to the pdf file of the policy:  http://www.bisg.org/docs/BISG_Policy_1101.pdf. You will want to note pages 5 & 6 in particular.

Basically, it has been decided that each format of digital book requires its own, single ISBN, regardless of how or where it is sold. Amazon assigns its own type of identifier, however it looks like a Kindle-format book should have its own ISBN anyway. This policy goes into effect March 2012.

 

 

  

Amazon is increasing its strong-arm tactics. Here's a great article about the publishing ladder and Amazon. Those who are not traditionally published or do not use CreateSpace, pay special attention towards info near the bottom of this article.

http://spiritauthors.com/news/becoming-an-empowered-self-published-author/

Also, in the news today Amazon now has an app that encourages people to scan books in real stores to see the Amazon price and a discount if they purchase then through Amazon. People already do things like this in  bookstores (and other retail shops), but Amazon is now encouraging this behavior, to the dismay of real stores which do not appreciate being seen as merely showcases for merchandise. That doesn't pay their rent.

I just finished design and production of my last SLPA newsletter, December 2011. I've learned so much and value this wonderful organization and friends since joining in 2004. It's time to turn this SLPA board position over to Cathy Davis; she will be stepping up to the plate in January. MANY THANKS to Kim Wolterman, editor. Plus, past editors: Sue Sylvia, Ligaya Figueras, and Maria Rodgers O'Rourke. It's been a pleasure working with all you.
Hope to see all of you at the December meeting and happy holidays!

Who Left A Tree, Then A Coffin In The Library?

Enjoy!

Guest posting on someone else's blog is good publicity. Here's a double-hitter for me: guest post on something every writer is interested in - book marketing.

 

I like this idea: a mobile pop-up book shop, this time shaped like a cat. Visitors can purchase books from the cat but the goods are shipped via the mail when the exhibition ends.
Read more at http://thisiscolossal.com/2011/09/numabookcat/

Mark Coker of Smashwords discusses pricing strategies for e-books, including fiction and nonfiction differences, and what it takes to be successful with e-books (good advice here for print books, too)

 

First posted in 2009, this is still very relevant. Know what this option entails.

Writer's Digest Publishing 101