Self Publishing Success Tips ((Updated))

       I'm a self published author, i have been working on my writing career since I was still in highschool, at fifteen.

    
          Now I'm 22 with two successfully books published with Amazon, Kindle & Nook- I also have written a great many Vampire Diaries short stories, for Kindle Worlds.

    I feel like as a self-published author I get discriminated against alot when certain people, especially traditionally published authors, hear that I am my own publisher.

     Does this mean that self publishing should be forgotten, simply because we don't get a fancy publishing label on our book, because we sell mainly online, and because stores and libraries typically have little interest in our work?

NO.

      It means that if we want success, if want a spot on the best- seller's rank, if we want to make this a career- it has to be a full time job.

      We don't get fancy promotions and ads handed to us like those who go the traditional route, we have to  be our own advertising teams, w have to be the ones to get out there and sell our books!

I've sold a huge amount of my books, I'm no best seller, but I have seen quite a few royalty checks, and I still have a little party in my head every time that one sells.

So what are some great tips for selling books?

1. EDIT.
I cannot say enough how important it is to get a good editor, on my books I did all of my edits- and I won't lie... I'm not perfect.

They ended up flawed.

     Because of those flaws, I have received some horrendous reviews, however I used them to motivate me to do better.

    Since then I have made friends with a great editor who had taught me alot, and my best advice is that if you do not have an editor on your side and can't afford one; find a good friend or someone who is pretty intelligent- and ask them to proofread  and point out any mistakes.

2. Build A Following.
Facebook is the greatest place to begin building a follower base, you should work on a fan page for yourself, and every book that you have the rights too.
     Selling yourself and your content is extremely important, create a sharable link and ask your personal friends to like and share your work- I have over 2,000 likes on my author fan page.. And the more content I post, the more active my fans stay.

3. Use Everything To Promote.
Twitter, Blogger, Instagram, Tumblr, anything that offers you an audience and people to connect with! As a self publisher, you have to have a personality, make friends, and not be afraid to sell yourself.

If people like you, they will be more wiling to become a fan.

4. Have A Support Team.
   Whether it's family, your significant other, friends, or just awesome fans- make sure that you have people on your side willing to share your content, read your content, and REVIEW your content.
     It's important that you're not the only person who is trying to promote your work.. People respond better if you already have fans.

5. Get Reviews.
   This is really difficult, I have issues with it all the time! But when someone you personally know buys one of your books, ask them to please leave you a review.
     You can also score reviews by joining Facebook Reviewer groups and sharing your book(s) with others who are willing to review for you, there are also websites dedicated to this. Reviews are important, they are one of the first things that your customers will see.

6. Physical Promotion.
   Don't rely on technology and the web to sell your books, while this is a great avenue, you absolutely must be willing to do book signings and make fliers, to sell tee shirts and wrist bands.... Physical promotion isn't dead y'all, in fact it's amazing how many people it  will reach.

7. Be Different.
    Example, I recorded myself reading the first chapter of my Dis-Functional Family book, and I used that on Youtube to get views- and I did happen to sell a few books. 
   So figure out what works for you, don't just copy everyone else.... Do your own style of writing and promoting, just the same.


8. Have The Time
   Make sure whether you use free promotions or spend a good amount of money, that you have the time to dedicate to promoting your books and making them thrive; otherwise your books will die on the vine.

Have Fun :)