- Have you just completed writing your first book
and not sure what to do next?
Would you like to know how to sell more books
on Amazon despite being an unknown author?
Then you'll want to hear what I have to share today
about how to increase your book sales on Amazon.
Stick around.
Welcome to Self Publishing with Dale
where you'll learn tips and strategies
for publishing your own books.
Have you published any number of books?
What is your experience in self-publishing
and how did you sell your first book as an unknown author?
Speaking of publishing your first book,
wouldn't you like to get the unfair advantage
on your next book launch?
Then you'll want the exact blueprint and the best seller
book launch checklist.
Simply head to SelfPublishingWithDale.com/checklist
to download your copy today.
Recently I received a question from long-time subscriber
and supporter of Self Publishing with Dale, Paul Gran.
In his email he said, "Been watching your YouTube channel
"for a little while.
"Also commented on a few from time to time.
"I have a question, mate.
"How do you start getting sales?
"How did you sell your first book as an unknown author?"
Well, Paul, first of all you can thank your better half
for suggesting to ask me this question.
I've answered it many different ways before
but never directly shared how I sold my first book
as an unknown author.
Sure, I could shamelessly promote the best seller
book launch checklist, but I've already done that.
So, why don't I tell you how I sold my first book?
So, it's story time, kids.
- [Kids] Yay!
(kids clapping)
- In 2013, I began writing my first book
with the intention to only have it published.
I didn't care much about profits.
It was about becoming a published author.
By the time early 2014 rolled around I had
a 44,000 word manuscript called
"The Three Keys to Greater Health and Happiness
"to Unlock your Greater Life."
Now, I'll admit, I did zero research about how
I would sell this book.
I just assumed I'd publish the book and be done with it.
Low and behold when I did publish it,
I actually sold quite a few copies,
but it wasn't enough to justify quitting my day job.
So, you know what I did.
I quit my day job of course.
That's a different story altogether really.
All I did to sell my first book was tell everyone
and their mother that I was a published author.
Yeah, it was nothing fancy and I made a whopping
$21.50 in my first month.
And even more impressive is that was just a create space
print book and even more impressive was the book
was a steaming pile of (horn honk).
I didn't have a clue about what I was doing
nor did I have any concept of what the self-publishing
industry was all about.
In fact, I did my own cover.
It was terrible.
I didn't hire an editor.
The manuscript was riddled with errors, of course.
And I didn't even bother publishing to Kindle
or Audiobook despite what I advise most people to do today.
But if I had to do it all over again,
here's what I'd do.
One, refine my product.
If you want to stick around this business
for longer than a cup of coffee, I highly recommend
you don't do what I did.
Hire professionals, that way when you get
any number of sales your readers will stay with you
for the long haul and refer other readers to you.
Two, develop an action plan.
Those that fail to plan, plan to fail.
Hey, I get it if you don't want to use
my best seller book launch checklist.
If you don't, that's totally cool,
but I'd recommend you spend a couple hours planning
on how you'll get your book into more hands
and shift more copies.
And an action plan isn't publishing your book
and praying for the best.
I've seen this type of business plan far too often
and it's never surprising to hear that those
with the action plan don't draw one hairy dime.
Three, inner circle.
Your inner circle consists of friends,
family and acquaintances.
These people are your go to resources
when you have no audience at all.
Fair warning, you'll only be able to use this option once,
maybe twice at best.
What happens after so many book releases,
your inner circle grows tired of you sharing
your stinking book.
Yes, they want to support you.
But no, they don't want to hear about your book
every other conversation.
Build hype for your first book among your crew.
When it launches, follow up with them once
and then leave it alone.
Four, hire a professional.
You can't do everything and be everywhere in this business,
especially when it comes to your first book.
Know your strengths, play to them.
When you don't know what you're doing,
such as editing, cover design, marketing and promotion,
hire out someone who knows what they're doing.
That's the best, most succinct advice
I can shoot to you right now.
Also, take a peak on YouTube at my full video series
on marketing and promotion for self-published books.
It's entirely possible you can use
any number of suggestions in that video series
to sell more books on Amazon and elsewhere.
I hope that helped out, Paul, and thanks again
for the great question.
In the meantime, if you enjoyed today's content
then share it with someone else who may like it, too.
Until later, it's been Self Publishing with Dale
and I'll catch you soon.