The Heidi Thorne Show

Writing is only one of the skills you need if you want to become a self published author. Surprisingly, writing is the easiest of the skills. The rest? Well, they'll challenge you. Find out what skills you'll need to develop for self publishing.

Blog: What Skills Do Self Published Authors Need to Have? http://hub.me/anJYp

YouTube video: https://youtu.be/TpcjQcUyHfc

Timestamp show notes (click timestamp to view segment on YouTube):

2:19 They don't know what they don't know about self publishing

3:12 Self published authors need to be entrepreneurs

3:58 Skill: Self editing

4:21 Skill: Choosing a business model

4:47 Skill: Book production and quality control

5:18 Skill: Basic accounting

6:12 Skill: Book marketing and sales

6:50 Skill: Emotional skills

7:16 Where to learn these skills

8:00 What impatient self published authors want, but what they really need

8:58 The one self publishing skill you shouldn't outsource

I occasionally get inquiries from self published authors who want to sell large quantities of their books to organizations such as schools or corporations. These are referred to a bulk book orders or volume sales. Here's what you need to know about making these sales.

Blog: Selling Bulk Orders of Your Self Published Books: What You Need to Know http://hub.me/anJET

YouTube video: https://youtu.be/MsyJjga6ZDI

Timestamp show notes (click timestamp to view segment on YouTube):

0:45 What is a bulk book order or volume sale?

1:29 Author copies don't earn royalties

2:04 Why you might not want to offer a discount

4:14 Shipping and sales tax issues for bulk book orders

5:30 Challenges of selling bulk book orders

A book series can be challenging for self publishing. I discuss what you need to know before you make a commitment to doing a series.

Blog: Self Publishing a Book Series: What You Need to Know http://hub.me/anIkF

YouTube video: https://youtu.be/x2qBs2l8x_M

Timestamp show notes (click on timestamp to view that segment on YouTube):

0:42 When should you start a book series?

1:07 Why new authors have trouble with book series

1:39 The sequel problem with book series

2:30 How many books should be in your book series?

6:33 Tips for branding your book series

9:53 Should you tell readers your book is the first in a series?

“What are the best niches?” This is understandably a question that many self published authors have. We want to make sure that we get a return on our self publishing investments. But this is not an easy question to answer. I discuss what a “best” niche is and how to find ones that are best for you.

Blog: What are the Best Niches for Self Published Books? http://hub.me/anHAP

YouTube video: https://youtu.be/VRj10yw-tGo

Timestamp show notes (click on timestamp to view segment on YouTube):

0:36 What is defined as a best niche?

3:56 The best niche for your self published books.

4:17 Your best niche might not be best for sales.

6:29 How to evaluate your niche on Amazon.

9:52 How to keep up with publishing trends and news.

Almost everyone seems to want to write a book, though not everyone can or should do it. As a writer, author, or editor, you could get trapped into fulfilling someone else's book writing dream. I explain the issues surrounding these impossible dream projects, as well as how to avoid getting suckered into them.

Blog: How to Handle Book Writing Requests that are Impossible Dreams http://hub.me/anGEV

YouTube video: https://youtu.be/2sETZvNWCNI

Timestamp show notes (click on timestamp to view segment on YouTube):

0:11 Everyone wants to write a book, but some can't or shouldn't

0:40 Real life examples of impossible dream book projects

4:13 Biggest problems with these book projects

5:12 The legal issues with these books

6:32 These book dreamers need ghostwriters

7:55 Authors and writers are not charities!

8:13 Why and how dreamers impose on writers

10:10 What book dreams really want

12:31 Thinking outside the book

Barely a week goes by where I don’t see some “I won’t work with Amazon” outburst from an author on social media. I think the problem stems from them not understanding their author relationship with Amazon. I explain that relationship in this episode.

Blog: Do You Understand Your Author Relationship with Amazon? http://hub.me/anFPS

YouTube video: https://youtu.be/9DeLsovldPE

Timestamp show notes (click on timestamp to view segment on YouTube):

0:11 "I won't work with Amazon"

1:15 Your author relationship with Amazon

2:50 Tech headaches you avoid when working with Amazon

7:08 Avoid customer service issues when working with Amazon

8:49 Will I ever quit working with Amazon?

Be careful with photos in your self published books! A question from an author forum prompted me to share these tips to help keep you out of copyright hot water, save money, and provide a better user experience.

Blog: Using Photos in Self Published Books: What You Need to Know http://hub.me/anBev

U.S. Copyright Office Circular 15a on Duration of Copyright: https://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ15a.pdf

YouTube video: https://youtu.be/V5eyhwYwnpI

Timestamp show notes (click on timestamp to view that segment on YouTube):

0:12 One rule of thumb for using photos

1:07 What about "old" photographs and images?

2:25 Why you need permission to use photos

4:50 Your headshot and book cover photos

6:22 Stock photography issues

8:10 Photo quality that's needed for print books

8:29 Photo issues for eBooks

10:46 How photos can make your book outdated

13:19 Photos for fiction books? Nonfiction?

14:18 Take a tip from the big trade publishers

Podcasting is the hot new content format. But is anyone making money at it? How can you make money from your podcast? I share the real deal when it comes to podcast monetization.

Blog: How to Make Money Podcasting: What are Your Possibilities? http://hub.me/anAT6

YouTube video: https://youtu.be/ywTtBdyABIE

Timestamp show notes (click timestamp to view segment on YouTube):

0:11 Podcasts are growing

0:46 Podcast advertising

1:21 Dynamic ad insertion for podcasts

2:48 Podcast sponsorships

3:55 Why podcasts aren't that attractive for advertisers

6:15 Paid podcast subscriptions

6:29 Apple, Spotify, etc. don't pay podcasters

8:22 Selling your other products and services on podcasts

10:38 Why podcasts may not sell lots of books

12:40 The podcast marketing double whammy

13:15 Why you should do a podcast

Authors often fret about getting 4-star reviews on Amazon for their books. Prompted by an exchange on social media, I rant on the Amazon ratings system.

Blog: Why a 4-Star Review on Amazon Isn't Bad http://hub.me/anzYi

YouTube video: https://youtu.be/rd0scmk8oKE

Timestamp show notes (click on timestamp to view segment on YouTube):

0:12 The social media exchange that inspired this rant

2:11 Myth: Anything less than a 5-star review is bad

2:27 Why Amazon named their stores 4-Star Stores

4:12 Why hoping for all 5-star reviews is unprofitable and ego-driven

5:15 Ratings and reviews are feedback, not rewards

6:34 Very few buyers actually rate and review Amazon purchases

7:35 Why 5-star reviews don't mean high quality

9:12 Why customers may view all 5-star reviews as suspicious

11:01 Some buyers are always negative

11:56 No one knows how Amazon's algorithm works

13:49 Competition is fierce on Amazon

14:37 You have no control over customer reviews and ratings

15:11 Do low ratings and reviews on Amazon really cause low sales?

16:14 Factors you can control that impact your book sales

Self publishing custom card decks sounds like such a cool idea for educational, inspirational, or motivational material. But they are one of the most difficult and expensive printing and publishing projects ever! I explain the things you need to watch if you're considering doing a custom deck.

Link to Full YouTube Video and Time-Stamped Show Notes (click time-stamp to jump right to that point in video):

Full YouTube video: https://youtu.be/DAnyyJX9iWI

0:11 One the most asked questions on my blog

1:33 What's involved with creating a custom card deck

2:24 How to find a custom card deck printer

4:10 Card deck customization issues

6:36 Custom card deck packaging

9:05 Custom card deck sales and distribution

10:15 ISBN numbers for custom card decks

11:48 Why I would (or wouldn't) do a card deck

12:38 How to connect with Heidi

Blog: Self-Publishing a Custom-Printed Deck of Cards