Supplementary material for my Book Launch Planner
Digital Launch Resources
BONUS: Use the code from page 47 of the planner to access digital workbooks at https://www.financiallyfreeauthor.com/digitalworksheets
Some of these links are affiliate links, meaning I will recieve a small commission for my recommendation but the price for you does not change. I am a member of Amazon's Associate program.
Foundations
Format Your Book For Self-Publishing
Professional book formatter Catherine Williams https://chapter-one-book-production.co.uk/
How To Format for print in Microsoft Word
The Best Print on Demand Company - Comparing Book Publishing with Amazon KDP, IngramSpark & Beyond
Step by Step Self-Publishing with KDP: Book Publishing on Amazon
I just purchased Atticus for formatting
ISBN
This is a book identification number and each edition of your book, including if you have a paperback and a hardcover, needs its own number except for ebooks. Ebooks can have an ISBN but they don't require one.
KDP or another print-on-demand company will offer you a free ISBN but it's rarely a good idea to use it. It will make Amazon your publisher instead of you and it could limit your rights.
Here is the official source of ISBN numbers. They are $125 for one and you can also buy a package
Cover Design
https://bookbrush.com/custom-cover-design-package/
https://bookbrush.com/cover-creator/
Jack Edwards YouTube video: I paid professionals to design a book cover (with links to the Fiverr designers)
Dale L Roberts on YouTube: I paid 10 designers on Fiverr to design the same cover
How to Design the Best Book Cover in 8 Simple Steps [Kindlepreneur]
Overview Resources
Starting From Zero Free Course from David Gaughran
Free Video Course How To Sell Your First 100 Books
AI for authors: Book Blaster
Other
Fascinating article about the power of the right title
https://storyoriginapp.com/ has a free plan that includes universal links, which means that you can share one link and it will send people to the correct Amazon store no matter what country they are in
https://awesomegang.com/author-interview/ You can submit answers to these questions to have your author interview on their site
https://public-production.bookshop.org/documents/Bookshop%20Author%20Brochure.pdf
HOW MANY SALES ARE YOU LOSING BECAUSE OF A BADLY-WRITTEN BOOK BLURB?
What if you could learn to write highly marketable book blurbs...every time?
What if you knew exactly how to capture your book in 100-200 tantalising words that draw readers in and makes them NEED to buy your book?
Watch my interview with Jessie
My friend Melissa at Personal Brandtography has a brand new program in beta that utilizes AI to get powerful insight about your ideal readers or clients and then customizes a social media plan that guides them on the perfect buyer's journey. Get the details here.
Publisher Rocket (Keywords for Amazon and Ads)
Publishing Wide course Learn how to publish effectively in the wide stores and how to market your books outside of Amazon!
With KU option. Keep track of your book sales and income all in one place. This tool is customizable, so you can use it to reflect your preferred book sellers.
Goals
Royalty Calculator For Pricing
Best Pricing Strategy For Amazon KDP:
3 Months Before
Podcast Sites
https://eventraptor.com/speakers
https://www.thepodcastcollaborative.com/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/234007497618342
https://entrepreneursrocketfuel.com/speakers-playhouse-thursdays/
https://zx902.isrefer.com/go/trial/carolynchoate/
Have you written a good book? Want to get the word out about it? Go ahead and pitch it to us and we might just have you on one of our shows. Don’t be afraid. We’re nice folks. Just fill in the form below. The NBN hosts will see your submission. They pick the books we cover.
Submit your book: https://newbooksnetwork.com/authors
BLOG POST: How To Be A Podcast Guest
PR Resources
Author PR from Ashley at Nardi Media. My interview with Ashley on YouTube:
Another book-specific PR person is Andrea Pass
Review Sites
Book Launcher's Best Paid Review Sites
Booksprout https://booksprout.co/pricing
BookSirens - pay per person who downloads ARC
ReaderViews We encourage authors to enter their titles in our monthly book giveaway, which we offer at no cost.
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/arc-program/
https://authors.booktasters.net/fiction-books/
Free Review Sites recommended by Kindlepreneur:
Love Books Group: Reviews books on their site is a easy process to submit.
Affaire de Coeur: A bi-monthly magazine that publishes reviews in historical, contemporary, paranormal, erotica, YA, and nonfiction primarily.
Book Page: Must send an ARC 4 months prior to publication date
The Kindle Book Review: Offers a list of reviews to contact individually based on preferred genres.
Compulsive Reader: Mainly focuses on literary fiction and poetry, they also review music CDs and other interesting things.
Crime Fiction Lover: Recommends sending a Press Release (***) and a bit hard to get into.
Book Smugglers: a highly read book blog that likes to focus on Horror, Urban Fantasy, SciFi, and YA.
Crime Scene Reviews: Reviews Crime and Mystery novels
SF Book: Started in 1996, SF books offers a list of Scifi Book reviewers you can contact individually
Fantasy Book Critics: Lists a bunch of legit book review sites, as well as offers their own in the Fantasy realm
Top Sci Fi Books: This website lists the best scifi and fantasy books based on certain subgenres. They have a sweet spot though for self published authors.
Did you know that you can create a link that goes straight to the review part? Send out these links to your friends, followers, and subscribers so they don't have to hunt for where to leave a review! https://kindlepreneur.com/how-to-get-book-reviews-with-no-blog-no-list-and-no-begging/
Done For You Blog Tour Service: https://kellylacey.com/love-books-tours/
Build Book Buzz: How To Mine The Gold Of Blogger Book Reviews https://buildbookbuzz.com/blogger-book-reviews/
Social Media Resources
Author Content Calendar with 365 post ideas and 500+ Canva templates.
Video showing using them:
Make A Book Trailer (or get help from Donna Cravotta and her "Author Mix Tapes")
The step-by-step proven guide to help you master TikTok and get the book sales and reader connections you dream of, without spending hours making videos.
Learn the strategies I used to sell 40k+ books through TikTok without paying for ads.
Watch my interview with the COO of BookBrush
BookBrush is a software created specifically for authors to create promo images and videos for their books.
It has templates for all kinds of social media ads, tons of graphic elements, and all sorts of book mockups (even box cover mockups for series).
You can use their new Hourly Concepts service to get help creating all sorts of promo assets for your book, even taglines and hooks.
Example of a book blurb into a video (yes, it's totally cheesy and low production and that's okay!) https://www.youtube.com/shorts/btHQH4UfzPY
Some Canva templates:
2 Months Before
BookFunnel.com for newsletter exchanges and group promos. Note that this is not a good book funnel unless you pay for the middle tier where you collect email addresses but for $20/yr the first tier is perfect for newsletter swaps. [https://storyoriginapp.com/ is a very similar service]
BookBub
This is the granddaddy of all book promo sites. While they have a "featured deal" option, it's rare to be accepted for it and you'll have a more predictable promotion if you use their ads.
https://insights.bookbub.com/ultimate-guide-bookbub-ads/
https://partners.bookbub.com/ads/about
You can also create an author profile on there that readers can follow. Here's mine as an example: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/ruth-madison Like with Goodreads, you can make lists of books you own, are reading, wantt o read, finished, etc.
Other Book Promo Sites
https://buckbooks.net/promotions/
https://booksends.com/advertise.php
https://www.selfpublishingreview.com/spr-bestseller-book-packages/
https://digitalbookspot.com/for-authors-promote-your-book-to-thousands/ Just $5 through Fiverr
https://www.booksbutterfly.com/bookpromotion/best-book-promotion
https://www.ereadernewstoday.com/book-of-the-day/
Written Word Media (Booksy)
Promo sites Written Word Media is the company behind promo sites like Freebooksy and Bargain Booksy. https://www.writtenwordmedia.com/membership/?via=carolyn
They can also help with Facebook and Amazon ads
Also check out their Book Launch Promo Stack: https://www.newinbooks.com/advertise-new-book-2
While being a guest on podcasts is an amazing boost for your visibility and book sales, another way to utilize podcasts is to advertise on them. Most podcasts have a website where you can learn about their sponsorship or ad opportunities. This is when the hosts read a short blurb for a book and encourage their listeners to check it out.
Book Signing or Reading Events
VistaPrint for swag like bookmarks, as well as tableclothes, and posters. (I have two friends who work at VistaPrint so I'm biased!)
This author posted videos from her book signing event on social media to get even more reach
Signed by the author stickers
I found these on Etsy! You can sign your books and then add a sticker to the front.
1 Month Before
Launch Parties
SendOutCards for invites, thank yous, and promo mail (add a QR code to your invite for where people can purchase your book!)
VIDEO: 10 Tips To Plan A Successful Launch Party (not book specific)
GoodReads
Soft Launch Week
Launch Week
You are going to be so busy, consider hiring someone like Jennifer Nichols at https://www.bloomandhustle.com/services She does done-for-you and done-with-you social media services but she can also help managing your engagement during launch week, responding to comments, answering questions, reposting mentions, following up, etc.
Indie Bookstore Finder - to help your friends and followers find bookstores to request your book from!
Post-Launch Week
Ads Resources
Author Ads Library - Bundle or individual courses:
Ongoing
Speaking opportunities
Get The Next Book Launch Planner: a version of the planner that doesn't have the foundation pieces you've already done, just the bits you need for your next book launch
Book Marketing Playlist on YouTube
Recommended Books About Book Publishing!
I have a chapter in this multi-author collaboration about indie publishing!
