tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post8704570468304162074..comments2024-03-18T06:16:18.802-05:00Comments on A Newbie's Guide to Publishing: Guest Blog by Birgit KlugerJA Konrathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-26261338495362917252013-11-06T05:11:58.349-06:002013-11-06T05:11:58.349-06:00Very interesting - this post has got me thinking -...Very interesting - this post has got me thinking - I have been wondering about ways to get my Euro-based sales up. Wondering what the potential of the DE store is compared to the ES/MX store if I translated my books into Spanish.<br /><br />Will check out your book.Mikehttp://www.amazonpublishingguide.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-71942142699834341432013-10-25T03:08:11.128-05:002013-10-25T03:08:11.128-05:00Hi Steve,
I know giving away books for free can be...Hi Steve,<br />I know giving away books for free can be hard, because you face to same problem as with selling a book: people have to know about it. I believe in the US apart from bookbub, Pixel of Ink and Ereader News Today generate a lot of downloads. And the think these two sites don't charge for the adds (you have to check though if I am right). Also I found that even a successful free promotion doesn't generate as many downloads as before. In Germany these promotions still work better, but here too you have to let people know about your free book. For english books there aren't too many options to do that, but you could try e-literati. They have a Facebook page.<br /><br />Hope that helps!<br /><br />Best regards,<br />BirgitAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-89647789414035130892013-10-21T12:21:26.063-05:002013-10-21T12:21:26.063-05:00Hi Birgit,
My promos on Amazon have been in declin...Hi Birgit,<br />My promos on Amazon have been in decline, even though I announce them everywhere I can that's free (if I remember correctly, Bookbub isn't one of those sites--I refuse to pay for these announcements just like I refuse to pay for reviews). In my most recent promo, I was giving away two new releases. My knee-jerk reaction is that you can't even give books away nowadays, but then I started thinking, my promos were right after the government shutdown and near debt default here in the States--maybe people just didn't pay attention to free books!<br />At any rate, the number of downloads is miserable. Anyone have a better idea (I just use them for promoting name recognition basically)? By better, I mean something besides writing the next book...I do that!<br />r/SteveSteven M. Moorehttp://stevenmmoore.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-916846556987836392013-10-21T01:54:42.278-05:002013-10-21T01:54:42.278-05:00Hi Sam,
Sorry to hear that you didn't find my...Hi Sam,<br /><br />Sorry to hear that you didn't find my book helpful.<br />As to the aggregators: I chose the german ones based on whether or not they operate on an international level. Meaning that authors outside of Germany can use them too. I also added one aggregator who operates from the UK.<br /><br />Best regards,<br />BirgitAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-89268290157749363252013-10-21T01:50:50.465-05:002013-10-21T01:50:50.465-05:00Hi I.J.,
I can't say that this is true. A lot ...Hi I.J.,<br />I can't say that this is true. A lot of ebooks are sold. Often it is a matter of finding the right marketing tool and of letting readers know that your book is out there.<br />Best regards,<br />BirgitAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-6222877158244453142013-10-21T01:49:26.210-05:002013-10-21T01:49:26.210-05:00Hi John,
I hope you find my book helpful! Actually...Hi John,<br />I hope you find my book helpful! Actually I am still trying to figure out the UK market, with no success so far. Once I do, I'll write about it :).<br />Best regards,<br />BirgitAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-14933296158200939932013-10-19T13:10:54.250-05:002013-10-19T13:10:54.250-05:00Seriously, Birgit, I bought and returned my copy. ...Seriously, Birgit, I bought and returned my copy. <br /><br />I am sorry but it really reminded me of a very short version of David Gaughran's book "Let's Get Visual" with some added comments from http://selfpublisherbibel.de, which is German, I admit. Still, unless I missed something major the statistics you choose are readily available from The Global eBook report update fall 2013 http://www.global-ebook.com/ . <br /><br />Apart from that you translate a couple of forms from amazon author. While that might be helpful for some, the forms are basically the same regardless in which language. You just need to fill in in the same sequence. <br /><br />Considering how short your book is, this took up a lot of space.<br /><br />I know the German market, too, and you are right, one needs to go via aggregators to reach part of the online stores (that goes for self publishers and publishing companies alike). Unfortunately, you not only did not mention most of the aggregators, but the list you provided is not really the best choice either, in terms of contracts and royalties. I would be interested in an explanation about how you came up with your choice — maybe I am missing something? As it is I am not of the opinion that you are giving the best advice here. <br /><br />What I liked were the book blogs you mentioned. Still, a simple google search would have found those same blogs. I tried. It is also a rather short list.<br /><br />I am sorry, really. I bought the book because I hoped to learn something from it. Instead, it left me rather puzzled. <br /><br />I did not leave a negative review on amazon, instead I hope you will go back to your manuscript and add a bit more information. As it is, you will find most of it in the blog you have already mentioned, as well as in the magazine of the Börsenverein des deutschen Buchhandels (not totally neutral, though). <br /><br />All the best,<br />Sam<br />St@sammark.de<br /><br />(I'm on my iPad and do not see where to put an email address. It is also rather clumsy to write. Sorry for tipping errors)Sam Marknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-20353589540774217062013-10-19T09:36:05.860-05:002013-10-19T09:36:05.860-05:00This is fantastic! Thank you Birgit! I run a trans...This is fantastic! Thank you Birgit! I run a translators' co-op and we will give a free copy of this to author clients who translate a novel or novella into German with us. It's Language+ Literary Transltions.<br />Elizabeth JenningsElizabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12644900552898093107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-87603926799759894362013-10-18T09:14:45.973-05:002013-10-18T09:14:45.973-05:00I'm German by birth but write in English and a...I'm German by birth but write in English and am pubbed in the U.S. and a few other places. 3 of my novels have been translated into German, though not a great translation. They did not do very well. I now self-publish through Amazon. Germans don't seem to be interested in e-books unless they are free. I had offers of promotion, but only if I made my books free. This is ridiculous!I.J.Parkernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-17338917486801852582013-10-17T07:47:34.353-05:002013-10-17T07:47:34.353-05:00Hi there, Birgit.
Just picked up your book. I lo...Hi there, Birgit.<br /><br />Just picked up your book. I love the idea of marketing in foreign Amazon stores. Your book looks like it hits the spot. I'd love a book that focuses on the UK market. Maybe that could be your next project :)John Mellieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04961171761290027400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-23589271856338599002013-10-16T06:36:59.092-05:002013-10-16T06:36:59.092-05:00Joe has had personal experience with translating h...Joe has had personal experience with translating his work. Ryan Schneiderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00752280001402340489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-90647666587481015722013-10-16T04:27:05.463-05:002013-10-16T04:27:05.463-05:00Hi Mike,
in my experience a bad translation is wor...Hi Mike,<br />in my experience a bad translation is worse than no translation. The problem with translations is that you need a pro. This is quite expensive. <br />I would really advise against letting someone translate your work unless you are certain that they know what they are doing.<br />Best regards,<br />BirgitAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-13114765835714687272013-10-16T04:24:05.892-05:002013-10-16T04:24:05.892-05:00Hi Susanne,
I wish you all the best and hope that...Hi Susanne,<br /><br />I wish you all the best and hope that you sell many books in Germany!!<br /><br />Best regards,<br />BirgitAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-43241128131186181992013-10-15T19:07:27.532-05:002013-10-15T19:07:27.532-05:00I sell a couple of my Thailand-focused non-fiction...I sell a couple of my Thailand-focused non-fiction books in Germany each month. Maybe 6 a month at the most. I have had a number of people contact me from Germany, asking if they could translate my entire books to German. I've resisted, but wonder about your thoughts on that. Thanks!Mike Fookhttp://www.mikefook.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-63391491344961964122013-10-15T18:01:40.520-05:002013-10-15T18:01:40.520-05:00Hi Birgit,
I just bought your book and am looking...Hi Birgit,<br /><br />I just bought your book and am looking forward to reading it. There are so many markets out there, and it's nice to have a guide along the way.<br /><br />Best wishes,<br /><br />SusanneAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com