[author59]

Hi all,

My time is up in KU and I am ready to go wide with a few of my books.
I plan on going direct with Apple, Google, and Barnes and Noble. Draft2Digital for the rest.
So, my question is, other than uploading the books onto the platforms, is there anything else I can or should do in regards to this new launch?
And where do my paperbacks come in with the move?
Thanks for your input!

 

[ShayneRutherford]

I would add Kobo to the list of places you're going to go direct with. And join the FB group Wide For The Win. They're great.

 

[author59]

Thanks, Shayne!

 

[Kenneth Rosenberg]

Just make sure you strip out any Amazon links in your manuscripts, if you have any, or Apple will automatically reject them. 

 

[aimeeeasterling]

What the others said. Plus, make a permafree first in series and apply for a Bookbub --- a great way to get wide sales going!

 

[GrandmaBirdie]

Try Smashwords. They distribute to a number of channels:

Barnes & Noble
Kobo
Apple
Library Direct
Baker & Taylor's Axis 360
Overdrive
Scribd
cloudLibrary
Gardners Extended Retail
Odilo
Gardners Library

 

[CaptnAndy]

The Books2Read link, like mine: https://books2read.com/ap/8Zj2D8/AG-Kimbrough

will show all your books on all platforms, with links, including Amazon, even if you don't use D2D for Amazon.

 

[author59]

Thanks for the tips everyone!

 

[Randall Wood]

www.scribecount.com

Its like BookReport but its for wide authors. Reports all the major platforms automatically.

 

[Justawriter]

This may seem like a strange tip--but consider running AMS ads on the books you take wide--that will drive your sales on Amazon more than anything else (plus FB too if you like). Most wide authors don't think to also do AMS but it's invaluable. The true value for me with being wide is getting sales on Amazon vs KU. It takes a lot longer to build up reader base on the other stores, so AMS can quickly help you make up for losing the page reads and in my instance it took my books to a much higher level than I ever hit in KU. I would also highly recommend launching a new series wide at the same time you move your books wide, that is what I did and it worked well.

 

[Patty Jansen]

Learn how to market without paid ads, because it's likely you'll rely on it a lot more than if you were in KU. Simply said, there are too many platforms and they're too fragmented to run ads to them all the time. Learning to advertise without paid ads will continue to pay dividends for years to come. It's not spectacular or glamorous, but it works. Read Joe Solari's "Advantage" for the general principles and mindset.

Basically, they principles are these:

Optimise your catalogue
Optimise your website and other funnels leading into your catalogue
SEO the hell out of those pages
Let search engines (not just Google, but also Facebook, Amazon and Pinterest) do the work for you.