SPA Girls Podcast – EP160 – Wide Versus Exclusive – Which Is Better?
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It’s one of the big questions in the Indie author space, and hotly debated by many on either side. This week we talk about the pros and cons of going wide on all platforms versus going exclusive to Amazon.
No one seems to have a definitive answer to whether it’s better to do one or the other, and it can seem confusing and overwhelming. So the SPA Girls sat down and worked through what it means to go wide on all the publishing platforms, what you’ll get from it that you won’t get if you’re exclusive, and what you’ll be missing out – and then we do the same for the decision to go exclusive with Amazon.
If you’ve been worrying over whether you should go wide on all platforms, or go exclusive to Amazon when you publish your next book, this episode will give you the answers you’ve been looking for.
What Exclusive on Amazon means:
Ebooks only
You will be published exclusively with KDP for 90-days
Access to KU (Kindle Unlimited) which is monthly $9.99 subscription service to readers. They are limited to borrowing 10 books at a time.
Your ebook is in KU for a 3 month period.
Author is paid per page read. The amount received changes monthly, dependent on the global fund. It is then divided by the total number of pages read.
For example, $16.3 million / 3 billion pages = $0.0054 per page read.
PROS
Access to promotional opportunities.
Borrows count towards rankings.
Helps build an audience for new authors.
KU offers discoverability when you’re starting out.
Loading to one platform is easier. One file to format!
Amazon is the big fish in ebook retailers – with enormous market share of 80% (in US & UK) … iBooks is next with just 9% in the US
CONS
Exclusivity can be scary. Having all your eggs in one basket!!
Amazon can also change the rules on you at any time, and there is little you can do about it if you are locked into a pre-determined timeline for exclusive distribution.
What going Wide means: publishing on all retailer platforms you can access including Amazon, iBooks, Nook, Kobo either directly or through an aggregator such as Draft 2 Digital.
GOING WIDE PROS
Permafree (first in series)/promo opportunities
If Amazon makes changes you have income still coming in. Not reliant on one income stream.
Wider readership.
Potentially make more money if not in KU as readers have to purchase your book.
CONS
It’smore work loading your books to multiple platforms.
KU can be a large part of an author’s income.
Marketing time and expense is needed to build readership
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF
How much do I want to learn?
How much time do I have to give?
Where is my readership?
Remember, nothing is set in stone, so if it’s not working, then you can change things.
Marketing tips:
- If Wide, where possible upload to retailer directly
- If Wide, make sure your website has links to all retailers. Update your website with links to all retailers.
- If Wide, utilise permafree, first in series and focus fbk/bookbub/newsletters on that
- Don’t forget on social media – make sure you post links to all stores.
- If you’re not getting reads in KU TRY wide – treat them as a new release even if they’ve been out for ages.
- BE PATIENT -wide takes a while to build
- Have a clear marketing and publishing strategy in mind: wide suits authors with a large backlist.
- Non-Amazon readers tend to be less price sensitive, but make sure your books fit in exactly with the traditionally published covers.
- With KU so popular in some genres, it can be easier to gain visibility and traction with the other retailers.
- Diversifying your income streams makes a lot of sense for authors both financially AND emotionally /stress-wise.
- If you have prev KU readers complaining, remind them that your wide books can be read (if you tick the boxes in D2D for playstr and scribd) that they can get a free subscription trial there)
Keen to join the SPA Girls in a live workshop next year? Join our mailing list here and we’ll let you know the minute we have workshop bookings open. Info here: https://selfpublishingworkshop.co.nz/index.html
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Episodes 100 – 200 List
200 What we’ve learned so far…
199 Interview with Adam Croft – Mindset and Marketing
198 Find Your Sparkle – with Julie Schooler
197 Hack Your Muse – with Kelly McClymer
196 Public Speaking For Authors – with Alena Van Arendonk
195 The Magic Pill – with Laura Van Arendonk-Baugh
194 A Day In The Life Of A Writer
193 Keep It Simple
192 Interview with Skye Warren: Money Mindset and Facebook Ads
For Authors (Part Two)
191 Interview with Skye Warren: Time Management & Advertising
For Authors (Part One)
190 Dragon Wrangling with Scott Baker: secrets for
Successful dictation
189 Interview with Patricia McLinn: Writing by the seat of
Your pants
188 Interview with Morgana Best: Writing & Marketing
Cozy Mysteries
187 Interview with Geoff Symon: Wounds & Crime Scenes
186 Interview with Natasha Bajema, WMD for Authors
185 The Writer’s Detective with Adam Richardson
183 Facebook Advertising with Maria Luis ~ Part Two
182 Facebook Advertising with Maria Luis ~ Part One
181 Learn dictation with Kilby Blades
180 Interview with Brian Meeks, Mastering Book Descriptions
179 Interview with Tara Cremin, Kobo Writing Life
178 Interview with Larissa Reynolds – Newsletters Part Two
177 Interview with Larissa Reynolds – Newsletters Part One
175 Wrangling Facebook: How To Make It Work For You
174 How To Write A Regency Romance
173 How Do You Identify Your Writing Weaknesses?
172 Interview With Dan Wood, D2D
171 Interview With Serenity Woods
169 5 Goals You Need To Make In 2019
168 Jumpstart Your 2019 Marketing with 31 Quick To Dos for Jan.
167 Scheduling For Writing Success
166 Our 2018 Roundup
165 He Said, She Said: Creating Dazzling Dialogue
164 Interview with Steffanie Holmes: Reverse Harem
163 Interview with YA author Kelly St Clare
160 Amazon Excl v Wide – things to consider and how to market
159 Interview With Kathryn LeVeque
158 Some Like It Hot – Or Not. Heat Levels In Romance
157 Interview With Louisa George
156 The Kindness Factor: Helping You Achieve More and Stress Less
155 Editing
153 Characters: From Cookie Cutter to Kapow
152 Interview with Tina Dietz: Audiobooks
151 Interview with Grace Burrowes
150 Should You Prune Your Mailing List?
149 RWNZ18 Interview with Damon Suede & Geoff Symon
148 Interview with indie superstar, Bella Andre
147 Top Ten Traits for Success
146 Write Better Faster with Becca Syme
145 Newsletter Ninja Tammi LaBrecque
144 Looking After Your Creative Health
143 Interview with Carlyn Robertson from Bookbub
142 Personal Branding For Authors with Lauren Clemett
141 Ten Free Online Tools For Authors
140 Tempting Taglines & Heartstopping Hooks
139 Findaway Voices with Kelly Lytle
138 Get Your Writing Mojo Back
137 Interview with Toni Kenyon: facebook live & serials
136 Dealing with misinformation and change in Sp-ing
134 Interview with Kevin Tumlinson, Draft2Digital
133 Interview with Sara Rosett
132 Organization For Authors – how to keep track of your
research and book details without losing your mind
131 Interview with Ricardo Fayet of Reedsy
130 Critical Care: Leveraging feedback for success
129 Brand You
128 SAS Special: Interview with Johnny B. Truant & Sean Platt
127 Industry Insiders with Damon J. Courtney of Bookfunnel
& Christine Monroe of Kobo
126 SAS Debrief with Jami Albright
125 SAS Special: Interview with Michelle Spiva
124 SAS Special : Interview With Michael Anderle
123 Sports Psychology for Authors – Interview With Nate Vella
122 Using Sub Plots To Amp Up Your Writing
121 Interview with Scott King: Outlining Your Novel
120 Pen-names Pros, Cons and Possibilities
119 Reader Engagement with Nalini Singh
118 Writing the Small Town Setting
117 Handling Negativity and Naysayers
116 Tough Mindset Questions For 2018
115 Interview With Nicola Davidson: Sex and Sensibility
114 Tropealicious
112 Interview With Honoree Corder & Ben Hale: Write Like A Boss
111 Ten Health Hacks For Writers
110 Interview with Kathryn Burnett: Your Writing Audit For Future Success
109 Interview with Melissa Storm: What Readers Want
108 Interview With Zoe Dawson: Writing Across Genres
107 Interview With Dave Chesson, The Keyword King
106 Pros and Cons of Kindle Unlimited
105 Why YOU should do Nanowrimo
104 Ten Truths For New Self Publishers
103 Find 30 Minutes A Day EXTRA!
102 Your Christmas Presence: Maximizing the Holiday Season for Authors
101 The Writing Life: Interview with Katie Cross
100 100 Episodes! Retrospective with funny moments; changing AO title
SPA Girls Podcast – EP323 – Christmas Special 2021
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Despite 2021’s best efforts we’ve managed to do some great work this year and had some good times.
From launching as planned when health or life got in the way, to self-improvement on many levels, we’ve hit the markers. Maybe not on time or in an effortless ballet-like movement, but we’re taking the wins and so should you!
Listen in for:
Our favourite moments of the year.
Apologies as Wendy tells us dad jokes!
Christmas recipes we love!
Show Notes:
Cheryl’s proudest moment: Launched 3 books after health issues put a spanner in the works several times.
Favourite moments: Being able to see and hold grandchildren and children.
Wendy’s proudest moment: Topped her pre-orders with a 1600 total on 1 book as well as a number 1 in her category and 3 best seller tags!
Favourite moment: Retiring her husband and employing her daughter and daughter-in-law as well as moving to the beach.
Trudi’s proudest moment: Doing some in depth analysis of her work with an expert and implementing changes to make it better.
Favourite moment: Learning to declutter.
Shar’s proudest moment: Changed from a Laptop to a large screen – no working in front of TV. Life-changer!
Favourite moment: Conference. Being together at last!
SPAGirls’ favourite moment: We spent 8 hours together on a train trip to conference where we ran a workshop, plus Wendy and Cheryl hosted a panel. Being with friends and other fellow writers was a tonic that needs to be bottled!
Listen in for:
❤️ Learn to Self-publish with the SPA Girls!
➡️ Visit SpaGirlsPodcast.com for full show notes and all previous episodes
🔍 Subscribe on your fav podcast app – search “SPA Girls Podcast”
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You’ll find all the show notes and SPA Girls podcast episodes at: Podcast Episodes
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SPA Girls Podcast – www.spagirlspodcast.com
SPA Girls Podcast – EP296 – Developing Character Wounds
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In this episode of the SPA Girls Podcast we talk about emotional wounds, and why they’re so important in developing your characters, and creating an awesome story!
From possible wounds that you could give your characters, to how those wounds will develop the story, and how you can use them to amp up the tension, and create a story that your readers will love – we talk about it all!
SHOW NOTES:
Emotional Wound Thesaurus – Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi
Website – Writers Helping Writers
Want more of the SPA Girls?
✔️ Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter with tips and resources for self-publishing authors https://www.selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/join/
✔️ You’ll find all the show notes and SPA Girls podcast episodes at: https://www.selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/
✔️ Watch episode recordings on YouTube @ http://www.youtube.com/c/SPAGirlsPodcast
✔️ Join us on Facebook and Twitter @SPAGirlsPodcast
SPA Girls Podcast – EP226 – Romance Your Brand with Zoe York
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We are delighted to welcome back NYT and USA Today bestselling author, Zoe York, to the SPA! Zoe is a busy mom of two young boys and the creator of modern, sexy, small town contemporary romances, a sci-fi romance series and now non-fiction for authors. Since 2013, Zoe has published 56 books, lead numerous workshops both in person and online, and is a fellow podcaster – The SisterCast is where Zoe and her sister Amanda talk about media, marketing, and how awesome it is to be a perfectly average mom.
Today we talk to Zoe about building a marketable genre fiction series as detailed in her first non-fiction book for writers: Romance Your Brand. For first time ever in print, Zoe York breaks down how she plans a series–something she has done ten times over. Romance Your Brand is an adaptation of an intensive four-week course, now available to authors everywhere. This book covers:
- high-concept pitches
- taglines and blurbs
- world building and casts of characters
- writing the first book in a series
- finding comparable series and covers
- how to write towards future marketing
- and why ALL OF THE ABOVE should be considered before you write a single word
This episode has fabulous marketing advice from Zoe, so get out your notebook and be ready!
“The truth is, success is found in trial and error. There’s no magic button, and maybe everything I’ve taught you so far might not be quite right for you. I still think it’s worth trying.” ~ Zoe York.
