Self-publish, Then Self-Promote!

If you've published your book, you are aware of all the costs involved that ultimately cut into the profit you make, and that's only one end of the process. The other is creating exposure-- getting your book out there for people to read. It is recommended that you sell through one of the big online retailers to establish consumer credibility, but often they will take upwards of 50% off the top from each sale. Many online retailers require trade discounts as well; based on a range that you the author set with the retailer, a percentage of these trade discounts are offered online as bargains for the consumer. (But be warned, not all publishers allow you to set your own trade discounts, and some retailers will not push your book less fervently the lower you have set them.)

For legitimacy, sell through an established online bookseller; for profit, sell your books through your own website. Though you will have an added cost of advertising online in order to entice people to your website, you will still fare better since many methods of setting up a personal page on the internet are free. A blog like this one is a great example of a way to sell your books. Blogs have come into their own as more credible sources of news and culture, while being user-friendly for both the one running the blog and the reader. Most blogs are easy to update, archive past posts well, and have enough storage to upload your work in text, audio, even video clips. Perhaps you want to post excerpts or serially post chapters of your book online to captivate the reader; you may want to take advantage of the platform given you to speak to the research you did and the experience of writing your book. The content is up to you, and most blog hosts give you plenty of freedom in determining the look and feel of your site. Blogs offer a great way to connect with your readers in a personal way, faster and farther, around the clock.