Publicious

The Self-Publishing Industry in 2025

Fri, 27 Jun 2025 04:00:00 +0000

The self-publishing industry continues to flourish as a viable and increasingly popular route for authors to share their work. Technology has played a transformative role, providing tools that make it easier than ever for writers to publish, distribute, a

Welcoming new subscribers to your list and engaging with your audience.

Fri, 16 Aug 2024 06:00:00 +0000

As we’ve been discussing book marketing so much over the last year or so, I wanted to step back a little this month and go back to the very reason why we need marketing, in the hope that we can identify the kind of strategies that will work for us.&

The Tale of Three Bobs - 2024

Fri, 12 Apr 2024 03:00:00 +0000

Following is a blog article I wrote in 2015. It might give you an idea to determine which category you will fall into – the hobby writer, the semi-serious writer or the serious writer/publisher.

Download Platforms

Wed, 06 Mar 2024 01:00:00 +0000

BookFunnel is a software company that enables authors to deliver book files to readers. It can deliver digital files in all formats and can be used to upload reader magnets, and advanced review copies etc.

Freebies

Mon, 05 Feb 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Authors use certain freebies or magnets as a way of increasing their mailing lists or selling more books.

The Book Launch

Fri, 22 Dec 2023 03:00:00 +0000

This month I’ll be discussing launching your book, the importance of timing and the type of launch that’s right for you.

Your Plan of Action

Mon, 04 Dec 2023 04:00:00 +0000

Now that you have a grasp over some of the options open to you for your marketing campaign, it’s important to understand that if you are aiming to create a successful career as an author, you’ll need to run all aspects of that career like a bu

Managing Your Brand

Thu, 26 Oct 2023 04:00:00 +0000

This month I wanted to revisit a topic we touched on briefly in an earlier article: Your author brand.

Reviews

Tue, 03 Oct 2023 01:00:00 +0000

Arguably, having positive reviews written and posted where potential buyers can read them is a very important marketing tool. In some cases even negative comments can boost the sales of certain types of books.

Paid advertising

Thu, 31 Aug 2023 07:00:00 +0000

Let’s look at how paid advertising can work for your book marketing campaign, and where to start.

Social Media

Fri, 28 Jul 2023 06:00:00 +0000

Here are the topics we’ve discussed so far:

Preparation for your marketing campaign
Mailing list
Getting subscribers
Finding your audience
Welcoming new subscribers to your list and engaging wi

Your Newsletter

Mon, 08 May 2023 02:00:00 +0000

When deciding what to include in your newsletter, ask yourself what it is that interests your subscribers. Why did they sign up to follow you? And what will keep them engaged?

Finding your audience

Thu, 16 Mar 2023 08:00:00 +0000

In the previous blog we discussed how to attract subscribers to our mailing list by using incentives such as reader magnets. If you missed it you can find a copy here: https://www.publicious.com.au/blog.html Before we discuss how to find subscribers, let’s have a look at who these people who are willing to join your mailing list are. Although there will be a minority of those signing up who are doing it just for the freebies, the majority of your subscribers are there because they are int...

The Mailing List

Wed, 04 Jan 2023 03:00:00 +0000

In the previous blog we discussed the necessary preparation and steps required prior to commencing your marketing campaign. (if you missed it, you can read it or any previous issues here.) This month we’ll be looking at arguably one of the most important components of your marketing campaign. If you’ve been doing research on book marketing, you may have come across the term ‘mailing list’. It’s important to understand now that if you are planning to be a serious...

Preparation for your Marketing Campaign

Wed, 26 Oct 2022 08:00:00 +0000

‘Build it, and they will come!’ You might remember that line from the 1982 W.P. Kinsella’s novel, Shoeless Joe or the 1989 movie adaption, A Field of Dreams. This famous line can work as a great analogy for the author who is at the beginning of their marketing campaign and not sure where to start. Here’s why: Build it … Build what? You need to begin your publishing journey by planning and building your brand. What do you think of when you see the Coca ...

The Mysteries and Myths of Book Marketing #1

Sun, 16 Oct 2022 23:00:00 +0000

Things to consider prior to your book marketing campaign. You know, being in the fortunate position of working with hundreds of self-published authors as I do, arguably the most asked question is ‘How do I market my book?’ I wish there were an easy answer to this. It would certainly make our lives easier if there was a product or a magic bullet that could take care of this part of the publishing journey for us, but regardless of what BS systems you might see out there on t...

Book Marketing For Self-Published Authors: The Essentials

Wed, 03 Jul 2019 23:00:00 +0000

You've put in the hours or, more realistically, weeks, months, or even years of creating your masterpiece. Writing, rewriting, editing, and rewriting some more, followed by layout, design, copyediting, proofing, and the countless small tasks involved in preparing your book for publication are finally behind you. Now your book is done, and the publication date lies ahead. You heave a sigh of relief and savour this triumph. Then it hits youI have to sell this thing! For some writers, fini...

Breaking Traditions: The Benefits of Using a Self-Publisher

Mon, 10 Jun 2019 23:00:00 +0000

Self-publishing has revolutionized the way we read, write, and shop for books. According to some estimates, over a million books were self-published in 2017 in the United States alone, a trend that continues at a breakneck rate. Trends in the Australian publishing market tend to follow those in the rest of the English-speaking world, meaning more and more authors in Australia are turning to online book publishing to get their words and ideas out into the world. And yet, despite these f...

SELF-PUBLISH TO SHARE YOUR CULTURE, HERITAGE AND STORY WITH GENERATIONS TO COME

Fri, 20 Jan 2017 08:00:00 +0000

For a great many years, the sharing of stories, mythology, fables and legends has helped to create and maintain the unique cultures all over the world. Over time, these stories have been passed down from grandparents to parents to children, and this has always been an important way to preserve culture and heritage. We can see very early evidence of this in rock paintings by indigenous people around the world. Effectively, fairy tales and nursery rhymes serve the same purpose. ...

Book Marketing

Tue, 03 Jan 2017 06:00:00 +0000

Savvy self-published authors understand that publishing their book is just the start of their journey. Most authors have written and published their book with the intent of it being read. They usually have an idea about who they wrote it for (the target audience), but effectively sharing the fact that their professional quality ebook exists is the purpose of book marketing/publicity. Sometimes your affordable book publishing service will be able to organise book marketing/publicity suppo...

TURN 'ASPIRING AUTHOR' INTO 'PUBLISHED AUTHOR' IN 2017

Wed, 14 Dec 2016 00:00:00 +0000

At this time of year, many of us take the opportunity to look back over the year that has passed, and take account of what we feel we achieved in the various sectors of our lives. A bit of a break and distance over the Christmas break rewards us with some perspective about what we wish to achieve in the New Year. Perhaps you finished writing your book during the course of the year. That's a fantastic achievement. Or was it completed a few years ago, and is still hidden in you...

How to write great characters which jump off the page of your novel

Wed, 02 Nov 2016 01:00:00 +0000

When creating your novel, there is an abundance of information to be found online about book cover designs, manuscript assessments/copy editing/proofreading, as well as practical tools such as book typesetting services and essential topics such as book marketing/publicity. But the practical parts of publishing, like print on demand and Ebook distribution, are just part of the puzzle to creating and publishing your first novel. Most of the real blood, sweat and tears takes place at the s...

Online sales verses high street bookstore sales - how do they compare?

Mon, 24 Oct 2016 07:00:00 +0000

There is nothing more exciting than seeing your book at a bookstore the title peeking out amongst writers you might admire or aspire to. If you are lucky enough to have the cover facing out, shiny and colourful in its resplendence, then be even more grateful; shelf space is limited as publishers vie for attention in a hyper-competitive market and only the most eye catching book cover designs tend to be displayed. But how likely is it that your novel will even make it into a physical...

I WANT TO PUBLISH A CHILDREN'S BOOK - WHAT NOW?

Wed, 24 Aug 2016 06:00:00 +0000

Have you always dreamt of being a children's author? Or maybe you have been inspired by the children's books you have discovered whilst browsing in the book store for a child who is close to your heart? I spoke with Publicious author of children's book Trip to Greece, Melina Mallos, about her tips for writing for children. Melina, who was born and raised in Greece until the age of 6, is a high profile blogger and commentator on the subject of childhood intercu...

SOCIAL MEDIA FOR AUTHORS - WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

Thu, 04 Aug 2016 03:00:00 +0000

Many authors who publish via affordable book publishing services underestimate the importance of a presence on social media. In actual fact, this is an important part of your book marketing/publicity strategy. Here is why you need to get tweeting, posting and commenting: Most popular authors have a strong following on their facebook, Instagram, Twitter and even YouTube platforms. This is where they share news and updates about their current and future book launches, tours and signin...

Author Success Seldom Defined by Sales Figures Alone

Thu, 21 Jul 2016 03:00:00 +0000

As an affordable self publishing service provider, I have worked with authors who have proudly published on a range of various topics from fiction to non-fiction, and from children's books to biographies and professional expert guides on a range of different industries, such as business, health and nutrition. For many of these authors, the goal for self publishing was never to sell trillions of copies of their book. Just knowing that their published Professional quality EBook (or pr...

A Manuscript Gathers its Wings

Mon, 04 Jul 2016 00:00:00 +0000

It would be rather fascinating to know exactly how many unfinished books there are around the World, hiding away in a computer file; all those words just waiting to be published and, of course, read! These manuscripts have not yet made the journey to an affordable book publishing service, as they still waiting patiently in their infancy, for one reason or another. I have no doubt that there would be manuscripts in all forms of incompletion. There will be those that contain not...

NURTURING YOUR FAN BASE THROUGH BLOGS AND SOCIAL MEDIA

Tue, 31 May 2016 07:00:00 +0000

Every successful musician has a committed fan base, and this is exactly where he/she immediately goes to sell his music! It is really no different for any aspiring author committed to making a career from Global Book and Ebook Distribution. What kind of difference would it make if you, an author, had a ready-made committed audience who trust you, follow your every move, and are eager to buy from you? Well, for one thing, as soon as your latest book is launched, all you would ne...

BE SERIOUS ABOUT BEING AN AUTHOR

Thu, 28 Apr 2016 05:00:00 +0000

Gone are the days when only the 'real authors' published books. Anyone other than established authors and University professors could only really be fans and consumers of books. Back then, most of us knew of someone who had diligently spent a good few years writing (and then editing) their very special book, only to receive dozens of rejection letters from traditional publishers. Nowadays, of course, seemingly everyone is either already an author or has a &qu...

HOW TO DECIDE WHETHER TO APPOINT A GHOSTWRITER

Tue, 19 Apr 2016 02:00:00 +0000

A common myth is that only writers or authors can produce a book. In other words, if you are a respected scientist and decide to publish a book about a ground-breaking concept that you have discovered, it is not possible unless you also happen to be a great writer. However, like any other skill, some people are adept at writing and others are better off "sticking to their day job." And then, of course, writing it is just the beginning. Everything else that is required just...

Setting Writing Goals

Wed, 23 Mar 2016 02:00:00 +0000

I am sure we can all relate to those days when we set out with the best intentions; a full day of uninterrupted writing time. The coffee has been made and accompanies you at your desk. The cat and dog are sleeping beside your feet. Your mobile phone is on flight mode, and you have even gone to the trouble of preparing a bowl of healthy nuts and some fruit to keep your energy levels up as the morning, and your manuscript, progresses. Before you know it, you have been sitting behind y...

HOW PUBLISHING A BOOK COULD BE THE BEST OR WORST BUSINESS DECISION YOU MAKE

Tue, 01 Mar 2016 02:00:00 +0000

The business world has changed in multiple ways, largely because of the introduction and growth of the World Wide Web. Just as other industries have evolved, so too has the publishing industry. Published books are no longer available to a select few authors; nowadays, almost anybody can have their book published for the right amount of money. However, ease of access doesn't necessarily make publishing a book a good business decision. Just as your own book and expert author status could...

HOW TO GENERATE MEDIA ATTENTION FOR YOUR BOOK

Mon, 15 Feb 2016 06:00:00 +0000

Aside from receiving the first copies of your newly published book in the mail, there is nothing more exciting than having your book reviewed or featured in the media. Not only does it validate that your book is interesting and worthwhile reading, but a simple review by a Book Editor in a metropolitan newspaper could also result in tremendous sales and royalties. Aside from the fact that your book has just been published (and requesting a book review), there are many different ang...

The Manuscript Assessment, aka Structural Edit or Substantive Edit

Wed, 13 Jan 2016 01:00:00 +0000

Happy New Year! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. Well 2016 is here at last and it already feels as if we're racing towards 2017. At this time of the year I like to look ahead and set my writing goals for the coming months. For me 2016 has begun with the initial manuscript assessment of my latest novel. A manuscript assessment, aka structural edit or substantive edit, is a very important and sometimes overlooked part of the editing process. There comes a time, after ...

Credible Characterisation

Tue, 08 Dec 2015 00:30:00 +0000

Some novels are easily forgotten, almost before the cover is closed. Others stay in our memories for days, months and years to come. Naturally, these memorable novels are often shared and discussed. Due to the explosive element of social media, those discussions can turn a struggling novelist into an overnight success. What's the secret? One of the key factors to a memorable novel is credible characterisation. Character vs Plot It is the age-old question: Is plot...

Ebooks - Digital Rights Management (DRM)

Thu, 15 Oct 2015 02:00:00 +0000

Should you protect your ebook or not? I wanted to spend a little time this month discussing ebook protection, because it seems to be a hot topic. Concerned authors often ask me how they can be sure their work will be protected from unauthorised copying and redistribution. Digital Rights Management (DRM) is a system available to prevent just that problem. Normally it is offered as an option when submitting your ebook title to certain online stores and distributors, and can be as sim...

The Tale of Three Bobs

Tue, 21 Jul 2015 06:00:00 +0000

Are you frustrated and perhaps a little angry at your lack of book sales? This month's blog may seem a little different at first but I'm sure you'll soon get the gist of the message: Bobby, Robert and Bob are self-employed plumbers who also sell their own (plumbing) products. Each man is around the same age, but each steers their plumbing career differently. Bobby is a motivated man who loves being a plumber and is open minded - especially when it comes to learning n...

Self-published books gaining global success

Mon, 29 Jun 2015 01:00:00 +0000

Self-published books gaining global success An interview with Publicious Director Andy McDermott for the Sydney Writers Festival Magazine 2015 "There's never been a better time to do it," says Andy McDermott, Director of Publicious, a self-publishing service provider. Self-publishing is indeed flourishing. A July 2014 report by Author Earnings indicated that 13 per cent of books on the Amazon e-book bestseller list were self-published, with self-published books compri...

How to Write and Publish Your Book #16

Wed, 03 Jun 2015 02:00:00 +0000

Book Marketing #5 Building your brand. You may hear the term brand used a lot these days. Brands have been around for many years and we come into contact with them on a daily basis. The ones we're most familiar with are Coca Cola, Google and Apple. As you read over each of the three brands, it is not difficult to visualise the products at their mere mention. You don't have to be told what the companies manufacture: you already know because they have a succesful brand, re...

How to Write and Publish Your Book #15

Wed, 20 May 2015 06:00:00 +0000

Book Marketing #4 Social media networks In Book Marketing #1 and #2 we discussed the importance of having a website, a blog and getting reviews for your book. This time we'll be focusing on how to market your books through social media networks. Social media networks such as Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, YouTube, and Google+ are all free marketing platforms that are perfect for today's authors. Facebook. Create an author page on Facebook, separate from your pe...

How to Write and Publish Your Book #14

Wed, 06 May 2015 01:00:00 +0000

Book Marketing #3 Blogging You're a writer, so what better way to get the word out about your book than to write about it? Basically, a blog is a way of writing and publishing short articles online and you control the content. Wordpress is a great platform for setting up a blog, either within your author/book website or as a standalone blog site. Write about what you know, share your articles with others, invite guest bloggers, reviews of your book, and link your blog to other s...

How to Write and Publish Your Book #13

Wed, 22 Apr 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Book Marketing #2
Do I need a website? It's important to understand that your readers not only will be interested in your book, but they will also want to know about you, the author. To feed this interest, you will need a platform on which to build your brand. The best place to start is by creating a website devoted to you and your book. This one marketing step is a must for all authors. Imagine it as your shop front and it is open 24/7 to the world! Creating a ...

How to Write and Publish Your Book #12

Tue, 31 Mar 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Book Marketing Part 1 This is the big one: the one question all self-published authors want to know the answer to: 'How do I market my book?' We've broken this marketing report into five sections, and will discuss the following topics over the next few weeks: #1. Book Marketing: Beware the shark infested waters. #2. Do you need a website? #3. Blogging, writing articles, forums and book reviews. #4. Using ...

How to Write and Publish Your Book #11

Tue, 24 Feb 2015 08:00:00 +0000

Online global distribution how does it work? Not so long ago, a self-published author would have to print a large quantity of books, and then post them out, one at a time, whenever a sale was achieved. This was very costly; especially if sales were being made overseas. With the varied options for online global distribution, this expense and limited delivery is now a thing of the past. Print On Demand (POD) works in conjunction with online stores so authors no longer have to purc...

How to Write and Publish Your Book #10

Tue, 27 Jan 2015 04:00:00 +0000

ISBNs, CIP, RRPs and Legal Deposits - Goodness me what does it all mean? It can be quite overwhelming when you're trying to get your head around everything you need to do to publish your book, can't it? Here's some stuff you'll need to know. ISBN An International Serial Book Number (ISBN) is required for all books and ebooks that are to be made available to the public for sale. A separate ISBN is also required for each individual format of the same bo...

How to Write and Publish Your Book #9

Mon, 22 Dec 2014 08:00:00 +0000

Book cover design People often talk about the importance of a book's cover design, alluding that a great eye-catching cover can attract buyers and influence their decision to purchase the book. It is true that a well-designed cover is critical to your book having a professionally published appearance, but remember, self-published books are rarely displayed in the high street bookstores. Buyers on the internet browse online bookstores differently than they would a high street st...

How to Write and Publish Your Book #8

Wed, 26 Nov 2014 04:00:00 +0000

I want to self-publish – what’s next? If you’ve decided that self-publishing is the way for you to go, where do you start? You’ve heard terms like ISBN, CIP, Legal deposit, POD, ebook formatting, online distribution, social media marketing, and (take a deep breath) – you’re finding it all a bit overwhelming. Well, read on and I will endeavour to answer all your questions. Congratulations, you've chosen to self-publish. Now what? T...

How to Write and Publish Your Book #7

Sat, 25 Oct 2014 01:00:00 +0000

Which type of publishing is for you? Congratulations! You've finished your book, you've had it edited and you've done some research and learned all about the types of publishing that is on offer. As you consider your publishing options, here are a few things to bear in mind: Traditional Publishing: Most traditional publishers do not accept unsolicited manuscripts, so you will need a literary agent. Most literary agents do not accept uns...

How to Write and Publish Your Book #6

Sun, 05 Oct 2014 08:00:00 +0000

Self-Publishing Last time we discussed the different types of publishing and looked at traditional publishing and partnership publishing. Now it's time to look at self-publishing. Self-publishing is when the author of a book/ebook takes on the role of publisher and is responsible for the production, marketing, and distribution. Although self-publishing has been around for many years, the exposure now available via the internet, online global distribution, and the convenience of P...

How to Write and Publish Your Book #5

Sat, 13 Sep 2014 02:00:00 +0000

I'm ready to publish my book/ebook. What now? The book's been written and edited, and it's finally time for your baby to see the light of day. You want to publish your book but wouldn't have a clue where to start...sound familiar? I've been there so I know exactly how you feel, and the farther you delve into it the more overwhelming it can become. The best place to begin is by researching the different types of publishing and deciding which best suits your needs. ...

How to Write and Publish Your Book #4

Fri, 15 Aug 2014 23:00:00 +0000

Choosing the right editor for your book There are some important factors to consider when choosing an editor. You wouldn’t employ an electrical engineer to change the light fitting in your bathroom, nor would you use a brain surgeon to fix your teeth. The same principle applies to editing. You wouldn’t choose an editor who specialises in academic work to edit a book written for young children or vice versa. So, choose your editor by determining their speciality or genre ...

How to Write and Publish Your Book #3

Sat, 19 Jul 2014 02:00:00 +0000

Hi all, I did intend to write and post this blog from New York, but what with leisurely bike rides through Central Park, the craziness of Times Square, the odd Broadway show and exploring the city and surrounding boroughs like Brooklyn and Queens, it didn't happen. I thought I might get more time once I hit London, but hey, London in the springtime? What can I say? I'm safely back in Australia now, so here we go with #3 of our self-publishing made easy series. The Profes...

How to Write and Publish Your Book #2

Tue, 27 May 2014 23:00:00 +0000

2nd, 3rd, 4th drafts and beyond – self-editing Hi all and a big welcome from San Francisco. Yes folks I’m sitting on the dock of the bay while writing this post. Last time, we spoke about getting started with that manuscript. Here’s a quick recap: Time - choose or make a time to write and stick to it. Place - Find a comfortable place to write, away from distractions Set a Goal – decide how many words you want to write in a day and make...

How to write and publish your book #1

Tue, 20 May 2014 03:00:00 +0000

Getting started. In my previous post (http://www.publicious.com.au/blog/self-publishing-just-got-easy-) I touched briefly on what you need to do to start writing your book. The message was simple. Just do it! I’ve decided to base this series of posts on my tutoring and workshop material as well as my own writing and publishing experiences, hence the name ‘How to write and publish your book.’ Writing the first draft of your manuscript is by far the most importan...

Self-publishing just got easy!

Wed, 23 Apr 2014 23:33:00 +0000

Welcome to the very first Publicious blog. I’m looking forward to having the opportunity to share with you, my fellow authors, my publishing knowledge and experience, and to keep you up to date with the latest news and trends in publishing. I’m here to offer you assistance and guidance in the hope that I can steer you away from the many pitfalls that I have experienced during my own publishing journey. “What is this Publicious thing that sounds like delicio...