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How Many Books Do I Need to Get Results?

And how long does my series need to be? It's a common question - but one with a few different answers...

HOW MANY BOOKS DO I NEED? – this is a question I get asked all the time. And the answer is… it depends.

So, whether you’ve got 1 book, 15 books, or 50+ books, there’s an answer for you in today’s video.

I’ll also talk a little about Mark Dawson’s Self Publishing 101 training program, which opens TODAY at 5pm Eastern (US). This is a fantastic foundation course for anyone who needs help getting to the point where they can start implementing some of the more advanced marketing strategies – and is an essential step on the road towards full-time authorship (author-ing? author-eering?).

I’ve also got an exclusive bonus course for anyone who enrolls using my link (Mark will send me commission – you don’t pay extra – but it’s only fair you get something in return).

Here’s what’s inside the course:

Module 1 – Build your Platform

We’ll kick off with a look at the basic building blocks that will comprise your author platform: your website, your mailing list and your social media presence. We’ll move on to consider how best to communicate with your new list subscribers.

Module 2 – Pre-publication

Everything you need to know in order to give your book the best chance of success, including:

  • front and back matter (what you need and don’t need);
  • formatting;
  • book cover design (with Mark’s designer, Stuart Bache, who has worked for John Le Carré and Stephen King);
  • writing killer blurbs;
  • metadata tips for improving your book’s visibility in search;
  • pricing;
  • effective Amazon author pages;
  • polishing your book’s product page;
  • choosing a reader magnet;
  • building a high converting landing page for your mailing list;
  • delivering the reader magnet; and
  • the cost of publication.
Module 3 – Amazon Exclusive or Wide?

Do you go exclusive with Amazon or maximise readership by going wide?

Module 4 – Go Exclusive

If you are with Amazon (and you will be, in some capacity) you’ll need to know about:

  • KDP Select bonuses and benefits;
  • the algorithm; and
  • a timetable for the first 90 days of an exclusive book’s life.
Module 5 – Go Wide

Strategies for going wide, including:

  • How to leverage a catalogue of books;
  • permafree, why and how you should do it;
  • merchandising opportunities at the other retailers; and
  • a timetable for the first 365 days of your book’s life.
Module 6 – Generating Traffic

How to send thousands of potential readers to your books’ pages and offers, including:

  • the equation to turn a browser into a superfan;
  • organic traffic, and how to maximise it;
  • paid traffic with simple Facebook list building ads;
  • paid traffic from the email service companies
  • how to use Prolific Works to build your mailing list; and
  • a session presented by BookBub on how to use their amazing Featured Deals and Ads.
Module 7 – Advance Teams and Launching

We’ll look at how to optimise our mailing lists so that we can put out the best book that we possibly can, and then sell it, including:

  • advance teams, and how it can revolutionise your career;
  • due to popular demand, a detailed look at Mark’s launch sequence (with a couple of tricks he’s never revealed before); and
  • walk-throughs of the precise emails Mark uses when I’m launching.
Module 8 – Getting Reviews

The perennial question: how do I get reviews? Mark will lay out how he does it.

The Tech Library

Detailed, step-by-step screenflows where you can watch Mark’s screen as he takes the platform and book of his intrepid guinea pig, James Blatch (his co-host on the Self Publishing Show) and the tools that they use:

  • uploading;
  • building a website, from start to finish (including hosting and building with SquareSpace, WordPress and Wix);
  • setting up MailChimp (beginner level) and ConvertKit (intermediate)
  • BookFunnel and Prolific Works;
  • setting up your FB page and ad account;
  • formatting with Vellum, the Reedsy book editor and Draft2Digital.

All sessions are fully transcribed and come with downloadable PDF cheatsheets.

And – of course – you’ll also get my bonus course – Rock Your Book Launch – which breaks down how to use the “big three” advertising platforms (Facebook, Amazon, and Bookbub) and “Your First Six Figure Launch” which breaks down how to run a launch or promotion with email – to boost your results during a launch or promotion. 

It’s the perfect addition to Mark’s material and will help get you results just that little bit faster 🙂 

Join SelfPublishing Formula 101 Here And Get the Exclusive Bonus From Me

^^ You’ll also find a bunch of videos and student testimonials on that page – so you can be sure the course is right for you. Your bonus from me will be delivered within 48 hours (we have to get the info from Mark’s team – so just make sure you use a link from me and we’ll be able to track you!)

To your success!

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

GOT QUESTIONS? DROP ‘EM IN THE COMMENTS!

Comments

  1. Mely says:

    Hi. I like your goals. I am thinking of doing the same. What if I already have Mark Dawson’s Self-Publishing 101 course? Are you selling your course separately?

    1. Nick says:

      People who have my 10k Readers course have those topics integrated into their modules already – but I don’t have any immediate plans to re-release the RYBL course this year. I did do a big video session about the main principles up here if you’d like to watch: https://www.blog.yourfirst10kreaders.com/how-to-rock-your-book-launch/

  2. Linsey Lanier says:

    Great information, Nick. Thank you! Will you be publishing your new sci-fi series under a pen name?

    1. Nick says:

      No – under my own name (for now, anyway!).

  3. Larry Smart says:

    Hi Nick,
    If you are planning 3 or 4 book launches a year, what is the average number of words you aim for in each book?
    Cheers,
    Larry

    1. Nick says:

      aiming for about 90k words – so if I can get to around 2,000 words per day that covers 4 books a year quite nicely.

      1. Chris says:

        How on earth do you get 2000 words a day? How many hours of butt-in-chair does that amount to? And how many words did you average back when you had a 9-5 job, assuming you did have one at some point. (I ask this as a person who a job and a half to work right now—administrative work, plus teaching two courses for the university where I work.)

        1. Nick says:

          it’s not too hard when you’ve planned out what exactly you’re writing – eg, you know exactly what’s happening when you sit down. I’d usually average 2k – 2.5k a day when I was working full time too (get in early, write during lunch, during particularly boring meetings, stay a little late, write after family have gone to bed, etc). 30 mins sprints is a great way to do it. Weekends off though 🙂

  4. Margaret Skea says:

    Hi Nick, I’ve just been told by my local Arts council (for want of a better description) that they are sponsoring / subsidising me on your 10K course – I’m coming at it with trepidation (I don’t have a deep series and possibly never will because of the books I write) but am hoping between it and MD’s Ads for authors course that I signed up for, but am struggling slightly to get my head around, that I can make progress in my writing career. Look forward to working with you soon.

    1. Nick says:

      A “deep series” makes large ad spends easier, but it’s by no means the only route!

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