Independent Publishing is as Simple as Pie...have a Second Slice!

A second helping of pie isn't bad for you when pie stands for: Plan, Implement, and Evaluate (P.I.E).
 

Book marketing pro, Brian Jud, frequently uses this acronym when helping SPANpro members generate ideas on how to achieve their independent publishing goals (click here for upcoming attractions in the SPANpro Webinar Series w...). Of course, he is quick to emphasize, that publishing success is as "simple as P.I.E."...but it's not easy!
 

Since this theme generated significant interest in our community, we will continue with it by adding resources intended to make your planning as simple as possible. (Application: Since we can't customize individual plans, SPAN offers resources to help you generate specific ideas that will become action items in your written business plan. A basic approach for keeping track of these ideas is to make notes under the broad, but traditional market planning categories of Product, Price, Place and Promotion. An additional resource is available to our SPANpro Members who can click here and download SPAN's Marketing Plan Workbook.) Here are four new resources under the topics we started last week.

 

1. Independent Publishing Overview

In this audio recording entitled "Laying a Profitable Publishing Foundation", renowned self-publishing expert and SPAN Co-Founder, Marilyn Ross will not only inspire you, but will help you generate a specific independent publishing "to-do list." Ms. Ross' presentation (recorded at a SPAN conference) overviews the book production process from mission statement and ISBN, through book cover design, distribution and promotion.
 

http://spanpro.info/audio/marilyn-ross-fri-am-2005.mp3
 

(FYI: The Complete Guide to Self-Publishing, 5th Edition by Marilyn Ross and Sue Collier, is considered by many to be the "Bible" of self-publishing and can be ordered from this website: http://selfpublishingresources.com/)
 

2. Target Market Identification 

If you already have a successful cause or business model (sometimes referred to as a platform), independent publishing can offer a product extension - adding a way to communicate with your established audience (target market), and providing the potential for an additional revenue stream.  Click the following link to overview an excellent example (including an ongoing marketing plan critique) of this platform concept from SPANpro member Margi Taber and the RockStar/SuperStar Project.

http://www.spannet.org/forum/topics/thoughts-to-share-with-a-new self-publisher

3. Publishing Business Fundamentals

In SPAN's last eNewsletter, we provided this link to the United States Small Business Administration's website that overviews, among other things, different business structures like Corporation, LLC, and Sole Proprietorship. But another issue that is fundamental to this industry is Copy Right Law, and SPANnet member Russell Mickler has provide this excellent video that overviews this important subject. Thank you Russell!
 

http://www.spannet.org/profiles/blogs/copyrights-and-title-17
 

(Side Bar: Click here to visit Russell Mickler's SPAN My Pagefor other terrific resources on every thing from author platforms to social media marketing!)

 

4. The Digital Revolution
 

Since SPAN's own Larkin Flora published the following article on eBook Best Practices, SPANnet has added 100's of new members, and Larkin's article is as applicable as ever! If you are considering publishing an eBook (and you should be!), here is a great article that will provide a foundation to your digital education.
 

http://www.spannet.org/page/ebooks-best-practices

Digital Bonus: eBook or print book marketing starts by helping readers, bookstore buyers, and librarians find your book with a Computer Search. Understanding and controlling the digital information (metadata) that is associated with your book is critical to online marketing, and the Book Industry Study Group (BISG) is offering a discount (only $119) to SPAN members for a series of four webcasts that will teach you how to utilize this information!
 

Click here for additional detail, and use discount code SPAN-20 when registering.
 

Independent publishing is not easy. But at SPAN, we are committed to helping make your P.I.E. (process) as simple as possible by providing networking, education and industry benefits. Click to this Independent Publishing is a Simple as Pie - Course Outline Page for additional for articles, blogs, and short links on this subject.

Respectfully,
 
Brad Poulson
SPAN Executive Director
bradpoulson@spannet.org
http://www.spannet.org/profile/BradPoulson
http://twitter.com/IndyPubBuzz

PS. Regardless of where you are in the planning process, I am certain of this: If you use you use FedEx® shipping services SPAN's Sponsor Member and shipping management provider, PartnerShip®, can provide you with substantial savings. Get more detail about this straightforward benefit and how simple it is to use by clicking to this SPANnet Discussion thread.