2024 is nearly finished, and BookWise Publishing still has not slowed down! I canceled my vacation due to an altercation with my green garbage can (long story) but it was good that I did as BWP signed another 12 new authors, not to mention repeating authors with continuing series. Audiobooks have seen a decline but more websites made up for the “free” hours I thought I had.
Just FYI, our audiobooks are recorded by one of the finest sound engineers (also an amazing composer and musician), Ken Kruckenberg of Sonic Pathways (sonicpathways.net). He has streamlined the process so carefully that BookWise can produce them for less than half of what the “world” is charging.
Having owned and operated a full-service advertising agency, Chrisco Media Services, since 1985, I’ve produced all types of advertising. But advertising is not marketing. That is an entirely different animal. I and my authors have been on an adventure to master social media and all of the many new online marketing tools to sell books, including building email lists and finding ways to network and collaborate with other authors to combine efforts for greater reach. I have also retained some resident experts to assist in mastering these new methods of selling books.
The massive value of having a book/author website, creating audio and video podcasts, as well as video trailers (which I have done for years with advertising clients and always touted), cannot be stressed enough.
BWP is planning a new approach to 2024 and 2025 with workshops and symposiums, many of which will be at no cost to attendees. Zoom/et al meetings are becoming very useful but you’ll probably not see my face on them. I have too much respect for even the inexpensive camera lenses… But the most compelling and successful ventures in independent publishing begin with communication, mainly building your email list where you have a much higher percentage of success for sales than elsewhere. So plan to focus on networking and aligning yourself with other authors so you may all benefit from your connections in the marketplace and readership.
I am still in the process of adding the most recent books from our library. Forgive me, but I have been working so steadily that I find it difficult to keep up with my own website maintenance! However, I plan to have the new Library up and running and ready for authors to access for promotions and events. Even if you don’t have your own author website, I can create a “landing page” for your use if you want to schedule a launch, a special event, or even a promotion. 