Is bigger better? Finding smaller markets to sell more books



Photocredit: Microsoft



In a recent CreateSpace Community blog post titled Find Smaller Markets to Sell More Books, it was mentioned that many writers make the mistake of thinking that bigger is better when it comes to defining a book's target audience.

While this approach makes sense considering that an author’s goal is to sell as many books as they can and tapping into the largest pool of readers available would make this more likely, Richard Ridley’s post reasons that choosing this "big pond" approach could possibly result in missed the opportunity to stand out in a smaller pond.  He suggests that authors should do instead is look for ways to make their target audiences smaller. Mr. Ridley suggests that an author should find an element of their book that will resonate with a specific group of people and reach out to them.

According to the post what the author should focus on is a niche market, defined by Dictionary.com as a "specialized and profitable part of a commercial market; a narrowly targeted market", with the key word in that definition being "profitable."  An author should seek out blogs, magazines, websites, clubs, etc. that reach out to their niche market to let them know about their books, offer review copies, and let them know that the author is available for interviews, personal appearances, and whatever else they need.

Targeting this unique group makes perfect sense when getting your work noticed.  Stop by CreateSpace Community Space for more great information like this!

bbpco's Top Ten for Author Self Care!

Good morning authors!  Well, it’s back to the grind of the work week, some have been blessed to write full time, others are writing until their day comes to do the same!  No matter which end of the spectrum you currently reside, I want to offer my top ten items for author self care as you write to make your publishing dreams come true:

Bbpco’s Top Ten for Author Self Care

1.       Trust yourself and your instincts, if it feels right believe that this is what is what is right for you.  This is your “story” no one else gets to make your rules.

2.      “Say” exactly what you mean – don’t write to please the masses.  See #1.

3.      Write to please yourself – not the crowd!  See #2.  You will never be able to please all of them anyway!

4.      Baby your “baby”.  Be kind to yourself.  Never ever speak badly about yourself or your progress.  Didn’t write enough today?  You can always write more later, or tomorrow, or next week, it’s up to you, no one else.

5.      Never give up on your dream.  Keep writing!

6.      Never mind writer’s block!  Write anything until you break through.

7.      Don’t be afraid to say “not now”.  Also…

8.      Don’t be afraid to say “yes” or “no”.  Set boundaries, though others may complain, they will need to understand that this is your life’s work.

9.      Stay away from drama – unless it is part of your storyline!

10.  Breathe!

Pew stats: Libraries, their patrons and e-books

According to Pew, a majority of e-book borrowers report that they are heavy readers in all formats, including books they've purchased and books lent to them. In addition, E-book borrowers report that they have read an average of 29 books in the past year, compared with 23 books for readers who do not borrow e-books from a library. Even more interesting is the fact that the median (midpoint) figures for books reportedly read by e-book borrowers were 20 in the past year and 12 by non-borrowers.

Surprisingly, the broader public, not just e-book readers, is generally not aware that they can borrow e-books from libraries with 62% of readers ages 16 and older not knowing if their library offered that service. Twenty-two percent stated that they were aware that their library does lend out e-books, while 14% report that they know their library does not lend out e-books.  According to Pew, more than three-quarters of the nation’s public libraries lend e-books.

When asked their opinion about the selection of ebooks offered by their libraries, two-thirds of library patrons report the selection is good at their library: Thirty-two percent of e-book borrowers report the selection at their library is “good,” 18% say it is “very good,” and 16% say it is “excellent.” Twenty-three percent say the selection is only “fair,” 4% say it is “poor,” and 8% say they don’t know.

Patrons want more information about borrowing ebooks if their library were to offer resources available that made accessing ebooks possible with 46% of those who do not currently borrow e-books from libraries reporting that they would be “very” or “somewhat” likely to borrow an e-reading device that came loaded with a book they wanted to read. Thirty-two percent of those who do not currently borrow e-books say they would be “very” or “somewhat” likely to take a library class on how to download e-books onto handheld devices. Thirty-two percent of those who do not currently borrow e-books say they would be “very” or “somewhat” likely to take a course at a library in how to use an e-reader or tablet computer. Demographics included in this statistics includes African-Americans, Hispanics, and those who live in lower-income households.

Libraries = Recommendations!  Library patrons are reported to be more than twice as likely to have purchased their most recent book than to have borrowed it from the library.  Many of these purchases were made after borrowing the ebook: 48% say they had bought their most recent book; 24% borrowed it from a friend; 14% borrowed it from the library; and 13% got it another way. Fifty-five percent of the e-book readers who also had library cards said they preferred to buy their e-books and 36% said they preferred to borrow them from any source—friends or libraries. Some 46% of library card holders said they prefer to purchase print books they want to read and 45% said they preferred to borrow print books.  Thirty-three percent of E-book borrowers report that they generally prefer to buy e-books and 57% say they generally prefer to borrow them. In addition, 71% of e-book borrowers say they get book recommendations from online bookstores and websites; 39% say they get recommendations from the staff at bookstores they visit; and 42% say they get recommendations from librarians. When looking for an ebook 47% of those who borrow e-books from libraries say they first look at online bookstores and websites and 41% say they start at their public library.

Let's read!

Everybody's doing it? Pew stats: A third of Americans Now Own Tablets

According to the recent info from the Pew Internet & American Life Project,  34% of adults in the United States  own a tablet computer, like an iPad, Samsung Galaxy or Amazon Kindle Fire, compared with a year ago when only 18% owned tablets. 

According to Pew, demographic groups more likely to own tablets include individuals living in households earning at least $75,000 per year (56%), adults ages 35-44 (49%) and college graduates (49%).

Second to smartphones,  tablets are the second-most popular mobile e-reading device in the country.  As stated by Research Analyst Kathryn Zickuhr said. "With smartphones, for instance, we’ve seen a very strong correlation with age where most younger adults own smartphones, regardless of income level. But when it comes to tablets, adults in their thirties and forties are now significantly more likely than any other age group to own this device."

With so many tablets in the hands of the readers you are trying to reach, it's time to put your book into those hands. Contact us, we'd love to work with you!  Enter our summer reading contest! It's free and gives you a chance to "strut your literary stuff"!