Category: Publishing

“Okay Andy Zach. You got me to click. Now show me How An Indie Author Grew Sales 111% Per Year.”

At your service! First, the proof. My sales for the years 2016-2018:

Next, the first tip!

How An Indie Author Grew Sales 111% Per Year – The First Tip

Write and publish on a schedule. I began my first book Zombie Turkeys after I was forced into retirement in November 2015. I wrote it during November thanks to NaNoWriMo and edited myself until March. In April, I enlisted a professional editor Dori Harrell.

 

I gave myself a deadline. The goal: publish on Halloween 2016, one year after I started. I announced the launch date and pressured my artist Sean “Fuzzy” Flanagan and editor Dori Harrell to finish by September so I could make it. Finally, I pressured myself to publish my first book and print copies on Createspace in time.

I kept it up for three years. This is the real key. Don’t give up on writing on a schedule. As soon as I published Zombie Turkeys, I started on My Undead Mother-in-law in November 2016 at NaNoWriMo. I wasn’t satisfied with my one-year performance, so I set the goal of July 31st, 2017.

 

I actually made it. I got my paperback books on July 25th and I had the official book launch August 4th and 5th.

Following my pattern of one book per nine months, that meant my next, Paranormal Privateers, had to be ready by the end of April. I made it at the beginning of May.

 

And so on. February 28, 2019 is the deadline for Secret Supers, my fourth book. Look for it!

How An Indie Author Grew Sales 111% Per Year – The Second Tip

The second tip: Try things! In the words of Ms. Frizzle, “Take chances! Make mistakes! Get messy!”

How messy? How many mistakes?

Next are all the places I’ve spent money marketing. Then notice that all the bold items I consider to be failures, in that they didn’t sell any books. Italic items I consider to be successes, in that I’m sure they sold some books. Then everything else is of uncertain effectiveness. I can risk trying again or I can risk not trying. What would you do?

If you glance through this list you’ll see many failures, more than my few successes. Yet I, as an Indie Author Grew Sales 111% Per Year.

Further, each book I wrote is actually three products: a print book, an ebook, and an audiobook. So right now I have nine books to sell, not just three. I plan to publish two books this year, which mean five more products by 2020.

So I took chances in offering many kinds of books in many kinds of channels.

How An Indie Author Grew Sales 111% Per Year – The Third Tip

It’s simple: Get Out There!

Every year and almost every month I’ve had author appearances. I’ve had promotion campaigns on Twitter and Facebook. Try promoting other authors. I have. Also, I hold cover reveal parties where I conduct games and give away prizes. Then, I go to conventions every year.

Go to book store signings every year. I’ve also tried library appearances. Then I’ve taught classes. I’ve taken writing and business classes. People have interviewed me on radio, television, and over the internet.

My biggest lesson learned so far is, I could do twice as many appearances and sell twice as many books. But I’d have less time for writing.

What’s the balance? I don’t know. Do you? Reply with the answer and if I sell books because of it, I’ll give you a book.