ePublishing trends for indie authors change as the industry changes, and the writing world changes dramatically every year. Genres come in and out of popularity, more efficient ePublishing formats develop, and indie authors grow in numbers. In order to remain relevant, it’s important to take notice of the changing ePublishing trends if you are going to grow as an author.
ePublishing Trend: Indie Authors As Competition
It is estimated that 20 percent of the book market is comprised of books written by indie authors. And due to lower prices often offered by eBook authors, traditional publishers are losing their footing in sales. eBook authors are also able to take advantage of free marketing. Most indie authors are discovered through free promotions, which is a tactic traditional publishers rarely use. By continuously producing quality content and leveraging free promotions, you’ll find that your competition will be other indie authors rather than authors who utilize publishers.
ePublishing Trend: Quality of Content is Essential
Since other indie authors are your strongest competition, your quality of content is going to be what sets you apart. A great editor is more important than ever, as typos and other formatting errors impact your credibility and the reader’s experience. Any marketing campaign - always worth your dollars and time - will be completely wasted if your eBook is riddled with errors that should have been easily corrected.
ePublishing Trend: Go Mobile
What makes eBooks so popular is the reader’s ability to access them from any mobile device. Both your author website and your eBooks should be mobile-friendly, as a majority of visitors will be visiting your site from their smartphone.
ePublishing Trend: Email Marketing
Take advantage of email marketing. It’s the most effective way to drive sales of new titles, allowing you to directly target your known audience. Expanding your mailing list is how you’ll best promote book sales and build a loyal following.
Working as in indie author can be a more lucrative and flexible option than traditional publishing. Over the next few years, indie authors will continue to become a more prominent force in the publishing world. Staying aware of ePublishing trends can position you for even greater success.