This is a comprehensive guide for self-publishers that wish to create attractive book descriptions to sell more books. As you can see by looking at the table of contents, it goes beyond a simple Amazon book description generator to create HTML for Kindle and CreateSpace. I’ll share the 7 fundamental basics every self-publisher should know, best practices to save you grief (and likely lost sales), and HTML fundamentals. Also included is a guide to HTML book description support by leading … [Read more...]
Bing Finds Barnes & Noble Book Listings Better Than Google
This weekend I was using my new Kindle Fire HD to do some web surfing and I made a surprising (and welcome) discovery: my print book is for sale on Barnes & Noble. I guess with all the rivalry talk about Amazon and B&N, and the fact that I use CreateSpace, not to mention the book’s title, I never expected this. I did not realize that the CreateSpace Expanded Distribution would automatically place my title into the online Barnes & Noble book store. An accidental discovery The … [Read more...]
An eBook Strategy for Barnes and Noble—Thinking Outside the Bookstore Box
Barnes and Noble has been in the news a lot this year. Not just because of poor earnings—again—but because they seeming have no eBook strategy or plan to deal with their predicament. Ever since admitting their Nook unit was not performing as expected it has been a chain of bad news stories. People are beginning to ask if the end could be near. It may be near as we know it, but there is no reason Barnes and Noble's eBook infrastructure and talent can't be extended. Here are 3 things BN has … [Read more...]
Barnes & Noble Nook Press to Replace Pubit
Barnes & Noble launched a major face lift and rebranding of their eBook self-publishing portal Publit last week calling it Nook Press. It’s a lot more than a new name and I think represents a major, albeit late step forward in their pursuit of the hearts and minds of independent publishers. It is way ahead of Amazon, Apple and Kobo in terms of functionality, support services and design. Let’s look at the key improvements before talking about their importance to B&N. Design and … [Read more...]
Two Reasons Why Barnes & Noble Can’t Remain Independent
The 2012 holiday season was not good to B&N. It turns out that the initially good start never gained momentum as this piece in the NY Times tells it. On a more positive note Pearson, the large U.K.publisher and education company, acquired a 5% stake in B&N. They are now partnered with Microsoft who earlier acquired a 16.8% share of NOOK Media LLC. NOOK Media owns B&N's hardware devices, digital bookstore and college bookstore division. Perhaps together these three companies—and … [Read more...]
