A Self-promotion forum for book and e-book authors

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   Website Examinerposted 12 years ago

   With the growing number of Hubbers that have published or self-published a book, an e-book, or other literary works, why not give them a self-promotion forum. Allow them to post relevant links there, for the benefit of authors and readers. Also, let them describe their works and authorship, link to book reviews etc.
   
   With such a forum, it will also be easier to keep promotional links off other discussions about writing and literature.
   
   This thread is for discussion of a suggested new feature. Please DO NOT post your promotional links here.

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      couturepopcafeposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I would support this idea. Should probably not go under forums, right? It would be a separate feature like an author's promo platform and should be without comment areas. The author could get maybe 400 words to say anything - similar to a profile page maybe with one picture allowed.
      
      Just links to authorsites, author's 'book available at' sites, etc. Picture size should be limited so cover files don't take up a lot of room, keeping it uniform. One cover file per book.
      
      Maybe 400 or so words of description but no lengthy excerpts, just links to excerpts allowed.  Maybe limit links to 4? If an author has more than that they would need to link through one of the 4 allowed links. So an author could link to there hubpage profile, their author site or blog, their publisher's site and one other.

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   The Writers Dogposted 12 years ago

   Hi WSE. As a Hubber a few months away from self publishing her first book, I think it would be a great idea!

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3. 59

   Tara Andertonposted 12 years ago

   I think it is an excellent idea!

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4. 61

   readytoescapeposted 12 years ago

   Kudos WSE, let see if this goes anywhere..

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5. 85

   Don Bobbittposted 12 years ago

   I like it.  Everybody wants my money to promote what I have published.
   I have three simple books on Amazon and I get light sales for one and only occasional sales on the other two
   .I'm in!

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   DonnaCSmithposted 12 years ago

   I'm in, just look at my profile where you can also find my website link

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7. 87

   Cardisaposted 12 years ago

   Hi WE, I like the idea. I hope HP does too!

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8. 0

   Website Examinerposted 12 years ago

   Thanks everyone, for voicing your support for this proposal. Hopefully, others will agree. If it happened, such a new forum would really make things interesting.

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9. 61

   Randy Godwinposted 12 years ago

   Good luck with the idea, WE! 
   
   
                                              

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10. 67

    Pearldiverposted 12 years ago

    What a good idea
    
    It might help us to reduce the disgusting effects that we directly suffer from as a result of article thieves stealing our work from here and publishing it in E-Books etc. under their own names and payment terms!
    
    Why on that basis alone would it not be embraced?

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       couturepopcafeposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       Excellent point, Pd. Especially considering the fact that Congress is about to pass a law that says the owner of a patent is first to file not first to create. Copyright law changes won't be far behind. So actually publishing dates, with real front matter, will go a long way to proving first to create and publish.

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11. 97

    Glenn Stokposted 12 years ago

    I think this is a really great idea. I am sure there are a lot of Hubbers who have also published books in addition to their online writing.
    
    If HubPages feels inclined to go with this idea, I would suggest creating
    a new feature where we can list our books with an Amazon link, and others can add reviews. This would be a win-win for both the authors and for HubPages, because the earnings would work with 60/40 split we already have. After all, HP is providing the platform.

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       Don Bobbittposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       Glen, Great idea to provide us with a published book box, and even though I presently use the Amazon link, one that doesn't count as "Self Promotion" or "too many ads", A link that would allow us to have our books available to our fellow Hub writers as you mentioned, would be great.
       The biggest problem with having a book published, is not the writing or even the publishing, but the marketing.
       I would even propose that there be a section in our profile for us to use for our books.

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       1. 97

          Glenn Stokposted 12 years agoin reply to this

          Don, You can mention your book in your HP profile now. I don't see anything against that in the terms of service. I do it.

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       couturepopcafeposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       Glenn - Do you mean if you're published by Amazon, the link would go to Amazon where those who have purchased the author's book have written reviews? Great idea. But let's not limit it to Amazon, of course. I guess that might be one of the links an author could place in their link allowance.

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       1. 97

          Glenn Stokposted 12 years agoin reply to this

          couturepopcafe,
          
          No, I did not mean to limit it to "published by Amazon."  If you have a book published anywhere, Amazon will carry it. I didn't use Amazon for my book but people order it from them.
          
          The interesting thing is that if you use an Amazon capsule to show your book, then you get the HP residuals (for your 60%) in addition to your royalties on the book from your publisher.

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             GmaGoldieposted 12 years agoin reply to this

             Glen for us who have never published anything, outside of Amazon what are the top book publishers? I think this forum thread could be richer with a little more information from those who have published a book - such as yourself.
             
             You are talking about a printed published book not just an ebook, a PDF book - right?

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                Glenn Stokposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                GmaGoldie, Yes I am talking about an actual printed paperback book. The point I was trying to make is that Amazon lists all books on the market. So you can have your book published by any publisher and Amazon will list it.
                
                That's why I said you can use an Amazon capsule to place it in your Hubs no matter who is your publisher.
                
                I can't answer your other question about top book publishers since I never researched any others besides Lulu. Although I just recently read a Hub by Leslie A. Panfil about her Self Publishing Success Story using "Author House."

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12. 0

    Website Examinerposted 12 years ago

    Thank you all, for such excellent feedback and support. Seems the idea may be even better than I originally imagined. There's much more to this concept than expected.

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    rmcrayneposted 12 years ago

    I like the idea because I have not yet written an eBook or print book, but am interested in doing so.  I'd love it if we had a forum for this that allowed links to the works, but also allowed hubbers who have written "how to" hubs on writing and publishing eBooks and print books to post links to their helpful hubs.

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    GmaGoldieposted 12 years ago

    I LOVE this idea. What a wonderful way to celebrate the achievements of our fellow hubbers and set us apart from the blog world.

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    kittyjjposted 12 years ago

    Great idea!  I am preparing a picture book now.  Hopefully HP will allow us to do that.

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    paradigmsearchposted 12 years ago

    Good idea. I'd expand it to also include letting us mention our other websites.

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       couturepopcafeposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       Absolutely.

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    Rebecca E.posted 12 years ago

    This is an excellent idea, and I am sure WE you know what you're doing

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    Website Examinerposted 12 years ago

    I am very appreciative to anyone who has contributed to the discussion. This seems to be a win-win situation for everyone. Readers will certainly gain from it. And people who have something else to promote will be able to publish an e-book about their business and promote that on this new platform.

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    Rik Ravadoposted 11 years ago

    I agree totally and think HubPages would benefit - pity nothing has happened in 12 months!
    I would love to network with fellow Hubbers about ebook authoring - because there is little activity here with regard to ebooks, I've been forced to join forums dedicated to the subject on other sites.

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    psycheskinnerposted 11 years ago

    Hubpages doesn't allow promotion of website or other products.  So even though I have a score of ebooks for sale, I see no reason why an exception should be made for ebooks.

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       Glenn Stokposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       psycheskinner, You can promote your own e-book via an Amazon capsule in a hub. Just make sure it relates to the subject of the hub. I published a book that is available as a paperback and as a Kindle  e-book. I have both listed in Amazon capsules and HubPages never complained about promoting it that way. I never found anything in the terms of service stating that method is not allowed.

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          psycheskinnerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

          I am talking about the forums (the subject of the discussion in this thread).  Promoting off site material in the forums is considered spamming in most cases.  Which is just as well, because otherwise the forums would be drowning in self-promotion posts.

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          1. 97

             Glenn Stokposted 11 years agoin reply to this

             The reason why it will never be allowed directly in the forums is because HP would not be able to share in the revenue, as they can with Amazon capsules. That's why I suggested that alternative.
             
             Since this is a free platform, it's only fair that revenue is split between authors and host.
             
             Keep an eye on the Weekly Topic Inspiration forum. If you ever see a topic that relates to the e-book you wrote, then you can write hub on that topic and include your e-book in an Amazon capsule. Then you can post a link to your hub in that forum. That IS allowed.

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                psycheskinnerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                I think the reason it is not permitted in the forums is to prevent us from being burying under self-promotional posts for all the various products hubbers make.  So I agree with that rule.

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    LuisEGonzalezposted 11 years ago

    This sounds great. Why not let published authors share their success stories. It may even help HP in the long run as others outside of HP will notice the quality that some hubbers can turn out. I have several E books and would love the opportunity .......................

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    Marcy Goodfleischposted 11 years ago

    Great idea - there are so many intricacies to promoting a book in the e-publishing era.  It would be wonderful to get support from each other.

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    Stacie Lposted 11 years ago

    Since he first two posters no longer exist, I'm wondering if they were self exiled or banned for presenting this idea. I also wonder how many HP members have turned deleted and idled hubs into e-books. This may be a viable solution for some of us.

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    psycheskinnerposted 11 years ago

    Given that the thread was started a year ago, I see no reason to think they were banned for anything other than the usual reasons.
    
    IMHO you would need to seriously rework most hubs to get them to work as a book.

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       Stacie Lposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       agreed....I know they would be to be expanded but would make a good foundation to start. Anyone have experience doing this?

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