| This is the first in my series of articles that explain | | | | sales-mini-site) for the sole purpose of selling your |
| the Online Publishing Model and how small-time | | | | product. Trust me, this is the only way to go. You |
| authors and/or self-publishers can use the OPM as a | | | | MUST have a site dedicated to the sale of that one |
| viable alternative to the often archaic and | | | | book/ebook. Search engines will send targeted traffic |
| dysfunctional traditional book publishing model. | | | | to your site and your site copy will make the sales |
| Typically, you will create your book/ebook in a | | | | online. |
| source word processing program such as MS-Word | | | | 2. Digital Download DistributorsThe second online |
| or WordPerfect. Once you have converted it into | | | | channel for your book/ebook will be through digital |
| PDF format you'll be ready to start selling it via the | | | | fulfillment companies that distribute downloadable |
| three primary channels that make up the Online | | | | ebooks to the largest online bookstores such as |
| Publishing Model: 1. Sales-Mini-Sites, 2. Digital Download | | | | amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and many others. |
| Distributors, 3. Print-On-Demand (POD) Distributors. | | | | These distribution companies are happy to put your |
| This article explains the three primary channels of the | | | | ebook in front of thousands of traditional book |
| Online Publishing Model (OPM). | | | | buyers who normally wouldn't see it. Listing your |
| After a number of disappointing experiences using | | | | digital download ebook with one or more of these |
| the traditional book publishing model I decided to see | | | | distributors is essential. |
| if I could find a way that would eliminate all or most | | | | 3. Print-On-Demand DistributorsThese are distributors |
| of the downsides of that conventional approach to | | | | that use a relatively new technology called |
| publishing. After almost three years of trial-and-error | | | | print-on-demand (or POD). You provide the company |
| experimentation (not to mention a few thousand | | | | with a digital copy of your book, plus some cover art |
| dollars), I did manage to come up with a real, viable | | | | work in digital form, and they will set up your book |
| alternative to the old way. | | | | so that single book orders can be printed and |
| It's called the Online Publishing Model and it's pretty | | | | drop-shipped directly to the buyer. This allows you to |
| exciting! | | | | provide a hard copy version (of your ebook) to |
| Based on my experience using the OPM since that | | | | those customers who insist on it, while you only pay |
| time, I am truly convinced that it is the KEY to | | | | the cost of printing a single copy. (No more printing |
| publishing success for small time authors and/or self | | | | 2,000+ copies up-front just to get a reasonable cost |
| publishers in the Internet age. | | | | per copy!). |
| THE ONLINE PUBLISHING MODEL - THE NEW WAY | | | | Other Distribution Channels |
| The Online Publishing Model is a combination of online | | | | There are a few other distribution channels as well, |
| digital download delivery and print-on-demand (POD) | | | | such as small online ebook stores, but these are |
| paper book publishing that sidesteps most of the | | | | relatively minor, and to-date I just don't think they're |
| pitfalls of the traditional book publishing model. | | | | worth the trouble. |
| It offers small-time authors/publishers an excellent | | | | OPM: BOTTOM LINE |
| alternative that will give them more control, and will | | | | Suffice it to say, the Online Publishing Model offers at |
| increase their sales and profits by using little known | | | | least three highly effective channels by which you |
| online channels when publishing their books/ebooks. | | | | can distribute and sell your books/ebooks. |
| Here's how it works... | | | | If you harness the three channels of the OPM and |
| OPM: THREE MAIN DISTRIBUTION CHANNELSUsing | | | | get them working for you, I can guarantee that you |
| this model, once your book/ebook is written, there | | | | will get your book/ebook out faster and you'll make |
| are a number of online channels through which you | | | | more sales and profits than you ever would under |
| can distribute and sell your book/ebook, as follows: | | | | the traditional publishing model. |
| 1. Dedicated Sales-Mini-Site | | | | Copyright © Shaun R. Fawcett. All rights |
| First and foremost, once your book/ebook is written | | | | reserved. |
| you need to create what's called a "mini-Website" (i.e. | | | | |