Aiming at Amazon: The NEW Business of Self Publishing, or How to Publish Books for Profit with Print on Demand by Lightning Source and Book Marketing on Amazon.com | 
| Author: Aaron Shepard
Publisher: Shepard Publications
Category: Book
Buy New: $15.89
New (2) Used (1) from $14.40
Avg. Customer Rating:  73 reviews
Sales Rank: 12357
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 174
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.6
ISBN: 093849743X
Dewey Decimal Number: 070.593
EAN: 9780938497431
ASIN: 093849743X
Publication Date: January 1, 2007
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Book Description
There has never been a self publishing manual like this. Aiming at Amazon is NOT about getting your book into bookstores. Instead, it lays out an innovative approach focused almost entirely on sales at Amazon.com. It tells exactly how to make a nonfiction book sell well online, with tips never before offered in print. This book is also NOT about working with a "self publishing company." It introduces the printer/distributor used by almost all those companies themselves -- the one they keep secret so they can be middlemen and charge you double. Forget bookstores. And forget self publishing companies. Let Aiming at Amazon reveal to you the NEW business of self publishing.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 68 more reviews...
Finally, The Missing Link Between Dead Tree Books and E-Books June 22, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Using the number of dog-eared pages scale, this book should rank much higher than five stars. As soon as the UPS truck delivered the book, I started reading it. Unable to tear myself away from it, I then took it to my favorite reading room--the gym. There I spent two hours riding the exercise bike while I read the first two-thirds of the volume. After I left the gym I spent another hour finishing the 164 page main text. This book is long overdue. It fills in the gaps left by other publishing books such as the classic guides by Fern Reiss, Dan Poynter, Tom and Marilyn Ross and others.
Like any book on "a moving target" like Amazon.com, this volume will be in constant need of updating, but right at this moment, it's just what the doctor ordered for wannabe authors. It's full of surprises such as the title of one early chapter "Forget Bookstores." Other surprises include coming up with titles for books that reflect the exact nature of the subject plus one or two subtitles that while long, expand the list of areas covered in the book so that people searching for those subjects can easily find the title. The more key words and subject areas listed in the book's titles and subtitles, the more likely search engines are to locate the book and direct the potential buyer to it. When the same book comes up in several search areas, it will be higher up on the "final result list' of books the search engine compiles.
Other surprises include the different techniques for cover design. The Amazon listings are postage-stamp sized and have to be designed like a postage stamp, not like a book that will be sold in a bookstore. Much of this guidebook stresses the material that needs to be included in the book that may be different than that of regular books. It compares Print on Demand publishers and supplies numerous websites for further detailed research. Just the comparison of POD publishers is worth the price of the book.
During my first read of this tome I dog-eared at least every other page so that I could come back to it for further study and consideration. Some times I dog-eared both the bottom and top of a page.
Since I don't usually bother to write a review of a book that already has 72 reader's reviews, the fact that I'm doing that, should provide the reader a clue as to how important I found the information contained therein. I can't recommend this short book enough. (The author points out that shorter books are best for marketing on Amazon and why that is so). I've already ordered another book by the same author and will keep an eye on his website for updates. This book will show you how marketing on Amazon is entirely different than what publishers have traditionally done. It will give the writer step-by-step directions on how to successfully promote and sell your books on Amazon and it will provide the secrets for doing all this at dirt-cheap costs.
Be prepared to read and re-read this Hitchhikers Guide to the Amazon Galaxy.
 Ready...Aim...Don't Fire At Amazon June 8, 2008
7 out of 8 found this review helpful
If you're looking for a book to help you get started before you've written your book, this book would be good. If you're looking for a book to help you use Amazon as a tool to increase your book sales, I'd skip this one. You're better off with "Sell Your Book On Amazon" or "Plug Your Book".
Other than writing an accurate review and encouraging others to write accurate reviews, from the author's perspective, most of Amazon's marketing programs don't work well. They are either abused to the point that customers find the information unreliable ("staged" reviews), or they don't achieve desired results (SNP or BXGY). So what's the point?
To quote the author, "In fact, the only way to keep up with the ever-multiplying features is to spend time on Amazon." Gee, I thought that was why I bought this book. Because YOU had done the work, and I could take advantage of your expertise. If I have to do it myself, why should I buy this book?
As in every book, if you can find one or two points which are of value, it's not a total loss. And there were a few helpful tools. Plus, the author is very honest about pushing the ethical limits for exposure, which is a fresh approach from other books I've read which encourage excessive, shameless self-promotion.
[...]
Hits the Target! June 2, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Aiming at Amazon is a good common sense resource that covers the basics of publishing, building your book, and promoting on Amazon.com. The book is primarily geared for beginners in the book publishing game. However, it has some excellent ideas and resources for someone who already knows the basics.
The decision making process of how to market your book today is tough. You have to get above the Chattering Monkeys so people notice you. I understand there are somewhere in the neighborhood of 400-500 books published today...and that number is probably growing. Also, there are thousands of potential marketing ideas. Where do you start without pulling your hair out? That is the purpose of Aiming at Amazon.
Soooo.....the key question is: With a limited amount of time and resources, which marketing efforts should you pursue? As John Kremer says in his book: 1001 Ways to Market Your Books; 90% of your marketing efforts are ineffective. But, you don't know which efforts are going to be effective. Thus, don't invest too much time and energy in one area. In effect, test the waters with your big toe before jumping in!
Aiming at Amazon is focused at getting the most bang for your buck by using the many resources on Amazon to promote your work. This book accomplishes that task very well. And it costs only your time to market well on Amazon (not counting the money you invest getting your book published).
Just a few of the subjects covered are: Why to choose print on demand, the benefits of publishing with Lightening Source, how to get an ISBN number, deciding on a title and subtitle and designing the cover and graphics. It also covers: Create a real best seller, making it available, getting customer reviews, measuring success, aiming at other Amazons and more.
Overall this is an excellent resource for Aiming at Amazon!
The Re-Discovery of Common Sense: A Guide to: The Lost Art of Critical Thinking
Somewhat helpful May 27, 2008
5 out of 6 found this review helpful
I've gotten some very good pointers and helpful hints about publishing my book. There were times that I felt Shepard was pushing Lightning Source and other times he comes across as very cocky about his books overselling others, etc. which is a turnoff to me as I'm not interested in reading that. I only wanted to know the easiest and best way to self publish my book.
Overall, it was somewhat helpful but decided to not use Amazon to publish after reading Shepard's book.
Focused, Valuable, and Competent May 20, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This book is exactly what an informative book should be: It assumes you know nothing (without being patronizing), explains clearly why the information is useful, gives plenty of pointers and important pieces of information (without being bogged down by them), and keeps a sprightly tone throughout.
If you desire to right in a niche audience, this book is all you need to cover the publishing angle -- highly recommended.
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