Author Topic: Tips, FAQs and Useful Threads for Authors (Read 417619 times) Tweet

KBoards Admin · « **on:** November 04, 2010, 06:01:24 PM »

Tips, FAQs and Useful Threads for Authors

Authors: get to know these tips and tools available on KBoards. Also, scroll down for an index of useful discussion threads for authors.

1. Forum rules. What are the forum rules for how I promote my book?

KBoards is a great place for authors to promote their work. But before you post, know our rules of Forum Decorum.

2. Get connected with KB. How do I connect with KBoards social pages?

Check out our KB blog (with its email mailing list), Facebook page, Twitter, and Pinterest. "Like" or "follow" each of these to ensure you stay connected with KB updates and promotional opportunities for you and your books.

3. Clickable book covers in your posts. How do I put a linked book cover in my post?

You can make book cover links, and text links, for your book using our Link-Maker.

You can use it for items other than books, too - you can make image links for almost anything available on Amazon.

(We also have a U.K. version.)

4. Signatures. How do I make a signature that includes clickable images of my book covers?

For a simple author signature, use our Author Forum Signature tool.

Or click here for a tutorial on how to manually make linked text and book cover graphics in your forum siggy.

Is there a max size for signatures?

The maximum size for signatures is 140x800 pixels. This allows for a single row of up to nine book covers at a max height of 125 pixels (the max height for images in signatures) and two lines of text.

5. Get listed on our KB Authors page!

Go to the link above, and then follow the instructions to get listed on our page that shows KB authors and e-book sales information.

6. Online samples of your books. How do I let readers open an online sample of my book?

One easy way is to use our sample page. Just put your book's ASIN into the following link:
http://www.kboards.com/sample/?asin=XXXXXXXXXX

Got questions about this? Here's more info.

7. Profile page for your book. How do I get a profile page for my book?

A profile page is a clean web page for your book - with no distracting links or menu options. Everything on the page is all about your book. We even include worldwide links for you book for international Amazon locations.

And, we've already provided it for your book! Just put your ASIN into the following link:
http://www.kboards.com/book/?asin=XXXXXXXXXX

You'll see a link to an author control panel, if you haven't set one up yet. Just add the genre for your book, and save your changes. You're all set!

If you wish, you can customize things further with the author control panel, to add other links to your book, video trailers, and more. Comments or questions? Chime in here.

8. Appear on our KB Books page. How do I get my book to appear on the KB Books page?

This is easy... you just have to customize your book's Profile Page using the author control panel, described above. This thread has more info.

9. Advertising on KB. How can I advertise my book on KBoards?

There are several ways, and links to the sign-up forms for each are at the bottom of any forum page. They include:

Forum promotions:
Banner ads
Featured Book

Newsletter/Facebook/Blog promotions:
Bargain Book
Book Discovery
Spotlight
Series Spotlight
Box Set Spotlight
Audiobook Spotlight

10. KDP Select "Free book" promo on KB. I'm offering my e-book for free. How can I promote it on KBoards?

See our advertising links mentioned above. Links to the sign-up forms for each are at the bottom of every forum page.

11. Recommend a book. Is there an easy way for readers (or me) to recommend my book through Facebook or Twitter?

Yes. Use our "Like it!" page: http://www.kboards.com/like

12. KBoards Yellow Pages. Need an editor? Cover designer? Translator? Audiobook narrator?

Find what you need in the KBoards Yellow Pages.

13. Search KBoards. Trying to find info or a specific past thread? Think your question might have been answered before?

Here are some Forum Search Tips.

Useful Threads for authors

(Want to recommend a thread to include here? Post a reply and include a link to the thread.)

BookBub Q&A session

Career building advice for new authors by ゴジラ

15,000 books in two months, 32,000 books first year. Advice for newbies! by anniejocoby

How I made $40k in 10 days by nlw759

A very quick, short, and dirty guide to slowly building sales by SMR

How I write so many books: A system, some theories, and a few random thoughts by Elle Casey

Book Bombs, Release Days, & Other Good Free Marketing Tips Update by H.M. Ward

Helpful Links for Indie Writers by Sophrosyne

Milestone: 2 Million Books Sold & A Few Tips by H.M. Ward

The self-published authors I want to hear from by Hugh Howey

Sell Loads of Books -- My System Spelled Out by blakebooks

How much should it cost to self-publish a book? by Kelsye

Make it Free (Requests to report books to Amazon)

15,000 books in two months, 32,000 books first year. Advice for newbies! by anniejocoby

Book Bombs, Release Days, & Other Good Free Marketing Tips Update by H.M. Ward

54 Titles - My Results by KMatthew

Time Will Pass: Encouragement for our Lurkers and Noobies by Michael Wallace

What Worked For Me by Rosalind James

My 2-year anniversary today. Some ramblings and Top 10 Tips. by Elle Casey

I have to share this crazy cool moment with my fave indie buddies! by Bella Andre

TK's Google Play Uber-Post by TK aka BB

Warning: Using FreeBookService.com Can Result in Termination of KDP Account

Julie's End-All, Be-All Post on Paid Reviews! by Bards and Sage (Julie)

The (All-New) Ultimate Guide to Optimizing Covers, Blurbs, Prices & Keywords by Nicholas Erik.

SUZEPARIS · « **Reply #1 on:** January 15, 2011, 01:53:23 PM »

WHAT IS MY ASIN? I am not certain what it stands for nor where to find it. Thanks.

KBoards Admin · « **Reply #2 on:** January 15, 2011, 02:52:34 PM »

An ASIN is the 10-character identifier that Amazon uses to identify your book. You can see it in the "Product Details" area of your Amazon page. Example: the ASIN for the Kindle edition of "Half Broke Horses" is B002PMVQCW.

*DrDLN* (dr.s.dhillon) · « **Reply #3 on:** January 27, 2011, 08:16:45 PM »

Quote from: Harvey on November 04, 2010, 06:01:24 PM

KindleBoards Tips and FAQ for authors
How do I get a profile page for my book? A profile page is a clean web page for your book - with no distracting links or menu options. Everything on the page is all about your book. And, we've already provided it for your book - just put your ASIN into the following link:
http://www.kboards.com/book/?asin=XXXXXXXXXX
Comments or questions? Chime in here.

I am new and please bear with me.
What do you exactly do with the profile page of your book? Where do you use it for max exposure of your title.

*DrDLN* (dr.s.dhillon) · « **Reply #4 on:** January 27, 2011, 08:57:58 PM »

Quote from: drdln (dr s dhillon) on January 27, 2011, 08:16:45 PM

I am new and please bear with me.
What do you exactly do with the profile page of your book? Where do you use it for max exposure of your title.

I think I got it. It's cool and thanks a lot, Harvey. You mean something like this on these boards or other places on the web:
http://www.kboards.com/book/?asin=B003T9UX9M

MikeAngel · « **Reply #5 on:** February 11, 2011, 02:25:37 PM »

???Why create yet another serial number for each book? Why not simply use the ISBN number? Oh, maybe some don't have one for their book.

Never mind...

KBoards Admin · « **Reply #6 on:** February 11, 2011, 04:57:50 PM »

Quote from: MikeAngel on February 11, 2011, 02:25:37 PM

???Why create yet another serial number for each book? Why not simply use the ISBN number? Oh, maybe some don't have one for their book.

Never mind...

Actually Amazon uses a unique ASIN for all of their products, not just books. It's basically their internal stock number.

LeeleeSchubert · « **Reply #7 on:** February 26, 2011, 01:10:54 PM »

Harvey, this is my first day on Kindle Boards and I think I broke several rules of the Forum Decorum. Where do I go to apologize?

Also, how do I get my signature at the end of my post?

Leelee

LeeleeSchubert · « **Reply #8 on:** February 26, 2011, 01:12:14 PM »

Oh, I guess it's already there...

KBoards Admin · « **Reply #9 on:** February 26, 2011, 01:14:09 PM »

I think you're okay - thanks Leelee. - Harvey

KBoards Admin · « **Reply #10 on:** March 26, 2011, 01:56:04 PM »

Updated the OP to provide a link to the new Facebook / Twitter book recommendation page on KindleBoards.

*DrDLN* (dr.s.dhillon) · « **Reply #11 on:** April 20, 2011, 06:52:42 PM »

Quote from: Harvey on November 04, 2010, 06:01:24 PM

KindleBoards Tips and FAQ for authors
7. Recommend a book. Is there an easy way for readers (or me) to recommend my book through Facebook or Twitter?
Yes. Use our "Like it!" page: http://www.kboards.com/like

This is totally new and neat tip I have seen. Thanks a million Harvey.

Here I got the URL but don't know what to do with it.
http://www.kboards.com/like/index.php?Keywords=Dr+Sukhraj+Dhillon&Action=Search&ItemPage=1

Just share this URL or something else to do with it. Excuse my ignorant about promotional stuff. Thanks.

Casper Parks · « **Reply #12 on:** April 30, 2011, 10:01:01 PM »

Thanks for this wonderful site. Looking forward to getting to know it and people here.

ThatGurlthatlife · « **Reply #13 on:** May 10, 2011, 09:08:18 AM »

I love my new signature. I quick copy and past of HTML or BBC code and every forum post now offers everyone the option to read the first five chapters of my book just by clicking, follow me on twitter, check out a complete author bio, and see my cover and pages comes to life with animation. It automatically attaches to every email that I send through google chrome, and I'm currently trying to see if there is a signature app on my droid where I can use this same signature

Technology is really amazing! I basically just typed into google what I wanted to do and found three easy sites that did it for me within minutes! I'm still trying to get the hang of the marketing game, but this definitely helps!

kempton.mooney · « **Reply #14 on:** June 25, 2011, 05:28:55 PM »

Thanks for the tips, very helpful. I did not know about the sample and book pages.

I do wish Amazon would just use an ISBN rather than their own internal ASIN, but I think it is one of their many techniques to control the traditional supply chain. It makes everyone have to conform to their standard. But I digress...

Just to show that I learned something, here's a sample from my book:
http://www.kboards.com/sample/?asin=B0050OJ4GC

And here's a profile page:
http://www.kboards.com/book/?asin=B0050OJ4GC

KBoards Admin · « **Reply #15 on:** June 25, 2011, 06:21:32 PM »

Looks good, Kempton!

GerrieFerrisFinger · « **Reply #16 on:** June 28, 2011, 02:39:58 PM »

Hi, I'm one of the new Kindle authors feeling my way around the site. I've already learned a few things and I'm going to work on doing a signature.

Lee Rogers · « **Reply #17 on:** June 28, 2011, 04:32:59 PM »

Harvey, two questions from a newbie to the boards:

1. How is the NEW link (in the white box) generated in posts on the front page of any forum, and what is the purpose?

2. What does "Topic you have posted in" icon mean (in left column). I got this on a post and I don't know what it means. It did not seem to apply to that post.

Thanks

KBoards Admin · « **Reply #18 on:** June 28, 2011, 04:42:13 PM »

Quote from: Lee Rogers on June 28, 2011, 04:32:59 PM

Harvey, two questions from a newbie to the boards:

1. How is the NEW link (in the white box) generated in posts on the front page of any forum, and what is the purpose?

That "NEW" icon appears for any threads that have new posts since the last time you viewed the thread. Once you view the latest page of posts in that thread, that icon goes away.

Quote

2. What does "Topic you have posted in" icon mean (in left column). I got this on a post and I don't know what it means. It did not seem to apply to that post.

Thanks

That icon appears for any threads in which you have made a post.

Meb Bryant · « **Reply #19 on:** June 30, 2011, 03:09:28 PM »

Harvey, I just saw my profile page. I'm embarrassed to say, I got teary-eyed. Thank you, sir.

Theresaragan · « **Reply #20 on:** July 07, 2011, 07:13:35 AM »

okay, I think I'm getting this. Thanks so much for all of the great info.

KBoards Admin · « **Reply #21 on:** July 13, 2011, 09:29:51 PM »

Quote from: Meb Bryant on June 30, 2011, 03:09:28 PM

Harvey, I just saw my profile page. I'm embarrassed to say, I got teary-eyed. Thank you, sir.

Thanks, Meb! Your covers look great in that large format:

http://www.kboards.com/book/?asin=B004XMQKSW
http://www.kboards.com/book/?asin=B0055T7FZ4

Meb Bryant · « **Reply #22 on:** July 14, 2011, 03:52:30 AM »

Thank you, Harvey! My daughter, who owns a design/marketing company, designed the covers for me because she loves me, and I babysit the munchin. lol Munchin was my technical adviser for the Monster Spray child.

Meb

Tara Maya · « **Reply #23 on:** July 31, 2011, 01:42:16 PM »

Quote from: ThatGurlthatlife on May 10, 2011, 09:08:18 AM

I love my new signature. I quick copy and past of HTML or BBC code and every forum post now offers everyone the option to read the first five chapters of my book just by clicking, follow me on twitter, check out a complete author bio, and see my cover and pages comes to life with animation. It automatically attaches to every email that I send through google chrome, and I'm currently trying to see if there is a signature app on my droid where I can use this same signature
Technology is really amazing! I basically just typed into google what I wanted to do and found three easy sites that did it for me within minutes! I'm still trying to get the hang of the marketing game, but this definitely helps!

Your signature is very cool!

Bahhaj · « **Reply #24 on:** August 02, 2011, 01:46:07 PM »

This is a great resource. Thank you for the thread!