I’ve been an indie author for two
years now, and if someone had asked me back in 2015 what I think is the biggest
perk of self-publishing, I would have probably said, “Money!” Ha. Of course,
the appeal of higher royalties is still a big factor.
Another perk of self-publishing,
however, has risen to the top of my list of priorities, and this one I have
learned to appreciate during the past two years. I’m talking about flexibility.
Being able to pivot and adjust my strategies, to change product packaging and
pricing, is key when it comes to publishing.
In the past two years I have
changed not only the covers of my books but also the titles, to better position
my books in the market and appeal to my target audience.
The first decision, to change my
covers, came last year, after much deliberation and watching what my fellow
authors did (and how well). I noticed that my covers – while professional and
beautiful – didn’t particularly signal paranormal romance. In our fast-paced
world of social media and online retailers, covers are often viewed in
thumbnail and in passing, and they need to clearly signal the sub-genre to catch
the attention of the reader looking for that kind of book.
So I pivoted. I got new covers,
which featured more standard paranormal romance elements.
The decision to change my titles
came about earlier this year, and it stemmed from much the same considerations.
My original title of the first book was the one I came up with while I was
writing it, and I never thought about changing it. I liked it, it fit the
story, so I kept it, and I made sure that the titles of the subsequent books
matched the branding of the first one.
After a while, though, and after
reading a few comments from readers who said they almost didn’t try the first
book because the title put them off, I got to thinking and realized that,
indeed, especially the title of the first in the series could give readers the
wrong impression about the sub-genre and content of the book.
So I pivoted. I brainstormed and
came up with all-new titles for my four books (and the next one I had already
planned). Those new titles feature paranormal romance keywords right in the
name of the book, which increases discoverability and, in combination with the
improved branding of the new covers, lets readers know at a glance what the
book is about and what sub-genre it is.
I love the fact that I have this
much control over my own product, and that I can change according to the market
and my experiences. Evolution teaches us that the ability to adapt is key to
success. And being an indie author gives us the best option to adapt in an
ever-changing market.
Website: www.nadinemutas.com
You can find me on social media here:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuthorNadineMutas
