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RELEASE: Vook acquires Booklr, bringing real-time market data to authors and publishers

Acquisition creates a powerful marketing intelligence offer for new and seasoned authors.

Today, Vook announced its acquisition of Booklr, combining two leading digital book companies with powerful new product offerings for both authors and publishers.

“Booklr’s leadership role in aggregating and rendering data surrounding books, combined with Vook’s total publishing solution provides a powerful market intelligence offer for book authors and publishers,” said Vook founder and CEO Brad Inman. “Their work with big publishers such as Random House demonstrates the power of data that’s invaluable to authors and publishers.”

Authors and publishers will soon see the benefit of the combined companies with a host of new market intelligence products that provide instant insight into sales, pricing, ratings, and other useful data.

“Authors can now get the best in class analytics, book creation and distribution that exist in the market,” said Booklr co-founder Josh Brody, who will be joining Vook as chief operating officer as well as Vook’s board of directors.

Vook works with the top media companies including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes and Fast Company. Vook has worked with noted authors including David Frum, Seth Godin, Tony Robbins, Gary Vaynerchuk and Laurell K. Hamilton.

Vook co-founder Matt Cavnar said, “Together we help content creators better monetize their book content and expand their audience through a focus on analytics, book creation, marketing services and distribution to all of the ebook devices.”

About Booklr:
Based in New York City, Booklr is a real-time data & analytics platform that delivers actionable insights to authors and publishers about their market, customers, and retail partners. Its customers include global publishing houses, media companies, literary agencies, and bestselling authors. The Booklr platform currently tracks nearly 4 million book titles across every major retailer and has amassed a database of billions of historical data points.

Contact
Matthew Cavnar
Matthew@vook.com

OS X Mavericks brings iBooks to your desktop (video included)

Finally a desktop reader that plays video! (With Apple featuring Vook titles to promote it)

Yesterday Apple unveiled the features of its new operating system, one of which includes a desktop version of the iBooks app. For the first time, readers can watch videos embedded in ebooks on their desktops, offline. Read on to learn more about the new iBooks, what it means for authors, and the Vook-created titles chosen to promote it.

The new desktop iBooks

Key features include:

Videos embedded in ebooks are finally accessible via a desktop reader.
Ebooks are automatically synced to your desktop from iPads/iPhones.
Highlighted and annotated text on your desktop carries over to your devices.
You can have multiple ebooks open at once (great for students).
You can turn pages with a swipe, pinch to zoom in, and scroll cover to cover.

What this means for authors

The value of video-enhanced ebooks is even higher now that Mac users can play video on their desktops.
The improved reading experience for students has widened the market demand for educational content.
Submitting ebook previews to press with Macs just got a whole lot easier.

Plus: Apple features Vook titles

Apple chose Vook-created T Files by the New York Times to promote the new reading app. We customized the titles with iBookstore upsell pages (a retailer-recommended marketing tactic) and set select T Files to free. View all T Files on the iBookstore.

Mavericks is available for free through the Apps store.

Kindle MatchBook – who's in?

Want to enroll in Kindle MatchBook? Vook is standing by to set you up.

Kindle MatchBook allows customers who buy or have ever bought a new print book from Amazon – dating back to 1995 – the option to purchase the Kindle edition of that book for $2.99 or less. It's an obvious coup for customers, who have long requested the option to bundle the two items.

But how do authors benefit? MatchBook facilitates a sale that might not have happened otherwise. For example, if a customer purchases a print book for $12.99, she likely won't purchase the ebook for $6.99 in a separate transaction. But if the ebook is included as a $2.99 add-on, the potential is much greater.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are my ebooks automatically enrolled in MatchBook?
No. Enrollment in Kindle MatchBook is optional and you can enter into or withdraw from the program at any time. Email marketing@vook.com if you'd like to participate.

How do I determine the MatchBook price of my ebook?
Eligible Kindle MatchBook offers must have a Matchbook price that is one of the suggested list price points – $2.99, $1.99, $0.99 or free. It also must be at least 50% lower than the regular Kindle list price. For example. if the ebook's regular price is $4.99, the suggested MatchBook Price should be $1.99, $0.99, or free.

For ebooks purchased through MatchBook, will I get paid off of my list price or the discounted price?
In calculating royalty payments for Kindle MatchBook sales, Amazon will use the MatchBook price in place of the list price. For sales made outside of the MatchBook program, you still get paid off your list price when you distribute through Vook.

Does enrollment in Kindle MatchBook affect the regular retail price of my ebook?
No. Enrollment of an ebook in the Kindle MatchBook program does not affect pricing or payment for your sales outside the Kindle MatchBook program.

Where will Kindle MatchBook be available?
Starting in October, Kindle MatchBook will only be available for purchases from Amazon.com, but Amazon may choose to expand to other marketplaces in the future.

Vook Helps Fast Company Hack Hollywood

Fast Company publishes Hacking Hollywood, the first of many business ebooks created on the Vook platform.

Fast Company – the world's leading progressive business media brand – tapped Vook to build its first anthology ebook, Hacking Hollywood: The Creative Geniuses Behind Homeland, Girls, Mad Men, The Sopranos, and More, edited by Fast Company senior writer Chuck Salter. Vook provided the ebook creation, distribution, sales tracking, and merchandising support for the first of many business ebooks from Fast Company. This debut title is a dynamic collection of eye-opening stories from the magazine's archives, offering insight and inspiration from a diverse group of Hollywood success stories. Chapters include:

"A Day in the Creative (and Obsessive) Life of Conan O'Brien"
"Judd Apatow and Lena Dunham on Turning Real Life Into Comedy"
"Martin Scorsese: The Vision Thing"

Hack Hollywood for $2.99 on
iBookstore | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Vook's store

"Ebooks are a terrific format for thematic compilations like Hacking Hollywood," says Fast Company editor Robert Safian. "These stories are so fun, and also instructive. Working with Vook to bring this together was a no-brainer."

The Vook team couldn't be prouder; we're avid readers of Fast Company over here and love seeing our favorite articles in the ebook. We can't wait to see more ebooks from one of the leading publications on innovation and business. Stay tuned...

Ready for Launch Part 4: Blogging

Book marketing is an ongoing process, and many authors choose to wait until the title is live to start their marketing efforts. But why wait? We've dedicated a series of blog posts to pre-launch marketing activities. Last but not least: blogging for authors.

Blogs are strong complements to author websites, social media pages, and email newsletters, providing all of the above with fresh material to promote. Here's how it works: blog software lets users update their posts whenever they choose. Each new post turns into an extra page that is "indexed" by search engines (Google, Bing, etc), leading to more visibility through "Search Engine Optimization." In addition, visitors can subscribe to the blog through an RSS feed, converting them into a following fan base. Below, we give you a fundamental overview to driving book sales and discoverability with blogging:

To get started, sign up on a personal publishing platform like WordPress or Blog.com. These are do-it-yourself platforms that do not require experience with HTML/CSS.
Choose a simple layout that won't distract visitors from what matters most: your content. Always keep your audience and genre in mind.
Make sure to include a newsletter signup form along with clear links to your social media outlets, allowing visitors to share.
Set up a calendar. Come up with topics to cover during the first 2 months, and decide how often you're going to blog. Remember that readers value quality and variety over quantity. Some, but definitely not all posts, should be about your upcoming book. In addition, share interesting book reviews or interviews, as well as marketing advice and insider tips. Here's a list of 10 sample titles to give you an idea of the content you should highlight.
1. "Metadata tips for e-publishing"
2. "How to write successful scifi"
3. "10 reasons why you should self publish your book"
4. "Interview with a romance novelist"
5. "8 things I wish I had been told before writing my first book"
6. "Stand out in the crowd: don't make these common book cover errors"
7. "Why ebooks work"
8. "Book descriptions: how to get them right"
9. "A cure for writer's block"
10. "Social media marketing do's and don'ts"

A side note: blogging is meant to complement your activities as an author. If it gets in the way of writing your next masterpiece, set it aside for a while. Devote what spare time you have to Twitter. And if you want some pros to step in and get your book off the ground, check out the marketing services we offer through our partners, including book publicity, social media campaigns, and author websites. Visit Vook to learn more.

Ready for Launch Part 3: Email Marketing

Why email marketing

Unlike traditional advertisements, emails can adapt to your needs on the fly. This means that, just like on the author website, you can focus on showing off the strengths of your book. The other huge benefit of sending pre-launch newsletters is that you build an email list before you need it most. That way, when your book is released, you already have a subscriber base that is likely to purchase it. This not only drives revenue but also bumps the book further up the charts when everyone downloads the title within a short period of time. Finally, pre-launch email marketing is a great way to capture the attention of someone who would otherwise forget to revisit your website or check Amazon for new releases. Plus, it's near (if not completely) free, so what's to lose?

How to acquire subscribers Gather email addresses from all points of contact - physical and virtual - with potential readers. For example, your website, Facebook page, Twitter bio, and any blogs should all have prominent links to the newsletter’s sign up form. Also put it in your email signature for all contacts to see. If you have friends in the publishing industry, don't forget to ask if they can promote you and your newsletter on their website. What to include in your emails

Switch it up between author news, new releases, and sneak peeks of your book. Once it has been released, you can also email great book reviews or price promotions. Don't hesitate to share a fun fact about writing or publishing: everyone loves an insider look. Newsletters are more personal than your author website, which gives you the freedom to be friendly and engaging.

If you want to learn more about email marketing, check out our free guide for authors. And stay tuned for our next post about pre-launch blogging!

Ready for Launch Part 2: Author Websites

The big benefit of an author website is that you are in control. Being in charge of the content means that you can focus your readers' attention on the strengths of your book. Highlight the themes and symbols that you'd like them to notice. Since reviews will only come out after the book has been launched, what you tell your visitors here is all they can refer to. This is a great opportunity for your book to be perceived exactly the way you want it to.

To convert visitors into readers, we suggest you also do the following on your website:

Include a book preview: Offer a peek of your ebook to draw customers in. For example, let them preview the first chapter or two of your book or an excerpt that ends with a cliffhanger. Once again, it's all about highlighting your book's strengths while drumming up anticipation.
Include a newsletter signup form: Even if you can’t get visitors to buy your book or click on a link to view it on Amazon, you can increase the odds that they’ll return by capturing their email address.
Build a community: Make your website personal and engage your audience. For example, send friendly notes to visitors, and display links to social media as to stay in touch with visitors who want to see more of you.

When your book release comes up, make sure your launch is the central focus of your website. Include recognizable retailer links so fans can finally purchase your book - quickly and easily. If you want to learn more, check out our free guide on websites for authors. Next up on Vook's blog? Pre-launch blogging!

On a related note, Vook has partnered with Authro to build custom author websites. Visit Vook to learn more and get an Authro discount.

Ready for Launch Part 1: Social Media

Reaching for the stars? Prepare for your e-publishing takeoff with these marketing activities before your title is live.

Book marketing is an ongoing process, and many authors choose to wait until the title is live to start their marketing efforts. But why wait? Since Vook takes the ebook production and distribution off your shoulders, use this extra time to plan ahead. We've dedicated a series of blog posts to pre-launch marketing activities, starting with social media.

In this case, social media should 1) build your audience, 2) drum up anticipation, and 3) provide value to your audience right out the gate. Here's a breakdown of the platforms to make the process less daunting.

Facebook

The first step is to create a dedicated Facebook page separate from your personal page. Include your headshot, a bio, links to other platforms, and—when it's time—links to your title in the e-retailers. In order to keep fans coming back for more, steer away from plain self-promotion all the time. Write interesting posts, e.g. commentary on current events, little-known facts, humorous articles or pictures. We recommend two posts a day. And make sure that you leverage photos: they make your page visually stimulating and will increase your chances of appearing in your fans' news feeds. Replying and writing comments on other users' posts is a must to get expanded exposure and fans. You can also engage your audience with interactive activities, such as launching a contest to design your book cover.

Twitter

Next, set up a Twitter account. Twitter will help drive day-to-day sales, but only if handled strategically. To increase your chances of getting discovered by non-followers, make sure that you use hashtags, e.g. #romance, #scifi, #99cents. In order to stay under the 140-character limit, shorten links with bitly, a free service that also lets you track the number of clicks your links get. Decide on a central page where you will direct your followers; an author website is best, but a strategically-designed Facebook page works too so long as it displays your book's info and retailer links.

If your ebook has great photos, consider sharing them on Pinterest. Create unique boards that give your audience a peek into your book as well as your own hobbies. Take a look at two of our non-book-promotional boards for some Pinterest inspiration: Book Nooks and Writing Motivation! A great thing about this platform is the way it connects users with different interests through a shared photograph and then drives them to other boards relating to your book. By signing up, you can engage with an audience you might not have reached otherwise. Not only that, but pins also last significantly longer than Tweets or Facebook statuses; Pinterest focuses on ongoing ideas and inspiration rather than immediacy. Always remember to post high-quality images, and make sure that they are not watermarked. Nobody wants to pin a blurry picture... or one that markets a logo.

YouTube and Vimeo

Got a video-enhanced ebook? Leverage its content on video-sharing platforms like YouTube and Vimeo. A great way to get the audience talking is to share your book trailers, or simply to offer a sneak peek at a video that comes straight out of your ebook. Don't neglect the video descriptions section; title, category, tags... Answer them all to increase your discoverability in search results (a.k.a. search-engine optimization). When the book is live, add links to the retailers in your video's description. If you don't have a video-enhanced ebook but own the rights to a related video, share it.

Tumblr

Finally, create a Tumblr, whether you already have a blog or not. If you do, transpose some of that content regularly onto your Tumblr - you can even enhance it with photos found on the site. And if you're new to the blogosphere, focus on writing some posts about your ebook, but also provide author tips and book reviews, for example. Writing regularly will help you build a long-lasting relationship with your followers, as your new posts appear on their dashboards. They might choose to reblog them, which will increase your exposure to their own followers. Another great thing about the Tumblr dashboard is that it keeps you up to speed on what the latest trends are; see what the others are talking about, and find some new inspiration of your own. Stay tuned for our next blog post - we'll give you tips to make a great author website.

"Just write a little bit at a time, but do it a lot of the time."

Always wanting to learn more about authors, new releases, and writing advice, we recently interviewed author David Temple, who worked with Vook to create his latest ebook, Stealing Hope. It's a poignant novel about the Mathesons family, who must overcome tragedy, family secrets, dangerous adventures, and each other's struggles.

In addition to telling us more about his novel, David offered words of wisdom for any writer – novice or seasoned:

Regarding characters, he notes that his strongest ones are those that are amalgamations of himself and people he has met and observed.

Whenever a scene strikes you, scribble it down. Go home and flesh it out, even if it's just a page. It doesn't need to be right for that moment but "if it’s a story that wants to be told, it’s not going anywhere," notes David.

Don't worry about publishing deals and agents. Write and hone your craft.

And his best advice: Don’t judge yourself; you won't over think your writing or disregard. Take care of the “fine, editorial details” later.

Stealing Hope is available on Vook's store, Amazon, iBookstore, and Barnes & Noble for $3.99. Read on for the full interview below.

First, tell us about Stealing Hope.
It’s the sequel to a book I wrote in 2024, Discovering Grace, about a pastor and father who lives in a world of black and white but understands the world of grey. There is an awful tragedy involving his daughter, for which he blames his brother. Discovering Grace is about forgiveness.

Stealing Hope is the sequel, but you don’t necessarily have to read the first book. There’s a recap in the prologue and many people have told me they like that.

I received a lot of comments from people who read Discovering Grace along the lines of, “I liked your book but it kind of rang untrue to me. No one lives in a world that perfect.” And my response was always, “well, that was actually my life as a preacher’s kid. That was my dad. That was my mom. Those were some of my situations. And for those people who ask “why the therapist?” well, that is from real life too. But I’ll share that another time.

"The greatest compliment I ever received was that the characters spoke like real people."

So Stealing Hope comes up a year later. The wheels have rattled and threaten to come off. The family is still dealing with the sadness of the tragedy and their own issues. For instance, the oldest son is having trouble in school. The father is distant. The youngest boy distracts himself with the scientific aspect of faith. And the mom is on several medications for depression.

What makes this book more interesting is that the oldest brother, the troubled one, is the character that has resonated with everyone in the first book. He comes front and center in Stealing Hope. He learns a secret that his father has kept from him his whole life, so his mission is to find that answer.

Why do you think the older brother resonated with everyone?
He’s an amalgamation of people I’ve watched over the years, along with several parts of me – or who I strived to be.

Where do the other characters come from?
The pastor is my dad. The teenage boys are my brother and me. The mother is my mother.

Do you think this approach to writing characters makes them more believable?
Absolutely, I think so. The greatest compliment I ever received was that the characters spoke like real people.

You had an extremely successful first career as a radio host. Along the way, did you always know you wanted to write a book?
Yes. I loved radio because of the music, but also because along the way, I got to meet many great people. And I’ve used bits and pieces of them in some of my characters.

"The opening scene of the book slapped me in the face like a cold shower."

My parents always accused me of being a master observer, and I have a ridiculous knack for remembering obscure things. I can’t remember what I had for lunch two weeks ago, but if I visited your house and we had tea, I could tell you random things years later, like where we sat, what you were wearing, or even where the sun came in.

In 2024, a buddy of mine asked me to go to church. I wasn’t in the mood as I had drifted away from it in the organized sense. But in the service, the opening scene of the book slapped me in the face like a cold shower. I went back next week, and another scene came to me, so I went home and wrote it down. I sequestered myself over a period of weeks and wrote the book in about a year.

One of my quirks, or knacks, is that I’m always watching people and absorbing scenes, tucking them away and then pulling them out.

Do you have any advice for first-time authors?
I’ll start off with a point that one of my favorite authors, Lee Child, made. He was asked what he thought about writer’s block and said that firemen don’t get up in the morning and have a fire plan; policemen can’t say that they’ll stop arresting people. I’m a big proponent of “if you’re a writer, sit down and write.” I’m a writer. I write.

"I’m walking down Broadway in Manhattan and an idea comes into my head, so I duck into a Chinese restaurant to scribble my notes."

Another favorite author who I discovered not long ago is Vince Flynn. He died this week [June 19, 2024] and I honestly felt that I had lost a best friend. His story of chasing the dream, working hard and not giving up until you accomplish it is a reminder for me to keep going. To not worry about the agents and the publishing deals, but to hone your craft. And write.

People ask for writing advice, and here’s a big one: if a blurb of an idea comes into your head, sit down and craft it. I can’t tell you how many stories are in my computer right now. I’m walking down Broadway in Manhattan and an idea comes into my head, so I duck into a Chinese restaurant to scribble my notes. Then I go home and write the story. It might be one chapter, or two, or just a page. Or maybe it’s a scene and I just need to sit on it, let it simmer. If it’s a story that wants to be told, it’s not going anywhere.

My best advice ever? Don’t judge yourself. If you don’t judge it, you won’t over think it, you won’t disregard it. Just write and later on take care of the “fine, editorial details.”

Also: just write a little bit at a time, but do it a lot of the time.

There’s never a shortage of ideas in my head.

—David Temple, as told to Vook.

When an ebook becomes your calling card

Sales aren't everything. Here's a look at ebooks outside the marketplace:

With self-published ebooks such as Fifty Shades of Grey and Wool gaining more attention and revenue each day, it seems like everybody wants to get a piece of the ebook action. But there is a select group of author-entrepreneurs who are taking it a step further, turning themselves into their own bestsellers.

"It catapulted me back onto the media scene unlike any plain vanilla job search ever could."
-Manoush Zomordi

Antonio Neves, entrepreneurial coach, motivational speaker, and award-winning business journalist founded THINQACTION, Inc and has since published two ebooks. "It's essentially a calling card for new business and can provide plenty of leads," he tells Vook. The comparison of ebooks to calling cards is a fair one. Like physical business cards, ebooks are easily created at little cost and can be updated to reflect recent developments. Ebooks can be custom-designed to meet branding specifications and provide URLs to websites and social media platforms. And they can be given away at events or on websites to extend the brand's reach. And by brand, we mean the marketers, speakers, consultants, financial advisors, matchmakers, and media gurus who need to sell themselves.

On top of this easy dispersal is the fact that great content in the ebook does all of the talking for you. It establishes you as an authority on the topic and can open doors left and right. The four author-entrepreneurs profiled below learned that in a not-so-hard way:

Direct connections

"Publishing a quality ebook can be a game-changer for entrepreneurs," Antonio tells Vook. Regarding 5 Ways To Make It In New York City: Or Any Big City - How To Take Charge of Your Career and BREAQTHROUGH: 5 Surefire Ways To Take Charge Of Your Career, he continues, "The key is excellent content that's useful and provides value to the reader. After offering e-books, not only did I bring in new clients, another byproduct was that sign-ups for my e-mail list went through the roof. This provides me with a direct connection to customers for products and services I offer.

Job offers and opportunities

In "Not What I Expected: 6 Months Since Self-Publishing My Ebook," Manoush writes that while her self-published ebook sold well, the invaluable result was establishing her credentials. She received three job offers based on attention from the ebook and while she didn't accept them, she did get the opportunity to launch a weekly radio show, New Tech City. The bottom line, she writes: "it catapulted me back onto the media scene unlike any plain vanilla job search ever could."

New partners

Dating expert Damona Hoffman (or Dear Mrs. D) recently published an online-dating how-to ebook based on years of experience in dating world. She tells Vook: "I view my ebook Spin Your Web: How to Brand Yourself for Successful Online Dating as a great calling card for my dating coaching business. Not only does it give potential customers a taste of how my strategies can improve their dating lives, but it has also helped me attract amazing partners and future opportunities from The Dr. Phil Show, Match.com and HurryDate."

Top of the charts

Natalie Pace, financial guru and Founder/CEO of online finance magazine NataliePace.com, similarly shared her industry wisdom in The ABCs of Money. "I get a lot of requests from people who are trying to save their home, or get rid of credit card debt, or protect their nest egg during these volatile times," Natalie tells Vook. "They need this information right away." So she extended her product offering to ebooks without sacrificing the most up-to-date information, allowing her to cross promote between her website/magazine and the ebook.

We encourage any business owner—even if the business consists of just you and your computer—to explore an ebook strategy (we've even written a free guide for content holders). Feel free to contact us by signing up on Vook.com or emailing us directly.