Resources | Self-Publishing Review

The Long-Term Value of Metadata: How to Best Choose Your Keywords, Categories, and Book Description

In the vast and often unforgiving landscape of self-publishing, the difference between a book that thrives and one that languishes in obscurity often comes down to something invisible to most readers: metadata. Like a hidden force, metadata determines how your book is discovered, who sees it, and whether it has a chance to claim a place in the hearts and libraries of readers worldwide.

For self-published authors, mastering keywords, categories, and book descriptions is not just an exercise in optimization – it is a necessity for survival in a marketplace where thousands of books are released daily.

Why Keywords and […]

Arthur2025-04-27T12:21:20+02:00March 22nd, 2025|Categories: Features, Resources|Tags: Book Promotion Articles|

How to Promote Your Book on Bluesky

The world of book promotion has always been tied closely to the latest trends in social media. In 2025, authors are grappling with major changes in the digital landscape, forcing them to rethink how they connect with readers, and how to convince those readers that their words are worth reading, their labors of love worth the scant price of a paperback. With ongoing controversies surrounding X (formerly Twitter) and the potential banning of TikTok in the United States, many authors are searching for reliable alternatives.

One rising star in this evolving space is Bluesky, a decentralized social platform that […]

Arthur2025-02-03T16:37:35+02:00February 3rd, 2025|Categories: Features, Resources|Tags: Book Marketing Advice and Tips, Book Promotion Articles, Social Media|

How To Choose An Author Name – Eight Easy Tips

Choosing an author name, often referred to as a pen name, nom de plume, or pseudonym, can be an exciting and creative process. Here are some steps you can follow to help you decide:

1. Consider Your Genre and Audience:

Genre Fit: Some genres may benefit from specific types of names. For example, a name for a romance author might differ from one for a science fiction writer
Audience Expectations: Think about what your target audience might find appealing or memorable

2. Personal Meaning:

Family Names: Consider using a name that has personal significance, such as a family name or

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Cate Baum2024-08-30T11:54:17+02:00August 30th, 2024|Categories: Features, Resources|Tags: Author Branding|

How To Rank in Amazon Kindle Categories

SPR’s Cate Baum takes a look at what methods work and don’t work this spring for ranking higher in Amazon’s Best Seller charts with your Kindle eBook.

Amazon has been messing about with its categories quite extensively, but does this mean ranking is going to become more difficult? Yes and no.

Genre is relevant

Now categories are expanded with search terms, it’s more important than ever that you stay in your genre and categories.

Indie romance books will still be able to gain very high ranking when they make sales due to advertising within a niche market. However, without […]

Cate Baum2023-09-27T10:54:59+02:00April 21st, 2022|Categories: Features, Resources|Tags: Book Marketing Advice and Tips|

Four Big Ways To Fail At Publishing Your Book

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Cate Baum2025-05-12T17:51:01+02:00October 28th, 2021|Categories: Features, Resources|Tags: Book Marketing Advice and Tips, Publishing Tips and Advice|

Infinity Publishing’s Authors FastPencil Issues – What to Do

There have been many authors complaining about not getting royalties since FastPencil took over Infinity Publishing. Here’s what we know, and what you can consider about the buyout if you are affected.

We reviewed the now-defunct company here back in 2011.

You Retained All Your Rights

On their website, Infinity’s FAQs stated:

“At Infinity Publishing, you own your copyright and all the rights to your book. If your book has movie potential, wouldn’t you want the right to make that deal? Many book publishing companies keep certain rights and can exercise these rights without your input or approval. Infinity Publishing

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Cate Baum2020-11-05T05:11:55+02:00November 5th, 2020|Categories: Features, Resources|Tags: Subsidy Publishing Articles|

The Best Twitter Hashtags for Book Promotion

The great thing about Twitter is that you don’t necessarily have to have a lot of followers to be seen. You can have ten followers, but if you use a hashtag like #horror or #sciencefiction, many other people will see the post as well, as there are a lot more visitors to hashtag pages than individual accounts.

However, having more followers means that your post has a better chance to land on the Top list, which is the first list users see, and where the post will show up for longer, as opposed to the Latest thread, where your post […]

Lysa Grant2022-07-14T00:24:31+02:00February 12th, 2020|Categories: Resources|Tags: Book Marketing Advice and Tips, Social Media|

Kindle Promotion Tips to Maximize Your Newsletter Marketing Campaign

The window for marketing is pretty small. Certainly, you should never give up on a book once it’s had its major marketing push, but Amazon only gives a 3-month window to end up in the Hot New Releases section, or to benefit from other ranking factors that fade over time the older a book gets. So it can make sense to put all your eggs in one basket and try to make a giant push all at once.