Publishing E-Books For Dummies

Writing a Sequel to Your First E-Book

One easy way to encourage past customers to buy again is to write a sequel. In a fiction e-book, you would use the same characters that your readers already know and love; in nonfiction, you would tackle a new (but related) topic area in a familiar way. It’s no accident that many of the best-selling independent authors have trilogies or series of novels, not separate books.

For a fiction series or trilogy, examine the reviews and feedback from the first e-book to see which aspects resonate with readers. For example, if a minor character has proved especially popular, you may give that character a greater role in your next novel.

Let readers of your first e-book know about the sequel — an active blog, Twitter feed, or Facebook page can help you get the word out. (If you sell your e-book on your own site via E-junkie, you can send purchasers an e-mail about the sequel.) People who’ve already bought and enjoyed your first e-book are likely to buy again.

Your sequel isn’t good only for repeat business, though — you’ll also pick up new customers, who may well buy your first e-book, too. After you’ve written several e-books, you can package them in a bundle and offer a discount to encourage readers to buy all (rather than only one) of your e-books.