By Donna Fasano
I see regular sales of my independently published books in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and about a dozen other countries each month. But thanks to Kobo Writing Life and Kobo.com, I sold books to readers in new countries I would never have reached, including Nigeria and Qatar.
Tracy Nesdoly, VP of Communications at Kobo, lends some insight about the success of the company:
Rakuten Kobo, Inc. is one of the world’s fastest-growing eReading services, offering more than 4.7 million eBooks and magazines to millions of customers. Kobo offers a wide variety of e-ink eReaders as well as free, top-ranking eReading apps for all major electronic devices. Kobo eReaders can be found in major retail chains around the world.
Kobo Writing Life is Kobo’s Publishing Portal—the place where the magic happens for indie authors like me. The platform is easy to use, and once uploaded, an eBook is usually available in the Kobo catalogue within 24 hours.
The great support techs at Kobo are quick to respond to any problems authors might have. The
uploading process includes choosing categories, just like Kindle, Nook and iBooks. Updating a book’s cover, book file or meta data is quick and easy. And to top it off, a brand new Promotions tab has been added to the Kobo Writing Life dashboard (currently in beta testing). Authors are encouraged to submit their books to the two dozen promotions that Kobo offers their readers—everything from a Free Book Spotlight, to a Page Turners email blast, to a basic percentage off where customers can use a coupon code to buy your book at a reduced price. These promotions are amazing ways for authors to find brand-new readers who could easily turn into avid fans.
Kobo is a company focused strictly on digital books, so you won’t be able to publish paperback books here. However, it is an excellent venue for authors looking for readers—and I can’t think of a single author who isn’t doing just that. Kobo books are offered all over the world, and I am thrilled each time a new country pops up on my sales map. (I love that sales map and have been known to post mine on Facebook and Twitter.) The people running the company are enthusiastic about putting books into the hands of readers. Kobo is one powerful tool that should be in every author’s toolbox.
With its user-friendly publishing platform and worldwide distribution, Kobo Writing Life is a tool that every indie author should utilize. Exposure is the name of the game, and my books would never have been found by readers in Nigeria, Qatar, South Africa and a long list of other countries without Kobo. I read on the site that their eReader was created “by booklovers for booklovers.” I think the same can be said about the entire company.
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Donna Fasano is a USA Today bestselling author whose award-winning books have been translated into nearly two dozen languages and have sold 4 million copies worldwide. You can find her books on Kobo.
I am grateful to Kobo and Kobo Writing Life for making it possible for me to find new readers all over the world almost every month.
Wow! I didn’t know much about Kobo, but now I’m sold. I’m publishing my books there right away. Thanks for sharing, Donna, and thanks Kobo for giving authors a worldwide venue. Dani Haviland, author
Kobo is pretty awesome. 🙂
Wonderful article, Donna! Thank you for sharing.
I had help from Tracy Nesdoly and Mark Lefebvre.
I couldn’t agree with you more. As a newly published author having my debut book, The Bad Girl, with Kobo, I’m reaching readers that I’m not able to as readily via other portals. That and it’s still in the trial phase promotion site have been a godsend.
Congrats on your debut! I will take a look at your book!
terrific article, Donna! I like Kobo as well–very indie author friendly!
I agree, Traci, and heaven knows we indies can use friends. 🙂
Terrific article, Donna. And fascinating to see how the growth of epublishing in general and KOBO in particular has opened so many new markets for authors. Thanks for the information.
You’re welcome, Fran. Thank you for stopping in!
Terrific overview by Donna Fasano of the far-reaching advantages of Kobo and Kobo Writing Life – this company cares about its readers and its writers. Laura Taylor (A grateful writer!)
You are so right! Kobo cares!
Thanks for this information
You’re very welcome, Aurora.
What a great informational article. Thanks Kobo and Donna Fasano for this information!
Thanks for taking the time to read the article, Elaine.
Congrats on your great success, Donna. Imagine people from all over the world reading your books… pretty cool 🙂
I get a thrill every time I think about it, Jacquie. This month, I found a reader in Nigeria. Exciting!
Great article, Donna. I will be using more promo through Kobo this year and will be upload more books as well.
I’ll be uploading a new book too, Jean. Very soon, I hope. 🙂
Kobo is a market I never would have dreamed was out there until I tried it 🙂
Diversifying our sales venues is so important, Lisa.
A very interesting article. Makes it all seem so easy and so worthwhile to use Kobo!
It’s very worthwhile, Gerry. Thanks for stopping by!
Great bit of indie news, Donna. It helps to hear it from the authors… Shared!
Jackie Weger
No Perfect Secret
Thanks for stopping by, Jackie!
Great article. I’ll definitely go with Kobo with my books once I’m out of KU. 🙂
Dale, my Kobo readership has steadily grown. Good luck to you!
Thank you for the information on Kobo.
Thank you for stopping by!
Great article! 🙂 xx
I don’t have the promotions tab on my dashboard. Should I contact KOBO about that?
Hi Stephanie, you can contact the KWL team about that at writinglife@kobo.com.
See what great service authors get from Kobo Writing Life? *beams with pride* 🙂
Thanks for the information. Very interesting.
Lois, thank you for stopping by.
Lots of good info. Thanks, Donna!
You’re welcome, Josie. I really do love Kobo!
Great info, Donna. I’m putting some books up there ASAP.
Nancy, I honestly believe you will be so glad you did!
Hi Donna, thanks for the great article. I guess I’m doing something wrong! I’m a non-fiction writer in the U.S. My first eBook has been out for a while. It’s short: Fast, fun, reading where I use humor to help people de-stress from infertility. I’ve gotten great reviews online & elsewhere. Almost all my sales have been through Amazon, a smattering from Nook but rarely anything from Kobo. Any thoughts? Thanks…