Should you convert your book to a mobile app?

Are you a self-published author who currently has a book(s) available on one of the Amazon bookstores or other places? 

The Amazon book market is big, HUGE is a better adjective, but has nowhere near the worldwide exposure that mobile app stores like Google Play, Apple's iStore and others enjoy. Did you know that you can easily position yourself to sell many more books either directly through the app stores, or by using a mobile app to drive readers TO your bookstore?  If not, don't feel bad, most other authors don't either. 

An author with their work on the mobile app stores in addition to the traditional online bookstores can leverage the mobile phone market and exponentially extend their reach, exposure, and ultimately sales!

When either a hardcover or ebook is converted to a mobile app, it typically has the same cover (home page) as the book. The “body”, table of contents, and any included pictures are the same as well. In addition, if an author would like to include a video or audio “Message From the Author”, or even show a “how to” or demonstration of something, this can easily be done as well. This can create a visual "bond" with the reader that can quickly get them to hit the "buy" button.

There are many other benefits that an app can provide that a book cannot, like the ability to send a text message to all book owners telling of a new release, a special offer, or whatever the author would like. Imagine releasing a new book in a series, and with the push of a button letting all of your current readers know the release date and other compelling details! 

Are you starting to see the picture?
 
You can price your "book app" at whatever you like and collect the royalties from the app stores just like you would from Amazon. Another strategy is to give the initial mobile app away for free with a few chapters to "whet their whistle", and then charge for the remainder, which can be downloaded in literally seconds.  

Is your book currently distributed free and used to gain credibility or drive potential customers to another offer or product? If so, add a form to the app itself that readers complete to get another special free offer and add their information to your mailing list to follow through at a later date.

The power of this type of book marketing is only limited by your creativity and imagination... and of course if you work with the right app developer she'll be able to make suggestions and come up with new creative ways to maximize your exposure...

Literally millions of mobile phone users sit daily “surfing” the app stores looking for apps of interest. On the bus, in offices, walking down the street, at home, and anywhere and everywhere you look these days there's someone tap tap tapping away at their mobile phones, all looking for entertainment, education and other forms of content.

All mobile apps are not games and utilities... many tell stories, teach “how to’s”, are simply picture apps, and much much more. No matter what type of book you have, it CAN be turned into a mobile app and put in front of this content-hungry worldwide market!

The high % of mobile phone users do NOT have digital bookstore accounts, but they almost all have the Google Play or Apple iStores at their fingertips. (in fact, the icons cannot be deleted from their phones!)

Some mobile apps get tens of thousands of downloads daily. Shouldn't YOU at least be in the game?

 
Adding a mobile app to your book marketing may be well worth your investment, as well as get your book in front of literally millions of mobile phone users you can't reach otherwise. The growth that the mobile app business is showing no signs of slowing down, and like ten years ago when people were saying "if you don't get a website you'll soon be out of business", they're now saying "if you're not mobile, you'll soon be out of business" as well.

Consider having your book converted to a mobile app so you're at your reader's fingertips!
 

Nick Cifonie

amobileappstore@gmail.com
 

Nick is the author of "Any Glass With Wine in It, Is a Wine Glass", and managing partner of Apps Ahoy LLC. If you'd like more information about converting your book to a mobile app, contact Nick by email or by going tohttp://facebook.com/booktoapp .