getting my book in the hands of one million people

S. Bard wrote:My job is closely related to the publishing world, so here’s my two cents:

. . .    "Having a dedicated webpage for your book with a fresh looking lay-out will also help, so if people are searching for your book, they immediately get to the right place."

I totally agree with S. Bard on this one.  The permies website is like a comfortable old wofati clubhouse with worn leather couches and a cozy rocket mass heater.  It's homely, functional and not too posh so we feel quite comfortable putting our feet up on the coffee table.  I wouldn't change it.  When we are here we are preaching to the interested and converted.  They are here because they chose to come here, are interested and even knowledgeable about permaculture and they are going to be pretty comfortable in here too.  HOWEVER when preaching to the unconverted, uninterested, and those who really NEED this book, we are going to be wanting to send them to something that looks a bit more like the kinds of websites that they would usually order books from - like Amazon.  If we want to make use of your affiliate offer Amazon is not an option.  So I would suggest that you have a dedicated page somewhere with a crisp clean look as a landing page for your book sales.  A single page site with payment options is perfect.

My second suggestion is that you update the 'About the Author' section on Amazon and on any potential landing page for book sales.  Right now it reads "Paul is a giant doofus in Montana who is bonkers about permaculture. He won't shut up about permaculture. On and on, every day...it's annoying. He has gone so far as to make a 3-DVD set that is just about the earthworks for permaculture gardening. And not only did he make a 4-DVD set about rocket mass heaters, but he made ANOTHER 4-DVD set about rocket mass heaters. Why on earth do people need 8 DVDs about something so simple? If you think that is ridiculous, take a look at his 177 hours of video of a full Permaculture Design Course and Appropriate Technology Course. Then there are the cards. Okay, the permaculture playing cards are pretty cool. Before all of that, Paul created hundreds of podcasts, YouTube videos, articles and other bits and bobs about permaculture. That should have been the first sign, right there, that health professionals should have stopped all this. That, or his 26,000 forum posts at permies.com. And he has at least that many at his other site, CodeRanch.com. Oh yeah, he used to be a software engineer before all this permaculture stuff." Whoah!  Why on earth would a millennial want to read something written by a very annoying big doofus that health professionals should have put a stop to ages ago?  Please get someone else to write this section for you.  Us permies are used to your very special brand of self deprecating, acerbic humour and we know and love you for who and what you are.  But it's not going to sell your books on Amazon or to a large demographic who really need to read this book.  Maybe start with the bit about being a software engineer and do a bit of company name dropping.  That will get there attention and show that you are capable of critical thinking and systems design.  Follow that with a more flattering CV.  Just my two coins worth.  I have to also confess that after years of having 'join Paul's affiliate programme' on my 'to-do' list I'm finally getting around to it as, with the quarantine in place, I now have the time on my hands to do it.  It's also in my best interest to have a more sell-able product to refer potential buyers to.  Getting off my high and mighty soap box now.  Most of the time you do a darn good job.  Thanks for writing the book Paul and Shawn.

Please get someone else to write this section for you.

paul wheaton wrote:

Please get someone else to write this section for you.

I think you just volunteered to take a stab at it.

Edward Lye wrote:Alternatively, in your country, a mention by Oprah will make this an instant bestseller. I have limited ammo and opportunities so I always aimed high.
If I had enough ammo, Dr Elaine Ingham and Dr David Johnson{of Johnson Su Bioreactor fame} would be my other targets. As would Jane Fonda, Jon Stewart and Michael Moore.

AngelinaGianna Maffeo wrote:

 That said, have you thought about selling it through seed companies? Due to a major tragedy with my seed storage, I lost hundreds of dollars worth of seed. I went to my seed companies last week and found all three companies are out of stock on many varieties.  While it was annoying, I was filled with hope that maybe thousands were going to start to raise their own food. Accountability always excites me. Just a thought.    

Bruce Katlin wrote:Paul: Have you looked into Smashwords?

Bruce Katlin wrote:Paul: Have you looked into Smashwords?

Daniel Ray wrote:The library books donated across the state are circulating pretty well. A checkout is for 4 weeks at a time, your book has been checked out about 30 times since it was cataloged in October.

A few members of my community are looking to start a "Zero Waste Society" that would have monthly meet ups to share ideas and inspiration. I've been asked to present at the first meeting to give information about my composting business and future market garden venture.

I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to hand out some of Paul's books! I have 12 physical copies. I was thinking of handing out 5 at this event (maybe more if people are keen?).

Im taking mine and dropping them off at waiting rooms around town.

The key to me is getting it out there in a repetitive nature. Multiple eyes on one book.

So maybe rather than "give it away" to people in the group, ask them to read it and pass it forward.

Bill and Melinda Gates  (Yes, I think they can afford it, but it's a more powerful gesture than just me telling them about it in one of their gazillion emails in the web form...)
Mom and Dad
habitat for humanity
Greta Thunberg (this was someone else's idea, I forget who)
HUD
Pax at Twin Oaks
Acorn
Dancing Rabbit (probably already has?)
Perelandra Center for Nature Research
local City councillors
my immediate neighbors
my landlord (oh landlord, riddle me this, why do you hate money? electric baseboard heating?? really??)

paul wheaton wrote: Further, at goodreads, my current number is "4.2" which is super duper stellar for goodreads!  Wow!