What is Libboo?

Libboo is a web community of authors and their fans dedicated to creating the next digital bestseller, with partners and supporters ranging from TechStars to the BBC and major publishers like Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. At Libboo we help authors, whether they have a traditional publishing deal or have self-published, increase their chance of success by pairing their books with the correct buzzers. A buzzer is someone who has influence and who, most importantly, is passionate about sharing the books they love.

Libboo offers a way for talented authors to publish to Amazon and Barnes & Noble at the click of a button, and then interact directly with their fans to identify their most influential buzzers. Readers and buzzers, on the other hand, get early and exclusive access to upcoming talented authors and are recognized and rewarded for bringing that talented author to the universe.

What is the Libboo pilot?

The Libboo pilot is a three (3) month program aimed at helping authors become discovered, increase their influence and improve book sales through the use of Libboo’s patent pending technology.

When the pilot launches we will match buzzers with books they will love and want to share. These buzzers will then be encouraged and rewarded for sharing those books. Authors will be able to see who their most effective promoters are and contact them directly.

What is a buzzer?

A buzzer is someone influential who enjoys discovering and being the source of good content. Do people go to you for recommendations and then take action based on what you say (e.g., read a book, watch a movie, check out a site)? If so, then you are a buzzer.

Why should I join the pilot program as a buzzer?

By being a part of the initial group of buzzers, you get to test and play with Libboo’s new technology before it launches to the public. You will get access to exclusive content and get to connect directly with authors. Buzzers also get rewards, such as free personalized ebooks, and are recognized for helping an author get discovered. Top buzzers get the chance to be part of an author’s team.

What am I expected to do as a buzzer?

Share the books you love. Using our proprietary technology, we will match you with books that you’ll enjoy and want to spread the word about. You choose how to go about spreading the word, whether it’s tweeting, reviewing, blogging or anything else.

As an author, are there any benefits to being a buzzer as well during the pilot?

Of course! You get what you give. If you help fellow authors, you increase the chances of them helping you. Promoting other authors will also get you recognized as an authority on books and will grow your personal brand.

Are there any fees and am I expected to buy books?

Libboo is 100% free to join. Whether you buy books or not is completely up to you.

What are you looking for in a buzzer?

We’re working with major publishers and agents, and hand-picking independent authors to get quality content. As such, we will also hold the initial buzzer community to high standards. At this time, we ask that buzzers have a Klout score of 40 or higher and/or a combined audience of at least 1,000 followers. By this we mean that the followers, friends and fans that you have in various social sites (Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, your blog, etc) add up to at least 1,000.

What if I don’t meet those requirements but really, really want to be a buzzer for the pilot?

Email Katherine Pereira at katherine@libboo.com and make your case. Tell us why we should pick you as a buzzer and what you can do to spread the word about these awesome books.

How do I register to become a buzzer?

Email your details (name, relevant stats and any other information) to katherine@libboo.com or register here. Spots are limited, and those who show the greatest potential will be given top priority.

-Team Libboo

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Psst…we’re now on Tumblr, so if you want to look at some bookishly inclined eye candy, check out libboo.tumblr.com.

For more Libboo news, you can follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook or add us to your Google+circles.

*Note (September 11, 2012): We are currently not accepting authors for the fall, but anyone interested in putting their book on Libboo should email fernando@libboo.com since we may re-open submissions in the future. We encourage authors to sign up to be a buzzer for our pilot since it helps them build their brand, increase their social influence, and start building connections with other authors and potential fans.

We’ve been getting a few emails from authors wanting to know more about the pilot and Libboo in general so we’ve put together this FAQ for you guys:

1. What is Libboo?

Libboo is a web community of authors and their fans dedicated to creating the next digital bestseller, with partners and supporters ranging from TechStars to the BBC and major publishers like Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. At Libboo we help authors, whether they have a traditional publishing deal or have self-published, increase their chance of success by pairing their books with the correct buzzers. A buzzer is someone who has influence and who, most importantly, is passionate about sharing the books they love.

Libboo offers a way for talented authors to publish to Amazon and Barnes & Noble at the click of a button, and then interact directly with their fans to identify their most influential buzzers. Readers and buzzers, on the other hand, get early and exclusive access to upcoming talented authors and are recognized and rewarded for bringing that talented author to the universe.

2. What is the Libboo Pilot?

The Libboo pilot is a three (3) month program aimed at helping authors become discovered, increase their influence and improve book sales through the use of Libboo’s patent pending technology.

When the pilot launches we will match buzzers with books they will love and want to share. These buzzers will then be encouraged and rewarded for sharing those books. Authors will be able to see who their most effective promoters are and contact them directly.

3. What kind of independent authors and books are you seeking for the pilot?

We are seeking authors who have a finished manuscript that is ready for immediate publication. This means that it has already been edited, proofread, and has a cover. We are also seeking authors who have already published independently and are currently selling through Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other digital stores.  We are mostly interested in commercial non-fiction and fiction in any genre.

4. As an independent author, what can the Libboo pilot do for me?

By registering, you become part of a select group of authors that will experience, test, help shape and benefit from Libboo’s new technology. We will pair your book with the right buzzers to increase its visibility and your chance of success, and then give you the tools to interact directly with your greatest buzzers. We want you to sell more books, become discovered and increase your influence in a fun, easy and engaging way.

5. What format should my manuscript be in?

We prefer manuscripts in epub format, but we will accept mobi files as well. If your manuscript is not already in epub format, there are various services and free tools available that you can use to convert to epub. We recommend Calibre, a free software that supports the conversion of documents to epub and other formats.  Sigil is another free software that enables authors to convert and edit epub files.

6. My book is currently for sale on Amazon, Barnes & Noble or other digital stores, what will I need to do to take part in the pilot program? Should I consider republishing and distributing through Libboo?

To participate in the program without republishing, please visit your author page on Amazon KDP or Barnes & Noble PubIt!, find the book on your “bookshelf” and download the converted mobi or epub file. You will then need to send this file to Fernando Albertorio at fernando@libboo.com.

There are, however, advantages to republishing and distributing through Libboo. Publishing a “Libboo Edition” allows you to maintain your published book on KDP and allows you to compare how both versions of the book are doing, and see the effectiveness of Libboo’s process. If you are interested in publishing a “Libboo Edition” of your book, please contact Fernando at fernando@libboo.com, and he will walk you through the process.

7. What will it cost me to be part of the pilot? Is there a contract with Libboo? Can I leave at anytime?

All of the services that Libboo provides are available at no upfront costs. Authors retain their copyright and there are no exclusivity contracts. You can opt out of the pilot at anytime.

8. When does the pilot program begin?

The pilot program begins in the Fall. Authors must register and submit their book manuscript to Fernando Albertorio (fernando@libboo.com) at least 3 weeks prior to the launch of the program.

9. What happens after the pilot?

Authors will be notified 2 weeks (14 days) prior to the end of the pilot program and receive detailed information regarding Libboo’s post-pilot terms and conditions. Authors can then choose to opt out or continue with Libboo.

10. How do I register and join the pilot?

If you are interested and would like to talk to someone at Libboo about joining the program, please e-mail fernando@libboo.com. You can also register at www.libboo.com.

-Team Libboo

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Psst…we’re now on Tumblr, so if you want to look at some bookishly inclined eye candy, check out libboo.tumblr.com.

For more Libboo news, you can follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook or add us to your Google+circles.

I know it’s been said before, but having a great book cover is incredibly important. It’s the first thing a potential reader will see and it’s your chance to make a good impression. Think of a cover as the invitation to your book. Shouldn’t that invitation be as alluring and irresistible as possible?

I, for one, have been known to buy a book solely because of its cover. Take The Art of Fielding as an example. It’s a critically acclaimed novel, but one that I have no real interest in. Every time I see it, whether it’s online or in a shop, its cover makes me swoon, but then I read the description and go, “Oh, it’s the baseball book” and walk away feeling sad and empty. This has happened every single time I see this book. It’s a cover that appeals to me so much that I keep forgetting that it’s not a subject I’m interested in. It’s been so tempting that I’ve gone from “Oh, it’s the baseball book” to “Maybe I’ll give the baseball book a try” and “Forget it, I’m buying the baseball book.” Who knows? Maybe I’ll end up loving the book and it’s something I would have never read if it weren’t for the cover.

It’s also important to keep in mind that in the land of ebooks, your cover has to be eye-catching even when it’s in a tiny, thumbnail size. When browsing through Kindle books one day, I came across a thumbnail of Emma Donoghue’s Room. This was the cover I saw (and roughly in this size):

It’s simple and it stood out enough that I decided to download the free sample and ended up buying the book. Had I seen either of its other two covers in that size, I probably would’ve completely overlooked them.

It’s not that they’re bad covers–far from it. Once I read the book, I came to appreciate all three covers. They all do a brilliant job of capturing the essence of the novel. However, knowing nothing about the book, the minimal messy-crayon-on-white-background cover made me the most curious about the book and worked best in such a small format. What impresses me the most (and what I think is particularly hard to achieve), is that even when viewed in a larger size, that first cover manages to look striking, not overly simple.

Make your book as inviting as possible and remember to ask yourself, “Will this cover work in a smaller format?” Working with a graphic designer or an illustrator to create a kickass cover for your book is a worthwhile investment; it’s one of the greatest tools you have to convince a reader to check out the synopsis, read a few sample pages, and (hopefully!) buy your book.

Do you have a favorite book cover or one that you think is particularly effective? We’d love to hear your thoughts.

-Team Libboo

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For more Libboo news, you can follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook or add us to your Google+circles.

P.S. Our pilot is going to be super awesome, so sign up here: http://www.libboo.com/