Time to take on Kindle?

There are many things that I could wish the Vocal platform would do for us. Things like providing an easy-to-use backup of content, a csv download of stats, and new and better ways of organising stories into subject indexes without the need for endless copying and pasting. How feasible any of these things are, or what the folks at Vocal Media might think, I have no way of knowing.

But there is one need, one big thing that, if Vocal doesn't do it, someone else ought to. What is it? That's the thing. Describing what I have in mind is part of the problem that my project would aim to address.

A gateway from Vocal content to the outside world?

No, this is too vague and does not in any way capture what I am suggesting. Perhaps the best way to explain what I have in mind is by looking at how authors like me use our Vocal accounts and what could be done to build on that model.

With my Vocal+ subscription, I am able to publish stories, poems and factual and thoughtful articles online, with the easy-to use, and self-formatting, Vocal platform. I am also able to earn small monetary rewards in the form of CPM payments, bonuses, and have the opportunity to enter cash prize creative challenges. These competitive exercises help to motivate me to write more, try out different forms, genres and styles, and venture way outside of my comfort zone. This, and the other resources provided by the wonderful Vocal team, have all combined to make me a loyal and committed Vocal creator. I have published over 400 stories in two and a half years.

What Vocal doesn't do, is to help find readers outside of the Vocal community. Vocal creators can use a variety of means to get their own readers, and most involve using other social media. The problem with using your socials to attract visitors is that few, if any, will be able to interact. Readers cannot leave feedback unless they first register, which casual visitors are unlikely to do. Without the ability to interact, it is almost impossible to build an audience beyond the communities of Vocal creators. Simply providing free content does not generate registrations of itself. The only people who are likely to register are existing writers and other creatives who see the possibilities for their own content. The option of making some stories exclusive may present an opportunity but, currently, there is no obvious means of selling the concept to potential readers. Ultimate, there is no real way to build a loyal readership base outside of the communities of Vocal registered creators.

What about the project for 2025?

So, where is my project, my new-year resolution? Acknowledging that what I am suggesting is all very vague, I am going to commit to further consideration of the need, the proposal, the business case for extending the undoubted power of Vocal beyond its communities of creators.

In essence, what I am looking for is a formula to harness something like Vocal's user-friendly creative environment, to the power of KDP's publishing, distribution and marketing platform. Perhaps the solution would be to work out how to create an interface between the two. A more ambitious aim would be to reimagine Kindle with its Amazon worldwide distribution network, but with Vocal (or something at least as good as Vocal) as the creative starting point.

Does any of this make sense? I hope it does, and I hope fellow creators will help me to imagine this new model, explore its potential by commenting on this story, or writing their own thoughts on this. For my part, I will try to come up with a clearer explanation of the model, and try to find ways of considering the feasibility of any of them that seem attractive. I hope some of the lovely people at Vocal will also enter into this discussion. Unless of course something like this is already on the cards and already being discussed.

My project for 2025 is therefore to come up with some kind of model, roadmap, feasibility exercise, or whatever, for a proposed Vocal-based publishing and marketing model. This model would be outward looking and include options for building real readership, loyal readership, among those who are not necessarily Vocal creators.

Roadmap for a total publishing model

Not very catchy, I know, but this will do as a working title for the project, for now. It will, perhaps include some of the following elements:

Ability to organise content more easily into longer compilations or into book format.

Bolt-on marketing promotion packages to attract readers outside of Vocal and to promote loyalty of readership base.

Ways of promoting interaction of outside readers without the need to register as Vocal creators.

Facility to output content compilations into KDP and/or other relevant publishing format.

Exploration of other features designed to aid those creators with ambitions to grow their self-publishing (including book publication) activities.

The above is just a list of some ideas I have thrown down when I am only hours away from the deadline for this challenge. I am more than open to suggestions for additional features and comments on the value, or otherwise, of any of the above list.

Next steps

Having put the idea out there, I am hoping that there will be sufficient feedback to suggest whether there is anything in this project proposal. Whether it has legs, or is just another daft idea from my daft ideas generator.

Feedback might suggest it's a great idea and lots of fellow creators would like to know more. Alternatively, feedback may make it clear that there is no interest in such a project. Or, it might be that my explanation is so vague as to be completely unhelpful. Whatever the nature of the feedback, it will help determine whether or not it may be worth the effort of exploring these ideas further.

What do you think?

Please let me know what you think and share your thoughts on this, or your own big ideas on what could make Vocal (or a Vocal alternative) rock in 2026.

Thanks for reading

Ray