Going Free as a Group--Does it Still Work?

You know what I love about being indie? My world isn’t a cloistered cave of writing and talking to just my editor and/or agent. My world is literally full of thousands of other indie authors that brighten up everyday for me with their generosity.

GROUP FRIGGIN’ HUG

Okay, that bit of sentimentality aside, I’ve actually got a point here. Let’s start with Kindle Direct Publishing Select. When it started out, you could go free on your own and get thousands of downloads. But, like anything else in this (insert expletive) world, there’s no free pass to success. Honestly, some days I wish I would wake up with two things: (1) perfect vision, dammit, and (2) about 50 million dollars. I digress. So, no free pass to success. What does that mean several months after KDPS started? Going free and doing it solo–not so successful anymore. And you’ve heard it from a whole bunch of people who continue to do the same thing and expect the same results. Bottom line, those results ain’t there, so we’ve got to adapt.

What’s a way to deal with this? Think like an indie my friend. Going “solo free” (I’ll coin that term right here) is so freaking traditional author. Going free with a group of great indie authors? Now you’re thinking.

Let’s get one thing straight. Going free as a group is nothing novel. A while back, I posted about going free in a group through the Indie Book Collective, which in my humble opinion is the best group promo organization that exists. It’s the Rolls Royce of group events, and if you don’t take advantage of it, well, you’re a dummy. Sorry, just being real.

However, there’s no way any one organization can provide all of your promo needs. For one, it makes sense to diversify your advertising dollars. For two (can you say “for two”?), if you have multiple books, then a single organization may not have enough free events for you. That’s kinda where I was, which is why I did the following.

Through my publishing arm (haha, always wanted to say that. My publishing arm are these two hands, and when I can get his lazy ass going, one of my dogs), I have organized eight of the most excellent indie authors I know to go free as a group. Of course, I know more than eight excellent indie authors, but there will be more events. The point? We have worked our tails off to put this event together (another reason to pay the IBC their entry fee and sit back while their staff run the promo for you!) We have canvassed the entire world of indie publishing and advertising, or so it seems. The bigger point. THERE’S NO WAY YOU COULD DO THIS AS A SOLO FREE.

This world of publishing changes so damn quickly, so who knows how long going free as a group will be successful. However, we indie authors are the small tribe that can adapt to change on a dime. Let the bureaucracy of the traditional publishing world die. In the meantime, we’ll evolve, come together, and take advantage of whatever we can to sell more books.

With that being said, check out the awesome authors involved in the group event, appropriately titled #Reads4Free. You, my dear indie authors, owe it to them to go download their free books. Just as we will owe it to you when you go free.

Just click on this hyperlink: http://www.rogue-books.com/#!Reads4Fr...

Over and out my friends. If you’re interested in being part of an Indie Book Collective event, or another of my #Reads4Free events through Rogue Books, then just send me an email at enemyinblue@gmail.com.