A Free Book Launch Experiment By Shelley Hitz

Shelley Hitz is back with another insightful post on marketing for authors. In this post, Shelley will talk about her recent book launch using KDP Select and how she created joint book-promoting efforts with other authors. It's this kind of out-of-the-box thinking that has made Shelley a successful book marketer and online promotions expert. After you read her post today, check out her links at the bottom of the page.







A Free Book Launch Experiment

By Shelley Hitz



During a season of transition in my life, I found myself overwhelmed with negative emotions like self-pity and a complaining spirit. It was as if a dark cloud had descended over me. I prayed and asked God for wisdom on how to overcome these negative emotions. And I sensed Him leading me to do this 21 days of gratitude challenge.





Over the course of the 21 days, God began to change me as I spent intentional time being grateful for all I have been given. I did this through writing in my journal each day and also sending a hand-written thank you note to someone different each day.





And so I decided to share my experience in a short, but powerful Kindle ebook.





Using the KDP Select Program





I decided to use the KDP select program to launch my new book.  I know there are differing opinions on the effectiveness of this program, but so far it has been profitable for the books I have enrolled in the program.





There is Power in Numbers





However, a week before my promotion was scheduled, I got an idea.   What if I would contact other Christian authors and ask them if they wanted to coordinate a free book promotion for the same days as mine.  That way we could harness the power of multiple platforms to increase the success of our promotion.





I sent out some individual e-mails as well as well as posted on the John 316 Marketing Network, a forum for Christian authors.  Within 24 hours I had 17 authors willing to join in my efforts.  Wow!





I decided to call it a free “Christian Book Shopping Spree” and allowed each author to post the books on their own blog or promote it on my site.  That way all of our books are still getting exposure, but it gives each author the opportunity to drive traffic to their blog.  I also wrote several Facebook and Twitter posts that each author could use in promoting the event.





You can see the page I set up for the event here:  www.christianspeakers.tv/free-christian-book-shopping-spree/





Go and download the books while you’re there and join in on the fun!





More Exposure For Christian Authors





Are you a Christian author?  If so, make sure to join my Facebook page where you can promote your free promotions, giveaways and contests.  This page is growing quickly…who doesn’t like something free, right?   And it is one way to gain more exposure for your book.





Like our page and post your promotions here:  www.facebook.com/getfreechristianbooks





How Can You Do Something Similar?





The great thing is that you can do something similar.  I recommend building relationships with other authors in your genre or niche.  Reach out to them and offer to like their page, agree with their tags or do a book review for them.





Then, set a date for your group promotion and contact other authors to see if they would like to join in.  I don’t necessarily recommend setting everything up one week in advance like I did, but give yourself time to adequately prepare and set up your promotion.





I’m excited to see how our promotion goes on Wednesday 6/20/12 and Thursday 6/21/12.  Make sure to watch my free book launch experiment in action here:  www.christianspeakers.tv/free-christian-book-shopping-spree/

 







------



Shelley Hitz is an entrepreneur, author and speaker.  Her website, www.self-publishing-coach.com provides resources and tutorials that help you publish and market your book. Sign up for her newsletter, "Self Publishing Tips" to download her book templates, which she offers surprisingly free here:  www.self-publishing-coach.com/newsletter.html.


You can also find Shelley on:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/selfpublishingcoach

Twitter: www.twitter.com/self_publish and

YouTube: www.youtube.com/selfpublishingcoach





  




























--------


Tony Eldridge is the author of The Samson Effect , an action/adventure novel that Clive Cussler calls a "first rate thriller brimming with intrigue and adventure." He is also the author of the Twitter marketing book, Conducting Effective Twitter Contests . His new novel, The Lottery Ticket , was just recently released on Kindle.