LESSONS FROM THE WEEK-LONG KINDLE COUNTDOWN DEAL:

Happy New Year Sale: The Governess @ ... RESULTS OF 24-28 APRIL 2015 FREE E-BO...

LESSONS FROM THE WEEK-LONG KINDLE COUNTDOWN DEAL:

1) When the e-novel was available for free from 27th to 28th Aug. 2014, a few weeks after abrupt launch via Amazon, the number of downloads was 451 on 27th and 292 on day two. The free days were carefully chosen after much research into which days are most viable for downloads. 743 downloads later my Amazon ‘sales’ rank for free downloads was 639 and 589 on respectively - which means that out of all the books free on those days my e-novel was in the Top 1000 if not Top 100. My Author Rank, however, out of the million-plus books that Amazon sells in paperback, hardcover and e-format, was 134,359 and 115,981 on day two.

Promotion was done mainly on websites reserved for free promotion. Shelley Hitz list was a huge help: http://www.trainingauthors.com/47-pla... as well as the links given at the end of this page on AuthorMarketingClub: http://authormarketingclub.com/member... . I also had a paid advert running on blog ‘Love Romance, Passion’ ( http://www.loveromancepassion.com/ ) for Aug.-Sept. period (cost=$40) which I did only after getting equal return in royalties.

As is often the case, there was not a single feedback from the free downloads on the mediocrity or viability of the book. But it was a good morale booster nonetheless. The book tags at the time were random but specific words like death, divorce, bad father, inspirational, aging, romance, domestic violence and it was logged under Romance/Regency, later on shifted to Religious & Inspirational, and is currently logged under fiction/literary and fiction / romance / historical/ regency with 7 keywords 'religious and inspirational', 'depression and mental illness', 'death and grief', 'dating and relationships', 'alcohol & drug abuse', 'british', 'aging'.

2) During the week (12-18 Jan. 2015) that the e-novel was available at a bargain price of $0.99, the number of total purchases made was 8 books, 1 KOLL download, 4 facebook likes and 3 shares.

The promotion was done on websites reserved for free bargain / 99 cent promotion, on facebook and GR groups I’m a member of.

* The fb groups included:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/40866...
https://www.facebook.com/groups/38849...
https://www.facebook.com/groups/12601...
https://www.facebook.com/groups/bpzone/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/37090...
https://www.facebook.com/groups/15796...
https://www.facebook.com/groups/35711...
https://www.facebook.com/groups/bookm...
https://www.facebook.com/groups/30667...
https://www.facebook.com/groups/ficti...
https://www.facebook.com/groups/14823...
https://www.facebook.com/groups/19900...
https://www.facebook.com/groups/14223...
https://www.facebook.com/groups/44469...
https://www.facebook.com/groups/13935...

* The fb pages of following most-read blogs:
http://www.blogmetrics.org/Romance_No...
* Fb pages of bookstores in NY, Chicago, California, Ohio etc. were also explored.
* Independent sites for posting free/99cent promotion such as bookgoodies, awesomegang, indiereads, including those given by A. D. Winch on: http://www.winchad.com/uploads/1/2/1/...
and http://awesomegang.com/places-to-subm...

Amazon Sales Rank of the e-novel amongst all books of all genres and all formats on 11th January was 481,535, on 12th the KCD started and at the end of 18th Jan., the rank had gone up to 68,359.

The decision to not have a ‘breakdown’ version ($0.99, $1.99) of Kindle Countdown Deal Sale was to send out a single message with a single theme and not confuse people. Plus, since it’s not a paperback or a giveaway, it did not make sense to complicate the return-value!

Basically unless one goes for paid adverts or local bookstore support in publicizing a book on a grass-root level, it won't go too far.

3) As the image https://www.goodreads.com/photo/work/... shows, I’ve noticed a pattern whereby a single KOLL lending or sale can jump the author and sales rank immediately from a sharp downward spiral to a grossly upward number for e.g. on 1st Nov. the e-novel Sale Rank in All Books was incredibly low at 575, 673 and on 2nd Nov. it shot up to 94,925. On Dec. 15th, sale rank was 180,130 and on Dec. 16th it shifted to 59,318.

It makes me wonder how many sales a book actually makes to get in Top 100 - a few tens or hundreds? My brother did the math and figured that any Top 100 ebook generates 400 sales per day to sustain it’s position in the Top 100. Good keywords can make the book seem even more of a hotcake under Amazon Sales Rank by creating selective categories under which it is doing well, as opposed to overall larger categories.

For e.g. during the free-book days (Aug.2014), while my e-novel Amazon Rank was #349 Free in Kindle Store, it was #6 in Kindle Store > Literature & Fiction > Religious & Spiritual Fiction.
https://www.goodreads.com/photo/work/...

And when it reached overall Amazon Rank of #7 in Kindle Store > Literature & Fiction > Religious & Inspirational Fiction > Christian > Romance > Historical, even though it was not in the 'Top 100 Free' (#593 in Kindle Store).
https://www.goodreads.com/photo/work/...

4) The best sales figure for the e-novel remains from 29th August at 791 (Amazon Sales Rank). And best author ranking remains from within All Kindle Ebooks on Sept. 3rd when it was 20,283.

5) Though the book was not a joy-ride to write, it’s fun to put stuff out there and see whether anyone shows interest in it or not. Amazon KDP and Kindle Select makes it possible and I’m thankful for the learning curve courtesy the online network, GR and author-marketing websites.

6) Also, Amazon has done well by introducing the sales and author rank for Kindle authors. It’s good to have a bird’s eye-view for non-paperback/hardcover formats.

7) Number Seven Lesson is that even if you update a topic-post on blogs/ promotions threads in GR groups, fellow members may see it as spam or unpaid advert and will say so!

8) I am late in re-formatting of the book - which should have been done before putting the book on ANY SALE - and an author reminded me this week that I may get bad reviews simply because of lazy mistakes in the draft posted online, inspite of it being a good story - so back to the writing board it is for now.

9) But still, I would like to thank all those who have taken a chance with the book. A Big Thanks:
https://www.goodreads.com/photo/work/...

10) Following is data from Amazon Author Central on all categories that the e-novel has been ranked under:

Author Rank
All Books
All Available (August 17, 2014 - January 18, 2015)

Aug. 17: 180,235
Aug. 20: 302,706
Aug. 23: 78,266
Aug. 27: 134,359 (FREE)
Aug. 28: 115,981 (FREE)
Aug. 29: 159,617
Aug. 30: 68,152
Sept 3: 49,979
Sept 9: 70,194
Sept 16: 196,462
Sept 23: 251,392
Sept 24: 120,323
Sept 25: 94,005
Oct. 1: 140,009
Oct. 6: 307,213
Oct. 7: 175,799
Oct. 13: 123,841
Nov. 1: 441,995
Nov. 2: 97,246
Nov. 6: 338,825
Nov. 8: 177,209
Nov. 18: 126,471
Nov. 22: 119,255
Nov. 28: 352,507
Nov. 29: 142,927
Dec. 4: 380,918
Dec. 5: 148,497
Dec. 15: 464,860
Dec. 16: 280,505
Dec. 18: 372,145
Dec. 31: 164,882
Jan. 1: 260,176
Jan. 7: 156,918
Jan. 11: 394,597
Jan. 12: 431,258 (KCD)
Jan. 13: 277,513 (KCD)
Jan. 14: 249,432 (KCD)
Jan. 15: 195,195 (KCD)
Jan. 16: 225,676 (KCD)
Jan. 17: 259,144 (KCD)
Jan. 18: 124,194 (KCD)

Author Rank
Kindle eBooks
All Available (August 17, 2014 - January 18, 2015)

Aug. 17: 77,126
Aug. 20: 134,289
Aug. 23: 36,216
Aug. 27: 33,661 (FREE)
Aug. 28: 40,648 (FREE)
Aug. 29: 29,121
Aug. 30: 54,308
Sept. 1: 21,210
Sept. 2: 33,671
Sept. 3: 20,283
Sept. 9: 45,600
Sept. 16: 86,073
Sept. 23: 115,135
Sept. 24: 47,780
Sept. 25: 40,951
Sept. 26: 35,271
Oct. 1: 66,311
Oct. 6: 138, 254
Oct. 7: 63,511
Oct. 9: 42,301
Oct. 13: 47,747
Nov. 1: 197,057
Nov. 2: 198,712
Nov. 3: 98,166
Nov. 6: 56,042
Nov. 8: 68,385
Nov. 18: 60,139
Nov. 23: 38,160
Nov. 28: 76,131
Nov. 29: 46,403
Dec. 4: 151,383
Dec. 5: 62,351
Dec. 15: 180,130
Dec. 16: 59,318
Dec. 18: 131,867
Dec. 31: 72,525
Jan. 1: 74,738
Jan. 7: 52,053
Jan. 11: 170,450
Jan. 12: 192,994 (KCD)
Jan. 13: 47,100 (KCD)
Jan. 14: 73,751 (KCD)
Jan. 15: 55,683 (KCD)
Jan. 16: 68,743 (KCD)
Jan. 17: 103,564 (KCD)
Jan. 18: 38,070 (KCD)

Author Rank
Kindle eBooks
Literature and Fiction
All Available (August 17, 2014 - January 18, 2015)

Aug. 17: 23,341
Aug. 27: 11,211 (FREE)
Aug. 28: 14,270 (FREE)
Aug. 29: 10,087
Sept. 3: 8,087
Oct. 13: 13,883
Nov. 1: 52,007
Nov. 2: 15,925
Nov. 22: 16,149
Dec. 4: 42,440
Dec. 5: 20,870
Dec. 16: 49,144
Dec. 17: 30,130
Dec. 18: 37,795
Dec. 31: 22,809
Jan. 1: 29,270
Jan. 7: 18,897
Jan. 11: 47,523
Jan. 12: 52,066 (KCD)
Jan. 13: 20,525 (KCD)
Jan. 14: 26,686 (KCD)
Jan. 15: 22,368 (KCD)
Jan. 16: 18,814 (KCD)
Jan. 17: 13,054 (KCD)
Jan. 18: 16,659 (KCD)

Author Rank
Kindle eBooks
Literature and Fiction
Literary Fiction
All Available (September 10, 2014 - January 18, 2015)

Sept. 10: 3,938
Sept. 26: 2450
Oct. 6: 6,805
Oct. 13: 2588
Nov. 2: 9231
Nov. 3: 3,666
Nov. 6: 3,023
Nov. 23: 3,060
Dec. 5: 7770
Dec. 7: 4,064
Dec. 16: 8,586
Dec. 17: 6,300
Dec. 18: 6748
Dec. 31: 3884
Jan. 1: 4416
Jan. 7: 2921
Jan. 11: 8543
Jan. 12: 8935 (KCD)
Jan. 13: 4937 (KCD)
Jan. 14: 3279 (KCD)
Jan. 15: 2940 (KCD)
Jan. 16: 3811 (KCD)
Jan. 17: 2383 (KCD)
Jan. 18: 2942 (KCD)

Author Rank
Kindle eBooks
Religion & Spirituality
You don't have an Amazon Author Rank for this category.

Author Rank
Kindle eBooks
Romance
All Available (August 17, 2014 - January 18, 2015)

Aug. 17: 11,310
Aug. 23: 6383
Aug. 27: 7335 (FREE)
Aug. 28: 9213 (FREE)
Aug. 29: 9613
Sept. 3: 5025
Oct. 6: 17,120
Oct. 12: 8300
Nov. 2: 20,764
Nov. 3: 11,932
Nov. 12: 7877
Dec. 1: 13,992
Dec. 5: 9,790
Dec. 7: 9981
Dec. 15: 19,599
Dec. 16: 12,932
Dec. 17: 16,381
Dec. 31: 10,697
Jan. 1: 13,594
Jan. 7: 20,548
Jan. 8: 10,221
Jan. 11: 19452
Jan. 12: 20,092 (KCD)
Jan. 13: 9,960 (KCD)
Jan. 14: 12,588 (KCD)
Jan. 15: 8893 (KCD)
Jan. 16: 11,670 (KCD)
Jan. 17: 7984 (KCD)
Jan. 18: 10,056 (KCD)

Author Rank
Kindle eBooks
Romance
Historical Romance
All Available (August 17, 2014 - January 18, 2015)

Aug. 17: 2220
Aug. 23: 1518
Aug. 26: 1894
Aug. 27: 1281 (FREE)
Aug. 28: 1173 (FREE)
Aug. 29: 1409
Sept. 1: 949
Sept. 3: 957
Sept. 8: 2553
Sept. 9: 1216
Oct. 2: 2447
Oct. 6: 3289
Oct. 13: 1444
Nov. 1: 4004
Nov. 2: 1773
Nov. 23: 1691
Nov. 29: 1426
Dec. 5: 2084
Dec. 7: 2043
Dec. 16: 3780
Dec. 17: 2965
Dec. 18: 3106
Dec. 31: 2114
Jan. 1: 2207 Jan. 7: 3809
Jan. 11: 3611
Jan. 12: 3842 (KCD)
Jan. 13: 2576 (KCD)
Jan. 14: 1964 (KCD)
Jan. 15: 2103 (KCD)
Jan. 16: 2246 (KCD)
Jan. 17: 2443 (KCD)
Jan. 18: 1733 (KCD)

Amazon Bestseller Rank
All Available (August 5, 2014 - January 18, 2015)

Aug. 5: 55451
Aug. 6: 33,873
Aug. 7: 33,538
Aug. 14: 337,638
Aug. 17: 135,886
Aug. 21: 46,450
Aug. 22: 44582
Aug. 27: 639 (FREE)
Aug. 28: 589 (FREE)
Aug. 29: 791
Aug. 30: 43,451
Sept. 3: 28,212
Sept. 25: 51,821
Sept. 13: 61,885
Nov. 1: 575,673
Nov. 2: 94,925
Nov. 17: 57,877
Nov. 27: 373,169
Nov. 29: 68,068
Dec. 6: 94,457
Dec. 14: 488,995
Dec. 15: 153,275
Dec. 16: 179,729
Dec. 18: 383,487
Dec. 31: 108,728
Jan. 1: 240,041
Jan. 7: 116,545
Jan. 11: 481,535
Jan. 12: 161,894 (KCD)
Jan. 13: 96,717 (KCD)
Jan. 14: 107,030 (KCD)
Jan. 15: 104,006 (KCD)
Jan. 16: 162,980 (KCD)
Jan. 17: 73,806 (KCD)
Jan. 18: 68,359 (KCD)

2 likes · Like • 21 comments • flag

Published on January 20, 2015 10:10 • Tags: amazon, blog, kindle-countdown-deal, noorilhuda, sale, the-governess

Comments Showing 1-21 of 21 (21 new) post a comment »

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message 1: by Nina (new)

Jan 21, 2015 05:40PM

Wow! Thats quite an analysis. I can't say I understand it all yet but it's because I haven't launched my book yet. This is what is holding me back. It looks terrifying! Regardless, you did a great breakdown-I hope your book continues to gain momentum :-)

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message 2: by Noorilhuda (new)

Jan 21, 2015 08:36PM

Thanks Nina and all the best with your book.

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message 3: by Anna (new)

Jan 23, 2015 03:36AM

Thanks for that information! I've done quite a few KCDs now and it takes a while to work out the best way to go about things. All the very best for an even better KCD next time.

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message 4: by Noorilhuda (new)

Jan 23, 2015 04:19AM

Thanks Anna, and do let up what worked for you!

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message 5: by Pratik (new)

Jan 23, 2015 06:44AM

Thank you so much :) this has given me the whole idea and now i can definitely launch my novella as soon as i am done editing :)

thank you so much once again for the in depth break up and detailed experience :)

all the best for future projects and hope you break into the top 100 authors :)

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message 6: by Noorilhuda (new)

Jan 23, 2015 06:55AM

@Pratik, good to be of help. Best of luck with your book project.

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message 7: by Anna (new)

Jan 23, 2015 12:18PM

There's a lot of info on running giveaways and KCDs in the Goodreads Author Feedback Group under the thread 'Best Bang for your Buck' and it will tell you more than I can. You'll probably find it interesting.

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message 8: by Noorilhuda (new)

Jan 23, 2015 09:26PM

Yup Anna, https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/... - it's good. TFS.

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message 9: by Allyson (new)

Jan 26, 2015 11:46PM

Thank you. That is great information for novices like myself. I am grateful for your lists of resources. They will be extremely helpful. Thanks Allyson

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message 10: by Noorilhuda (new)

Jan 27, 2015 11:25AM

Welcome Allyson, and when you pull a few tricks, do share over here what worked for you and what didn't. All the best.

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message 11: by [deleted user] (new)

Feb 06, 2015 12:39PM

The number of book sales or KU//KOLL borrows needed to get into a Top 100 list depends on how many Amazon books are in that genre. For a popular genre, there are thousands of books, and your chances of getting into the Top 100 list is slim. However, if you carefully research Amazon's genres to find one that applies to your book, and you choose that genre name as your book's secondary, it will be MUCH easier to get into a Top 100 list.

For instance, my book is primarily in the genre > Crafts & Hobbies > Jewelry. This is a large and popular category. But for my secondary choice, I selected > Crafts & Hobbies > Metal Work. This category is populated by a much smaller number of books. As a result, I frequently appear in one or more Top 100 lists daily despite sales & borrows of just a few per day.

The take-away is to choose a less popular secondary genre category and enjoy increased visibility of Top 100 list placements.

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message 12: by Noorilhuda (last edited Feb 07, 2015 11:10AM) (new)

Feb 07, 2015 11:03AM

@Bradford, You're right in a way. I've tweaked it every now and then too - with less success than you! That's what happens when one writes in an over-flooded market.

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message 13: by [deleted user] (new)

Feb 07, 2015 02:46PM

Hi Noorilhuda,
I just bought a copy of Kindle Spy that is supposed to let you research the best genres to publish as an eBook. Plug in the book title, and it tells you how many we're sold, at what price, and the placings in the various Top 100 lists. It is also supposed to help you craft the best title, choose the best keywords, and select the best Amazon categories for your book.

Note - it only works on a Mac or on the PC with a Chrome browser.

- Brad

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message 14: by Anna (new)

Feb 08, 2015 01:53AM

Hi Brad, can you post a link to Kindle Spy as it is not showing up on Amazon nor on GR?

It sounds interesting, thanks.

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message 15: by [deleted user] (new)

Feb 08, 2015 03:44PM

Try kdspy.com and try another one called KDP Researcher. You'll have to Google that for the URL. Both packages have advantages with neither a clear winner over the other.

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message 16: by Anna (new)

Feb 09, 2015 09:14AM

Thanks Bradford. I Googled KDP Researcher but could only find kindleresearch.com which seemed to be quite different from kdspy.com (which looks good).

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message 17: by [deleted user] (new)

Feb 09, 2015 10:11AM

Sorry for the typo. Try these links Anna

kdresearcher.com
freestyleauthor.com/KDP-researcher-vs...

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message 18: by Noorilhuda (new)

Feb 09, 2015 10:30PM

I just read Neil Cocker's views on the sale subject - he has various posts on his web-blog:

https://ncocker.wordpress.com/

He even has images for high-risk/low-risk projects:
https://ncocker.files.wordpress.com/2...

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message 19: by Noorilhuda (new)

Feb 17, 2015 03:22AM

@Jamie, thanks. Do let up how your promotion goes!

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message 20: by Noorilhuda (new)

Jul 15, 2015 12:07PM

Time for another KCD for this one: this time rated at $1.99/- FOR AN ENTIRE WEEK (20TH TO 27TH JULY 2015) - before launch of paperback.

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message 21: by Noorilhuda (new)

Apr 08, 2016 10:54AM