Anna’s Comments (group member since Mar 21, 2017)

Anna’s comments from the Navigating Indieworld Discussing All Things Indie group.

Thanks both.

If I hadn't just spent hours trying to join FaceBook, I could have read a book.

Er... I haven't done FB before but I've followed the link and pressed 'join'. It says request sent.

So I am on my way. Or am I? Alex, you are ahead of me and I am tiptoeing in your footsteps.

I'm just waking this thread up. I'm afraid I'm not volunteering to review at the moment, but maybe some of us have just forgotten this excellent idea and after the run up to Christmas, we can settle in front of the fire and read and review a good book.

Erica wrote: "I am looking to get more reviews for my books. I have reached out to many reviewers on this site as well as other groups I belong to (thank you to everyone who has already reviewed my books!). I lo..."

We seem to have forgotten our own Pay It Forward thread which is hiding somewhere near here! I'll wake it up.

However, I was sent an invitation to join this group

https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...

and it has a strong Pay it Forward Ethos. But, like our own dear sleeping thread, it is have a snooze. In short, select a book from those advertised on there (look at the 'more discussions' threads for some ideas or go to the book list), post your review and and then upload your book for someone to pick up and review. Simple. But it needs waking up.

Non-existence? It happens to us all... (I see you like horror) ;o)

Ah yes, 'buy my paperbacks for your mother/father/sister/daughter/brother/good friend" - why oh why didn't I think of that!

Oh how you make me smile. No sooner do you receive an idea than it is done.

I read something in my newspaper today which says:

"Total consumer e-books sales were down 2 per cent to £251 million in 2018, representing a slow decline."

I've also noticed that in the run-up to Christmas sales decline, presumably because people are so busy buying presents for other people, and that's not usually an e-book. I view this as another reason not to overspend on our advertising at this time of year.

Oh yay! Go mom, go.

Take a look everyone. The discipline podcast is good too - 21 days to create a habit and 90 days for it to stick - only I think your boys say it better!

Carmel, yes you can do that. Just select it as your keyword and make sure everything else is turned off. I've been doing that too.

Results are that the ROI is abysmal. I have limited my spending to $1 or £1 for each book per day because it was racking up an awful lot of money. Even restricting the keyword to K...U... has cost more than I'd like to pay. I'd say that the .com sponsored ad market is not viable to run all the time. The UK market is only slightly better and going the same way.

It's not really Amazon's fault - the demand for ads means that we are all having to bid higher to get any kind of visibility. Amazon have increased the number of ads on many of the book pages but still the prices are going up. Only when loads of authors drop out can it return to being worthwhile.

However, if you are lucky enough to have a large advertising budget then it's a good way to be seen. Some trad publishers are still able to spend a lot on some of their authors and that's one more thing that makes it difficult for Indies.

Oh goody, goody - what a find! Thank you Carole.

I'll also have to wait for a bit before I can get going on it. Sigh. Can't wait to get settled again.

Well said, Carole.

Best wishes for Thanksgiving.

Oh ouch. Lupus - it should be banned! I hope you have an enjoyable and restful Thanksgiving.

And to all those celebrating tomorrow, I wish you a wonderful, happy day with lots to be thankful for.

All the best for a successful launch, Dale. And I hope your wife will ensure she gets plenty of rest whenever possible. A wife who is an editor on top of doing so much else must surely be a diamond.

I'm experimenting with that in the run up to Christmas. Results so far are that during this time, fewer people buy books but those who have KU carry on reading.

I have reduced the number of active authors/genres to almost nil and kept the KU one running. It's too soon to be certain of the strategy. However, this is fraught with difficulties in that the KU bid in the US can sometimes be suggested as high as $7 and that would rule out any profit for most of us. If you can keep your bid to a more manageable 80c your visibility and chances of being chosen are not altogether ruled out.

I hope you can follow what I'm saying! Also - if everyone does this then the bid needed will rise even higher so sshhh...

So sorry to hear you've not been well, Kay, and I hope the issues have been resolved.

What a wonderful idea you have.

You're making us all smile very big, silly smiles.

Your book popped up on an Amazon ad on my email provider, Carole - long may it continue.

Wowee! This is amazing.

Very good book - I love it.