Erin’s Comments (group member since Jan 28, 2017)

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

Carole wrote: "You are so funny, Erin. My son Eric writes all our blurbs. He must love those miniskirts."

That mental image is a novella all on its own lol. Oh how I hate blurbymaking so hats off to your wee lad.

If you strapped a parachute on your reader and dropped them into the juiciest part of your story how would they describe what was going on around them? Take a version of this and use it in your blurb. Make the blurb your hook so readers can't walk away. I've read blurbs that didn't do a great job of covering all of the plot or conflict points but they did make me go "Well, good grief, I need to know more than this!" and that is where the magic is.

I am the absolute worst at this. My blurbs are nice, well-behaved little corduroy jumper wearing synopses when they should be clad in mini skirts and showing a little leg. But I'm getting better.

What great discussions. This is why I probably will never, ever do a live event or book signing. I just can't handle even the thought of actual engagement. The internet is different - it's like Sims ha ha.

So for pele like Amy and Alex, would it help to use a template to contact bloggers?

Carole wrote: "It never is. I kissed a lot of frogs in my life. You have to constantly be looking for ways to promote. We started with nothing- really nothing- so all our success is born from doing the things I s..."

Beautiful!

No author is an island. Don't go it alone.

My book was my little brainchild but I know what I'm good at and what I'm not. Every single time I've reached out for avice or feedback I've gotten a hundred times more out of the experience than I thought I would, not to mention making some amazing author friends along the way. In one group I bared my soul about an issue I was having and in addition to being super supportive and sharing their own stories I got four mysterious sales that afternoon lol. Engage, reach out and network.

Carole wrote: ""I almost prefer no one knows I've published so I can fix errors and get reviews before I promote." This is big Erin and very important. The first few reviews we get are all from trusted and season..."

Good stuff, Carole, so much proactivity. Your success is no accident.

1. Decide if rankingor reviews are more important for your release. If ranking is important line up your Kindle free or countdown days strategically and be fully ready to lock and load them at the best possible time. If reviews are more important in the beginning then make sure your ARC review team is on the ball. I was far more concerned with reviews so my release is quite underwhelming. But this worked well for me. It doesn't matter if the world knows I've published. It matters more that when they do come across my work it is worth paying attention to. I almost prefer no one knows I've published so I can fix errors and get reviews before I promote.
2. Know exactly who you will promote with and how much it will cost. Keep a spreadsheet of engagement so you know your roi and can clearly see the moment when your book has offficially paid for itself and you are clearing profit.
3. As others have said, already know, for the most part, which blogs you wil be pitching your book to. What are thir guidelines? Who is their contact person? Do you have your pitch letter already on your hard drive with their name on it?

And just to piggyback on Alexis and Carole, keep a file handy with your book's vital records on it. You will access it constantly in the early post-release days. It should include the following copy/paste items:
Book blurb
Tagline
Author bio
Book cover
Author pic
ISBN/ASIN
Retail links
Goodreads link
Goodreads review request text
Email review request text

R.L. wrote: "I made that same mistake Erin. My mistake: not planning for advertising and marketing in advance to build fans"

Ah - another good one. I want to pick your brain because book two in my novella series comes out in a few weeks and I feel like I should be better at the marketing angle than I am. I've learned a lot but I always want to know what other authors do. Feel free to start a new thread or PM me so I don't jack the thread, although I know everyone is interested in this topic :)

Carole wrote: "Only think what it does if you're grandma."

I'm thinking. That is the problem.
Oh how I've missed you ladies :)

Using the digital previewer instead of the Kindle previewer before hitting publish. *cringe* Not good.

Alexis wrote: "Carole wrote: "hahahha In some really sick way, it may apply to erotica as well?"

This makes me illogically happy.

:D"

Carole wrote: "I think I love you Erin. Can I tell my kids you said that about me. lol. They think I'm a fuddy duddy."

I'll find a notary or a skywriter if I have to!

Carole wrote: "hahahha In some really sick way, it may apply to erotica as well?"

Carole = Rock star

This clearly doesn't apply to zombie fiction :/

Got it on KU, woot!

Mike wrote: "Hi - hope this is the right folder for this post (did a search but couldn't find anything on it though i did find a TON of other helpful stuff :) )


I'm looking to give copies of my book away for ..."











i do insert the cover in my pdf which looks attactive and professional. Use calibre to turn your pdf into epub or mobi forats. The more options you can give reviewers the better.

Carole can you link to Navigating Indieland for us?

Carole wrote: "We named a bunch in the back of Navigating Indieland- Do you need a copy of the book- If you give me your email address I'll have Brit send you one."

Oh! *Off to grab my copy*

R.L. wrote: "Ohh will check that out. I know for me the Blog Go Rounds we do help a lot and personally I've run Amazon ads. What I found is that for the last one I did I ran it based on keywords for other popul..."

So you paid $15? Isn't there a $100 minimum? Would you use them again?

Aislinn wrote: "Thanks Erin. I've looked into Goddess Fish before. They look exactly like the other two tour companies I tried that both got me zero results, either from sales or any kind of exposure boost. Maybe ..."

I understand. I hope you'll find the right combination of tactics - tweeting is good and fb groups work as well.