How long to see a financial return on a debut ebook?

[J.D.]

How long on average does it take to see any return on a debut ebook using Twitter and other social media as a means of promoting it? What other experiences do other writers have and what are the clearest indicators that the book is being viewed and sold to its maximum potential. I've been promoting my own novel for the past two months and yet don't seem to be finding much sucess with initial sales.

[Yzabel]

I haven't put out an ebook myself yet, so I really can't answer about the ROI part. But how long before publishing have you been 'marketing' it on said social medias? Did you publish it 2 months ago and started promoting then? Or were you promoting before publishing? (It seems to me that indie authors have to start making a buzz/communicating about their books quite some time before they publish them—I guess it's even more important than it is in traditional publishing.)

However, as I said, I can't speak from experience. Still, I'm curious about it too, so any answer to Jonathan's question will get my interest as well.

[Michael]

This is very much a 'how long is a piece of string' type question.

There are no useful averages, and most self-published authors don't ever see any kind of meaningful ROI.

[D.A.]

I agree with Michael. You really cannot say with any certainty how long it will take to get anywhere with any publishing enterprise, whether it is self or Trad. Every book is different, every author is different and in many cases you are lucky to make anything at all.

Sometimes, no matter how much promotion you do, there is sometimes not a market out there for a particular book. Othertimes you manage to hit a sweet spot. Publishers work hard to find these sweet spots and spend loads of money researching them and even they don't always hit them.

To give an example for comparison, many trad publishing contracts I see usually pay you in quarterly installments - that's a royalty payment every 3 months. I am guessing that this is based on the amount of time they have observed as being typical before there are likely to be anything worth paying out at all. But even then most will have a clause which says they don't pay you at all until you achieve some arbitray figure (some say $10, others $50). The fact this clause exists suggests there is a reason for it - this being that many books do not make this amount in 3 months.

So think about those numbers and consider how they may compare to your situation.

[Darlene]

It seems to me that the debut book is more about getting the word out and starting to build an audience, which is a slow process. Hopefully the next book will build on that, and then the next . . . until you might finally make a buck or two! I know on this first one I'm spending more than I'm making! That's why many sites recommend not publishing until you have the follow up ready to go so that you can release again in a few months. Good luck!

[Rebecca]

Define "investment". My cash investment in my book was nearly none (since it's paper as well as e-book, I did have to buy a proof copy). I then went on to spend a little to buy up some stock, and to set up an account with an on-the-ground seller. I've more than broken even on everything I've spent. . . but not by much. Unless I arrange an event (not that easy, and I haven't done one since summer) I sell a couple of books a month, 4 or 5 in a good month.

I'm guessing my experience is pretty typical.

If you have to pay for editing, it may take years--or many additional books--to recoup the investment. Frankly, publishing a book, especially self-publishing it, is something you'd better do for the love of it, because financial returns are iffy at best. A few get lucky. The rest of us are excited to sell a few copies--for me, just enough to justify making writing a bigger part of my daily routine.

[Jacqueline]

Jonathan wrote: "How long on average does it take to see any return on a debut ebook using Twitter and other social media as a means of promoting it? What other experiences do other writers have and what are the cl..."

Jonathan, maybe I'm missing something, but I didn't see your book on your page. Goodreads is the best place to begin promoting your book. How can I see what it's about and if I want to buy it? There are readers here that are willing to review your book for a free copy. It's one of the most cost effective promotions you can do. People talk and if they like your book, they'll talk about it on their twitter and facebook.

As for how long it takes? There is, to me anyway, no rhyme or reason to it. One of my books took off immediately. Another is just beginning to be noticed after long, long months. Sure, a lot depends on the type of book or the genre and, of course, the competition.

All I can say is hang in there. If you're writing because you love it, then keep writing and rejoice in every sale you make. If you're writing to make money, find another line of work. The average sales for an indie author is 100 books. Yep, sad to say, that's it. If you sell more than that, you can join me in my happy dance in my kitchen/office!

[Jacqueline]

Debra wrote: "Jacqueline... Lol! I'll let you know if I'm able to join you in your kitchen. D"

It's a big kitchen. The more the merrier! I love hearing about other author's success!

[Rebecca]

I've definitely passed the 100-book mark, but mostly through direct sales of the paperback (nowhere near 100 ebooks, I don't think, though I'm not really tracking it very closely).

That's one thing a paperback can do that an e-book can't--go with you to readings and sit on a shelf at the library, and make sales by being physically present.

[Jacqueline]

Rebecca wrote: "I've definitely passed the 100-book mark, but mostly through direct sales of the paperback (nowhere near 100 ebooks, I don't think, though I'm not really tracking it very closely).

That's one thin..."
You too, are invited to join the happy dance! Congratulations. I think you're right about paperbacks. I'm only in ebooks right now, but I can't count the number of times I've seen a friend (or a stranger for that matter) holding a paperback or one just lying by a chair and said "Whatcha reading?" Then there's the browsing at the library when you're looking for something new or different.

Yep, I think paperback editions just went on my to do list!

[Rebecca]

Jacqueline, the nice thing is that with Createspace it is just as easy to do the paperback as the ebook. Well, except maybe the cover, but even that's not bad, since you presumably already have an ebook cover and just have to adapt to fit the paper cover template.

[Jacqueline]

Thanks Rebecca. This month is devoted to rereading and correcting some spelling (ie. one of my characters was acting rather wonton instead of wanton LOL) and a few POV clarifications pointed out by kindly readers. As I'm reloading my Mss. anyway, it would be a great time to look into Createspace.
I'm happy to hear it isn't hard. You've heard of computer geeks? I'm a computer dork!

[Andrew]

I've just passed the 100 e-book sale level with my first book, but it was a slog, and it does feel as though sales have peaked for that title.

As for 'return' though, it depends how much you put in. I invested next to nothing in my book because I work in publishing and have a lot of the skills, and I know a lot of other people in publishing who owe me favours! As a result, the £25 or so that I've made is more or less pure profit... for what that's worth.

To me, Goodreads is a no-brainer for getting a book out there, and much better than Twitter. By having my book listed on my author profile, I don't have to promote it at all consciously. I just wander around whiffling on about books and making friends, and people can find out about the book if they feel like investigating my profile.