UK Amazon Kindle Forum discussion
New Member introductions
>
Dos and don'ts of promoting on Goodreads groups
Alexandra, that's a great question.Setlu, you're doing it right, I reckon and you've certainly nothing to apologise for in our group. You've quickly become a valued groupite.
May I suggest that a great way to interact within a group is to make good use of your author thread?
Have a look a few that have high view counts. Remember that in goodreads the view count is for each person who views, not how many times they view.
So if a view count is say 50, it means 50 people have looked. Not one person 50 times.
Inflammable curtains and lots of extinguishers are a good idea.
I've been known to throw random parties.
And could the last person who had the chocolate fountain make themselves known, please?
Chocolate fountain? Why didn't anyone tell me?
Its been awhile since there was a party, and the chocolate fountain may have got lost.
Aw. You mean to say, you want it back?
Oh Lynda.GL, I think we're gonna have to buy a new fountain. Lynda's not gonna let us have the 'foot spa' back.
Erg.
Can we trust you, Alexandra? Can we truly trust you?
I think she realizes that there are certain people with the urge to strip off and swim in it...
Patti (baconater) wrote: "Oh Lynda.GL, I think we're gonna have to buy a new fountain. Lynda's not gonna let us have the 'foot spa' back.
Erg.
Can we trust you, Alexandra? Can we truly trust you?"
A.L. I agree with what you said... networking, being patient... not easy though for when you have a completed work in your grubby little hands and want to throw it out to the world! lol I think luck has a lot to do with it... I just wish that she would announce the dates for her future appearances and then I could make plans! lol
Hi Patti
Author Thread? What? Whoa? I better go look at my profile... more new stuff or something I have missed... gonna go and find out... thanks for the tip!
Okay Patti, I give up... What is my Author Thread (it's not what I should wear in public is it? lol) Is it my Blog section?Please throw the lifebelt in my direction, pretty please...
There is a section in the group for authors to set up their own discussion about their books. The only rule is they have to have their name in the thread title. The thread van be about anything you want and you can say more or less what you like in it. The best ones wander all over the place and have fun discussions of other stuff as well as your books.To set it up, start a new topic, and select 'meet the authors' in the drop down list where it asks you to select a folder.
Gingerlily - Smiter of idiots. wrote: "There is a section in the group for authors to set up their own discussion about their books. The only rule is they have to have their name in the thread title. The thread van be about anything you..."Thanks Gingerlily, I will get onto that soon and see what I can do. I think I did start something but made a hash of it and left it... Can it be deleted if it is what I am thinking it is... I think I was told I had put too much Author info in... I did chop a bit out.. gonna check it now...
You can delete it and start again I think. Or just delete your posts and start again. Or Pati can delete it for you.
Patti (baconater) wrote: "Remember that in goodreads the view count is for each person who views, not how many times they view. ..."I've been coming to GR for a year or more and I didn't know this. Doh!
Gingerlily - Smiter of idiots. wrote: "You can delete it and start again I think. Or just delete your posts and start again. Or Pati can delete it for you."Thanks Gingerlily, just got back on-line... bad internet probs... waiting new router and fibre connection. They said I am a priority... lies, lies, lies lol
Chocolate fountain... I AM IN! (Am I too late now! Awwwww....)As for reviews, etc... Until you know what it is like to try to sell books with no help from anyone, I don't think you can slate an author for trying... Partly, it's luck too! But, blog tours, tweeting, and the rest - sorry, to tell you this - it works! In a different way for different authors - but without social media I would be nowhere! And the authors (talking about indies here) who are really successful have done a range of things to get where they are.
I can also say that as a reader - if no one tells me about the book, why would I even look at it? For an unknown author, social media is the only way... As well as freebies! Say free, and the downloads happen!
All the best
Vanessa :)
A.L. wrote: "@Jim, I wasn't thinking review copies are dishonest, if you thought I was. I think it is fairly standard and is good for both the reader and the author. Although I'd be curious to know if you have ever given a low rated review or felt you couldn't review for any of the review copies you've been sent? ..."Firstly the stuff I review is normally ancient and medieval military history and related.
So a review tends to cover questions of accuracy, perhaps pointing out which side of a long running discussion the author comes down on.
It never occurs to me to discuss grammar, spelling (especially when names are shifted between languages and alphabets and have two or three legitimate ways of spelling them) but it might occasionally pick up on inconsistency if it was irritating. I'd also feel obliged to flag up what I feel might be problems of accuracy.
Odd times I've commented that a writer's style is too 'gee whiz' for me, or a bit dry.
But there's none of this two,three, four stars nonsense. I've done some reviews on Amazon for these books as well, I just tend to put four stars and then write the review.
Almost by definition whether I hated or loved a book is irrelevant compared to its accuracy and how comprehensive it is.
There are times when I'll say "If you've got books x, y and z you don't need this one." On the other hand I've also said "This book is up to the standard we expect from this author and this publisher, I just wish I'd been able to read it thirty years ago."
Vanessa wrote: "Chocolate fountain... I AM IN! (Am I too late now! Awwwww....)As for reviews, etc... Until you know what it is like to try to sell books with no help from anyone, I don't think you can slate an a..."
Yes the internet is invaluable for book promo.
Jim wrote: "A.L. wrote: "@Jim, I wasn't thinking review copies are dishonest, if you thought I was. I think it is fairly standard and is good for both the reader and the author. Although I'd be curious to know..."Ah yes, accuracy within historical books is really important. Sounds interesting Jim. Just up my street:)
Andrew wrote: "To paraphrase that quintessential marketing genius, Al Capone: "You can get further with a kind word and an Amazon link than you can with an Amazon link alone."Don't treat groups as a database of..."
Exactly, and very well put!
Afternoon all,Some really good ideas here. Love the business card idea. I actually think that might work for me locally as the wife spends so much time frequenting coffee shops.
A few people have mentioned engaging with the group and not just engaging in copy/paste multi site lazy promo. I agree but it's hard and I can be as guilty as anyone of this. Today is a case in point. I've been a Goodreads member for ages, made plenty of posts, talked rubbish, had a laugh but have also used the site for promo of my own books. I've had a lot of sales through this site and lots of great support/reviews. But until today I haven't logged into this site for about six weeks because I've been writing and working full time. It's very easy to lose track of time.
Anyway, it's nice to be back.
Welcome back. Yes I've started carrying business cards now. Whether they make much difference I have not a clue but along with everything else - the blog, facebook, GR, Google plus, the anthologies, the author interviews it can't hurt.
Mine have the book title, sales link and QR code on each side. I've found networking is the best way. A little of everything - blog posts, interviews, cards, fb, gr, just chatting and hanging out.
I actually got a twitter person 'offering' me likes/friends on twitter for a fee. I ignored it. I'd rather people follow me because they choose to do so. I post all sorts of twitter - book links, but interesting books from other people, history links, astronomy pics, silly phrases, pics of animals. I am fairly new to twitter but I am building a following slowly, and that is fine for me.
It's always important to remember it's a marathon, not a sprint. My publisher has told me to just keep going with my series, as they are convinced it will take off eventually - even if it takes a few years!
On the card? There was a function for it on Vistaprint I think. but if it helps I just found this. https://www.the-qrcode-generator.com/
Robert wrote: "Alastair wrote: "Like many of us I have discovered that writing the book (tough though it is) is but Step 1 on the writing journey... Now you have created your gem (or is it really just a flawed pi..."Andrew wrote: "To paraphrase that quintessential marketing genius, Al Capone: "You can get further with a kind word and an Amazon link than you can with an Amazon link alone."
Don't treat groups as a database of..."
Okay, will do. I joined because I have gotten nice/kind comments from UKers. Also, because My book is free today and tomorrow if anyone's looking to add to their kindle library.
Then you'll want to add your book to the monthly freebie thread, Willett.
Robert wrote: "Alastair wrote: "Like many of us I have discovered that writing the book (tough though it is) is but Step 1 on the writing journey... Now you have created your gem (or is it really just a flawed pi..."Thanks!
I won't be spamming my books here as my customers live in the USA.Another reason is I don't write trashy-erotic-romance, like 50 shades of whatsit's which seem to be the best selling paperbacks on Amazon dot com dot uk.
Oh, I forgot, all my/our books are electric, oops.
I read and write (wrote) sci-fi, fantasy, crime and history (Holocaust). If you want to recommend an e-book to me, go ahead, I'll read anything in the aformentioned genres(except trashy-erotic-romance).
Seems silly to me to alienate most of the world by saying that all your customers live in the States, Thomas.*shakes head*
I am trying to het to a dos and don't page sent to me by Patti? Can't get it, have I done something wrong?
I hesitated with the business cards but I am glad I did. I have no clue if they've helped sales but they can't have done any harm.I hate writing synopses too.
Trish wrote: "I am trying to het to a dos and don't page sent to me by Patti? Can't get it, have I done something wrong?"Haven't a clue what you're referring to Trish.
Hiya,I've just finished writing a book and the very last thing I want to do at the moment is market it. No, I'm lying, the very last thing I want to do is read other people marketing their books.
I want to read books that I've missed while I've been writing and I want to have debates about why I love the books I love.
Then do that:) No one says you have to market you book.
Elizabeth wrote: I haven't checked the dinosaur erotica numbers. What? No one has heard of Taken by the T-Rex? ..."Yes, I've come across dinosaur erotica. Also cuttlefish erotica. I've not bought or read any, though :)
Lol... I think. That is odd. I've heard about squid erotica too.
A.L. wrote: "Lol... I think. That is odd. I've heard about squid erotica too."Don't, you'll get Patti started!
Here we go again...
If you've been washing your tablets down with beer, no wonder we're having problems :-(
Hast I been smited?Ouch. I'll be needing a bag of frozen peas.
No, just taken into custardy.
I've started so I'll finish.
UK Amazon Kindle Forum
Books mentioned in this topic
Raised by Hand, Lifted by the Tides: A Southern Child's Memoir (other topics)The Silver Eggheads (other topics)
For example someone recently told me to spam ...er I mean promote my book in every way, every day to everyone. Twitter, fb, word of mouth, goodreads, etc. All the time.
Personally I think this is bad advice, I know how I would feel if someone did that to me. Some groups only let authors promote on certain days and/or in certain threads. Which is a good idea as then those who don't want to read constant promotion can avoid them, and those who might want to seek out new books can look and the posts won't get lost.
Different strategies work in different ways for different people.
Write, network, be patient, write some more, and see what works for you.
@Jim, I wasn't thinking review copies are dishonest, if you thought I was. I think it is fairly standard and is good for both the reader and the author. Although I'd be curious to know if you have ever given a low rated review or felt you couldn't review for any of the review copies you've been sent?