In a Post Nerdist World

[Landon]

Hi Everybody,
My name is Landon and I'm new to this group. I have really enjoyed reading all the great thoughts and opinions in the forums here. Like a lot of us I jumped into Inkshares because of the Nerdist contest with no idea of what the hell I was getting into. Now that I'm there I'm trying to reach this daunting pre-order goal. Which you all know very well.

I really just wanted to post and see who's still actively funding on Inkshares? How's it going? Obviously after a week or so of insane traffic things have dropped off. Have a lot of people dropped off as well? Who has left Inkshares? Why did you leave?

Sorry if this is rehashing old territory but for someone who just walked into the conversation I'm just trying to get an idea of who's around, what they're up to and if there's anything we can do to help one another.

And in general I'm trying to decide if forging ahead with this Inkshares project is a good idea or if it's insane to think I can sell about 800 books in the next 60 days!

Here's my project if you want to get an idea of who is writing this:
https://www.inkshares.com/projects/mo...

Thanks Everybody!

[Thomas]

I'm still funding, and I'm actually getting a tiny bit more response than I was while the contest was going on. I'm still not getting anywhere near the level of response I'm going to need to fund my book, but it is improving. Yesterday and today saw my highest daily order numbers yet, which is actually kind of sad. I don't know if this improvement is at all related to the contest being over and people looking beyond the top 10, or if its just the result of the weeks of pitching finally bearing some (very minor) fruit. Or if its entirely a fluke which will end shortly causing me to spiral into despair.

Seriously though, not a huge difference. Like you I'm going to keep forging ahead, though I've only got 47 days to get 970(or 720) orders so while not impossible its also not probable. Regardless, I'm still getting attention and growing the size of my possible audience, so its still worth my time to continue on.

[Joe]

Moved this over to the Nerdist discussion category.

[Landon]

Joe wrote: "Moved this over to the Nerdist discussion category."

Thanks Joe. Sorry about that!

[Joe]

No need to be sorry! John did some organizing of the topics as we continue to grow, so I was just performing some housekeeping. I only commented because I didn't want you to think that your thread was deleted.

[Landon]

Hi Thomas. I guess for audience building it's a worthwhile endeavor although the moment you do the math and realize you need to move 15 books a day... well, it's a little disheartening. But I like that way of looking at it, as an audience building experiment.

[C.]

I'm still funding. I got an extension and am using my extra time to take a break from the non-stop hustle and focus on finishing up my book. Once it's 90% finished I'll get back to pushing for funding. But right now I need to recover and prepare my story for all the attention I'm planning on sending its way.

I'm also planning on starting at least one multi-author project in the future. My concepts for these projects would probably be more palatable to the average inkshares reader, plus double/triple/quadruple the authors means double/triple/quadruple the promotion power.

As far as your project goes, I think it has great cross-genre potential. I remember noticing your book on the list as is approached mine, and then passed mine, and continued its pace right on up the ladder! I think you've had great momentum and definitely have a shot at reaching your goal! :)

[Thomas]

Landon wrote: "Hi Thomas. I guess for audience building it's a worthwhile endeavor although the moment you do the math and realize you need to move 15 books a day... well, it's a little disheartening. But I like ..."

I envy your 15 books a day necessary. I'm looking at 25 a day necessary myself, when mist days I only manage 1 or 2 if that. So yeah, I'm still pretty awful at the marketing thing, but a bit better then I started. I just tend to view the only true failure as giving up, anything else is just a setback. Definitely understand feeling disheartened at times though.

[Thomas]

Christine wrote: "I'm still funding. I got an extension and am using my extra time to take a break from the non-stop hustle and focus on finishing up my book. Once it's 90% finished I'll get back to pushing for fund..."

How do you go about getting an extension? I've looked around Inkshares and haven't found any information on that. I'm assuming you just email them, but not sure if its just the general email or some other one. Still haven't decided if I want to extend yet. I know if I don't extend I will try again some other time aftwr resting & doing more work on building a platform/following.

[C.]

Thomas wrote: "Christine wrote: "I'm still funding. I got an extension and am using my extra time to take a break from the non-stop hustle and focus on finishing up my book. Once it's 90% finished I'll get back t..."

Yep, just email them. It sounds like the decision and length of the extension depends on what you were able to achieve during the initial time period, so just a heads up to anyone that doesn't get the response they're hoping for.

[Landon]

Thank you Christine. That's very nice. Inkshares gave me an extension once already (because I had no idea what the hell I was doing and made my original funding period insanely short.) Maybe if they see I'm doing the work I can get another. Maybe not.

I've definitely picked all the low hanging fruit from my friends, family and facebook people. So now comes the real marketing.

Are you guys pitching people on the "free" angle with the Inkshares credits? I know there has been a lot of discussion about the ethics of doing that but I'm using them. I figure Inkshares did it to build a community, so I'll use them.

I don't know how many of us are trying to use that as a marketing draw. I only found out it was possible a couple days ago but I have already found its really effective if you're doing face-to-face stuff.

[C.]

I know that some people have successfully used the "free" angle, but my personal experience has been that it is too much work/too time-consuming for most people. In my pitch I told people to ask me how to get free credits if they're interested, and only a handful bothered asking. Of those few, only two had the patience to follow through. Something like 20% I'd say. The majority of my readers didn't seem to mind the potential $6.99 charge.

[Landon]

I agree Christine. It seems to only really work in-person.

[Paul]

So far the post-nerdist world for Ghosts of War has been a bit barren. Haven't had a new follower or sold any books since the competition ended.

I'm still funding till the end of the year though, with an extension probable...so all is not lost yet.

[Rick]

I imagine it will be a ghost town for a month and then you'll see some people poking around again. By the way! Hi there!! ::waves::

[Yicheng]

Richard wrote: "I imagine it will be a ghost town for a month and then you'll see some people poking around again. By the way! Hi there!! ::waves::"
Hi there to you too! (^~^)/

Paul wrote: "So far the post-nerdist world for Ghosts of War has been a bit barren. Haven't had a new follower or sold any books since the competition ended.

I'm still funding till the end of the year though, ..."
Same here. If I drink, then I imagine I would've been wasted on alcohol. Unbelievably depressing that my book doesn't look like it's going to make it. Really saddening.