So, what's the best way to start off a new release?

[Elí]

My third fantasy ebook is almost ready for publication, but I have yet to gather a notable reader base, and I'm only barely active on social media.

Are there any reliably good strategies for the first few days of a new KDP release?

[Michael]

i know a few people who have done Events on facebook, and they'll get fellow authors (most time friends, sometimes just friendly associates also wanting their books out there) to give a free copy or two away throughout.
They'll do trivia of sorts, and the winners will get the free ebook stated for that trivia, and the sort. it's a whole active experience. and if you've enough author friends or people within your same genre, to give a free copy or two, it could work. and it'll also cross promote, as well as hopefully gain you some new readers.

KDP i've seen done the same way. several people will set their books ups under KDP at the same time and cross promote each other. it seems to work pretty well ^_^

[Vincent]

2nd the facebook party thing if you can get people to sign up. Often times, you get authors to help out to give away their own book and promo it. I know someone who organizes them, but she charges. Not sure how much as I've never been a part of the paid ones, but if you want to know I can get her info if you want.

Also, you could try a blog tour. Getting on different blogs to promo, do interviews. There are people who organize those, but you'll pay.

You can also do a review tour, but those are hard and again, pay.

If you know authors, you can always reach out on your own and ask.

[Owen]

Elí wrote: "Are there any reliably good strategies for the first few days of a new KDP release? "

In my view, the best strategy is to congratulate yourself, go do something you really enjoy to celebrate, completely ignore your sales stats, take a deep breath or two maybe, and then go to work on your next book.

Time is precious. I suggest not spending it chasing mirages.

[Eva]

I certainly don't have all the answers, so the second time around while awaiting publication of my novel, I'm looking into a variety of venues to run with as soon as the book is released. Lapsed time is precious time one can use to write, and line up plausible reviewers, author interview slots, blog tours, etc. As pointed out, there's usually a price to pay. The question is, how far are you willing to go. I allude to this in a blog I posted at Goodreads today.

[Pam]

Tamara wrote: "Buy the Writers and Artists year book, and send your manuscript to a publisher. Unless, you have thousands of Dollars or Pounds to spend, on somewhere like Book Bub, you could be disappointed by fr..."

These days it's more like 'send it to an agent' as a lot of mainstream publishers won't look at unagented authors or else will only do so during short and rare 'open submission' periods which you need to keep an eye out on author sites and publishers websites to spot.

[[deleted user]]

Owen wrote:
"In my view, the best strategy is to congratulate yourself, go do something you really enjoy to celebrate...and then go to work on your next book."

Right.
Celebrate.
Then,
Write.

[L.S.]

Is the book in a series? I find promoting later books in a series is a tough sell - you have to promo the first and hope for sell-through.

If it's not in a series there are a few things you can do. A strategy I'm seeing more and more is make the book 99c for release week and buy some advertising.

[M.L.]

Hi Eli,
I looked at your website (the Twitter link does not work), so just off the top, fix the Twitter link. Firemoon is the 3rd book? That is a nice cover. Pin a tweet with a good picture of the cover. Also, add a background to your Twitter. The default blue background does not convey enthusiasm. This stuff will only take a few minutes, but it goes to presentation. Follow some people that tweet great pictures. Why? Because it's fun.

Will this guarantee anything? Probably not, but what I like about Twitter is that being involved with other peoples' success, enthusiasm, is fun. It isn't difficult to do.

3 books! You have a great background and could do a composite with the 3 covers, or whatever. Good luck!

[Stevie]

M.L. wrote: "Hi Eli,
I looked at your website (the Twitter link does not work), so just off the top, fix the Twitter link. Firemoon is the 3rd book? That is a nice cover. Pin a tweet with a good picture of the ..."
Great message! I've been off and on with twitter for years, but now I'm publishing books it seems that I need to start up again! cheers
Stevie O