Found Amazon Giveaway button--But how do authors feel about the sharing aspect?

[Groovy]

So I've already found the Giveaway Button, but I would like to know now, how authors feel about their giveaways being shared by the winner? There's a good point already made, and I'd like to hear what other author's think.

Thanks for any help...

[Effie]

I did it and it was easy. Now I have to think how I got to it. I do have to say that I had less response than to my print giveaway, which I found odd. I'll log on and see how I did it and get back to you

[Effie]

Okay. You do it the same way you do the print copy. Go on to your book page. Click onto the kindle link for your book. scroll down until you see, "set up a giveaway." It will note that it is the kindle and the price of the e-book. If you click back onto your print link, then you will see the giveaway will be for the print copy.

[Groovy]

I am such a dunce at times. Thanks, Effie:)

[Effie]

Not at all. I just did it recently and I had to go back and figure out what I did. We are all on so many groups, blogs and websites. It gets crazy trying to remember how to navigate them. Good luck with your giveaway!

[Groovy]

When I've had enough time, I'm going to open a thread about Amazon's ebook giveaway experience (or you can) But you mentioned that it wasn't going as well as your printed giveaways, so I'd like to know how it's going from you and other authors.

Is it worth it overall? Thanks, Effie

[Effie]

Yes. Any exposure is good. And it might drive a different audience than the print giveaway.

[Groovy]

I have a question for those that have done the Amazon Giveaway already. I want to do a giveaway, but am so timid about the whole thing. So I'm looking for advice:

1. Did it help increase your sales?

2. Are you concerned about the fact that the buyer can share your book with others? (this question is what I'm most interested in)

3. What are the pros and cons?

[Deborah]

Did you find the giveaway button? It is at the bottom of your book's page. I have sponsored several book giveaways with limited results, but that doesn't mean it wasn't successful. It depends upon what you are seeking--publicity, sales or interest. Do you have a blog for your book? I notice that my numbers go up whenever I do a giveaway. Have you hosted a giveaway on Goodreads? You are more likely to find true readers there, I think.

[Joe]

Groovy wrote: "I have a question for those that have done the Amazon Giveaway already. I want to do a giveaway, but am so timid about the whole thing. So I'm looking for advice:

1. Did it help increase your sale..."

First and foremost, I'd say make sure your odds of winning aren't too low. I set mine to 1:25 and will probably not give away half of the 20 I set up by the end of the giveaway (tomorrow). So do your research as far as how many clicks you think you'll get (I was expecting a lot more freebie-grabbers).

My sales have been slow but fairly steady for about 2 months, so I haven't noticed an uptick based on this giveaway.

The only "con" is that you have to pay for your own books up front. But once they are actually claimed and downloaded, they count as sales and you do get the royalty back on them.

I don't really see any serious downsides to it. But like anything else, you have to do some legwork to get the word out about it.

Good luck!

[Groovy]

Thank you, Deborah. I finally found it. I have a website and a blog--I'm doing a lot of work to promote all of my books, so that's covered. Now I'm going to test the Amazon giveaway. I don't think Goodreads have giveaways for ebooks, but I'm going to make sure.

One last question for you and Joe. Are you concerned about readers being able to share your books? Something about that isn't sitting right with me. So if you or anyone can help me understand why that may not be something to worry about...

Thank you, Joe!!

[Joe]

While I'd rather sell more copies than have people lend them to friends, I'm thinking you kind of have to look at it this way: if your readers are lending it to friends, they liked it enough to recommend it. That's a positive, even if it does cost you a couple of bucks in the short term.

[Groovy]

Thanks for that, Joe. I didn't think of it from that prospective. And that is a positive way to look at it. Okay, here goes, I'm going to do it:)

Thanks for the good advice, everyone. I'm still listening...