Indie Discoverability

[M.G.]

There was a comment by one of the members of the group in another thread requesting that we find new ways to connect readers and writers. As everyone is aware, we have pretty strict rules about self-promotion here at GMGR.

I personally feel that the most effective way to get noticed is to be genuinely interesting and interested in other people. Groups like GMGR on GoodReads are unique because they do bring together very enthusiastic readers and writers; but none of us benefit if the group merely becomes a stream of advertisements, we simply drive away readers.

But a unique difficulty among middle grade indie authors is discoverability.

For adult genres, readers can source endless channels to find good Indie books they might enjoy. If they start a book and find that it doesn't meet their standards, they can simply stop reading.

But kid books are different. Most parents don't hand their kids an ereader and tell them to go find something they like off Amazon or B&N or Kobo, and hope that they don't accidentally download that next 50 Shades. And most parents are way too busy to pre-read books for their kids, to make sure that the content is age-appropriate and worthy.

How do children's indie authors make their books discoverable? Discuss!

[Dixie]

Well, I haven't discovered any great way to get noticed on-line, but I have had a lot more success in my hometown and surrounding communities with paperback books and getting permission to do Author presentations at grade school and middle school classes. I also gt a couple local stores to carry my books and I go to the Christmas arts and crafts fairs and set up a booth, but honestly if the booth costs too much I don't make much there, so if I can get someone else to share the space it helps. I also had some success in contacting teachers to buy 6 packs or class sets on the one book that ties into 5th grade curriculum, and they had to get it approved through the director of curriculum services.

[K.L.]

I love that word "discoverability." As a realitively new middle-grade eBook author, I am racking my brain for ideas on how to make my books discoverable. My publisher allows its authors to sell signed bookmarks with a special code on them that the buyer can then use to download the books but I haven't tried that idea yet. Has anyone out there done so? Did it work? Any other ideas?

[Jennifer]

KL, I knew someone who was going to do that, but I'm not sure how it turned out. Sorry I couldn't help more.

My question is about Amazon coupon codes. I know I can send a PDF for someone to read and review ahead of publication. But does anyone know if we can do coupon codes on Amazon to make a book free? It would be nice to do that for review copies, and even to give coupons to people who I had already sent the pdf to, so that their Amazon review shows up as a "verified purchase."