Fear and self doubt

[Jason]

Hello,
I’m about to launch the second novel in a book series I am writing. I am currently considering a number of options as to how to create an interest in what I am doing. However there are pros and cons to what I am doing in preparation of my next book release. As with all indie authors I have doubt about what I am actually doing. My last book sold roughly 800 copies. However I also say to myself that I have started something, so I have to see it through, no matter how doubtful I become. Below are a few pros and cons to launching my second book. Have I covered all my bases or could I do more to generate interest.

Pros:
1. I’ll be doing the rounds on Goodreads a few weeks ahead reminding everyone when the book will be available.
2. I will be using Facebook, Twitter, Linked in, Google+, Pinterest, and Twitpics to publicise the next book release.
3. I am starting a series of blogs giving people information what my book series is about.
4. I will be contacting different media organisations about my book release.
5. I will be having a book launch event across all my social networking events.

Cons;
1. If I put myself about on Goodreads too much I might be accused of spamming.
2. Social media doesn’t always work. Facebook ads are a waste of money because your advertisement isn’t distributed evenly amongst your friends and followers.
3. A blog is a good idea, but the question is, who will read it. (I am new to blogging)
4. Despite sending out dozens if not hundreds of press releases I’m lucky if I get one reply.

I’m sure there are some of you out there who have been through a similar experience, any advice would be greatly received.
Thank you.
Jason Chapman

[[deleted user]]

I moved this to a more appropriate place, Jason.

[Jason]

Thanks Hayes

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Hayes wrote: "I moved this to a more appropriate place, Jason."

Thanks. I have been rather derelict in my moderator duties!

[Afsana]

Have you got a list of buyers of your previous book maybe you can send reminder that this the next book is coming

[Jason]

I am going to be writing press releases soon and transferring all my e-mail list to my author's account. There's so much work to do now.

[Philip]

I have just released the sequel to my first book, so early days. The first one has sales of about 4,000 of which 99.9% are on Kindle.

I have a blog where I mix my comments between news about my books and general commentary to try and attract wider interest. I don't know if it helps my book sales but it's another forum for writing and meeting other bloggers

I am currently running campaigns via Goodreads and Project Wonderful. I too avoid spamming as much as possible as it annoys the hell out of me as a reader on these forums. I also tweet and my blog is linked to GR and my Twitter account.

Despite all this I think you need a lot of luck with social media carrying your story out to a wider distribution. It is then in competition with the millions of other offerings also trying to be noticed.

More successful authors tell me it just take perseverance but if, like me, you prefer writing to marketing it will not be easy

[Jason]

I have emailed project wonderful to see what they can offer. the good thing about goodreads is that lots of people have mentioned many inexpensive sites to help me get the word out about my work.

[Philip]

Jason wrote: "I have emailed project wonderful to see what they can offer. the good thing about goodreads is that lots of people have mentioned many inexpensive sites to help me get the word out about my work."

I can't say that any of these advertising avenues has actually led to any sales. Raising awareness possibly direct sales perhaps not. I also tried Bookdaily but that was equally unsuccessful. Perhaps if you can afford a slot on Amazon pages you may have more success but you need deep pockets for that.

[Jason]

probably the one thing that lets authors down is lack of funds. Advertising on major websites isn't a guaranteed way of selling any thing, if there's one thing I have learnt it's that. I've wasted a lot of money on Facebook.

[Lynne]

I'm frequently at a loss on the marketing end of things. I (and most of my friends) utilize an ad blocker so I don't see all the Facebook ads. By the same token if you have an Amazon link in the margin of your website and someone has an ad blocker, they don't see that link. Like Jason, I wonder who sees the blog or who looks - there's just so much "noise" out there.

We need a marketing guy who will sign on and take care of a group of us indies for 10-15%. The harder he works, the more we get seen, the more he makes. lol

[Jason]

I am currently running a cheap deal promotion this weekend. I does seem to be working at the moment because my sales are up. I spent $5 last week on ebooksoda. If it works then it could raise my profile as an author. In the meantime I will continue to knit my next book together and hope sales will be strong.

There is a lot of noise out there, however thanks to Goodreads I am getting an education in the cut throat world of self publication. I know now that its just a case of homing my promotion skills.

[Afsana]

have I thought of getting few people to review books- people who review books a lit ( so not to look like but bias ) and then ask them to review it and place review in few well placed parts.