Author's networks in the Twitterverse

[Richard]

I've been on twitter for a month or so now, mostly following space people, learning about the technology that leads to the settings for my books. I find that every time I mention my books (which why wouldn't you), I get followed by various accounts that are basically promoting books. Today's latest was Independent Authors' Network but it seems to be a different one every day. They sound as if they are collaborative groups of authors, each one has a different pitch, but they all want money up front. I've been resisting the temptation, on the grounds that paying for clicks is OK (I do, on Goodreads, and Google), but paying for eyeballs is not OK.
I wonder though, it I'm missing out. This latest group has 121k followers, and costs only $25. Does anyone have any experience with this kind of thing, positive or otherwise? Any actual figures on whether these services drive sales?
It's a jungle out there, innit?

[Micah]

It's like a jungle sometimes it makes me wonder how I keep from going under...

I'd be very suspicious. I'm not on Twitter, but I suspect that the only thing you're missing out on is losing $25.

I'd say every time one of them does that to you, put $25 in a jar and when you finish your next book, spend it on a professional book cover or a pro editor...or flowers for a total stranger. That'll probably do more good for you than joining up. ;D

[Richard]

Yeah, it's scary how convincing these people are, though. All that talk about communities of authors working together. Then they brag about tweeting hundreds of times a day, which I could do myself if I want to annoy everyone.

[K.]

Richard, I've joined the IAN as a "free" member. I saw a grand total of 3 days worth of tweets, and then nothing. About the only good thing to come of that is a possible beta reader. Other than that, once you get into the sight, it's D-E-A-D dead! I've had the most recent activity, and that was several weeks ago.

Don't know about the other groups, but that has been my experience with the Independent Author's Network.

One other group I found, don't remember how, is the WANATribe. It's sporadically active, but I think you'll get more support here than there. The only sub-group I see right now that's even doing anything is one geared towards children's books. One of the sub-groups I've joined is starting to pick up a bit, since I posted a couple of questions, but I'm not sure how long it will stay active once the question is suitably answered to my satisfaction. (It is about POV, similar to the snippet I posted for help on.)

Hope something in my ramblings is helpful. Not quite with it right now.

[Christina]

Out of my now over 200 followers, only about one dozen pay attention to anything I tweet, and most of them are authors I have met through this group. The only "promoter" I have ever heard good things about is Bookbub and they are expensive and picky. Even the free listing sites don't do much.

[Richard]

Thanks to all for the advice. Glad to hear I'm not missing out on something. I suppose I'm feeling the lack of something like what they promise. There's a general sense out in the twitterverse that all self-pub books are crap, reinforced by blogs and posts from low-rank authors who do have a book deal, of the 'pull up the ladder, I'm on board' variety. Maybe I should start thisbooksnotcrap.org, and put my books on the front page! Goodreads is really the only congenial place I've found, but as you say, C, mostly it finds other authors to commiserate with, not readers.

[Christina]

Richard wrote: "Thanks to all for the advice. Glad to hear I'm not missing out on something. I suppose I'm feeling the lack of something like what they promise. There's a general sense out in the twitterverse that..."

Back in the day, I ran a blog called Your Blog is Awesome! Which was set up to highlight good blogs that had no traffic. I suck at promoting, but each blog did gain readers at least from within. I so want to do something similar for authors, but again, I don't know how to gather a following. I would make a terrible cult leader.

In scarier news, we probably also need a way to prove that not all authors are crazy. Lot of insane author activity has hit the news recently and it's not doing the indie market any favors, even if one of the questionable behaviors was from a traditionally published author.

[Micah]

Christina wrote: "In scarier news, we probably also need a way to prove that not all authors are crazy. Lot of insane author activity has hit the news recently and it's not doing the indie market any favors, even if one of the questionable behaviors was from a traditionally published author..."

Hmm...not sure what you're talking about there...new thread? ;D

And anyway, those rumors are completely false, I deny them entirely.

[K.]

Christina, I can sympathize about having trouble recruiting for anything. My issues is having to be in the limelight. I'm great at keeping things together from the shadows.

With that said, I do as much cross promotion as I can on my tiny blog (barely 200 followers at the moment and a new one comes along about once every two weeks or so.)

If anyone wishes, message me, and I will be glad to put up some information on your book/blog/public project. It's not much, but every little bit helps, I think.

[Christina]

Well, there was the Guardian article where an author pretty much confessed to stalking a woman who gave her a bad review. She justifies this by claiming the woman was catfishing her, yet there is no evidence of this presented in the article.
Then there is a woman claiming to have been physically attacked by an author because of the review she gave. It just scares me a bit. Bad reviews happen. Cry, have a drink, yell at your screen, but let it go, as the catchy song goes.

[Richard]

Umm... 'catfishing' ? I think the advice to ignore it is good. We're not selling books in a cosy bookstore with an in-house cat, we're selling in a great big market alongside the fish stalls and the dodgy mobile unlockers. Craziness to be expected.