Fringe Fiction Unlimited discussion
Group Questions?
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What form of promotion do you prefer?
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Honestly? My blog gives me my best results. Putting yourself out there for people to see and know is an awesome way to market yourself.
I prefer in-person events. I make impressions, make friends, make readers there that I can't on the Internet.
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Using myself as an example, if I think a book has charm or might appeal to people I’ll shoot out recommendations to GR friends. Not everybody acts on the reactions, of course, but between that and my status updates I’ve seen books I’ve read get something like 30-70 people adding it to their to-reads and inquiring further with me.
I’m not flattering myself in thinking a review from me sealed the deal for readers. I just brought a book to their attention and the blurb/cover/title/whatever else convinced them to try it. A book will sell itself ultimately but it can’t do that unless readers are given a way to take notice.
Jason wrote: "I prefer in-person events. I make impressions, make friends, make readers there that I can't on the Internet."This seems to have been the best for me as well.
Riley wrote: "Honestly? My blog gives me my best results. Putting yourself out there for people to see and know is an awesome way to market yourself."I know my website has helped. Facebook has helped a lot!
The absolute best and most effective promotions is no promotions at all.Show what you haave to offer, talk about that, generate advertising, let word of mouth happen from there. It all goes with putting yourself out there, like Riley said.
That aside, personally, I find I communicate what kind of work I'm doing with Youtube videos. That just works best for me. In combination, I use my website a lot as a platform.
Courtney wrote: "I’ve yet to publish myself but I would bet on word-of-mouth. Reviews are great but what helps get people to click that “want to read” button is reviewers with lots of likes/followers for their rev..."Good point.
Lily wrote: "The absolute best and most effective promotions is no promotions at all.Show what you haave to offer, talk about that, generate advertising, let word of mouth happen from there. It all goes with..."
What is it about the Youtube videos that you think pulls people in?
I create graphic novels, so using a visual medium to promote another visual medium, just makes sense.
Lily wrote: "The absolute best and most effective promotions is no promotions at all.Show what you haave to offer, talk about that, generate advertising, let word of mouth happen from there. It all goes with..."
Piggy-backing off of that. Has anyone tried doing their own readings on YouTube? You know, uploading videos where you're reading a portion of your own work? It's just something that came to mind and I'm curious if anyone has experience with it.
I've seen it done a few times, but not in a way that created success.I feel it's important to recognize readings from trad or at least well-known authors are always public readings. It's a recording of a public event. And I find that an uploaded video of an author reading in their bedroom just looks amateaur at best. If, however, you can emulate a public reading, it might work.
Jason wrote: "Interesting. Thanks!"No prob :)
Jason wrote: "Lily wrote: "The absolute best and most effective promotions is no promotions at all.Show what you haave to offer, talk about that, generate advertising, let word of mouth happen from there. It ..."
Jason, I've not used Youtube for that, but I archive audio versions of my short stories on the Internet Archive. I've been doing it for a few years, and I love it. I license them under creative commons, and although they are there for the public to enjoy long after I'm gone on this planet, I've actually gained readership by them being there.
Lily wrote: "I've seen it done a few times, but not in a way that created success.I feel it's important to recognize readings from trad or at least well-known authors are always public readings. It's a record..."
As an author that produces his own audio content to share online and for sale, the main thing is the editing process. A live reading is great because there is validation the author is worth checking out. When it comes to going it alone a person needs to have the audio recorded for a personal listening experience with little background noise.
I use the following for my commercial readings:
Roland R-09 MP3 recorder.
Sony Vegas Pro for noise gate, etc.
Audacity for final rendering.
Anyone who wants to learn how to do this or needs audio hiss removed, contact me. I freelance.
I'm a tad concerned by how you seem to define creative commons. A little off topic, I know, but I felt the need to say something. A creative commons license means anyone can use it, destroy it, take it apart, rebuild to create something else, anything at all. And no credit needs to be given. So, by using a creative commons license, when the intellectual property is used by other people, no one will ever know it came from you.Back on the topic, I've been posting short stories and poetry on my website for years. Anything published in a free market or something I just want to share, up it goes. As long as it clearly says, all content copyright me, the only thing anyone needs to do is give my name credit. Otherwise, free to read and share. It's helped a lot to continue making connections with my followers.
As a reader I often find new and different books through reviews of some kind, or from mentions and links by authors from their web pages or blogs. Having someone who is reasonably "established" in the writing community recommend someone's work carries a lot of weight with me. As a new writer I am unknown, adrift in the sea with a million other hopeful authors, all striving to get their work(s) noticed. There are a lot of good indie books out there, but the problem is finding them. It's groups like this one that offer beginning authors one of their better chances of getting some exposure.
The best results I've had thus far goes along the lines of what Courtney said. I had one fabulous blogger who read and graciously reviewed my latest novel, and I gained about 60 followers through her blog. (Thanks, Jonel!!)I'd also recommend doing giveaways. God bless the e-reader crowd b/c it's easy and cost effective to give away ebooks. I'm a paperback only kind of gal, and I love browsing the GR giveaway page for new indie novels. Even if I don't win them, they stick around in my to-read list until I can afford to purchase the paperbacks (sadly, always pricey with indie b/c there's not a "used" market for them; but anyway, I digress). Do a giveaway!
Lily wrote: "I'm a tad concerned by how you seem to define creative commons. A little off topic, I know, but I felt the need to say something. A creative commons license means anyone can use it, destroy it, tak..."Hi Lily, I use the CC http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b... to share my work online. I still retain copyright and credit must be given.
Scott wrote: "As a reader I often find new and different books through reviews of some kind, or from mentions and links by authors from their web pages or blogs. Having someone who is reasonably "established" in..."Hi Scott. What is your writing like? I mean, how would describe it? What audience are you trying to get to?
Tabitha wrote: "The best results I've had thus far goes along the lines of what Courtney said. I had one fabulous blogger who read and graciously reviewed my latest novel, and I gained about 60 followers through h..."Very cool indeed. Congratulations.
Brooks wrote: "Hi Lily, I use the CC http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b... to share my work online. I still retain copyright and credit must be given."Ah, gotcha.
I'm curious. What form of promotion has given you the best results?