Name your most successful marketing technique

[Francene]

I guess if we keep trying, we'll get there in the end. But with every writer following the same rainbow, it's a case of who reaches the pot of gold first.

[Nick]

L.M. wrote: "Is LinkedIn a good marketing tool? I have never heard of anyone using it before now."

Not to the average reader, but it is a way to stay in touch with other authors.

[Stephen]

Nick wrote: "L.M. wrote: "Is LinkedIn a good marketing tool? I have never heard of anyone using it before now."

Not to the average reader, but it is a way to stay in touch with other authors."

I haven't thought about it that way but I do use it in my other career and have great luck with it. I never thought about it as a marketing tool for my work although I do list my published books on it.

[Devorah]

Stephen wrote: "Karen wrote: "I can't count how many times I've read that some technique, usually involving social media, is the best and most fruitful promotional idea ever -- when I've seen it have little to no ..."

I second that, Stephen. Seems I spent the entire month of Jan. on marketing and didn't write a syllable on my work-in-progress. I'll take a page from your book (pun intended) and budget my time better.

[Troy]

I'm by no means an expert, and am a novice at best, but there are tools nowadays where you can say type something on your blog and then have it automatically shoot it over to Twitter, Facebook, etc. So tying them together can really save time. However, if you keep putting the same things on each social media outlet, people will only pay attention to one, so we all have to keep each interesting and some different things on different social media sites. I am as guilty as the next person for not adhering to his...

[Devorah]

This may not be the right forum for this question but none of the others seemed right either. A friend asked me "how does amazon.com choose what book to feature in Deal of the Day," (as in, why don't they pick mine?) I have no idea. Anyone?

[Eliza]

Devorah wrote: "This may not be the right forum for this question but none of the others seemed right either. A friend asked me "how does amazon.com choose what book to feature in Deal of the Day," (as in, why don..."

It's usually books that have a high rating and review count. It all adds to the author's positive algorithms and I guess that's how Amazon finds us.

[Amber]

Another good method of advertising is branching out and offering ad space for other authors. Offering to accept interviews of other authors or guest posts to your blog draws more traffic to it. Offering writing workshops without even mentioning your book ( beyond establishing credentials) establishes your connectivity and integrity. Write guest blogs for other blogs. Ask blogs that deal with the subject of your novel if they would be interested in promoting your book. Go to LinkedIn and connect with editors, bloggers, English professors, book club organizers, bookstore owners and librarians- and contribute to discussions on groups focused on writing daily. Establish yourself as an expert in your field. People will then find you, and your name will be consistently drawing web hits.

[Stephen]

Devorah wrote: "This may not be the right forum for this question but none of the others seemed right either. A friend asked me "how does amazon.com choose what book to feature in Deal of the Day," (as in, why don..."

High Ratings and lots of reviews, I would assume. Not sure if that is a pay to play thing or not. All I know is they ain't picking mine either.

[Kit]

My most successful marketing technique is, I'm posting these links from Publishers Weekly, up today
http://publishersweekly.com/978-0-727... and
http://publishersweekly.com/978-0-819...
March is a two-book month for me.

[Monica]

Kit wrote: "My most successful marketing technique is, I'm posting these links from Publishers Weekly, up today..."

Excellent, Kit! Congrats & continued success!

[Ty]

is there one single marketing technique that works for all? i don't think so.

promote the book and yes focus on writing the next one too

[Catie]

I have what my readers are saying is, "a great book" but because I self-published I am snubbed in this industry. Everyone in the industry assumes that my book is sub-par and poorly edited, without even looking at it. I did not realize this about the book business. I did not submit my book to a publishing house, I did not understand the industry standards. I am finding it difficult now to even submit my book to a book festival, or find a reviewer to read it. I have a good product, and have had a few breaks with radio and TV interviews, but how do I get the industry to see my book differently?
Catie Hartsfield
author: The Year of the Cicadas

[Amber]

You could query a couple of agents or houses that accept previously pubbed stuff and get it republished under a house name. You have a better chance if you have a good cache of reliable reviews, sales records and proven marketing strategies!

[L.M.]

I like the idea of doing interview blogs for authors. It would seem a great way to like their information to yours in exchange for you doing the same.

[Catie]

Thanks I will look into that, I have seen a few of those floating around here. Does it really work, one author interviewing another author?

[L.M.]

Catie wrote: "Thanks I will look into that, I have seen a few of those floating around here. Does it really work, one author interviewing another author?"

I am not sure but what does it hurt? I have been on a couple so far and am doing ones for others. Hopefully, it will end up in additional sales for books. Couldn't hurt.

[[deleted user]]

Howdy folks,
The best way, I've found to sell books is word of mouth. I wasted lots of money on ads, posters, etc...

I've done KDP select a couple of times. That pushes books up on the best seller list--mine was #1 five times. The fallout sales were weak. Thus lots of work given away with little return.

As far as Facebook ads etc... have you ever bought anything based on these? Probably not, thus for me--a waste of money.

Currently a giveaway is underway here on goodreads. Some 300 folks requested it. I wish I could give everyone a copy that desires it, but printing is costly. I am waiting to see how that pans out.

http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sho...

Ya'll take care,

[Darlene]

I'm following lots of people on Twitter, and getting a lot of follows back, but they aren't readers. They're other authors and marketing/editing services. Honestly, I think I'm finding more connections through Goodreads. Did one author interview so far, and got a few hits on my website. Not sure anything other than word of mouth has resulted in sales so far. I'm trying to give away bookmarks to people I'm in direct contact with.

[L.M.]

Darlene wrote: "I'm following lots of people on Twitter, and getting a lot of follows back, but they aren't readers. They're other authors and marketing/editing services. Honestly, I think I'm finding more connect..."

I know the feeling Darlene. I am told to join Twitter not to pitch my book but to get the connection with other authors who may have a fan base. So far, I've managed to stay away from there. Of all the social medias, Twitter is my least favorite.

[Donna]

I'm with you L.M. I think Twitter will be just another drain on my time with no sales to show for it.

[Stephen]

Twitter just seems to connect me with other authors and agents. I don't spend a lot of energy on it but I did link it to my goodreads profile and to my Facebook so I might generate something in the future. Unfortunately building an audience is a slow process.

[L.M.]

Stephen wrote: "Twitter just seems to connect me with other authors and agents. I don't spend a lot of energy on it but I did link it to my goodreads profile and to my Facebook so I might generate something in the..."

Snail pace slow but at least it is growing. I am trying to tell myself that worrying about what I can't change is not healthy. Word of mouth seems to be the best tool towards gaining a fan base. That's what I am aiming for.

[L.M.]

Donna wrote: "I'm with you L.M. I think Twitter will be just another drain on my time with no sales to show for it."

Word of mouth, that is the way to go. I still think Goodreads is a good venue and blogging. Facebook is becoming crowded. You post something and an hour later, you really have to search for it.

[Marc]

For those interested there is a very easily replicated and reliable means of making the best seller lists. This article showed up in the Wall Street Journal this week, confirming what many of us have suspected for quite some time.

Buy Your Way To the Top

And we wonder why so few institutions or people have credibility anymore. From Lance Armstrong to our governments and everything in between, what ever happened to even pretending to have integrity?

On the plus side I think the opportunities for writers with a passion for their story and craft have more opportunities than ever. Success may only come one reader a time but in the long run 100 passionate readers is better than 10,000 empty sales.

It's all about creating the best content and then getting it to people who will be interested in it.

[Carmen]

Allan wrote: "Barbara wrote: "L.M. wrote: "Hi, I am new to this group and have read most of the input you're written with respect to readers versus books being published and the subject on self published writers..."

I've been on Twitter for about 9 months, since publishing my first book in May 2012, and it is my go-to social media platform. It has enabled me not only to reach an audience but more importantly to research my audience, find book marketing tips, and build my author brand. Creating public lists has been a great way to reach even more people. I get more feedback there than on my blog, which I find surprising and I can track how many folks visit my blog because of a link from a Twitter post. But tweeting "buy my book" is a turnoff for many Twitter users so while it is a seller's billboard platform in some ways, it is first and foremost a relationship and reputation building platform. Tools like Buffer and ifTTT.com help to reduce the time spent on the site. Don't think I'd be this far down the indie author road without it.

[Nancy]

Marketing a new book is a challenge for authors and publishers. My collection of short stories is scheduled for publication late spring 2013 and I find myself struggling with what medium is most effective and requires the least time. Comments from the group on Twitter peaked my interest. However, I'd like to learn a bit more before investing time establishing and struggling with a Twitter account. What other marketing techniques have been successful and easy for those independent writers traveling the to-market road?

[C.P.]

Nancy wrote: "Marketing a new book is a challenge for authors and publishers. My collection of short stories is scheduled for publication late spring 2013 and I find myself struggling with what medium is most ef..."

Honest? I have sold more books here on Goodreads than anywhere else. Join a few groups (as in 10-15, not 100) that will connect you with readers and talk to them, not about your book. Eventually, you can mention in the normal course of conversation that you are a writer. They will check out your profile, maybe download a sample, and if they like what they see, buy it, read it, and recommend it. It takes a while, but it works.

Facebook is next best. Twitter requires constant attention, because nothing lasts more than about 90 seconds. A blog is good, but like Goodreads it takes time to build; be prepared to invest and wait. Tumblr is a decent alternative/supplement to Facebook.

One person's view, of course.

[S.Z.]

C.P. -- Glad you posted. Good to know.

[S.Z.]

Carmen wrote: "Allan wrote: "Barbara wrote: "L.M. wrote: "Hi, I am new to this group and have read most of the input you're written with respect to readers versus books being published and the subject on self pub..."

Carmen: Can you give an example of how you use it? I have a twitter following, but really don't know how to use it effectively, even to bring the people to my blog who might enjoy what I blog* on or my books. In addition, I don't know how to get my target market (grade school book readers) to follow or where to find them on twitter. TIA!

*Behind-the-scenes with the characters!

[Jeffrey]

I just released my second book and am finding my marketing efforts mostly only succeed in stealing my time away from finishing book #3. Do you think it is more beneficial to get another book out or keep marketing the released books?

[Devorah]

Jeffrey wrote: "I just released my second book and am finding my marketing efforts mostly only succeed in stealing my time away from finishing book #3. Do you think it is more beneficial to get another book out o..."

I've been wondering the same thing. Spent a good part of this year on marketing that I'm starting to think would have been better spent on getting Book #2 out.

[L.M.]

Devorah wrote: "Jeffrey wrote: "I just released my second book and am finding my marketing efforts mostly only succeed in stealing my time away from finishing book #3. Do you think it is more beneficial to get an..."

I know the feeling. My book came out in November, and I have been marketing so much that I haven't worked on the sequel. Thankfully, there is no time limit for the next book but still, it's disheartening not being able to keep up with writing because marketing takes up so much time.

[Jeffrey]

I don't know if it is too soon, but I have already begun splitting my time about 50/50 between marketing efforts and finishing next book. It seems like every new book should boost sales for my other books. But I may just be getting frustrated by marketing.

[Jeffrey]

During its free promotion on Kindle, my novel reached #5 in horror. Does that qualify as a "best seller" even though it was free?

[Fraser]

Marc wrote: "For those interested there is a very easily replicated and reliable means of making the best seller lists. This article showed up in the Wall Street Journal this week, confirming what many of us ha..."

I remember reading back in the nineties how one company figured out the exact bookstores the Times surveys for bestsellers and putting in big orders there. Sounds like it's become a more widespread practice.

[Judy]

For a moment it does--the real question is, did it produce a bump in real sales once the free promotion was over?

Jeffrey wrote: "During its free promotion on Kindle, my novel reached #5 in horror. Does that qualify as a "best seller" even though it was free?"

And I agree about joining Goodreads groups and just posting about things other than your book. I know I've gotten at least a few sales that way, and every bit helps.

[Rosalind]

Doc wrote: "What exactly is a best seller? Does anyone know?"

I've been told that (on Amazon), if your book makes it to the top 100 (paid) in any category, it's a bestseller in that category. Makes sense to me. After all, that's the Amazon "bestseller" list!

Most successful marketing technique: absolutely and hugely KDP Select "free days," for me. (Romance, which helps.)

Question for those who say they spend half their "writing" time marketing: what are you doing during that time? That is, is it just an hour or two a day that you have, and you're spending half of it updating a blog, etc.? Because in that case, I agree, way too much. I probably spend a half hour a day updating blog, Facebook, or whatever--a quick post most days on Facebook, a blog post every couple days. I think more than that is probably?, for me, a waste of time--almost a form of procrastination. The new book is more important.

I tend to do marketing in spurts: Marketing plan, book tour schedule, ads, etc. between books, when I'm not in major "book mode." Partly because it's more efficient, and partly because marketing mode pulls me out of book mode, makes me focus too much on people's reaction to my books and not the book in my heart and head.

(Note: I was a marketing professional before becoming an author. Much of marketing is what you do BEFORE you publish: title, cover, blurb, the very idea for the book. That is half your battle and is where MOST of your marketing energy should go. IMHO.)

[Marc]

Doc wrote: "What exactly is a best seller? Does anyone know?"


I have two answers to your question. Let me provide you with a more professional answer first.

What's a Best Seller?

As you can see there is considerable variation in how lists are compiled and the accuracy of these lists. One thing that becomes very clear is that these lists are not really about content or quality. The focus is on getting sheeple to buy certain books based on what the other sheeple have supposedly been buying.

Publishing is an industrial process that requires best sellers in order to survive. The general approach has been the more chances you take the better your odds of striking it big are, if you flip a coin enough times you should get heads ten times in a row eventually.

How about just focusing on great content and getting it to people that are interested in it? That's my only complaint about KDP, I think most people are just wanting a free book and could in most cases care less what the book is- how else could one explain why so few reviews or ratings come back?

[Marc]

Fresh in, another example of success that doesn't involve cheap tricks or lying. Goodreads even played a key role.

Guess what? Great content sells!

[Marina]

Marc wrote: Guess what? Great content sells!"
But Marc, how do I know if my content is good if nobody leaves me reviews? Does it mean the book is a total disaster?
My main problem is that I didn't have beta-readers, since no one aroud me knows the language well enough to evaluate it objectively, and I, of course, thought I wrote a worthy piece of literature to display it in front of others, but now I greatly doubt it (:
(My hero is called Marc, by the way:))

[Marc]

Marina wrote: "But Marc, how do I know if my content is good if nobody leaves me reviews? Does it mean the book is a total disaster?"

We start by finding people who are interested in your subject. People will react more favorably to low quality material they are interested in than to high quality material they have no interest in.

Next select people from the group that has an interest in your subject who are willing to have an opinion. Most people are to afraid to have an opinion, that makes people with opinions of even greater value. These people tell everyone else what to think, wear, drink, or read.

Your book might suck, but more likely you have not found the right people who can appreciate it. I suggest you start by narrowly defining what genre your book is, you cannot be everything to everybody.

If you promise not to write spam or send mass emails I also have an extensive list of book review bloggers that I would be willing to share with you. There's lots of people out there who would like to hear from you and are willing to provide you with feedback that can make you even better. PM me if you want the list.

[Walter]

But Marc, how do I know if my content is good if nobody leaves me reviews? Does it mean the book is a total disaster?

Marina, have you done any giveaways? I noticed that you listed your book as being available in the Kindle store, which means it would not be eligible for a Goodreads giveaway if there is no printed version. It would, however, be available for a LibraryThing giveaway, as they allow such for ebooks as well as 'dead tree' editions.

You will need to create an account with them (http://librarything.com), then you will want to create an author's account. Once that's done, your login screen should show - on the right - both the early review and members giveaway options. You can do a giveaway for up to one hundred ebooks. I did one for my novel House of Shadows and so far have gotten eight reviews, which just about everyone forwarded to Amazon (as well as to Goodreads) when asked.

Marc, I would be interested in access to a list of book review bloggers under the conditions you stated. Will PM you regarding it.

[Marina]

But Marc, Walter, can I lend my book to anyone if I'm under an exclusive obligation to Amazon? Will it not be considered a violation of some kind?
My book was downloaded 600 times (free and paid), and still there's nothing ( I could gladly use your list of blogger if I may ))

[Walter]

If you're talking about having your book on KDP Select, Marina, I don't think that should cause a problem. My own is on KDP Select. Amazon wants to sell ebooks, and they're well aware of these giveaways. What you can't do, if you're in KDP Select, is offer your book for sale or for free elsewhere (the Nook, for example). Amazon knows that writers oftentimes have to make available, whether through complimentary review copies or via giveaways, copies of their work in order to generate buzz and/or reviews. So long as there's some sort of restraint being practiced, it shouldn't become an issue (i.e., it's one thing to contact potential reviewers and offer copies of the work in exchange for a possible review, it's another to offer it for free on your personal website to all and sundry).

A giveaway is not like offering it for free, only a limited number of persons can win a copy. Reviews can help sales, though not nearly so much as most folks believe, IMO. What really sells a book is word-of-mouth advertising, fans who buttonhole their friends and family members and insist, "You have to read this book!" :)

[Marina]

That is so inspiring, Walter! So as long as I'm not infringing any rules, it's a great tip to follow!
Thank you very much for the advice; I suppose I'll give it a try.
Do you do well with KDP Select, by the way? Was it worth doing in the first place?

[Annette]

Judy wrote: "For a moment it does--the real question is, did it produce a bump in real sales once the free promotion was over?

Jeffrey wrote: "During its free promotion on Kindle, my novel reached #5 in horror..."

Good morning, all. I'm having the same problems everyone else is, but wanted to comment on the free promos through KDP Select. Out of desperation, I gave it a try. I gave away over 4000 free copies of my novel "A Sea Change", saw absolutely no bump in sales, and maybe got 2 reviews out of it. I personally felt it was a huge mistake, and will never do it again. We all work very hard on our books. In my opinion, giving them away is just plain wrong. I wish you all the best of luck in this!

[Jeffrey]

Judy, I agree with you. It is very difficult to give our work away. I have been waiting for the anticipated bump in sales... Nothing after a week. The whole idea of being exclusive to Kindle makes little sense. I will continue to sell on Amazon but will end KDP Select.

[L.M.]

I agree with Walter, the best advertising is mouth to mouth. I also believe reviews are good because that is what I use when looking for a book, unless the writer is new and then I read the book blurb. As for KDP, I know people who are using it and some are okay with having their books exclusive to Amazon. Others aren't. I guess it depends on the author, what their expectations are. I have read many blogs that comment about giving books away for free and none were complimentary so I will not repeat it. But one comment that stuck out said, basically, that letting people get your book for free tells the reader that your work isn't good enough to stand on its own and gander sales so you have to give it away to get a readership.

[Elle]

One thing to consider about KDP Select is that people can borrow your book for free, and you still get paid per borrow. You don't have to use the free days if you don't want to. I don't have my book currently enrolled in KDP Select, because I wanted to cast a wider net. Also, my book is middle grade so more of my sales are paperbacks. But if the audience was primarily adults, I might keep it enrolled in KDP Select just to be able to offer the borrow for free option. I personally have borrowed many great books by well-known authors (both indie and traditionally published). The books that are offered for free borrows don't carry the same stigma as ones that are just given away for free/don't net any royalties for the author.