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Name your most successful marketing technique
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Catie
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Jul 31, 2013 12:47PM
The one thing that has helped my self-published book, The Year of the Cicadas is speaking at local book clubs, or even ones far away, if I happen to be in that part of the states. Speaking via facetime or Skype is also a great thing to do. I generally get a fair percentage of readers from the book clubs to do a review for me. It's not a great percentage but I am now up to 80 reviews on Amazon, I am happy with that. It has also helped me to get an "organic" following for my book. I'm certainly not a top seller, but steady growth is happening.
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Another thing that I have done to promote my book, The Year of the Cicadas is to contact radio stations via Facebook messaging. I have secured 9 radio interviews this way, and some of them have been as long as twenty minutes on larger stations. My book is a nonfiction autobiography about my son's severe TBI and the effects to our family. The personal touch of a mother reaching out has been a big plus. I think they relate to my honesty and the simplicity of it all. I hope this helps.Catie
Marc wrote: "Another example of the right content finding the right audience and what then happens. By no means for everyone but isn't that the usual story behind every success story? Duck Dynasty"
Marc,
Saw your Duck Dynasty comment, I did a blog post of Duck Dynasty versus Downton Abbey at http://TheYearoftheCicadas.wordpress.com
Catie
I just had to share this... related to raising awareness of your profile and selling books. Last week I indadvertedly got involved in a disagreement on a Facebook page, it was a racial issue and I have strong views about any racially divisive dialogue. I expressed my view, ie disagreed with the inflammatory post strongly explaining why clearly and logically.Many of the 'friends' of the page also got involved and in the end the 'admin' of the page agreed and took the racially divisive posting down which was from another user. What followed was an amazing upswing in my very new blog site of subscriptions, I gained over 100 overnight subscribers and an upswing in sales which is wonderful. I usually avoid stosh-ups but this time, it was a good thing to have a voice.
btw my blog post site is http://janhawkinsau.wordpress.com/ and I often deal with Aus. history and Aboriginal topics
Catie wrote: "Marc wrote: "Another example of the right content finding the right audience and what then happens. By no means for everyone but isn't that the usual story behind every success story? Duck Dynast..."
Hi Catie,
Not that I'm a Duck Dynasty fan but I'm curious to see where your comparison goes. Could you post the link to it here? I started to look through your blog but if this was a year of so back I'd be looking a while. Thanks
Marc
Marc, I have a crazy morning but will add the link later. It was just a few months ago...I can't remember the title it was either Duck Dynasty vs. Downton Abbey or Self-Publishing vs. Traditional Publishing.... You should be able to find it quite easily at http://TheYearoftheCicadas.wordpress.com
Marc, no need to look further ;) I looked it up and found it here: http://theyearofthecicadas.com/?s=duc...Catie, thank you for sharing your experience.
Covers, blurbs, editing, formatting. Making sure my books didn't look self-published or "read" self-published. That makes every other marketing effort soooo much easier.
Elle, and Marc: Thanks for looking up that link for me. I get there but am reallllly slow at the link thing. I could use a few classes. Thank you so much for that link. My blogs are mainly things that I cross my mind, I am on the creative side, as I assume we all are, just a little something that crossed my mind. I have since put the link on my Goodreads author page.
Someone else messaged me about my book, "looking professional" as it is self-published. I hired a designer to do my book cover, spine, and back cover. I also hired a graphic designer to do my formatting and the inside graphics. I have quotes at the top of each page with a Cicada wing, it goes along with the title, The Year of the Cicadas. A friend who is affiliated with a larger printing house printed my books for me. With that being said I also went with CreateSpace to do a POD version for Amazon and Book Baby for the e-book versions. Some of the inside graphics did not format with some of the e-book versions and we decided to not use them on the e-books. I agree with Rosalind all of these efforts on the front end have really made marketing much easier.
I have not done a Goodreads giveaway, I did do a KDP Select free days for my first book. I remain unconvinced that free books help in driving other sales, reviews or interest. I am interested in flash marketing techniques such as handing out free copies at a railway station - anyone tried that?
I have handed out lots of free books, not at railway stations though.. I love to give them out in restaurants, hotel lobbies or even in the elevator and such if I strike up a conversation, a couple of times I gave them out in Rest Stops on my way to a book signing. I did do three Goodread giveaways. The first one, I was new and gave away a whole case and discovered that this was not necessary. The second and third time I only gave a way a few books. It gave my book some exposure but very few reviews, and even my most negative review came from Goodreads. With that being said, I plan to do it again with my next book. Reviews are never a guarantee, it's all about the exposure.
Catie wrote: "I have handed out lots of free books, not at railway stations though.. I love to give them out in restaurants, hotel lobbies or even in the elevator and such if I strike up a conversation, a couple..."Thanks for the reply, I may try some random drops depending on how many I order.
I was talking to a publisher recently and sales rocket if a book is even long-listed for a prize, and it doesn't have to be a top notch one. Unfortunately most of these prizes are closed to self-publishing books but it was interesting to note that the UK Folio Society international prize is open to self-published works too, although by invitation.
Renuka wrote: "I was talking to a publisher recently and sales rocket if a book is even long-listed for a prize, and it doesn't have to be a top notch one. Unfortunately most of these prizes are closed to self-pu..."I looked at the prize route as well and submissions not from Publishing Houses are mostly not welcome. So as an Indie I need someone from one of the closed groups to read and recommend... I'm not holding my breath.
I am currently in the middle of a FB promotion with a group of other small on-line business people who have banned together for a give-away. Each put in $10 and we are offering a free I-Pad mini. To enter you must go to a link and like each of the FB pages and each business to be eligible. I was not the genius behind this and will let you know how it works out. I should have offered a free book as well, but if I can get them to my FB page, then perhaps my website, who knows.
Thanks Elle for finding that link, it was a good read. Catie, I think you are a renaissance soul, life is to short to specialize in a single field. You might enjoy this book The Renaissance Soul Life Design for People with Too Many Passions to Pick Just One
I self published because I failed to see what a traditional publisher would offer me, unless you are well known author you are still going to be marketing on your own.
I unfortunately got a bit hasty in my marketing, jumped the gun if you will. I sent out copies of my book to beauty and nail salons across the US. Unfortunately my website and e-book then had difficulties and were not ready.
I did however get a response, again not quite what I was expecting. It seems that people are not just used to books showing up in the mail. In this case I received numerous emails wanting to know if their husbands, boyfriends, or mother in-laws had sent this book.
Now that I have things working correctly I'm tempted to try again. The best thing is all those hard copies are still out there being viewed and talked about by someone.
Boy, I'd sure try the KDP Select free giveaway before I'd hand out free physical copies. I do think it depends on genre. Being a veteran of a grand 11 months on KDP Select, I've watched the free books with some interest. I would say that genre fiction can have good, even spectacular results. Erotica works great, romance is good, mystery, suspense, thrillers pretty good. You need a series or at least other books, although if you are successful, the one that was free can do really well too (less so since Amazon changed the algorithms, though).I haven't found that reviews are any more negative on books people got free. (Perhaps more sparse.) Some people actually seem to review more leniently, realizing they got the book free, giving it more of a pass. Sort of along the lines of, "It was free! And yet it didn't stink!"
Exposure is a long-term deal, usually. You need your book to "appear" before your target market again and again and again. At some point, it'll stop looking quite so "risky" to pick it up, because it'll look familiar, even if the person couldn't possibly say why that is. A giveaway CAN help with that.
Rosalind wrote: "Boy, I'd sure try the KDP Select free giveaway before I'd hand out free physical copies. I do think it depends on genre. Being a veteran of a grand 11 months on KDP Select, I've watched the free bo..."Interesting points Rosalind. My KDP selecy Free days got me to number one in the charts in my genre for my first book. That illusive top 100 was very nice to make, but as soon as it was no longer free it tumbled down - as of this morning number 59,000 in overall paid chart. My second book in its seventh week of sales no KDP select is at number 35 in its genre and 6,100 in overall paid. I have marketed more particularly via this site and social media. Total Kindle downloads the first book wins hands down building a following the second book is winning - I think. The complication for me is that the books are different genres so any direct comparison is not possible.
Philip wrote: "the books are different genres so any direct comparison is not possible."I agree, that makes free promotions much dicier. Works best for either a series, or several books in the same genre, from my observation.
The elusive concept of 'marketing....'. When I first published Poacher in April last year, nothing happened in the first month (obviously). Then I made it a freebe and literally thousands of copies were downloaded over the next two months. The moment I put a price on it - total silence.I did not try to market it in any way, mainly because I don't know how, being IT illiterate. I did register with GR as well as register a blog back in 2012 but did nothing on either.
Suddenly, for no rhyme or reason, it started picking up again in March this year.
When it progressed into the top 1% on the Amazon.com sales list a month ago, I rolled up my sleeves and decided to start paying attention to my blog and GR.
The learning curve is steep, but I can't wait to see if 'marketing' makes any difference at all.
Dianne wrote: "I recently did paid advertising and used BookBub and a few others. It was amazing! I dropped the price of my book, Blue Coyote Motel, from $3.99 to $.99 for one week. The day that the BookBub email..."Thank you for this. I am planning a BB promotion in the coming weeks but am torn over whether to do it before or after Labor Day.
Without a doubt word of mouth has sold more books for me than Amazon.
Dianne wrote: "I recently did paid advertising and used BookBub and a few others. It was amazing! I dropped the price of my book, Blue Coyote Motel, from $3.99 to $.99 for one week. The day that the BookBub email..."Thank you for sharing, Dianne!
How many days would you recommend using Bookbub for, and are you using Bookbub for your September promotion?
I am curious to hear if anyone has used Bookbub for children's ebooks.
Noor wrote: "Weeks have gone past since someone last bought my book, but a lot of people have checked it out through Goodreads advertising program. About 78 in the past month. Only about three have added it tho..."Did you pay to promote on Goodreads? How did it go?
I am trying out something completely different: Having identified the heart of my target market, I am placing an ad in the September issue of theSANPARKS Times.My month-old blog took off like a rocket, and in two weeks several regional newspapers are going to start rolling it out.
So we'll see if there is something in advertising.
I live in a large University town that boasts a great writer's workshop. Aside from being full of partying college students, the city boasts a rather large group of avid book hounds. I took it upon myself to print up a stack of fliers with my novel "Dimebag Bandits" on them. I printed the cover and an intriguing blurb underneath as well as where the e-book or physical copy could be purchased. My sales went from nil to around a few dozen copies per day. I know the market is limited but the exposure is priceless.Craig Furchtenicht
Craig, how were the flyers distributed?
Linda wrote: "What has been your most successful marketing technique that has resulted in sales of your book(s)?Thanks,
Linda Hawley
Author of The Prophecies Trilogy"
With all the changes in the industry (ie digital, etc) I still found my best sales coming from face-to-face convention or word-of-mouth sales.
All the social media sites they suggest you hit are overwhelming to say the least. If I had the resources I would definitely farm out some of the marketing aspects of promotion so I can focus on my writing.
Update on current marketing attemptsBookdaily - Paid email advert $80 - no noticeable impact
Project Wonderful - $20 campaign under way getting click throughs - no change in sales
Ask David - Tweets and Facebook started today paid $15 - will see
Still the best marketing word of mouth including GR and Amazon Reviews
I've got a full page ad in the September issue of Scream coming up so I'll see what happens with that.
The best marketing I was able to do was getting in as a 99 cent book on ereaders News Today. That drove sales, which got the book on a few lists. It wasn't categorized as deeply as it should have been (on Amazon.com), so I don't think I got as much of a bounce as I could have. But, hands down, ereader News today is very effective, if you're lucky enough to get selected (they have more requests than they select)I know someone who just did a Bookbub with stellar results. Again, they have to select you. They don't just advertise whoever requests it.
Last note. In terms of my own evaluation as to where I'm going to spend dollars, I've started subscribing to mailing lists (such as eReader News today; that's just an example. I'd been subscribed to them prior to my ad). What I do is, when I get an email listing the books they're promoting, I click on each book and look at its sales rank. That's my start point. Then, the next morning, I go click on all the same books and see if the sales rank moved based on the promo. For some sites, there is a huge bump. For others, there's nothing. So, I think if you're trying to measure cost effectiveness, you'll want to try something like that to see which places produce results.
One last quick note about that method. You need to look at several different books. A couple of books I tried this with, I found big sales number jumps, but later realized the book had been promoted on several different sites (so the jump wasn't necessarily attributable to the one email).
I'm trying KDP with my first novella! Looking to post on my blog for the cover of my novel. Looking for reviewers!
You may be talking w/ RJ up there but if you're not, my genre is contemporary fiction.
Kindle Select Free Promo days - by far!Bank Holiday weekend pushed my ranking and sales right up!
Dianne wrote: "Sorry Caroline for any confusion. I was talking to you. My email is dianne@dianneharman.com. Let's talk about a review swap. Thanks!"Hello! I maybe could do that but I need a large time frame due to my busy schedule/family. Thanks.
Finishing a novel /half done and then I could.
Caroline
Dianne wrote: "Okay. I'll wait to hear from you."Okay, so contact you here or at your .com?
R.J. wrote: "The best marketing I was able to do was getting in as a 99 cent book on ereaders News Today. That drove sales, which got the book on a few lists. It wasn't categorized as deeply as it should have ..."I applied to BookBub, R.J., and was rejected because my book had a history of being free. I wonder if any one else has had the same reason given for rejection.
I share everyone's frustration with trying to promote their books. When I was looking for a publisher for my memoir, I skipped all of the small independent publishers who asked how I would promote my book. Since I'm a retired English professor (so I can't force my students to buy it) who is not interested in lecturing, I didn't want to have to promote it. But once I self-published "A Redlight Woman Who Knows How to Sing the Blues" on Amazon, I realized announcing its publication on Facebook and LinkedIn was not going to sell many books. I contacted my local newspaper (Claremont Courier) for an interview, and that sold about five books. I think I sold a few Kindles when I attended a retirement party for one of my colleagues. Now I have a blog on Goodreads, and I think I've sold another book to a friend when I told her about the blog. I am now waiting for a Kirkus Review. But for my next book, I am going to hire a friend to do the promoting for me.
Mary wrote: "I share everyone's frustration with trying to promote their books. When I was looking for a publisher for my memoir, I skipped all of the small independent publishers who asked how I would promote..."I'm curious to hear if the Kirkus review garners you any sales--that's a pricey review!
Anyone work with fkbooksandtips.com before? They have an advertising package as well.
I'm considering spending some $$ on an advert in a sci fi/fantasy magazine.
I have been exclusive with Amazon KDP and I was really happy with it in the beginning months (June was 248 copies and July I sold 151 e copies) but now it's practically dead. I only have one novel out so far. I am wondering what happened? Do any of you know if Amazon pushes it in the beginning, but then drops off later? I just don't know how it went from doing so well to basically falling off completely for sales. On a side note, I did a TON of free copies for reviews and book giveaways in August. Maybe my would be sales just got the free copy?
Here's something to consider. I had a car door magnet printed for both sides of my car, by a company called Vistaprint. The magnet shows two dolphins leaping before a glorious starry seascape as is on my book cover. It also clearly shows the name of the book "Ripple," a slogan about the book and my web address. As I'm inching along yard by yard, in heavy traffic, the cars I'm passing and re-passing contain drivers who are as bored as I am and when I pass them they have nothing better to do than read my very pretty magnet, and then they notice it again a moment later when I pass them again.
They say someone has to see an ad a certain number of times before it sinks in. If the traffic is very bad they may see it many times before the jam is cleared. So I can sit in traffic jams and feel I'm helping to sell my book! :)
So put one on your spouse's car as well! And your aunty's and uncle's cars and your teenage kid's cars etc etc.
I made a wooden "dolphin booth" for when I do book sales at fairs. Just pulling this huge green-painted wooden dolphin out of my car sometimes stimulates a sale on the spot to a passing stranger. ALWAYS keep a pile of your print copies in the car. I have sold them in the street, in cafes, at social events, and at authors events.
Tui wrote: "Here's something to consider. I had a car door magnet printed for both sides of my car, by a company called Vistaprint. The magnet shows two dolphins leaping before a glorious starry seascape as ..."That's a great idea Tui. I recall that when Fiji water was launched in the States they bought several vans and had the Fiji water logo painted on the sides and then had them just drive around New York City for a couple months.
I've got car magnets too. Take them off before you go through a car wash! (I speak from personal experience)
Judy wrote: "Mary wrote: "I share everyone's frustration with trying to promote their books. When I was looking for a publisher for my memoir, I skipped all of the small independent publishers who asked how I ..."Mary wrote: "I share everyone's frustration with trying to promote their books. When I was looking for a publisher for my memoir, I skipped all of the small independent publishers who asked how I would promote..."
I'll let you know; it takes ten weeks to get the review, so I have about three weeks to wait before I'll even know if the review is positive.
My best marketing so far has been the book tour we did for Guiamo with Beck Valley Books. They had several high traffic blogs that participated and it really got the word out.
I'm definitely doing a blog tour for my second book--when I published my first I was very short on cash. I have an ad going up on Friday with addictedtoebooks.com--I'll let people know if it affects anything.
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