Checking again...

[Marti Talbott]

...just wondering, is anyone having success with BookBub ADs?

Before I jump back in to BB I thought I'd ask. I stopped using the BB platform when is took a dive, about six-eight weeks ago. 

R.C.

Thanks for this thread. I've learned a lot and am trying one of their ads. One thing that might help me is to ask readers to recommend authors they like that write books similar to mine. I'm doing that now on Facebook. 

https://www.facebook.com/marti.talbott/posts/4423782324376433?comment_id=4424049657683033

[R. C.]

This just arrived from BB:

Hi R. C.,

We wanted to let you know the following ad campaign(s) are winning very few impressions:

•   List of ADs

Our auction takes the click-through rate (CTR) into account for ads using CPC bidding, and unfortunately the CTRs of these campaigns are low enough to impact their competitiveness in the auction.

If you’re satisfied with the results, you’re welcome to keep these ads running, but if you’d like to serve impressions more quickly, we recommend that you pause these campaigns and create new ones from scratch. Find tips for increasing the CTR of your ads here.

You’re also welcome to contact our team if you have any questions about how to adjust your ad campaigns. Please reply to this email and we'll be happy to help!

Best wishes,
BookBub Partners Team

[Marti Talbott]

Does anyone understand the difference between these two options when setting up a BB ad? I have my ad set up for a week.

Under total campaign budget:

Fulfill as quickly as possible
Spread across date range

[Eric Thomson]

Does anyone understand the difference between these two options when setting up a BB ad? I have my ad set up for a week.

Under total campaign budget:

Fulfill as quickly as possible
Spread across date range

Simple. Fulfill as quickly as possible means BB will spend all your money in the first ninety seconds. Spread across date range means a drib every x hours until the last date at which point the final drab is spent. I gave up on BB ads long ago. Expensive and unproductive.

[notthatamanda]

Yes the first time I did a bookbub ad it spent it in the time it took to take a shower.

[Marti Talbott]

Does anyone understand the difference between these two options when setting up a BB ad? I have my ad set up for a week.

Under total campaign budget:

Fulfill as quickly as possible
Spread across date range

Simple. Fulfill as quickly as possible means BB will spend all your money in the first ninety seconds. Spread across date range means a drib every x hours until the last date at which point the final drab is spent. I gave up on BB ads long ago. Expensive and unproductive.

I was wondering about that. "Spread across date range" sounds like even if you get all the clicks the first day, they will dribbling them into the report over the week. I don't see the point. At least I'm paying by click and not impression. Thanks for the answer.

[Marti Talbott]

I just discovered a review on BB on McShane's Bride (The Dotsero Train Wreck). I didn't think the "new book" notifications were any use at all, but since I've never advertised this book on BB, the new book thing must be working better than I thought. Forgive me for bragging.

"Don’t miss reading this one! Outstanding job taking the reader into a very scary and realistically related scenario we hope never to be a part of. The characters described were realistic and I felt like I actually met people and learned who they truly were inside - something few authors ever achieve for me. The author did such an excellent job, I felt like I was there and got very involved in what happens in an emergency situation. I have been in scary situations, but nothing even approaching this one. Knowing what it takes in emergencies, real heroes emerge, just as the author described. Those are the people who are taken out of ordinary routines, meet the challenge, and do what needs to be done. Thank you for a memorable read - I’ll remember this one as a standout. Few books stay in my memory as this one will."

[R. C.]

UPDATE - 96 Hour Results

Parameters: Received "your ADs are crap" email from BB - Bumped bid to recommend minimum, removed authors, simplified categories.

Impressions: 97,646
Clicks: 4

Next steps: Let the ADs run while creating new versions. Post new versions at EOD.

R.C.

[alhawke]

I just discovered a review on BB on McShane's Bride (The Dotsero Train Wreck).

That is a great review. Congrats!

Parameters: Received "your ADs are crap" email from BB

  I get those from time to time. Doesn't always represent the ad. Sometimes it's a winning ad that has just not been triggering for a little while.

Reminds me of AMS when they send you an email recommending you to increase your bid to some ridiculous cost like $10.

[Marti Talbott]

I just discovered a review on BB on McShane's Bride (The Dotsero Train Wreck).

That is a great review. Congrats!

Parameters: Received "your ADs are crap" email from BB

  I get those from time to time. Doesn't always represent the ad. Sometimes it's a winning ad that has just not been triggering for a little while.

Reminds me of AMS when they send you an email recommending you to increase your bid to some ridiculous cost like $10.

Thanks. It's especially exciting for me because the last four books I've written were just duds including this one. I'll take a pat on the back anywhere I can get it.

My BB ad on McShane's Bride is running this morning. So far, 58 impressions and 1 click on Apple.

[Marti Talbott]

Oh ho, so now in the categories I selected which are historical romance, historical fiction and romance, my ad was replaced by ads for science fiction and fantasy books. I get that they are paying more money and that kicked my ad off, but how many readers would be tempted to click on a book in a different genre?

I wonder if that happened in the emails too?

[Pemry Janes]

I've been trying Bookbub ads myself and noticed that the ad that was working got most of it's clicks through to the Apple AU store. Like, 80% of the clicks with half the impressions towards people that had that as their preferred channel.

I have no idea why.

[R. C.]

UPDATE - 96 Hour Results

Parameters: Rebooted - Changed some ADs, kept others. No authors, simplified categories, bids at low-end of recommendation.

Impressions: 112,102  (Overnight includes new ADs and prior ADs)
Clicks: 9

Next steps: Let it run... anything with no clicks after 48 hours will be replaced.

R.C.

[alhawke]

UPDATE - 96 Hour Results
Impressions: 112,102  (Overnight includes new ADs and prior ADs)
Clicks: 9

Did you correlate any sales?
That's a huge number of impressions with very little clicks. The one I showed you above has 7, 947 impressions with 66 clicks (and I'm not thrilled with these numbers either yielding less that CTR of 1 right now). So you're picking authors and genres that are giving you high visibility with low yield. You sort of want to reverse this. Look into trying authors that zero in more on your stuff. And ... shh... check out Indie writers. BB readers that like Indie click Indie. Big authors like JK Rowling or Stephen King will get you visibility with no results.

[alhawke]

Oh ho, so now in the categories I selected which are historical romance, historical fiction and romance, my ad was replaced by ads for science fiction and fantasy books.

Some writers choose your book if a similar audience buys books. It doesn't always correlate with genre.
I wouldn't worry too much about seeing other author ads over yours. Many throw high bids for a short while and then think about their pocket books. In other words, they show themselves and then fade, ime.

[R. C.]

... Big authors like JK Rowling or Stephen King will get you visibility with no results.

Understood, I do not choose big authors.  I will add the AND of selected authors later today.

R.C.

[Marti Talbott]

As I mentioned, I took a poll of my fans on Facebook asking for other authors they love. I just entered them in my BB ad, so we'll see if that improves things. Meanwhile, I have 3662 impressions and 3 clicks, all on Apple, which I think is strange. But then, most of the impressions are on Apple.

[alhawke]

As I mentioned, I took a poll of my fans on Facebook asking for other authors they love. I just entered them in my BB ad, so we'll see if that improves things.

Marti, can you update us on this? If you see higher results, please let us know. That's a really clever idea that I could implement in the future.

[Marti Talbott]

As I mentioned, I took a poll of my fans on Facebook asking for other authors they love. I just entered them in my BB ad, so we'll see if that improves things.

Marti, can you update us on this? If you see higher results, please let us know. That's a really clever idea that I could implement in the future.

Will do.

[R. C.]

UPDATE - 121 Hour Results (end of DST added)

Parameters: Added authors, bids at low-end of recommendation.

Impressions: 116,901 (+4.2%)
Clicks: 9

Next steps: Keep guessing... anything with no clicks after another 24 hours will be replaced with new ADs and new authors.

R.C.

[PJ Post]

Can you post the ad here?

[Marti Talbott]

I got one of those BB emails advising that if I'm not happy, to fixt it and create a new ad. I wonder why that would work better. The old ad is getting impressions, but still only 3 clicks on Apple which have not converted to sales so far. Nothing on the other outlets. I'm convinced making things too hard for me to understand is a conspiracy! 

[R. C.]

UPDATE - 145 Hour Results

Parameters: No changes.

Impressions: 119,291
Clicks: 9

Next steps: ADs will be replaced, new authors added.

Here are the New ADs

R.C.

[Marti Talbott]

I've been looking at the ads under Historical Romance, etc., and in assessing the creation of the ads  I've seen several different approaches.

1. ad with too much print making it impossible to read.
2. backgrounds that actually distract from the cover art.
3. "compare to" another author as the sales approach.
4. price listed
5. no price listed
6. no call to action.
7. credits/reviews listed.

So far I haven't seen one that uses a simple blurb. As a reader, what would tempt you to click? I've always thought the reader first wants to know what the book is about. Am I wrong?

[R. C.]

I've been looking at the ads under Historical Romance, etc., and in assessing the creation of the ads  I've seen several different approaches.

1. ad with too much print making it impossible to read.
2. backgrounds that actually distract from the cover art.
3. "compare to" another author as the sales approach.
4. price listed
5. no price listed
6. no call to action.
7. credits/reviews listed.

So far I haven't seen one that uses a simple blurb. As a reader, what would tempt you to click? I've always thought the reader first wants to know what the book is about. Am I wrong?

All of the above, and more, in combination, and everything else on the digital marketing spectrum.

Translated: I think the only approach to the changing dynamics of consumer mood/preference is to keep trying.

R.C.

[Marti Talbott]

I've been looking at the ads under Historical Romance, etc., and in assessing the creation of the ads  I've seen several different approaches.

1. ad with too much print making it impossible to read.
2. backgrounds that actually distract from the cover art.
3. "compare to" another author as the sales approach.
4. price listed
5. no price listed
6. no call to action.
7. credits/reviews listed.

So far I haven't seen one that uses a simple blurb. As a reader, what would tempt you to click? I've always thought the reader first wants to know what the book is about. Am I wrong?

All of the above, and more, in combination, and everything else on the digital marketing spectrum.

Translated: I think the only approach to the changing dynamics of consumer mood/preference is to keep trying.

R.C.

I agree. I think I'll choose one or two that I think are good ads, and see if their ranks actually show sales. That would probably be the best indicator of what actually works.

[alhawke]

As a reader, what would tempt you to click? I've always thought the reader first wants to know what the book is about. Am I wrong?

Like I said earlier, I believe readers are enticed by simplicity and an attractive image. I know I am. And these types of ads seem to be the most effective. Hopefully your cover does most of the work. Spruce it up with the background and a nice font. Keep it simple. Then given a quick snippet. A quick one. In other words, don't create ads like blurbs or novels, make them like book covers. I believe that's the trick.

But the right combination takes a bit of experimenting. I've had beautiful ads with no clicks. In fact, I've lost money trying to push an ad that I thought was great. Even if an ad is ugly, if it gets sales, go with it. That's when the marketing mind has to supersede our author mind.

[R. C.]

UPDATE - 24 Hour Results (all new ADs)

Parameters: Limited authors, selective categories.

Impressions: 5010
Clicks: 2

Next steps: Wait 24 hours.  If clicks do not appear, it will be time for a BIG change.


FYI - In searching for authors, Tim's books came up in the top ten/fifteen of several categories!


Here are the New ADs

R.C.

[j tanner]

Are the clicks from the past couple weeks of tests spread across all the books, or are a particular 1 or 2 getting them all?

[R. C.]

Are the clicks from the past couple weeks of tests spread across all the books, or are a particular 1 or 2 getting them all?

Generally, spread across all books. One or two where outliers on the low end have been corrected.  The "sci-fi" category ADs pull more impressions, but are not outliers on the high end.

R.C.

[R. C.]

UPDATE - 48 Hour Results

Parameters: No change - Limited authors, selective categories.

Impressions: 9059
Clicks: 8 (.000884%)

Next steps: Begin constructing ADs time for a BIG change.

Side note: The same AD images running on other platforms are returning a CTR between a 1.2% and 17.8%.

R.C.

[Marti Talbott]

UPDATE - 48 Hour Results

Parameters: No change - Limited authors, selective categories.

Impressions: 9059
Clicks: 8 (.000884%)

Next steps: Begin constructing ADs time for a BIG change.

Side note: The same AD images running on other platforms are returning a CTR between a 1.2% and 17.8%.

R.C.

Question: when you make a new ad, are you copying or starting all over?

[alhawke]

I copy because I get lazy typing in all the authors all over again. But I read a recent post suggesting that a new ad should be done completely new, so ... I don't know. I tried both ways and haven't seen much of a difference.

[R. C.]

I copy because I get lazy typing in all the authors all over again. But I read a recent post suggesting that a new ad should be done completely new, so ... I don't know. I tried both ways and haven't seen much of a difference.

I copy the AD then look at every layer. If I can change the tone of the AD by replacing the background, I might stop there.  But, I look at everything.

There might be value in starting from scratch.

R.C.

[Marti Talbott]

Above, I mentioned that I asked my FB friends what other authors they followed. It's been a few days since I took their suggestions and selected said authors in my BB ad. As far as I can tell, that didn't help.

I suspect going with bestselling authors in a category is a better bet, so I'm going to try that next. My first ad now has 7330 images and 4 clicks all on Apple with no sales. The good news is, I've only spent $2.04.

[R. C.]

UPDATE - 72 Hour Results

Parameters: No change - Limited authors, selective categories.

Impressions: 12,411
Clicks: 12 (.001%)

Next steps: Construct ADs for a BIG change in ADs with no clicks.

R.C.

[PJ Post]

On the next change (one at a time to see which thing is working) I'd recommend changing your color schemes. Try orange and blues/turquoise. You should be able to just slide the hue fader in whatever photo software you have. Red, especially in text, is a warning color and can put people off.

[R. C.]

On the next change (one at a time to see which thing is working) I'd recommend changing your color schemes. Try orange and blues/turquoise. You should be able to just slide the hue fader in whatever photo software you have. Red, especially in text, is a warning color and can put people off.

Yep, trying all that! Thanks!

R.C.

[Marti Talbott]

I don't know if this will help anyone, but I'll post what I'm trying. Maybe our combined efforts will help us crack the BB nut.

1st ad: I used a white background to showcase: The ad read: "Based on an actual event. Can McShane's Bride survive the 1909 Dotsero Train Wreck." On this ad I used authors my readers suggested. American Historical Romance, Christian Fiction, Historical Romance, Women's fiction, thrillers. $.86 per click. Pacing - spread across date range (9 days) 7,392 impressions, 4 clicks, no sales.

I paused this ad to try something new.

2nd ad:  White background to showcase the cover: The ad read: "Based on a Horrific 1909 train wreck" On this ad I used top selling authors (17) in my chosen categories - American Historical Romance, Romantic suspense, Historical Romance, Women's fiction, thrillers. $.86 per click. Pacing - fulfil as quickly as possible. In a matter of hours,  7,867 impressions, 24 clicks, no sales so far.

I paused this ad too. Since I copied and published it late in the evening when (I supposed) emails had not gone out and that the impressions were on their site only, which I could not find, that I was wasting money. The trick would be to un-paused late at night so it would/might go out with the next morning's emails.

Thoughts?

[R. C.]

I don't know if this will help anyone, but I'll post what I'm trying. Maybe our combined efforts will help us crack the BB nut.

1st ad: I used a white background to showcase: The ad read: "Based on an actual event. Can McShane's Bride survive the 1909 Dotsero Train Wreck." On this ad I used authors my readers suggested. American Historical Romance, Christian Fiction, Historical Romance, Women's fiction, thrillers. $.86 per click. Pacing - spread across date range (9 days) 7,392 impressions, 4 clicks, no sales.

I paused this ad to try something new.

2nd ad:  White background to showcase the cover: The ad read: "Based on a Horrific 1909 train wreck" On this ad I used top selling authors (17) in my chosen categories - American Historical Romance, Romantic suspense, Historical Romance, Women's fiction, thrillers. $.86 per click. Pacing - fulfil as quickly as possible. In a matter of hours,  7,867 impressions, 24 clicks, no sales so far.

I paused this ad too. Since I copied and published it late in the evening when (I supposed) emails had not gone out and that the impressions were on their site only, which I could not find, that I was wasting money. The trick would be to un-paused late at night so it would/might go out with the next morning's emails.

Thoughts?

Everything you outline looks relevant and appropriate. But what do I know... Your clicks are significantly above my comfort zone

R.C.

[R. C.]

Taking a big swing. Not posted yet, here are the Newest Versions.

Feedback welcome (yes, that is Xmas Soylent Green!)   

Also, before I make the switch, I will test Marti's suggestion of higher bids for a few hours.

R.C.

[RBC]

Taking a big swing. Not posted yet, here are the Newest Versions.

Feedback welcome (yes, that is Xmas Soylent Green!)   

Also, before I make the switch, I will test Marti's suggestion of higher bids for a few hours.

R.C.

The ad with the mobile phone as book display has cover be really distorted, kinda doesn't look great.

Good luck with the test. Green is risky but maybe that 'weirdness' will work great. Could go either way, never know.

[Marti Talbott]

Taking a big swing. Not posted yet, here are the Newest Versions.

Feedback welcome (yes, that is Xmas Soylent Green!)   

Also, before I make the switch, I will test Marti's suggestion of higher bids for a few hours.

R.C.

I kind of agree about the green font. In some, I think blue would be better, although if you trying to make them spooky, maybe green is better.

[R. C.]

...

The ad with the mobile phone as book display has cover be really distorted, kinda doesn't look great.

...Could go either way, never know.

Corrected. Thanks!

R.C.

[j tanner]

Remove the incorrect comma in "Those born mixed, are not permitted to live."

To my eye these ads have generally gone in the wrong direction from previous ads, but I guess it can't hurt to test everything.

[R. C.]

Remove the incorrect comma in "Those born mixed, are not permitted to live."

To my eye these ads have generally gone in the wrong direction from previous ads, but I guess it can't hurt to test everything.

Arg, thanks.

R.C.

[R. C.]

UPDATE - RESET - Hybrid - Old & new ADs approximately 39 hours

Parameters: Limited authors, selective categories, bold ADs, some ADs retained

Impressions: 11,008
Clicks: 21 (.0019%) Clicks are across the board: 'Zon, Apple, B&N, Roko, Google.

Next steps: Continue to monitor and modify ADs.

OTHER

The results of a three day experiment confirmed an important piece of data. Between 86% and 92% of all ADs are presented on mobile devices.

Google: 412k impressions resulted in 92% being presented on a mobile.
Taboola: 72K impression resulted in 86% being presented on a mobile or tablet.

Conclusion: Confirmation of the requirement for ADs to display well on phones.

R.C.

[Marti Talbott]

I've given up. I have one sale out of 34 clicks, which I can't prove came from the ad. My thought it that BB ads are a waste of money.

[R. C.]

UPDATE - Forced myself to sit on my hands between the last update and this update, approximately 40 hrs.

Parameters: No change - Limited authors, selective categories, bold ADs, some ADs retained

Impressions: 21,776
Clicks: 28 (.0013%) Clicks are across the board: 'Zon, Apple, B&N, Roko, Google.

Next steps: Whack the ADs with no clicks, keep going. Never, ever give up. Unless is it costing you money...

R.C.

[RBC]

UPDATE - Forced myself to sit on my hands between the last update and this update, approximately 40 hrs.

Parameters: No change - Limited authors, selective categories, bold ADs, some ADs retained

Impressions: 21,776
Clicks: 28 (.0013%) Clicks are across the board: 'Zon, Apple, B&N, Roko, Google.

Next steps: Whack the ADs with no clicks, keep going. Never, ever give up. Unless is it costing you money...

R.C.

Yes, pay-per-click ads are not easy, and an expensive skill to hire for a reason. It takes tons of testing and experiment, boring work, and lots of unhappy tries. It's not gonna be figured out in a week. Otherwise, it would be completely impossible to advertise due to overuse and high prices.

Keep it up!