How are BookFunnel promos doing for you?

[LilyBLily]

I've participated in a half dozen BookFunnel promos so far. Can't say I'm jumping for joy at the results, but in the nearly three weeks since I sent out my most recent promo share newsletter my sales and reads of my series books have been kinda pitiful. (I continue to run a baseline Amazon ad, but it's not being shown a lot lately.) Anyway, I'm wondering how everybody else who has participated in these promos--which after are free--has made out.

[Abderian]

In my experience very, very few readers who download a reader magnet go on to read further books in the series. There are probably many reasons why, but they aren't important. The key factor is that the reader has signed up to your list. Next comes the task of giving them a reason to open your magnet and read it. That's where your onboarding sequence and newsletters come in. Then, with luck, they like the story and want to pay to read more.
I regularly remind my subs of the free reader magnets I have and am always getting downloads from people who downloaded the books before. They just don't remember it.

[Bill Hiatt]

If you mean the newsletter promos, I've had fair success building my list, and most subscribers tend to stick.

If you mean sales promos, I typically have a clicks to sales conversion rate of 8-12%, assuming I'm using the first book in a series and discounting it.  If I don't discount or use a subsequent book in the series, it's more like 3%.

[Lorri Moulton]

It's definitely better (sales promos) if the book is free.  I've tried discounted or KU with a bit of success, but BookFunnel readers seem to be used to free.  Of course, YMMV. 

[Denise]

Are you talking about sales promo or newsletter magnet promos?

I find that sales promos don't work very well. It's just... they're sent to a landing page with a bunch of books... I don't think it's very appealing. I noticed my subscribers don't click much in those promos and I haven't participated in many of them.

For newsletter magnets I get subscribers. It's nice to have a lot of subscribers. Some can become arc readers, some are buyers, many will download freebies from your list... It's useful. 

[LilyBLily]

I have been seriously confused about BookFunnel promos, which could account for my so-so results.

All along I have been interpreting the words "must be on sale" in the descriptions of these promos as indicating that they can't be books not yet available. Apparently I was wrong, and they mean "must be discounted." Some promo organizers are very specific and say outright that the books must be discounted or must be in KU, but others don't. Hence my confusion. 

The promos have served the purpose of giving people on my newsletter list some content to peruse, but yikes. I definitely feel I have been obtuse. I'll have to limit my BookFunnel promos in future to the ones that don't require me to change my prices for odd lengths of time; that's too much like work. As they say, TANSTAAFL.

[alhawke]

LilyBLily, I think you have to discount them just like a regular promo to see good results. Or, at least, be in KU.

Something to consider is the audience in these services. Even if a promotion has different authors, I think many of the readers (or authors) participating in these promos tend to be from the same list. So, just like with sale promotions, I think it's good to spread promos out over time. Just like you wouldn't promote your book multiple times in three months on BargainBooksy, I wouldn't try a reader magnet or sales in the same period on BookFunnel. One way to do this is to use StoryOrigin and alternate services (that's what I do, but even these different services, I bet, pull from similar reader groups).

Another thing I do is add information about my books with all my emails (like a cover reveal). I view these promos as a commercial. If you're in my newsletter, you got to put up with them occasionally in order to see goodies about my stuff. But this limits the amount of "free" promos I can run on Bookfunnel.

[LilyBLily]

I'm holding off on doing any more BookFunnel promos. Story Origin I have yet to explore, but I agree; it's probably the same audience.

[Lorri Moulton]

The Christmas in July promos have been doing well for me.  I already had my book on sale for 99c.

[Joe Vasicek]

Fantastic!

[idontknowyet]

I feel totally lost with book funnel!
i signed up put a book out there then am clueless.

Help!!!

[alhawke]

What's confusing? I can try to help.

[idontknowyet]

thank you!!!

So i put the book up. have a landing page. then it says join promos. which im trying to but all the promos say to share with your list. i have no list.

don't people just pick up your book and read it from there. i tried creating a reader account but that didnt seem to go anywhere.

[alhawke]

The list they're referring to is your newsletter. Do you have a newsletter? I send one monthly set up through Mailchimp.

All promos require you to share at least once to your newsletter list. If you don't have any email subscribers but your trying for a newsletter promo, then this is a chicken and egg thing. You have to have something to share as that's the whole idea behind cross promos. If you don't have anyone at all, you could try other areas to share the promo like a website, but this isn't going to get a lot of traffic. Be careful because Boofunnel and StoryOrigin watch the traffic and its harder to get future promotions if you're not getting a lot of clicks during your promotion from the link they send you. They'd like to see more than 20 clicks per promotion.

So ... if you're already in a promo, there are ways to get get a list of subscribers. If you have none currently, it's gonna be hard to not get "dinged" for this promotion with few clicks. But, will it matter? I don't know. You have to start somewhere.

You can always build a list through promotions. You could run a giveaway through places like litRing or SFF where they offer a gift card in exchange for email addresses (though I'd be very careful with this because you'll get a bunch of subscribers that aren't really interested in your writing. You have the better idea here by building your list with your own work).

Here's some info from Bookfunnel I looked up:https://authors.bookfunnel.com/help/before-you-join-a-group-author-promotion/
Hope all this helps. Good luck.

[idontknowyet]

The list they're referring to is your newsletter. Do you have a newsletter? I send one monthly set up through Mailchimp.

All promos require you to share at least once to your newsletter list. If you don't have any email subscribers but your trying for a newsletter promo, then this is a chicken and egg thing. You have to have something to share as that's the whole idea behind cross promos. If you don't have anyone at all, you could try other areas to share the promo like a website, but this isn't going to get a lot of traffic. Be careful because Boofunnel and StoryOrigin watch the traffic and its harder to get future promotions if you're not getting a lot of clicks during your promotion from the link they send you. They'd like to see more than 20 clicks per promotion.

So ... if you're already in a promo, there are ways to get get a list of subscribers. If you have none currently, it's gonna be hard to not get "dinged" for this promotion with few clicks. But, will it matter? I don't know. You have to start somewhere.

You can always build a list through promotions. You could run a giveaway through places like litRing or SFF where they offer a gift card in exchange for email addresses (though I'd be very careful with this because you'll get a bunch of subscribers that aren't really interested in your writing. You have the better idea here by building your list with your own work).

Here's some info from Bookfunnel I looked up:https://authors.bookfunnel.com/help/before-you-join-a-group-author-promotion/
Hope all this helps. Good luck.

I have a newsletter set up but no one to send it to.  I thought we used book funnel to build a list.

[alhawke]

The promoters will tell you how much they want you to share on the promotion instructions, but nearly all want you to share. If you have no subscribers, Bookfunnel will "ding" you a bit with your reputation. You could cancel this promo and get a number of emails by running a giveaway first (like ^^). Just know that cancelling still hurts reputation on Bookfunnel.

Or stay in the promotion and get a few subscriber you know you can send the link to. Friends, family, readers etc. You don't need a ton; like I said, you're aiming for like 20 clicks of interest, but your first promo could be just a handful. Meanwhile you're increasing your newsletter list with your first promotion.

[idontknowyet]

The promoters will tell you how much they want you to share on the promotion instructions, but nearly all want you to share. If you have no subscribers, Bookfunnel will "ding" you a bit with your reputation. You could cancel this promo and get a number of emails by running a giveaway first (like ^^). Just know that cancelling still hurts reputation on Bookfunnel.

Or stay in the promotion and get a few subscriber you know you can send the link to. Friends, family, readers etc. You don't need a ton; like I said, you're aiming for like 20 clicks of interest, but your first promo could be just a handful. Meanwhile you're increasing your newsletter list with your first promotion.

Hmm maybe i should try some facebook adds. Can you do those offering free books?

[Lorri Moulton]

The promoters will tell you how much they want you to share on the promotion instructions, but nearly all want you to share. If you have no subscribers, Bookfunnel will "ding" you a bit with your reputation. You could cancel this promo and get a number of emails by running a giveaway first (like ^^). Just know that cancelling still hurts reputation on Bookfunnel.

Or stay in the promotion and get a few subscriber you know you can send the link to. Friends, family, readers etc. You don't need a ton; like I said, you're aiming for like 20 clicks of interest, but your first promo could be just a handful. Meanwhile you're increasing your newsletter list with your first promotion.

Hmm maybe i should try some facebook adds. Can you do those offering free books?

You can be in any of my promos...assuming they're a good fit for your book.  If you don't have a list, you can share on social media.

I'll be posting new promos next week in sweet romance, mystery/suspense, fantasy, and maybe a supernatural thriller.  I write in a lot of genres, so I have a lot of promos. LOL

[LilyBLily]

Some of the below has already been answered by Lorri.

Some BookFunnel promoters do specifically say they don't mind if you don't have a list. To compensate, the person running the promo would expect you to be active in sharing on social media. My suggestion would be to only join newsletter builder promos, since that's what you need to work on. If you don't have an active social media presence, either, that could be an issue. You can always email the promoter and explain that you're building your newsletter list but you're very active on Facebook or Twitter or whatever. And if you get accepted to the promotion make sure you push the promo repeatedly to make up for not having a newsletter list to send to.

Study the BookFunnel description of the newsletter builder promo to make sure you have it set up to do what you want. I confess I have not mastered that part myself.

Also, look carefully at the other books already signed up to any promo to see if they're like yours. That may mean waiting until close to the sign-up deadline, but it's better not to commit to promoting books very obviously not like yours. Your audience will not appreciate it.

I'm not sure that a Facebook ad as such will do anything to help build your mailing list. You might do better to pay to join one of Ryan Zee's promos and essentially buy several hundred names. Even if 20% of those people unsubscribe the first time you email them, you'd still have a couple hundred names at least and be in a position to build their interest in you. And 20% won't do that, so you'll have your chance to woo them.

[idontknowyet]

The promoters will tell you how much they want you to share on the promotion instructions, but nearly all want you to share. If you have no subscribers, Bookfunnel will "ding" you a bit with your reputation. You could cancel this promo and get a number of emails by running a giveaway first (like ^^). Just know that cancelling still hurts reputation on Bookfunnel.

Or stay in the promotion and get a few subscriber you know you can send the link to. Friends, family, readers etc. You don't need a ton; like I said, you're aiming for like 20 clicks of interest, but your first promo could be just a handful. Meanwhile you're increasing your newsletter list with your first promotion.

Hmm maybe i should try some facebook adds. Can you do those offering free books?

You can be in any of my promos...assuming they're a good fit for your book.  If you don't have a list, you can share on social media.

I'll be posting new promos next week in sweet romance, mystery/suspense, fantasy, and maybe a supernatural thriller.  I write in a lot of genres, so I have a lot of promos. LOL

Sweet romance and super huge thank you!!!!!

Word of warning the only social media i have are friends that are starting or pre publish themselves.

[idontknowyet]

Some of the below has already been answered by Lorri.

Some BookFunnel promoters do specifically say they don't mind if you don't have a list. To compensate, the person running the promo would expect you to be active in sharing on social media. My suggestion would be to only join newsletter builder promos, since that's what you need to work on. If you don't have an active social media presence, either, that could be an issue. You can always email the promoter and explain that you're building your newsletter list but you're very active on Facebook or Twitter or whatever. And if you get accepted to the promotion make sure you push the promo repeatedly to make up for not having a newsletter list to send to.

Study the BookFunnel description of the newsletter builder promo to make sure you have it set up to do what you want. I confess I have not mastered that part myself.

Also, look carefully at the other books already signed up to any promo to see if they're like yours. That may mean waiting until close to the sign-up deadline, but it's better not to commit to promoting books very obviously not like yours. Your audience will not appreciate it.

I'm not sure that a Facebook ad as such will do anything to help build your mailing list. You might do better to pay to join one of Ryan Zee's promos and essentially buy several hundred names. Even if 20% of those people unsubscribe the first time you email them, you'd still have a couple hundred names at least and be in a position to build their interest in you. And 20% won't do that, so you'll have your chance to woo them.

Ryan Zee? i dont mind paying a little bit to help me get started

[Lorri Moulton]

The promoters will tell you how much they want you to share on the promotion instructions, but nearly all want you to share. If you have no subscribers, Bookfunnel will "ding" you a bit with your reputation. You could cancel this promo and get a number of emails by running a giveaway first (like ^^). Just know that cancelling still hurts reputation on Bookfunnel.

Or stay in the promotion and get a few subscriber you know you can send the link to. Friends, family, readers etc. You don't need a ton; like I said, you're aiming for like 20 clicks of interest, but your first promo could be just a handful. Meanwhile you're increasing your newsletter list with your first promotion.

Hmm maybe i should try some facebook adds. Can you do those offering free books?

You can be in any of my promos...assuming they're a good fit for your book.  If you don't have a list, you can share on social media.

I'll be posting new promos next week in sweet romance, mystery/suspense, fantasy, and maybe a supernatural thriller.  I write in a lot of genres, so I have a lot of promos. LOL

Sweet romance and super huge thank you!!!!!

Word of warning the only social media i have are friends that are starting or pre publish themselves.

We all have to start somewhere.  Just do what you can! 

I just put links up on my website and update them as necessary.  My main page is also my blog, so it goes out to all my followers.  But if I post too often, they may leave...so I put up a new promo post every six to eight weeks.

https://lavenderlassbooks.com/2020/11/06/winter-book-promos/

ETA:  You can usually tell who's hosting the promo because one of their books will often be at the top or top left position.  I'll come back and let you know when my new promos (to sign up for) are posted.

[Simon Haynes]

Last year I had quite a bit of success advertising a bookfunnel freebie on Facebook. I built my list rapidly and quite cheaply, although there's always a question of the 'value' of organic signups vs those being forced to join to get the free book.

No disrespect to anyone who signs up, but if someone's joined 100 different lists with a junker email, the chances of them becoming a lifelong fan (or even reading the freebie itself) are slim.

[alhawke]

Ryan Zee? i dont mind paying a little bit to help me get started

Speaking of Booksweeps, Ryan Zee, I just entered a promo for next month. I recognize this might not yield as many close fans, but the giveaway will fit my genre and expand my list. I'm currently at 500 and have been building my list, thanks to StoryOrigin & Bookfunnel, since last year. At first I was really careful with who I added, but now I'm willing to watch who opens and wean later.

OP, I started book funnel last year with a list of only 35 or so, I think. Super cool that Lorri's willing to add you to her promos.  . Good luck and hope to see you around with some promos in the future.

[idontknowyet]

The promoters will tell you how much they want you to share on the promotion instructions, but nearly all want you to share. If you have no subscribers, Bookfunnel will "ding" you a bit with your reputation. You could cancel this promo and get a number of emails by running a giveaway first (like ^^). Just know that cancelling still hurts reputation on Bookfunnel.

Or stay in the promotion and get a few subscriber you know you can send the link to. Friends, family, readers etc. You don't need a ton; like I said, you're aiming for like 20 clicks of interest, but your first promo could be just a handful. Meanwhile you're increasing your newsletter list with your first promotion.

Hmm maybe i should try some facebook adds. Can you do those offering free books?

You can be in any of my promos...assuming they're a good fit for your book.  If you don't have a list, you can share on social media.

I'll be posting new promos next week in sweet romance, mystery/suspense, fantasy, and maybe a supernatural thriller.  I write in a lot of genres, so I have a lot of promos. LOL

Sweet romance and super huge thank you!!!!!

Word of warning the only social media i have are friends that are starting or pre publish themselves.

We all have to start somewhere.  Just do what you can! 

I just put links up on my website and update them as necessary.  My main page is also my blog, so it goes out to all my followers.  But if I post too often, they may leave...so I put up a new promo post every six to eight weeks.

https://lavenderlassbooks.com/2020/11/06/winter-book-promos/

ETA:  You can usually tell who's hosting the promo because one of their books will often be at the top or top left position.  I'll come back and let you know when my new promos (to sign up for) are posted.

Thank you very much

[idontknowyet]

Ryan Zee? i dont mind paying a little bit to help me get started

Speaking of Booksweeps, Ryan Zee, I just entered a promo for next month. I recognize this might not yield as many close fans, but the giveaway will fit my genre and expand my list. I'm currently at 500 and have been building my list, thanks to StoryOrigin & Bookfunnel, since last year. At first I was really careful with who I added, but now I'm willing to watch who opens and wean later.

OP, I started book funnel last year with a list of only 35 or so, I think. Super cool that Lorri's willing to add you to her promos.  . Good luck and hope to see you around with some promos in the future.

He looks like all promos are sold out for categories even remotely close to mine. I'll try for the next group

[alhawke]

They sell out really fast. Keep an eye on them. I think they usually release towards the end of the week. The minute they come up, you've gotta grab them.

[LilyBLily]

You could sign up for Ryan's mailing list somehow and then he'd let you know when they open. Although actually this time around, David Gaughran had a link to the Zee site but the ones I wanted weren't open yet. Then Ryan emailed me. Then I hesitated. Then, boom, all spots taken. Anything that works gets heavily patronized these days.

[Lorri Moulton]

The promoters will tell you how much they want you to share on the promotion instructions, but nearly all want you to share. If you have no subscribers, Bookfunnel will "ding" you a bit with your reputation. You could cancel this promo and get a number of emails by running a giveaway first (like ^^). Just know that cancelling still hurts reputation on Bookfunnel.

Or stay in the promotion and get a few subscriber you know you can send the link to. Friends, family, readers etc. You don't need a ton; like I said, you're aiming for like 20 clicks of interest, but your first promo could be just a handful. Meanwhile you're increasing your newsletter list with your first promotion.

Hmm maybe i should try some facebook adds. Can you do those offering free books?

You can be in any of my promos...assuming they're a good fit for your book.  If you don't have a list, you can share on social media.

I'll be posting new promos next week in sweet romance, mystery/suspense, fantasy, and maybe a supernatural thriller.  I write in a lot of genres, so I have a lot of promos. LOL

I have a promo for free stories if you want to join!  No newsletter signups...no newsletter needed.  You can share on social media.  I'll be posting some paid promos next week that will start in 2021.  This one starts December 18th for Christmas, but the stories don't have to be holiday-themed.

https://dashboard.bookfunnel.com/bundles/board/cw7z909d1y

[idontknowyet]

The first 3 promos i joined on book funnel ended last night.
For me i think they did exceptionally well but i dont know the difference.
I got to a bit over 500 newsletter sign ups.

My promo reputation is  3/92.

Are either of these decent numbers or am i on the low side of the spectrum?

I don't want to be excluded from promos in the future.

[LilyBLily]

The first 3 promos i joined on book funnel ended last night.
For me i think they did exceptionally well but i dont know the difference.
I got to a bit over 500 newsletter sign ups.

My promo reputation is  3/92.

Are either of these decent numbers or am i on the low side of the spectrum?

I don't want to be excluded from promos in the future.

I checked and mine for newsletters is 3/113. Near enough to yours, and I also don't know if that's good or bad. But consider that one can pay $50 to get 300 names from a contest company and half of them will drop away fast unless you are an ace at wooing them. These are free. Even if you factor in the overhead cost of BookFunnel these promos are still dirt cheap.

It's your rep for the sales promos that people are demanding about, not the newsletter ones. Several I just looked at say a rep of 0/0 is acceptable, but not 1/0 or 2/0.

[idontknowyet]

The first 3 promos i joined on book funnel ended last night.
For me i think they did exceptionally well but i dont know the difference.
I got to a bit over 500 newsletter sign ups.

My promo reputation is  3/92.

Are either of these decent numbers or am i on the low side of the spectrum?

I don't want to be excluded from promos in the future.

I checked and mine for newsletters is 3/113. Near enough to yours, and I also don't know if that's good or bad. But consider that one can pay $50 to get 300 names from a contest company and half of them will drop away fast unless you are an ace at wooing them. These are free. Even if you factor in the overhead cost of BookFunnel these promos are still dirt cheap.

It's your rep for the sales promos that people are demanding about, not the newsletter ones. Several I just looked at say a rep of 0/0 is acceptable, but not 1/0 or 2/0.

Thank you!

[Lorri Moulton]

I only do sales promos but your numbers look good to me!  Congrats and keep doing well. 

[Lorri Moulton]

The first 3 promos i joined on book funnel ended last night.
For me i think they did exceptionally well but i dont know the difference.
I got to a bit over 500 newsletter sign ups.

My promo reputation is  3/92.

Are either of these decent numbers or am i on the low side of the spectrum?

I don't want to be excluded from promos in the future.

I don't know if you're doing sales promos, but I just listed a bunch that close on February 10th.  Sweet Romances, Contemporary Women's Fiction, etc.  Also some historical and fantasy.  If anyone is interested, PM me!

[idontknowyet]

The first 3 promos i joined on book funnel ended last night.
For me i think they did exceptionally well but i dont know the difference.
I got to a bit over 500 newsletter sign ups.

My promo reputation is  3/92.

Are either of these decent numbers or am i on the low side of the spectrum?

I don't want to be excluded from promos in the future.

I don't know if you're doing sales promos, but I just listed a bunch that close on February 10th.  Sweet Romances, Contemporary Women's Fiction, etc.  Also some historical and fantasy.  If anyone is interested, PM me!

what are sale promos? i've mainly been doing newsletter builders?

[LilyBLily]

[snip]

What are sale promos? I've mainly been doing newsletter builders?

You will get different answers from different people. For some sales promos, you are expected to offer a free book. For others, you could offer a free sample, or a novella or short story or the like. For still others, you could simply have a book in KU and point people to it as all the others in the promo are doing. Read the promoter's words carefully and ask if you aren't certain. Also, some promoters make your book's position in the ad dependent on how many shares you've done. IMO that's asking a lot and may be impossible if you don't tweet or do Instagram. Repeatedly sharing the same promo will not make readers happy with you.

[Lorri Moulton]

My sales promos are any price point, KU or wide.  No email list minimum, but I do ask you to share with social media if you don't have a larger list. 

Since I'm hosting six this month, I don't send out each one in my newsletter.  I'll add a post on my website/blog next week, then I list them all there.  That way, they can change as new ones open and older ones close.
MANY authors have very strict guidelines.  I'm not interested in doing those, so I host my own. 

[Lorri Moulton]

The first 3 promos i joined on book funnel ended last night.
For me i think they did exceptionally well but i dont know the difference.
I got to a bit over 500 newsletter sign ups.

My promo reputation is  3/92.

Are either of these decent numbers or am i on the low side of the spectrum?

I don't want to be excluded from promos in the future.

I don't know if you're doing sales promos, but I just listed a bunch that close on February 10th.  Sweet Romances, Contemporary Women's Fiction, etc.  Also some historical and fantasy.  If anyone is interested, PM me!

what are sale promos? i've mainly been doing newsletter builders?

Sales promos require a sales landing page on BookFunnel.  (Help section can walk you through it.)  Once you have a sales landing page, you can join sales promos.  If someone clicks on your cover, they'll see the same info you have for your book details, then all the places your book is available.  If they click on one of those icons, they'll be taken directly to your Amazon page, Kobo page, etc.