Promotions

[Lorri Moulton]

Removed...thank you.

[Vijaya]

I'm contacting newspapers, local and those who might have an interest in my book. Here's a great resource for them in the US: http://www.usnpl.com/   Local papers are esp. happy to publish news about a local author/event.

[idontknowyet]

Do your libraries or book stores feature local authors. It's small but can garner a bit of word of mouth.

[Max]

So, there might be a few variables, between paper copies or ebooks, but my ideas pretty much apply to ebooks.

I'd say newsletter swaps with other authors in your genre would be a good bet, perhaps.

Else, perhaps, I'd consider working in a $20 budget (after the hay is purchased, naturally!) to be a part of Instafreebie where you can get subscribers, and perhaps put your first in series as a hook. Of course, that's assuming it is not in the Kindle Unlimited program.

[DougM]

I now consider my cover a permanent Bookbub. I don't have the funds to go backwards, but I'll be putting most of my money there as I write more.

I spent a few years improving my graphical skills, drawing on a variety of tools almost daily.

I'm trying some new stuff with my blurbs, which may actually be working for once. The click rate for the cover is jaw-dropping, but I need to get the last book of the series out before I ramp up, that way I have a maximum chance for a readthrough, and thus potentially, profit.

[ashleycapes]

This is a fairly classic technique perhaps, but have you considered banding together with other authors of a similar tone/genre in order to release a collection of short stories?

It can be comparatively low-cost - you pool resources for cover, editing etc

And of course, the backmatter directs readers to your other work and so you get a reasonably cost effective 'promo' there too and with all authors promoting it, once again the burden is shared.


What I've found difficult to judge, is just how many sales of the 'backmatter' book can be attributed to the short story collection.

[LD]

Takeovers.  They become LOYAL fans.

Btw, why is your horse giving me the side eye?

[fleurina]

ETA: Maybe this should be under marketing, but for many people marketing is spending money...which is something I cannot do at the moment.  Maybe in a few more months!  Have to buy hay this weekend.

I love the horse photo.
I've only done the odd tickle on social media so far as I was waiting until I finished the trilogy.  Now have first one free via Kobo, Apple etc.  (and need to nudge Amazon). Once that's done I will go on my quest for Holy Grail of Bookbub. Please, oh exalted one, consider my humble request!  :wink:

[WasAnn]

Free is hard.

Aside from newsletter swaps, which can be difficult to arrange if you're not in social contact with others who have books very like yours, there are a few options.

One is to do your discount and apply for the few newsletter promo places that have a free option. One is OHFB, but I don't know how often they pick them up. Another is Reading Deals. I'm sure there are others, so maybe folks can chime up on those.

Use Bookbub...even without paying for it. Ensure your author listing on Bub is current and shows all your books. Get folks who are on your newsletter list to "like" the books there, or even recommend them. That expands your circle a bit.

Refreshing your covers can be a great way to change things up, because it resets the eye that might have seen it before, making them look and re-categorize it in their mind again. That's all good. There's a great free tool for that called Canva.com. It's online, and while they will try to get money for stock photos out of you, you can get all you need for free.

If you'd like me to look at any one book in particular, let me know. I'm not a cover artist, but I do okay sometimes if it's not super complicated. I do have a load of stock downloads left and I'd be more than happy to create one for you gratis.

Just let me know. You can PM me if you like.

[Bill Hiatt]

This is a fairly classic technique perhaps, but have you considered banding together with other authors of a similar tone/genre in order to release a collection of short stories?

It can be comparatively low-cost - you pool resources for cover, editing etc

And of course, the backmatter directs readers to your other work and so you get a reasonably cost effective 'promo' there too and with all authors promoting it, once again the burden is shared.


What I've found difficult to judge, is just how many sales of the 'backmatter' book can be attributed to the short story collection.

I've had great luck with this. As you say, it is hard to tell exactly how much such efforts contribute, but I've seen a definite upturn in sales when I've been in an anthology. I've also gotten sales in some countries that don't usually show interest.


I found a number of such projects on the other forum, and I hope someone here will consider an occasional anthology project. Usually those with common theme and/or genre do best.  Writers who have stories accepted are required to publicize to their email list and whatever social media following they have. Often, the anthology is distributed wide and set up as permafree (which also makes the paperwork easier).

[Simon Haynes]

Free is hard.

Aside from newsletter swaps, which can be difficult to arrange if you're not in social contact with others who have books very like yours, there are a few options.

There's a great facebook group for SF/F swaps here:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1163390753699773/

I use that almost exclusively. Very welcoming and helpful people, and even when I had a list of 200 I don't recall anyone every knocking my offer back. (Well, not for that reason. Sometimes I offered a freebie, and some folk don't promote free books to their ML, which is fair enough.)

My list is pushing 1900 now, just 5 months later, and I'm working hard on signing people up organically. I use perma-free short stories (wide) with irrestable free book offers inside.

I rarely do swaps now, but only because now I have all my first-in-series set to $2.99 instead of free or 99c. My strategy is to apply for bookbubs with each book every 30 days, and I can't do that if I drop the price. On the other hand, if I get a bookbub I'll try and find some swaps for when the price is reduced.

By the way, Bookbub CPC ads are amongst my favourite tools. I'm running two at the moment, one of which is doing well, the other not so well.

Both ads are for books at $2.99, wide, across four countries. It's great to see 2 clicks on the google link for 75c each, then 2 sales from Google the next day at $5.50 royalty. And, hopefully, four more sales for $14 if they buy the rest of the series later!

I was thinking of asking Tim about a sub-forum where we could share and dissect bookbub ads.  I'd love some feedback on one of mine, but sharing an ad is a bit like ... advertising.

[ashleycapes]

I've had great luck with this. As you say, it is hard to tell exactly how much such efforts contribute, but I've seen a definite upturn in sales when I've been in an anthology. I've also gotten sales in some countries that don't usually show interest.


I found a number of such projects on the other forum, and I hope someone here will consider an occasional anthology project. Usually those with common theme and/or genre do best.  Writers who have stories accepted are required to publicize to their email list and whatever social media following they have. Often, the anthology is distributed wide and set up as permafree (which also makes the paperwork easier).

Hi Bill, definitely - sometimes I feel like it's somewhat scattergun, and the more anthologies I'm in the better :D

But on the note of another one, I might be up for organising something like that through here? Common theme/genre/wide + permafree, yeah. Might open a thread later in the year (if no-one else) does.

[WasAnn]

By the way, Bookbub CPC ads are amongst my favourite tools. I'm running two at the moment, one of which is doing well, the other not so well.

Both ads are for books at $2.99, wide, across four countries. It's great to see 2 clicks on the google link for 75c each, then 2 sales from Google the next day at $5.50 royalty. And, hopefully, four more sales for $14 if they buy the rest of the series later!

I was thinking of asking Tim about a sub-forum where we could share and dissect bookbub ads.  I'd love some feedback on one of mine, but sharing an ad is a bit like ... advertising.

There's a marketing sub, so maybe there. I, for one, would love to see real dissections of BB ads. It seems a lot of money can get thrown at them without really understanding how effective it is.

[dianapersaud]

While not free, Fussy Librarian is inexpensive and can get extra eyes on your books, especially if you're wide.

[Simon Haynes]

By the way, Bookbub CPC ads are amongst my favourite tools. I'm running two at the moment, one of which is doing well, the other not so well.

Both ads are for books at $2.99, wide, across four countries. It's great to see 2 clicks on the google link for 75c each, then 2 sales from Google the next day at $5.50 royalty. And, hopefully, four more sales for $14 if they buy the rest of the series later!

I was thinking of asking Tim about a sub-forum where we could share and dissect bookbub ads.  I'd love some feedback on one of mine, but sharing an ad is a bit like ... advertising.

There's a marketing sub, so maybe there. I, for one, would love to see real dissections of BB ads. It seems a lot of money can get thrown at them without really understanding how effective it is.

It would also be nice to share 3 versions of the same ad and get some quick feedback. e.g. which would you click (if any)

[Bill Hiatt]

I've had great luck with this. As you say, it is hard to tell exactly how much such efforts contribute, but I've seen a definite upturn in sales when I've been in an anthology. I've also gotten sales in some countries that don't usually show interest.


I found a number of such projects on the other forum, and I hope someone here will consider an occasional anthology project. Usually those with common theme and/or genre do best.  Writers who have stories accepted are required to publicize to their email list and whatever social media following they have. Often, the anthology is distributed wide and set up as permafree (which also makes the paperwork easier).

Hi Bill, definitely - sometimes I feel like it's somewhat scattergun, and the more anthologies I'm in the better :D

But on the note of another one, I might be up for organising something like that through here? Common theme/genre/wide + permafree, yeah. Might open a thread later in the year (if no-one else) does.

Since we both write fantasy, I'll be looking for that. I said this in another thread, but if you do decide to make the jump, I'm happy to help out in various ways. For example, I can help with editing if you need it--it's amazing how even a relatively short manuscript can take longer than you'd expect. Formatting shouldn't be a problem for an ebook, but I do have Vellum if you want it formatted that way. I'm not artistic, but I'm willing to donate  the cost of the cover if that helps.


As the forum's population grows, I'm pretty sure there would be enough interest to make such a project worthwhile.


{Fixed the size issue. t.}

[ashleycapes]

Will check the new thread, Bill, sounds good!

[Simon Haynes]

I set up a thread for posting and critiques of bookbub ads:

https://writersanctum.com/index.php?topic=442.0

[She-la-te-da]

Squee! Horsies!

Um. What was the question? Oh, right. Broke and need to market. I'm in the same situation. I'm trying really hard to save a little money so I can try some cheap ads when the SF novel that never ends is done (I must stay strong and believe). I'd probably do AMS, though I'm sort of afraid of the whole thing.

I gave up on being in anthologies. They never did anything for me worth the effort and worry, plus I have a minuscule mailing list and zero social media presence so I can't pull my weight there.

[Ash]

I believe Chris Fox recommends hanging out in communities (forums, for example) for people who share the interest of that genre. Have you tried that? Not being pushy about selling your book, but not hiding it either.

[Post-Doctorate D]

I believe Chris Fox recommends hanging out in communities (forums, for example) for people who share the interest of that genre. Have you tried that? Not being pushy about selling your book, but not hiding it either.

Where do you find good forums anymore?  So many seem to have shut down, died out or moved to Facebook groups.  Or they get bought up by companies with author unfriendly terms of service.

[CoraBuhlert]

Good forums sadly seem to have become rare. I was a member of several at one point, but most of them seem to have died off. One thing you could do is comment on blogs discussing your genre. Don't push your book(s), just interact with the people there and put the link to your website in the respective field. Once you become a known quantity, people may check out your books or the blog owner may give you a shoutout, when you have a new release, or give you a guest blogging spot. Though this is something you should only do, if you enjoy it. Otherwise, posters will quickly notice that you're not sincere.

[Rose Andrews]

I believe Chris Fox recommends hanging out in communities (forums, for example) for people who share the interest of that genre. Have you tried that? Not being pushy about selling your book, but not hiding it either.

I have been into Wattpad lately because of this very thing. It's quite fun, too. My sales are down right now but that's probably because I haven't published anything in almost a year. So Wattpad has been helpful in getting my WIP draft close to finished with reader interaction.