Authors: be aware

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Humberto Sachs on December 14, 2011 at 9:52pm

Let's start to review http://www.bookmarketingworks.com/index.php?pg=wesellforyou.htm -  Have you used their service?  Did you make or lost any money?

Permalink Reply by Anna L. Walls on December 14, 2011 at 10:08pm

The one thing that really pissed me off is the advertising package I bought from AuthorHouse. Because I live in the wilderness, I knew I would need a lot of help in that department so I paid for the biggest package they offered. Supposedly I'd get my own valet who would handle my advertising. I didn't know what to expect but I did expect more than what I got. For my $2400.00 all I got was a 3000 mass email. Just once is standard, but when I got no responses from it, not that I knew what to expect in the first place, I called them about it and I got another mass email - still nothing. I won't be making that mistake again. I don't think I've sold but a handful of books through AuthorHouse. The only good thing they did for me was get my book listed on Amazon and other places around the web.

Permalink Reply by Anna L. Walls on December 14, 2011 at 10:15pm

I didn't see your link until after I posted. I took a look. It looks impressive and I can understand paying for something of the sort but I'm now quite leery of paying for such advertising. I've bookmarked it though, just in case.

Humberto Sachs said:

Let's start to review http://www.bookmarketingworks.com/index.php?pg=wesellforyou.htm -  Have you used their service?  Did you make or lost any money?

Permalink Reply by Humberto Sachs on December 15, 2011 at 12:44am

Yes, but that alone does not sells books, does it?

Permalink Reply by Humberto Sachs on December 15, 2011 at 12:50am

I hope you understand that I do not thrust that marketing.  The results you saw about my book has been my doing, not any payed for marketing. If they really believe that their marketing works, why kill the opportunity to get another good book in their catalog by trying to collect those exorbitant front end charges? That sounds like rip-off to me.  But let's keep in touch.  List me in your contacts.

Permalink Reply by Humberto Sachs on December 16, 2011 at 12:31am

I just finish evaluating Indie Books Awards http://indiebookawards.com - Cannot find any real marketing results from the merit of receiving the award. For example, the "World Voyagers" a Indie Book Award winner has sales record lower than my book.  And so on.  Just browse Amazon.com with the key words "indie book."  My conclusion: it is another rip-off.  Do you have some experience to add to this?

Permalink Reply by Anna L. Walls on December 16, 2011 at 7:47am

I'm not so sure any sales differences would result simply from winning an award, however something sure happened else you would not have won the award in the first place. You should be proud of it and flaunt it wherever possible. Such a milestone could make #2 that much more enticing to a potential readers.

Permalink Reply by Humberto Sachs on December 19, 2011 at 9:14pm

Sure, any review or reward is a plus.  The point I was making is that process is another rip-off. 

Soon all of this will change.  Transmedia Press will change it.  Excellence award and other recognition will become similar to an"Oscar" for the movies.  If you curious, for now, just post your interest under the Transmedia Press project in txgroup.org.   I will keep you posted. Use my email hws01@txgroup.org to make the connection. 

Permalink Reply by Anna L. Walls on January 18, 2014 at 1:36am

Word to the wise since this is a rather old conversation. Never pay for publishing. If you can't do it yourself, and there are many ways now to let you do just that, you are dropping money down a black h***; you're better off using that money for a knockout cover.

Permalink Reply by Anna L. Walls on January 18, 2014 at 11:49pm

I've never done that. I don't have the resources for that either. Your best bet is to have your work read by hopefully more than one beta reader before publishing. I've taken to selling my services as an editor, but I'm not perfect either. I do know a fresh pair of eyes is very important. One thing I would highly recommend is that you have your computer read your text to you. You will be surprised the little things you will find that way. Then, after publication, just keep your book visible wherever you can, every day. Don't rely on someone else to do your work for you. You'll pay, and you'll get your add, and then the next magazine will come out and you will be forgotten.

Tanya Robinson said:

I am shocked by how much these people charge let alone that many are rip-offs. So sad there is such dishonesty in our societies.  I have no resources to venture into these fields but if I had would expect a lot more for my money.  I understand there are similar scams with 'publishing' companies.  This worries me as, once my revised book(s) is/are ready I had considered trying to find funds to employ ones of these.  Now, I am not so sure and may stick to those recognised free companies even if they do not have such a broad base for publicising.  Just going back to marketing: does anyone know newspapers/magazines who would accept and hopefully publish, a press release from a self-published author? 

Permalink Reply by Raymond Cook on September 29, 2015 at 5:03am

Hello:

I am sorry you took a chance to better your career and came up short. I won't fall for many of the marketing schemes for authors.

Perhaps some are legitimate but the rest in my opinion are preying on authors who want to see some level of success out of something they have written.

I don't like Amazon because there is NO "Checks and balances" of actual sales of eBook Downloads. But Amazon and my Author website which uses PayPal is what I have to work with.

At worst, an author could sell 100,000 downloads and be told 187 downloads were made.

But I see few options to choose from.

Companies are getting rich off of authors shelling out $2,400 each.

A mailing list has a very poor response rate. You don't even know if the mailing list was for your target audience. Or in fact if they actually sent out 3,ooo mailings.

I have seen some websites offering to send out 100,000 e-mails. The down side is the e-mail will most likely land in the SPAM folder and be deleted.

There is no easy answer.

All there is are things other authors have done which worked for them.

I wish you the best.

Raymond
 
Tanya Robinson said:

Thank you for your advice Anna.  Also for the point about new edition of magazine.  So far I have never relied upon anyone else to do the work for me.  When the new edition of my book is ready I will have to consider adding it to more sites but of course that will depend upon who I publish with.  So far I have found Createspace the easiest to use but that does limit where I can have the book listed.  Obviously I need to do more research.  Thank you again for the help and advice you have offered over time.
 
Anna L. Walls said:

I've never done that. I don't have the resources for that either. Your best bet is to have your work read by hopefully more than one beta reader before publishing. I've taken to selling my services as an editor, but I'm not perfect either. I do know a fresh pair of eyes is very important. One thing I would highly recommend is that you have your computer read your text to you. You will be surprised the little things you will find that way. Then, after publication, just keep your book visible wherever you can, every day. Don't rely on someone else to do your work for you. You'll pay, and you'll get your add, and then the next magazine will come out and you will be forgotten.

Tanya Robinson said:

I am shocked by how much these people charge let alone that many are rip-offs. So sad there is such dishonesty in our societies.  I have no resources to venture into these fields but if I had would expect a lot more for my money.  I understand there are similar scams with 'publishing' companies.  This worries me as, once my revised book(s) is/are ready I had considered trying to find funds to employ ones of these.  Now, I am not so sure and may stick to those recognised free companies even if they do not have such a broad base for publicising.  Just going back to marketing: does anyone know newspapers/magazines who would accept and hopefully publish, a press release from a self-published author? 

Permalink Reply by Raymond Cook on September 29, 2015 at 5:11am

Hi Again:

An author website, if you don't already have one is a big step toward giving visitors a chance to look at your Book or eBook download. I prefer eBooks because I don't have to deal with paper, printing ink and soft or hard binding the book, shipping package and postage.

If you don't have a website already, a 3-5 page author website can cost as little as $350.

My author website has about 30-35 pages so over the years it has cost me a lot.

If I can be of any help to you, just e-mail me. raymond@westernfrontierebooks.com

My advice or suggestions are free.

If you do have a website, being a member of writers groups and having their logo is a plus, or at best, can't hurt. I am a member of two writers groups:

Raymond
 
Anna L. Walls said:

I'm not so sure any sales differences would result simply from winning an award, however something sure happened else you would not have won the award in the first place. You should be proud of it and flaunt it wherever possible. Such a milestone could make #2 that much more enticing to a potential readers.

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