Authors, Writers, Publishers, and Book Readers

E- Book Promotion Days

Those of us in the independent sector of publishing will no doubt know that marketing a new book is akin to burning pound or dollar notes. You do all the promotion, you blog like mad, network like a social prostitute and throw money on great ideas, and all you get as a reward is one measly sale on Amazon.

But the other great thing you notice is that one measly sale makes a significant difference on your chart rating, promoting your book thousands of places up the scale. Many of us will know with the monolithic world of Amazon, that being at the top of your various genre charts is vital to the Mr and Mrs Bloggs of the world seeing your book and considering a purchase. But whilst you are dwindling in the realms of number 100 or even 1000 in the genre not even the most avid book searching geek is going to delve that far to find you.

This week I have attempted a bit of a promotion and it seemed to work in pushing my kindle book ( A Very English Revolution) to the front page of the Political Thriller chart, and that’s with only minimal additional sales (less than 10 I think). Maybe there is a chance that Bloggs will get his wallet out now.

This morning I thought of a great way for all of us to do something similar to help each other.

My idea is to promote our e-books as a collective. I have chosen e-books rather than paper copies because most of us sell e-books a much lower cost so it makes the exercise more viable than paper, although if it’s successful maybe we can consider paper as well.

Here’s the idea.

We create a list of interested authors who all possess a kindle. I can keep a register of interested parties or publish it somewhere, whatever we choose. Each author agrees a promotion day and the others share this on their blogs and social networks. When that day comes around each of us buy and download the book on the same day, therefore boosting that days sales ranking. If there are enough of us doing it then there is a chance of success.

Success breeds success, so if it works for one person then others will follow and each of us will have more of a chance to make front page heaven. Of course this does require trust in our fellow authors to do the deed, but what can I say? It’s an idea, if it works then we all win. You never know we might be downloading a great book we might otherwise totally bypass.

Interested to know what people think. Please share it around writer sites, as the more people are interested the more we can make this work. People can find me out in the virtual world but otherwise a mail at norristeve@gmail.com will engineer a direct response.

7 members like this

Comment by Amanda Chambers on January 21, 2012 at 3:25pm: chefamanda@gmail.com

Comment by Stacy Eaton on January 21, 2012 at 3:37pm: Thanks Amanda working on it now - will send it over in a little while!

Comment by Stacy Eaton on January 21, 2012 at 3:51pm: Sent Amanda

Comment by Stacy Eaton on January 21, 2012 at 3:52pm: The US Link for My Blood Runs Blue:

http://www.amazon.com/My-Blood-Runs-Blue-ebook/dp/B004VGUIBA/ref=sr...

The UK Link for My Blood Runs Blue:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/My-Blood-Runs-Blue-ebook/dp/B004VGUIBA/ref=...

Comment by Sarah Luddington on January 22, 2012 at 10:12am: Been really looking forward to reading this - right up my street.

Have been a little delayed in buying (spent all day scrubbing mould off walls and didn't go near my computer or phone - yeak sorry!) but I noticed it has good rankings in the UK already is morning. Hope it all goes well.

Comment by Matt T. Schott on January 22, 2012 at 1:20pm: Just brought "My Blood Runs Blue". I finished reading Renegades, very moving with intimate moments and a perspective of life times. I am now on chapter 3 of Lancelot and the Wolf. I'm liking it. Cheers and don't make fun of my accent.

Comment by Steve Norris on January 22, 2012 at 2:04pm: Got mine done - good luck Stacy

Comment by Stacy Eaton on January 22, 2012 at 2:15pm: Thank you everyone!

Comment by George Stringfellow on January 22, 2012 at 3:50pm: Bought "My Blood Runs Blue". Good luck Stacy, from the looks of things I'm going to enjoy it. Thanks Matt for your comments on "Renegades". Got lots of good reading lined up and that's cool.

Comment by Stacy Eaton on January 22, 2012 at 3:55pm: I do hope you all enjoy it - I have found that although there is some "romance" in it - there is so much suspense - mystery and police stuff in the series that men are really enjoying it too. Look forward to hearing your thoughts when you do get a chance.

Thank you all again!

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