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 Catherine Green on October 31, 2011 at 11:44pm: OK I'll speak to Sarah, thanks Steve.

Comment by Stacy Eaton on November 1, 2011 at 12:22am: lol... Yes Steve I would be more then happy to do that - after Friday of this week. I am involved in a HUGE promotion Launch party this week and it is taking up all of my time. Friday I can start putting things together.

James - I know Amanda is a blogger and she said she would help promote us a bit - It is going to be up to us to do most of our promoting. I do not know who is on Twitter, Facebook or Google +_ here - but if you're not - time to jump on the band wagon and start promoting your stuff. Twitter especially!!

Catherine - Stay right there young lady - you are not going anywhere!

I like the 2 books every week for 5 weeks - works for me! We can decide on the day later. I am off to bed - sick and have to be up at 4 am for work tomorrow.

Comment by Catherine Green on November 1, 2011 at 1:05am: I'm here, I'm here don't worry! I'm on Facebook, Twitter, Wordpress, Blogger, Linked In, YouTube, pretty much everywhere online really! Oh, and I've recently discovered Shelfari by Amazon as a good place for promoting...

Comment by Matt T. Schott on November 1, 2011 at 1:07am: Matty Two Cents here again. Stacy you and Steve should pick the first ten people. Only have these ten buying the books for the five weeks then choose another ten. The people not picked can still support with blogs and reviews but don't have to buy the books. From what Stacy has said we should also all buy the books on the same day to boost the Amazon rating.

Comment by Stacy Eaton on November 1, 2011 at 1:14am: Catherine - You are like me - EVERYWHERE - although I do not have time to be on Shelfari right now

Matt - That is correct about the sales all on one day. When you have 9 sales it is amazing how your numbers change!

Comment by Steve Norris on November 1, 2011 at 7:50am: Friday is fine, Stacy. I can probably help on Friday as well, as I we be at home then.

Comment by Catherine Green on November 1, 2011 at 6:56pm: I know, I barely have time to keep up with it all! But I am trying to organize myself better...Oops, it's dinner time, I suppose I should feed the baby! ; )

Comment by Amanda Chambers on November 5, 2011 at 3:58pm: I've never featured an author or book without a review, so I'm new to this. Here's what I'm thinking. I'm currently gathering suggestions for interview questions. (I've never done interviews and I'm currently putting out too many personal fires to turn my brain that direction.) I'll post the questions here, and each author can send me a bio, a summary of the book, maybe a personal note about the book, and the answers to the questions. Then I'll post the interview on whatever day that author is featured. This post is similar, as far as the extra info, but it's a review.

Comment by Steve Norris on November 5, 2011 at 5:40pm: Hi Amanda - Sounds a great idea - Any help is worthwhile

Stacy will you have some time tomorrow to work with me on compiling all the links. I will make a start on it in the morning

Comment by Stacy Eaton on November 5, 2011 at 7:41pm: Steve - I need everyone to e-mail me their e-mail address please - so I can get the necessary information - EVERYONE involved please e-mail me at Mybloodrunsblue (at) aol (dot) com. Please put Author's Promo in the headline - so I have your e-mail address and can get all your book information to start getting this together.

Amanda - make sure you e-mail me too - I can help you with the information.

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