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 Steve Norris on November 6, 2011 at 2:17pm: Hi All

Here is the list as I have it of those included in the exercise. Can you please confirm that I have the right book, or where it is not listed can you add the book and where it can be bought. Amanda, your name is listed but I know you are helping with promotion, not buying books.

Steve Norris A Very English Revolution $2.99

Stacy Eaton My Blood Runs Blue $1.39

C.A. Lofton

George Stringfellow Renegades $3.33

J.Walker $0.99 Catherine Green Love Hurts $11.00

Nevada Drake

James Nelson

Sean Noonan

Amanda Chambers Promoting us all at http://www.livinglearninglovinglife.com/p/book-reviews.html

Julius Thompson

Matt.T.Schott $2.50

If I have missed anybody or included someone by error please let us know. Please let us ahve information asap so we can get started on it

Comment by Stacy Eaton on November 6, 2011 at 3:20pm: I am going to talk about some things I have learned here and I am posting my pages so you can see examples of what I am talking about.

AMAZON:

First off – anyone selling on Amazon – you need to have your author page set up and you need your TAGS set up. Many of you either do not have author pages or you have no key words attached to your book. Hard to search your genre to find you when you give people nothing to look for.

TAGS are added through the Amazon KDP bookshelf. Go there and add your keywords right away.

Author pages – click on your name under your book title. It will take you to your blank author page, sign in and create your page. Give yourself some exposure here!

My author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Stacy-Eaton/e/B005KQIJY8/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_...

My book page: look at the “TAGS” – go down and find them….

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

TWITTER: @StacySEaton

If you are not on twitter – get on it! One of the best way to market free! Don’t just get on there and throw out stuff about your book – retweet what others say – TALK TO PEOPLE – be nice. Schedule tweets so they go throughout the day and night – use a program like Tweetdeck or invest in the Social Oomph program.

Facebook:

You should have a fan page – where you talk about your books – talk about your writing – talk to your FANS!

Keep a separate page for people you want to keep as good friends. Talk – share – be there for them.

My fan page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Stacy-Eaton/191880767522183

Google +:

You might want to jump in here too! Up and coming platform to get your name out there.

Google +: https://plus.google.com/108048743761128510075/posts

BLOG:

Do you blog? How often? If you don’t blog, you might want to start… A couple blog enteries a week is great – talk about your work- your writing – invite other authors to be guests – interview them – post reviews –talk about your dog – who cares – just blog.

My blog: http://stacyeatonauthor.blogspot.com/

Website:

Do you have a website? What do you put on it? I put everything – and now I am in the process of adding every interview – every guest blog post – every anything that I have been involved with plus info on my books – how to buy – how to contact – My site is messy right now – making changes to it – but there is a lot of info – including reviews.

http://stacyseatoncom.fatcow.com/

TRIBERR:

If you are a blogger – then you need to be on Triberr. Triberr distributes your blog out to thousands of people by way of links to other members. It’s hard to explain. If you are a blogger and want to get involved – let me know – I can get you on Triberr.

Comment by Stacy Eaton on November 6, 2011 at 3:21pm: For those of you who wish to take part in the e-book promotion - please send me an e-mail so I can get more information from you. Mybloodrunsblue(at)aol(dot)com.

Comment by Stacy Eaton on November 6, 2011 at 9:28pm: I also forgot to mention - if you are not on Goodreads as and Author - you need to do that too! It is a great way to connect with readers and talk to them!

Comment by Steve Norris on November 12, 2011 at 10:24am: Sorry for not updating earlier all but been a busy week.

We really want to do this promotion but we are just trying our networks to secure more input. The most important thing is that the book prices are cheap enough for it to work. For us to buy 2 books a week, some people won't be able to afford more than a few dollars/pounds. Sorry if this excludes anyone but we are looking at a limit of $5/£3 preferably less for each book so that we can afford to buy in suitable numbers.

This price is not unusual for Independent books on kindle/ebook format

I'm away this weekend but will pick up the campaign again next week

Comment by Catherine Green on November 12, 2011 at 11:43pm: I have confirmed a change of Kindle price for my books on Mirador. For some reason Sarah was nervous about you and me collaborating, Steve! Anyway I am good to go.

Comment by Steve Norris on November 13, 2011 at 5:11pm: Interesting Catherine. Sarah is always nervous about that kind of thing.

I've talked to her about it before when I've suggested working together with other Mirador writers. I think the main point she is making that works for one writer might not for another and that we need to think for ourselves. Hopefully she trusts you and I to do this for the best and she will benefit in the long run.

Comment by Catherine Green on December 29, 2011 at 9:31pm: Good evening all! Well I got my Kindle, I am so excited! So I was wondering if we are still doing this promotion thing, especially since Steve and I have our books on a special offer price for 2 weeks? Otherwise I really want to order your books anyway, so let me know ; )

Comment by Matt T. Schott on December 30, 2011 at 10:29am: I've been distracted by family matters this last couple of weeks. I hope I didn't miss out? When and how are we going to do this?

Let me thank you now for taking the time to orginize this. "THANKS"

Comment by Steve Norris on December 30, 2011 at 10:40am: HI All.

I'm don't think we are going to get any more members for our promotion so why not run with it this week. I will produce a list and email tomorrow evening. It will contain links and a schedule. We can then all agree who can do this and who not

Be in touch tomorrow :)

Comment