The Book Marketing Network

For book/ebook authors, publishers, & self-publishers

I'd like to start a new forum where people can talk about what's working for you right now in marketing your book.

I think this will help other authors to prioritize their activities if they can find out what's working for other people. This would be especially valuable to new authors.

I've share the hottest tool that I'm using right now. And that's Twitter. As you will note on the main page of this Book Marketing Network website, both my http://www.bookmarket.com website and this network have been rising in Alexa ranks (and visits) because of my use of Twitter.

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Joan, I'm hearing of others using that strategy and saying it works for them. Where all do you offer it free of charge, and what are the ways you tie it into your other books (like mentioning others in the series at the end of your book, etc.)?

Thanks for sharing! That helps all of us!

Steve- It's free on both Amazon and Smashwords, where the whole series is offered. The free one hovers around #40 in free Kindle books. That has to help. I mean, I'm sure it could be improved, but one can't write a poor story and expect to do well with it.

I also have a web site for my publishing company that shows all my books and where to buy them. Am I allowed to put links? [url=http://www.booksleavingfootprints.com]Books Leaving Footprints [/url]

I have an author blog [url=http://joanofshark.com]Shark Bytes and Tales[/url] where I talk about whatever I'm writing.

The earlier books are mentioned in the later ones. I should go back an redo the earlier ones to include them all, but haven't done it yet.

Rather oddly, the free story is the second in the series. Not sure how that affects anything. I couldn't write a prequel for a free one, when I thought of doing it, because the series begins with a big change in the protagonist's life. The free one is a short story, and the other two are book length.

I think people are just attracted to series, IF they like the characters and setting.

I have hopes that the series might really "take off," but I'm not sure how to make that happen except to keep on keeping on.

Thanks again Joan! Great info!


I suppose an implication of all this is that 1) We have to write good books (so that when people read the free one they'll want more) and 2) The more we write, the more opportunities we have to sell one free in order to sell others.

J. Steve Miller
Author of Social Media Frenzy “Rethinks social media for authors.”
Author of Sell More Books! “What really works for low profile authors.”

Incidentally, the ratio of free books downloaded to purchased books in the same series is about 10:1 (based on three months of data)
I would still call it a success, one just needs to be aware that there isn't going to be some great conversion rate.

 

I see my link code was wrong above. I'll try again using the button (reading directions is good, eh?)

Books Leaving Footprints

Shark Bytes and Tales

Can you put a dollar figure to your strategies? Thanks, Richard

Been working hard to get an author interview...finally, success! Recommend interviews for everyone.

Author interview regarding Powers Not Delegated...http://kriswampler.wordpress.com/201...1/rodney-page/

Reviewer: Kris Wampler, blogger at Kris Wampler's Blog...a Resource for Indie Writers (http://kriswampler.wordpress.com/about/) and author ofLove Train http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005X3G3PK. Kris also provides an e-conversion service, E-Literatehttp://www.facebook.com/pages/E-Lite...09637755829574

Way to go Rodney. Nice interview, and the book sounds interesting.

I agree, interviews often get people to at least recognize your name/picture, although most of the blogs that do them don't have very much reach, the technique gets you into a different circle of people each time.

Hey Joan...thanks for your note.

R

Rodney, Joan is right.  I have spent as much as a day writing up something for a blog's interview.  It looks nice and gets spread socially after it appears on the individual's website, but usually doesn't generate one sale.  (And this goes for several genres).  It helps getting spread around, this is true, but it's just another testament to how difficult it is for Indie authors to either make a living or just pay a few extra bills!  (It's a good thing when you break even after all the costs to get your book up and running).

Also, when I clicked on your book cover, it did not send me to a purchase site, which is not good planning on the host's website. 

Would you mind a helpful comment as well?  Your book cover is quite dark, drowning out whatever that statue is.  I would work on a new cover.

Hope this is helpful.

'Doctor Barbara'

http://barbaraebel.weebly.com

'Doc'...thanks for the feedback; generally agree.

Regarding the cover, the figure is a black silhouette...but, appreciate your observation.

Helpful criticism always welcome.

Barbara- it's always hard to pin a sale to a specific tool. However, it's generally recognized that people have to see something about 8 times before they will buy. The more places I can get my name and face and titles out there, the more likely it is that someone will eventually say, "Hey, she's for real. Maybe I'll try one of the books."

The indie road is a long one. Things have picked up for me this year, but I'm a long way from making a living. HA!

Joan, this is true about consumers having to see something over and over again.  And yes, it takes time to build as an Indie!

The 'romance' in Operation Neurosurgeon is not typical of what you'd expect (no spoiler here) - and it's concept came from a situation I saw during my years of practice.  I have written 8 books, and that one is my biggest (ebook) seller.  Outcome and the liver transplant situation I describe is also quite close to reality (scarey).


Steve, thanks for that info.  I didn't know there was a way to see a blog's following.  I have been on some, but not a huge # of blogs because time is precious and I wonder about their viewership.
http://barbaraebel.weebly.com

http://dogbooksforchildren.weebly.com

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