What do you think?
Rate this book
Help! My Facebook Ads Suck
Get the second edition of this book
(All the still-relevant content of this book, plus 100 pages of new information).
Have you put up Facebook ads to sell your books time and time again, only to spend a pile of money and not see any sales?
You're not alone. I was there too, but now I have quit my day job and make a living selling fiction. Both my initial success and the sustainability of my book sales have come from Facebook ads.
In this book, you'll learn how to find the cost per click and sales volumes you'll need to hit to know if an ad is profitable. You'll learn how to target your ads and how to tweak them for maximum returns by age, gender, region.
You'll see how to write plot-based ads, character based ads, pure marketing ads, the whole bit.
Stop losing money every time you run and ad and instead turn them into book-selling machines.
(All the still-relevant content of this book, plus 100 pages of new information).
Have you put up Facebook ads to sell your books time and time again, only to spend a pile of money and not see any sales?
You're not alone. I was there too, but now I have quit my day job and make a living selling fiction. Both my initial success and the sustainability of my book sales have come from Facebook ads.
In this book, you'll learn how to find the cost per click and sales volumes you'll need to hit to know if an ad is profitable. You'll learn how to target your ads and how to tweak them for maximum returns by age, gender, region.
You'll see how to write plot-based ads, character based ads, pure marketing ads, the whole bit.
Stop losing money every time you run and ad and instead turn them into book-selling machines.
104 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 26, 2017
142 people are currently reading
176 people want to read
About the author
Michael Cooper
62 books1 followerLibrarian Note: There are several authors in the GoodReads database with this name. Those listed below have multiple books listed on GoodReads.
Librarian Note: This profile will have more than one author. Those listed below have multiple books listed on GoodReads.
Michael Cooper (2 spaces): Artist, Sculptor
Michael Cooper (3 spaces): wines
Michael Cooper (4 spaces): children’s books
Michael Cooper (5 spaces): “executive coaching”
Michael Cooper (6 spaces): poet who is part of PoetrIE
Michael Cooper (7 spaces): historian
Michael Cooper (8 spaces): self-help
Michael Cooper (9 spaces): poetry, NOT the same as 6 spaces
Michael Cooper (10 spaces): late photographer of the 60s
Michael Cooper (20 spaces): adult
Librarian Note: This profile will have more than one author. Those listed below have multiple books listed on GoodReads.
Michael Cooper (2 spaces): Artist, Sculptor
Michael Cooper (3 spaces): wines
Michael Cooper (4 spaces): children’s books
Michael Cooper (5 spaces): “executive coaching”
Michael Cooper (6 spaces): poet who is part of PoetrIE
Michael Cooper (7 spaces): historian
Michael Cooper (8 spaces): self-help
Michael Cooper (9 spaces): poetry, NOT the same as 6 spaces
Michael Cooper (10 spaces): late photographer of the 60s
Michael Cooper (20 spaces): adult
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
October 23, 2018
If I'd read this book BEFORE dipping into Facebook ads, it would have saved me a bunch of money.
I would still recommend that authors looking to get into pay-per-click advertising should start off with Amazon ads and Brian Meeks' book: you will learn the basics while spending less.
But this book was very helpful, with its FB-specific tips and with some great little marketing nuggets to glean (eg, character-based blurbs convert better with women, while plot-based blurbs convert better with men).
I would still recommend that authors looking to get into pay-per-click advertising should start off with Amazon ads and Brian Meeks' book: you will learn the basics while spending less.
But this book was very helpful, with its FB-specific tips and with some great little marketing nuggets to glean (eg, character-based blurbs convert better with women, while plot-based blurbs convert better with men).
Read
February 10, 2022Sadly, I waited too long to read this book. My lesson: when it comes to technology, get the ebook version (as long as it's frequently updated). So much of this book was out-of-date by the time I started reading it, which is entirely my fault.
Therefore, no star rating given.
Therefore, no star rating given.
Read
April 30, 2018Helpful and to the point. I think that I will get some mileage out of the advice in this book, despite the fact that it's a bit too Amazon-centric for my current approach.
November 13, 2018
Very clear little book about how to optimize your Facebook ads. I need to spend some time trying out what's recommended to really get a feel for it but it did a great job clarifying what I need to do and how to analyze just how well my Facebook ads are doing (not well. yet).
September 18, 2019
Great general advice, but already out of date in September 2019.
March 4, 2020
Great resource for author!
Super useful book for navigating and understanding Facebook ads. Definitely a good tool to keep by your side while creating your first 1-5 ads!
Super useful book for navigating and understanding Facebook ads. Definitely a good tool to keep by your side while creating your first 1-5 ads!
March 4, 2019
Well done
I found Michael’s book to be very helpful and easy to follow and I would recommend it to anyone who is trying to master Facebook ads
I found Michael’s book to be very helpful and easy to follow and I would recommend it to anyone who is trying to master Facebook ads
November 27, 2017
This book is tailored for self-published fiction authors who want to advertise their novels on Facebook. It assumes some familiarity with Facebook’s ad management website. Basically, it felt like it was written specifically for me.
Michael goes into the details of which sales numbers authors should track and how to calculate them, along with some of the advertising lingo that may be unfamiliar to writers. He also focuses on what an ad contains and what good copy looks like. I really appreciated that he also talked about the image that goes with your advertisement and what it should (and shouldn’t) be.
One thing that totally mystified me was the back end of how Facebook decides which ads to display. I never realized how detrimental adding lots of text to my ad images was to the number of impressions the ad gets and the cost per click, but it does make my glorious flops make a lot more sense.
Although the book is rather short, I feel well equipped now to start advertising my novels using Facebook. And hopefully this time, I’ll actually sell more than I spend on ads.
Michael goes into the details of which sales numbers authors should track and how to calculate them, along with some of the advertising lingo that may be unfamiliar to writers. He also focuses on what an ad contains and what good copy looks like. I really appreciated that he also talked about the image that goes with your advertisement and what it should (and shouldn’t) be.
One thing that totally mystified me was the back end of how Facebook decides which ads to display. I never realized how detrimental adding lots of text to my ad images was to the number of impressions the ad gets and the cost per click, but it does make my glorious flops make a lot more sense.
Although the book is rather short, I feel well equipped now to start advertising my novels using Facebook. And hopefully this time, I’ll actually sell more than I spend on ads.
June 13, 2018
Good author marketing book
This is a good book for authors who haven’t done Facebook advertising before. If you’ve done some then it may not give you the detailed in depth knowledge that you’d be looking for but for beginners or intermediates it’s a great book with some hints and tips thrown in. It’s got good examples, pictures and explanations of ‘how to’ actually create ads as well as examples of styles of wording.
This is a good book for authors who haven’t done Facebook advertising before. If you’ve done some then it may not give you the detailed in depth knowledge that you’d be looking for but for beginners or intermediates it’s a great book with some hints and tips thrown in. It’s got good examples, pictures and explanations of ‘how to’ actually create ads as well as examples of styles of wording.
May 27, 2018
Tons of helpful info for authors
This was a quick read but also an excellent primer on how to get started with FB ads. Definitely recommend.
This was a quick read but also an excellent primer on how to get started with FB ads. Definitely recommend.
Read
July 10, 2018A short book that friends have said is very helpful. Now to test out what I've read on how to create some simple but effective ads.
April 20, 2019
Launched first ad in less than a day
Although I had to read and re-read the math to understand Cooper's formulae to figure out cost effectiveness, I applaud him for giving us the tools to know if our money is well-spent. It's obvious that Cooper knows what works and what doesn't. His directions for how to get an effective ad up and running are clear and easy to follow. Just make sure you're working in the FB "ad manager" environment, because the little popup that FB throws up when you click "create ad" isn't Ad Manager--that popup has a link to "ad manager" near the bottom. Click that. I'm glad I spent the money on this book.
Although I had to read and re-read the math to understand Cooper's formulae to figure out cost effectiveness, I applaud him for giving us the tools to know if our money is well-spent. It's obvious that Cooper knows what works and what doesn't. His directions for how to get an effective ad up and running are clear and easy to follow. Just make sure you're working in the FB "ad manager" environment, because the little popup that FB throws up when you click "create ad" isn't Ad Manager--that popup has a link to "ad manager" near the bottom. Click that. I'm glad I spent the money on this book.
January 4, 2021
This short book will give you some insights into creating ads for both Facebook and Twitter. Published in 2017, it's likely that it's a bit dated—especially as Facebook had made several changes to its platform in that time frame. However, some of the tips on ad content and monitoring the performance of your ads is likely still relevant. I was pleased to find that some of my strategies the author finds are workable.
There are some minor editing issues, but nothing that will detract from the message of the book. I read the print edition, so it's quite possible the Kindle edition has been updated.
There are some minor editing issues, but nothing that will detract from the message of the book. I read the print edition, so it's quite possible the Kindle edition has been updated.
January 2, 2019
Help! My Facebook Ads Suck
Every author should have a copy of this informative book. From cover to cover it is packed with helpful tips, proven theories and general help with the enigma that are Facebook ads.
Whether you're just starting out or a veteran using FB ads this book can help all! It gave me relevant information and made me think of things that never crossed my mind.
I do wonder if Mr. Cooper is going to put out an updated version over the next year because FB has changed so much it would be wonderful to hear his thoughts on the new systems or whether he's doing anything different now. I think a sequel may be in order!
Every author should have a copy of this informative book. From cover to cover it is packed with helpful tips, proven theories and general help with the enigma that are Facebook ads.
Whether you're just starting out or a veteran using FB ads this book can help all! It gave me relevant information and made me think of things that never crossed my mind.
I do wonder if Mr. Cooper is going to put out an updated version over the next year because FB has changed so much it would be wonderful to hear his thoughts on the new systems or whether he's doing anything different now. I think a sequel may be in order!
February 26, 2019
Straightforward and informative. To me, Facebook ads had always seemed like some puzzle where you put money in, mysterious machinations occur, and then, if you're lucky, it'll spit out some measure of success. This book really helped to clarify how FB ads work, why they work in the way that they do, and how to maximize your RoI with them.
I'll definitely be referencing this whole thing regularly!
I'll definitely be referencing this whole thing regularly!
February 28, 2019
Good, detailed information
The title says it all. Why are FB adds so damn complicated and unpredictable?
Michael sheds some light on many of the reasons for this, and gives useful insights into what might be a sensible approach.
A section on goals might have been nice. E.g. how would you change your aproach for a launch or to hit best seller lists, or is it better to chug along in the middle lane and bask in the increased visibility.
It's a good book. Read it.
The title says it all. Why are FB adds so damn complicated and unpredictable?
Michael sheds some light on many of the reasons for this, and gives useful insights into what might be a sensible approach.
A section on goals might have been nice. E.g. how would you change your aproach for a launch or to hit best seller lists, or is it better to chug along in the middle lane and bask in the increased visibility.
It's a good book. Read it.
December 14, 2018
I know I need to start advertising on Facebook and I'm so glad this book was recommended. The author who has done extremely well advised against using your book cover for an ad which I would have done had I not read the book. Instead, he suggests using photos that relate to your genre. The book is loaded with concrete how-to information
January 20, 2019
Timing’s Everything
Michael Cooper’s book, Help! My Facebook Ads Suck, came at just the right time. I’m a relatively new author with no idea about how to promote my books. Now I have a fairly comprehensive roadmap to get me started. Since I’m not a marketing expert, I’ll have to re-read a few sections, but I’m sure they’ll become clear as I implement the steps provided.
Michael Cooper’s book, Help! My Facebook Ads Suck, came at just the right time. I’m a relatively new author with no idea about how to promote my books. Now I have a fairly comprehensive roadmap to get me started. Since I’m not a marketing expert, I’ll have to re-read a few sections, but I’m sure they’ll become clear as I implement the steps provided.
December 29, 2019
I recently picked up this book because I've done a little bit of toe dipping into the pool of FB ads and realized I needed some help. This book has been helpful because its provided some useful insights for Facebook ads and how to use them effectively to promote your book. I feel confident I can create ads now that work and will get sales.
February 3, 2018
Great book from someone who has been there
A great book on facebook ads. You can tell he has many inside secrets. The reader can save time and money by reading this, before embarking on a facebook ad campaign.
A great book on facebook ads. You can tell he has many inside secrets. The reader can save time and money by reading this, before embarking on a facebook ad campaign.
July 26, 2018
An excellent book that covers both the macro processes and the micro tweaks necessary to run successful Facebook ads.
My only quibble is that the book is aggressively geared towards people with books in KU. The rest of us were left a little in the cold at times.
My only quibble is that the book is aggressively geared towards people with books in KU. The rest of us were left a little in the cold at times.
July 31, 2018
This book has a lot of conventional wisdom broken down for authors. It's great for someone who doesn't really understand Facebook ads. I wish there was more help surrounding targeting and troubleshooting failed ads.
November 6, 2018
Great info without a lot of filler
The info in this book was straight to the point. I’ve followed the advice carefully and in three days I’ve already seen an improvement in my sales.
The info in this book was straight to the point. I’ve followed the advice carefully and in three days I’ve already seen an improvement in my sales.
January 20, 2019
Excellent Advice For All Authors
This book quantifies a lot of what we self-publishers should be doing as independent business people. The spreadsheets and concrete info is awesome! Highly recommended!
This book quantifies a lot of what we self-publishers should be doing as independent business people. The spreadsheets and concrete info is awesome! Highly recommended!
March 20, 2019
Amazing breakdown and super solid information in this book.
The book itself states that it is targetted towards ads for books but there are information that are universal. It certainly helped me understand the importance of relevance score and frequency.
The book itself states that it is targetted towards ads for books but there are information that are universal. It certainly helped me understand the importance of relevance score and frequency.
June 4, 2019
Oustanding and to the point. This little book is packed full of information for any author. Simple and easy to understand, yet covering topics that even the advanced marketer will appreciate. I can't wait to dig in and apply what I've learned!
February 4, 2020
Amazing as always
If you have not picked up this book, what are you waiting for? It not only breaks down the hope of Facebook ads by the why and theory behind it. I learned so much from this and it will be a staple on my reference shelf. All the thumbs up!
If you have not picked up this book, what are you waiting for? It not only breaks down the hope of Facebook ads by the why and theory behind it. I learned so much from this and it will be a staple on my reference shelf. All the thumbs up!
March 17, 2018
Great reference book!
Great book with lots of applications to help anyone to increase the effectiveness of their book ads. Highly recommended! Any author needs this.
Great book with lots of applications to help anyone to increase the effectiveness of their book ads. Highly recommended! Any author needs this.
April 6, 2018
Very informative
Informative book that tells you all you need to know to master Facebook ads. Easy to follow and well organized.
Informative book that tells you all you need to know to master Facebook ads. Easy to follow and well organized.
April 29, 2018
excellent detail. shame about the typos.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews