Lauren’s Comments (group member since Jun 08, 2022)

Lauren’s comments from the Editio Self-Publishing group.

I used a vanity publisher. I paid $2000 for editing and "marketing". Then another $1000 for a press release and print copies. Then another $500 on cover design. Then another $500 for permanent management of the website. Then another $500 for management of the blog for 2 years. I then spent another $300 on a press release to black media outlets. Another $500 to Cush City advertising. Another $300 for a book tour (including buying, signing and shipping books). Another $250 for a magazine spread and radio interview, another $200 on a different magazine spread. Anywhere from $500 - $1000 on e-mail promotions. Anywhere from $250-500 on Instagram promotions. $1000 on a scam. About $300 on Amazon ads. Close to $1000 on Facebook ads. About $500 to various people on Fiverr.com for touch-ups to my book description and ad copy. About $500 down the drain to Tomoson.com influencers, before I knew what a bookstagrammer was. That sums it up. I have a very niche book. It's African-American short stories. I've gone on a few Facebook pages and told them I was selling 15-30 books a month and some people were very impressed while others had strategies that led to 200-1500 sales per month. So, you get what you get.

Thank you, Maryan. It's been a year and I'm pretty much exhausted, mentally and financially. I've sold 600 books and I'd say it cost anywhere between $8000-$15000. I'm ready to move on.

I have heard that 250 copies is average. It's been a week, and I'm up to 36. I am SURE that 20 of them were friends and family. I have about 400 Facebook friends, and some friends shared. I have an e-mail list of 100 friends, and some of them forwarded. I have tried those "promotion" thingy's and had my book put into lots of e-mail boxes. But mine is "niche". Choose "African-American fiction" or "Contemporary Fiction" or "Women's Fiction" or "Short Stories"... but it's not thriller/horror/romance/mystery. And I'm pretty sure it's going to be the only one I write. It took me 15 years to write all of those stories. They don't just roll off my fingers.

I have chosen not to spend money on "Secrets of Selling 10,000 books". I have chosen not to spend money on BookBub, and BookSirens rejected me. I tried Pubby.co and got ONE review. (Five stars). I tried Book Bongo and Bargain Booksy and It's WriteOn, and BookRaid. And sold 11 books. Next week I try Bookgoodies, Free&Discounted Books, and Booksprout. I have posted a description of my book in 30 groups on GoodReads, and there are about 20 people who have my story on their "plan to read" list. I have 5 reviews, all 4 and 5 star, and I need 10 in order to try The Fussy Librarian and eBookSoda. There are 15 people who are doing ARC/Beta reads for me, and I'm hoping to have more reviews by the 11th.

I have chosen not to pay Kirkus for an editorial review. They are pricey. Someone tell me if they are worth it.

I have fixed my 10 categories in Amazon. I'm down in the thousands. No where near best seller. I did not pay for Book Rocket. I have done TONS of keywords.

I have an Author Website and a press release coming out next week. I hope to have a second press release going to black media companies around the 19th. Google is optimized by SEO. Frankly, if this doesn't do it, I give up.

What works, people????