Michael J. Sullivan hosts a Q&A discussion

May I ask, what has been most effective for you?

It depends on here you are in your writing career. I sometimes think that authors spend WAY too much time trying to promote their first book. The truth is very few can earn well with just one. And so you spend A LOT of time and can only get one sale. What you want is to spend time and get multiple sales and that comes from having multiple books to buy. My books really didn't start to take off until I had three out there so here is my recommendation when very early in your career.

* With just one book out - spend 90% writing next book and 10% on promotion

* With two books out - spend 85% writing next book and 15% on promotion

* With three books out - spend 60% writing next book and 40% on promotion.

Okay but what do you do with that promotion? Well, again the big problem is sometimes people work to get "eyes to their page" before the book is "ready to be seen." Here's what I mean by that. I've seen people with a brand new book do a free promotion...HUGE MISTAKE!! Why? Because a free promotion will (in general) drive a lot of eyeballs to your book. But when people get there do they find a book with 1 review? Maybe 2 reviews? Even if free they aren't interested.

So...in the early days ALL your marketing should be focused on getting reviews. Here on goodreads it's really easy to find people who highly rank other books that are similar to yours. So let's say you wrote something similar to Mistborn(a fantasy novel). I would join a fantasy group (or several). Carefully follow the rules of the group (READ THEM) and see if there is a place for you to post. If so I would write a post something like...

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Hey guys, I'm a new fantasy author and my book was just released. I'd love to offer free review copies to anyone in exchange for an honest review. Here's a little about my book...

THEY KILLED THE KING. THEY PINNED ON TWO MEN. THEY CHOOSE POORLY
There's no ancient evil to defeat or orphan destined for greatness, just two guys in the wrong place at the wrong time. Royce Melborn, a skilled thief, and his mercenary partner, Hadrian Blackwater, are running for their lives when they're framed for the death of the king. Trapped in a conspiracy that goes beyond the overthrow of a tiny kingdom, their only hope is unraveling an ancient mystery before it's too late.



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The important things about this post are:

* Don't be too pushy
* Make sure they know there is no obligation to review
* That you are interested in HONEST reviews
* Present your case in the most attractive light as possible.

Then...after people post reviews on goodreads, send them a direct message and ask them if they could do a favor and repost them on Amazon.

Once you get 12 - 15 Amazon reviews then your book "looks credible" and it's time to drive traffic to your page with pricing techniques, etc.

I know you mentioned you don't have much money...I spent no money (well I think I did about $25 - $30 of goodreads ads once) but that was it.