Review Group discussion

Marketing is not one of my strengths. How do you guys approach it? What sort of marketing activities do you do?

I'm fortunately 'in' with a local bookstore that holds occasional signings and I've also sold my paperbacks at fairs and similar events with limited success (the book signings are better, but need to be supported by press releases and classified ads).

I've used Goodreads ads but I'm not convinced of the success of them - same for blogads. However, they do increase added-to-shelf stats, so may result in some sales.

I have magnets with my website on my car and also have a couple different business cards.

I have a Facebook author site and I maintain my Amazon author site and Amazon book pages (see my post on spicing up your book pages in the 'General' section for info on that).

I also get reviews whenever I can - like here! Having that set of reviews on Amazon is really important, the number of reviews being as important as the actual star rating in the beginning.

Samuel wrote: "Marketing is not one of my strengths. How do you guys approach it? What sort of marketing activities do you do?"

Joanna Penn's How To Market A Book is a good resource for marketing print books:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DO9HJF8
and David Gaughran's Let's Get Visible is a good resource for marketing eBooks:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CPQ6YYI

Thanks for the info!

Will look up the Joanna Penn book, though the Gaughran one is more in line with my current market. I've already read it.

I maintain an author website, all Amazon pages, fb page, twitter, and interact with people as often as I can. I watch writer oriented forums for market shifts and new sites I can list the book at, even if it only really helps for SEO stuff. I try to meet other authors in my genres, and to participate in specific promotions targeted at those fans. Right now, I'm participating in a sale and kindle giveaway hosted by a heap of space opera authors. It's a lot of fun, and has definitely gotten a different set of people to look at my work.

Eventually, I want to have cards made up for the books, but right now enough of my market is online, that it hasn't been a priority. My wife helps produce little teaser posters for all of my books, using elements of my cover art, but linking to my website, and including a sentence or small section of text, to stir up interest. They're easy to share online, and the originals are high res enough I can easily print cards, magnets, etc. with them.
Like this:


Sam, are you on Kboards? That's a great community, especially if you are interested in working on marketing and branding. The people there keep on your toes, and there's a lot to learn from them.

If you want to read books about marketing go to Smashwords - Mark Coker is a marketing genius and has put advice there for free.

Book Marketing Guide
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...
and
The Secrets to Ebook Publishing Success
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...

Have I followed them? No.
Why? I want to write. I want to spend time with my family, and gardening. I have no interest in marketing and have chosen not to use my precious free time trying something I know I would find frustrating and boring. And yes, I know the price of that decision is remaining unknown, but that's my choice.

I use Mark Coker's ebook formatting guide even though I don't use Smashwords. I ignore all the Smashwords specific stuff and follow the formatting and WORD guide. It's been very useful.

K.A. wrote: "I use Mark Coker's ebook formatting guide even though I don't use Smashwords. I ignore all the Smashwords specific stuff and follow the formatting and WORD guide. It's been very useful."

It is so good, funny too, I recommend it to people in work and you can see that light bulb moment when something suddenly makes sense. You need to know how Word is working before you can be sure about how to beat it into submission to your will, and this guide explains that beautifully.

I have a nice story related to the book on Politico.com they even gave me a line to the book website. Please take a look:
http://www.politico.com/magazine/gall...
The book is PRESIDENTIAL PICTURE STORIES:BEHIND THE CAMERAS AT THE WHITE HOUSE, by Dennis Brack.
Any advice for marketing would be appreciated, thanks Dennis

Now a question. The distributor is going to put the book on Amazon and I have some reviews--need more, go to Net Galley or contact me.
Question? can I list the reviews I have on Amazon personally?

PRESIDENTIAL PICTURE STORIES
by Dennis Brack
dennis@presidentialpicturestories.com

Dennis, I don't think there's any way to personally list the reviews you already have on Amazon, but you can excerpt them and add them to either an author review or the book description, or blog them and link your blog to your Amazon Author Page. Another thing you could do would be to make a trailer that features your reviews and add that to your Author Page.

I wish there were a thread somewhere here titled 'How do you market a boring book' (kidding) ;-)

Nice thread btw. I think ultimately reviews are all the matters. Haven't had any success with facebook or twitter campaigns so far!

I think you're right - I think the NUMBER of reviews is very important, because it's part of the Amazon algorithm that moves your book up the lists for viewing when someone is searching on a particular topic. Of course the actual rating average is important, but if you look at many very popular books, a number of them have ratings that average out to just above three stars, so I'm not sure that's the most important thing. That's one reason why we concentrate a lot on providing a chunk of reviews in a fairly short period of time, rather than genre-matching reviews which often results in slower opportunities for reviews.

Thanks KA The idea of putting them in the book description is something that I will do. I did get the email addresses of the people who sent reviews via Net Galley and am going to ask them to put the same review on Amazon when the book gets listed. I am going to put their review in my email to them so that it will be a simple cut and paste process for them. Can't wait for the book to be listed, but I haven't seen it yet. thanks again, Dennis
I did get a good article about the book on Politico.com

Jay wrote: "If you want to read books about marketing go to Smashwords - Mark Coker is a marketing genius and has put advice there for free.

Book Marketing Guide
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...
and
..."

I am impressed. I do not share your perspective but I like the confidence with which you have set your priorities and accept their outcomes.

Anything that helps those who wish to spend their time marketing is welcome, Elizabeth.

Thanks for ideas. What I've done so far seems to have had limited success. It doesn't help that I hate selling myself--or selling anything at all, really.

I have purchased ads that are so-so in terms of sales, and I engage on social media sites, but most of my sales appear to be driven by my free book.

Have a blog targeted to readers, not other writers. Offer something free on the website in return for an email sign up. At least monthly, send an email to those who signed up with your latest book news, sale info, next book excerpts, etc. use your KDP options to create discounts to advertise. Advertise only on blogs related to your genre. Maximize use of your Amazon author page and book description--make sure it looks as good as the best book description in your genre. Typos or bad grammar in a book description will kill sales. Have a very professional cover and use it as starting point for other graphics used on website. Be consistent in the look of your promo materials across platforms so readers recognize you as the author on Twitter, Facebook, etc. think about where your readers live online, again focus on your genre, and spend more effort there than on general advertising. Stay optimistic! If you have a quality book, it will find a readership. But it is like pushing a boulder up a hill.

Excellent advice, Carmen, but I don't have the time, energy or enthusiasm for marketing. I know - that's why I get only one or two books sold per month, but it's a choice I'm happy about.

I have to admit, right now, other than an ongoing Goodreads ad, I'm pretty much not doing any marketing. And other than getting reviews here, of course. I expect I'll push again in a while, but right now I'm burned out on it.

I am lucky to live in a town that has First Friday events which I have set up book signings at various shops/ restaurants. I am traveling about the US and I am putting a call ahead and making arrangements to deliver signed copies of my book to small local book shops. I work facebook and just bought an ad with a group that recommends books for book clubs (not sure of the out come of that yet) I told anyone local that if their book clubs took up my book I would come talk to them. (Again no actual feed back from that yet) When My second book is about to be released I have more plans in the works. I also put up a quiz about my book on goodreads.

Carmen wrote: "Have a blog targeted to readers, not other writers. Offer something free on the website in return for an email sign up. At least monthly, send an email to those who signed up with your latest book ..."

GREAT tips Carmen! Do you have websites to recommend that will take target market descriptors and then point you to places to find 'your' people?

Great insights. I just have a ebook published right now. I tried Amazon advertising. But so far there have been clicks but no resulting sales so I am going to stop that. Are there other promo sites people might have used to market ebooks?

I've tried so many things!

fb/Twitter/gr ads/posts.
Countdown deals.
Paid advertising on book sites.
Blog.
Business cards.

They all have varying degrees of success. And it will yield different results for different people.

All I can say is try to be online as much as possible to get 'exposure'.

Good luck.

xx

It is good to see so many honest observations. Yes, there is a lot of good guidance but in truth most of us find it hard to sell our books. No doubt this is partly due to the huge number of self-published books being put out each week. Is there an answer? Perseverance will hopefully produce results for some.

I conglobate and then I cry.

Conglobate !! Pretty funny guy, Noah. You're review response, "Thank you, sir, may I have another.", dropped me to the floor.
:-))

Thanks a lot, Rafael. I appreciate you sharing that with me. Glad you value my personality. Many don't! Is there a website out there where I can buy some digital respect?