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Post by markcbrown on Jul 5, 2021 13:32:49 GMT
Hello all,
Getting a little discouraged here. My efforts in promoting my books have resulted in the symphony of crickets. Also the sales few I have made seemed to have muted themselves as far as reviews are concerned.
What can I do differently. I don't have a great budget to advertise. I'm at a loss on what to do next. Thank you for your time.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 5, 2021 13:54:40 GMT
Hello all, Getting a little discouraged here. My efforts in promoting my books have resulted in the symphony of crickets. Also the sales few I have made seemed to have muted themselves as far as reviews are concerned. What can I do differently. I don't have a great budget to advertise. I'm at a loss on what to do next. Thank you for your time. Find a way to get 25 reviews (3 star, 4 star, 5 star), exchange, give free books, mow the lawn, anything. People will not buy unknown authors without reviews. |
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Post by Ken on Jul 5, 2021 14:17:07 GMT
What is your target audience ?
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Post by Retread-Retired-Cameron on Jul 5, 2021 15:23:59 GMT
There are a couple ways to go after reviews. Paid reviews with the bigger names: lulu.boards.net/thread/271/paid-reviewsThen there are GoodReads reviews. Another option is to put a note in your books [the About Author page is one spot] where you mention the value a reader's review holds for other readers regardless of the reviewer finding the work to be good, bad, or indifferent.
You can also check with your local news paper to see if they have a book review section.
One thing about publishing [Traditional, Self, or Independent], it costs money to do it. |
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Post by markcbrown on Jul 5, 2021 15:43:59 GMT
What is your target audience ? 11+ |
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Post by markcbrown on Jul 5, 2021 15:46:47 GMT
There are a couple ways to go after reviews. Paid reviews with the bigger names: lulu.boards.net/thread/271/paid-reviewsThen there are GoodReads reviews. Another option is to put a note in your books [the About Author page is one spot] where you mention the value a reader's review holds for other readers regardless of the reviewer finding the work to be good, bad, or indifferent.
You can also check with your local news paper to see if they have a book review section.
One thing about publishing [Traditional, Self, or Independent], it costs money to do it. That's the problem. I don't have a budget. I can't even buy more than one copy of my own books. To give away. |
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Post by Retread-Retired-Cameron on Jul 5, 2021 15:59:24 GMT
There are a couple ways to go after reviews. Paid reviews with the bigger names: lulu.boards.net/thread/271/paid-reviewsThen there are GoodReads reviews. Another option is to put a note in your books [the About Author page is one spot] where you mention the value a reader's review holds for other readers regardless of the reviewer finding the work to be good, bad, or indifferent.
You can also check with your local news paper to see if they have a book review section.
One thing about publishing [Traditional, Self, or Independent], it costs money to do it. That's the problem. I don't have a budget. I can't even buy more than one copy of my own books. To give away. Having funds to budget [or not] to an expense is always fun. I recently retired early and now get to play catch up after the last several years of no discretionary budget.
If you have a GoodReads account there are people there who do reviews, some paid and some free.
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Post by potet on Jul 5, 2021 16:00:44 GMT
If you subscribe to FaceBook, you can advertise your book for free by posting the blurb accompanied by a picture of the cover. I do this for every title, and I have a modest following thanks to it. I answer questions on FaceBook about my books. I also intervene in discussions by posting a relevant passage from one of my books followed by its cover. Many buy the book after such an intervention.  |
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Post by markcbrown on Jul 5, 2021 16:07:06 GMT
If you subscribe to FaceBook, you can advertise your book for free by posting the blurb accompanied by a picture of the cover. I do this for every title, and I have a modest following thanks to it. I answer questions on FaceBook about my books. I also intervene in discussions by posting a relevant passage from one of my books followed by its cover. Many buy the book after such an intervention. View AttachmentI have used fb ads with no sales. When I post on my timeline or fan page noone shares,likes or buys from the link. Very disheartening. |
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Post by Ken on Jul 5, 2021 16:21:19 GMT
That's the problem. I don't have a budget. I can't even buy more than one copy of my own books. To give away. Okay so you’re writing for children aged 11-15. I’d also ask in which country? I don’t mean to be cruel or unkind but if you can’t afford to buy some sample copies why should anyone else. As with any product advertising is the key and I’ve mentioned that numerous times over the years. Products don’t sell without proactive advertising and your books are just products. For example even though Kellogg’s cornflakes and Heinz baked beans only sell because of constant consistent advertising and not because people have also bought them. I ask which Country because I know that in the UK one way of increasing book sales is by promotions in local schools especially where they have book days. You should also consider specialist web sites/forums where children’s books are discussed and reviewed. Although many of the books I publish are for other authors I do write and publish books on specific topics, mainly technical and military history. With those I participate in closed User Groups and Forums so I already know and understand my target audience and it is easy to promote new titles and sell significant quantities. My latest publication released for sale on July 1 already has achieved several hundred sales. |
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Post by markcbrown on Jul 5, 2021 16:26:22 GMT
That's the problem. I don't have a budget. I can't even buy more than one copy of my own books. To give away. Okay so you’re writing for children aged 11-15. I’d also ask in which country? I don’t mean to be cruel or unkind but if you can’t afford to buy some sample copies why should anyone else. As with any product advertising is the key and I’ve mentioned that numerous times over the years. Products don’t sell without proactive advertising and your books are just products. For example even though Kellogg’s cornflakes and Heinz baked beans only sell because of constant consistent advertising and not because people have also bought them. I ask which Country because I know that in the UK one way of increasing book sales is by promotions in local schools especially where they have book days. You should also consider specialist web sites/forums where children’s books are discussed and reviewed. Although many of the books I publish are for other authors I do write and publish books on specific topics, mainly technical and military history. With those I participate in closed User Groups and Forums so I already know and understand my target audience and it is easy to promote new titles and sell significant quantities. My latest publication released for sale on July 1 already has achieved several hundred sales. Funny because as I was reading this, I was listening to pandora and the song playing was frank Sinatra singing Ain't that a kick in the head. Lol. Well evn tho I'm fro. The UK I live in the US. |
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Post by Retread-Retired-Cameron on Jul 5, 2021 16:31:26 GMT
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Post by markcbrown on Jul 5, 2021 17:51:25 GMT
To get them into libraries, I'll have to give the books to them as they don't buy self published books. I tried that b4 |
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Post by Retread-Retired-Cameron on Jul 5, 2021 18:58:38 GMT
To get them into libraries, I'll have to give the books to them as they don't buy self published books. I tried that b4
Some libraries do buy Self-Published books, but it typically involves publishing through a wholesaler like Ingram Spark. Smaller libraries lean toward donations of Self-Published books due to budget constraints and concerns about quality [since the erroneous and untrue idea is SP books are generally crap, though some are poorly written and edited].
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Post by benziger on Jul 5, 2021 20:32:21 GMT
Maybe you don't have money, but you have some time. Contact schools in your area for an author reading. You should plan it well: - give the schools a concept beforehand, ideas on how the class can prepare for the reading (not necessarily): on the topic, about the author, his books, from which book you will read. - some teachers will order the book beforehand, some may read it to the class afterwards. - the school library will maybe buy some of your books before or after (contact it and inform them about the reading)
You cannot offer a book table. But: Children who have bought the book beforehand can of course have their copy signed at the end of the reading. You have to propose that in the concept. Children want books later for their birthday or for Christmas.
If the school doesn't do it, do it yourself: write to the local press about the event, including a picture. Maybe your wife or girlfriend would be better to send it in (so it doesn't get sent with your own name on it).
(just like that, noted down somewhat disorderly)
About the reviews: Giving away e-books to reviewers costs nothing.
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