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Post by Deadshot on Jun 13, 2020 17:22:06 GMT
Hi,
Now, I know a lot of authors are present on social media to promote their books but I was wondering if anyone here has built a companion website for their published books. How has it been so far? Successful?
Building a website does not cost much. My opinion is that when you include your website's address in your books, people tend to check it out.
Here's what a website could offer:
- information about the book
- workshops related to the book/topics etc
- free downloads (excerpts, digital resources, comments ...)
- future publications, dates, versions
- a forum on the same website that could attract more readers
- etc
There could be some disadvantages but I think the advantages would outweigh the former.
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Post by adrianallan on Jun 13, 2020 18:10:30 GMT
The answer to your question from me is "yes", because I recently built a wordpress site to promote my books. I have sold a handful of books on this website and on my best day, one post had 10,000 views. However, what I have found is that people read the blog posts, but then tell me they have bought the books from Amazon. This is perhaps there is a natural instinct to trust Amazon instead of an author-made website/blog paulmccartneyafterthebeatles.com/ |
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Post by potet on Jun 13, 2020 20:16:39 GMT
I advertize my books on FaceBook, occasionally under my name (Jean-Paul Potet), permanently under my author's name (Jean-Paul G. POTET, author). In the second I paid FaceBook 20€ to advertise one of my title, then 20€ a couple more times for other titles. It was an experiment. Sales did not increase in these months following these campaigns. I concluded FaceBook advertisements were fruitless. Conversely, whenever I intervene in Filipino threads about Filipino things, people always go and check my books in my FB author's page, and there are more sales in the following weeks. In brief, I am now a salesman knocking from door to door, and offering my books to potential customers. Amusing.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 13, 2020 20:32:07 GMT
I advertize my books on FaceBook, occasionally under my name (Jean-Paul Potet), permanently under my author's name (Jean-Paul G. POTET, author). In the second I paid FaceBook 20€ to advertise one of my title, then 20€ a couple more times for other titles. It was an experiment. Sales did not increase in these months following these campaigns. I concluded FaceBook advertisements were fruitless. Conversely, whenever I intervene in Filipino threads about Filipino things, people always go and check my books in my FB author's page, and there are more sales in the following weeks. In brief, I am now a salesman knocking from door to door, and offering my books to potential customers. Amusing. I've also paid Facebook to advertise my books and business. Useless. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 13, 2020 20:33:11 GMT
Hi, Now, I know a lot of authors are present on social media to promote their books but I was wondering if anyone here has built a companion website for their published books. How has it been so far? Successful? Building a website does not cost much. My opinion is that when you include your website's address in your books, people tend to check it out. Here's what a website could offer: - information about the book - workshops related to the book/topics etc - free downloads (excerpts, digital resources, comments ...) - future publications, dates, versions - a forum on the same website that could attract more readers - etc There could be some disadvantages but I think the advantages would outweigh the former. You look more legitimate if you have your own website, but, bottom line, people buy from places they know. |
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Post by ronmiller on Jun 24, 2020 12:00:05 GMT
The only book-related site I have is this one I know it has gotten traffic and has generated some sales, but I have never bothered to check any of the numbers. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 24, 2020 18:25:56 GMT
The only book-related site I have is this one I know it has gotten traffic and has generated some sales, but I have never bothered to check any of the numbers. Ron, did you have it redone? I remember it looking different. Nice music by the way 😊 |
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Post by Deadshot on Jun 25, 2020 6:04:43 GMT
I agree, great music!
Now, just clicking on Ron's link, I got intrigued and I do want now to buy the book. Is it anything like S.A.S (Son Altesse Serenissime) series? I do read mostly in French but I do enjoy reading in other languages too.
Back to the websites, I think they work really well to promote the books. I always include a QR code or a clear link in my first pages of the book. People scan/follow the link and land on a page where they find extra resources to use. I also include the Books' Amazon page etc.
What I did with my website is I included a subscription-based section where visitors get all the extra resources they need. I do get a very decent amount from subscription. Mind you, I do publish textbooks so maybe that's slightly different.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 25, 2020 8:05:57 GMT
I agree, great music! Now, just clicking on Ron's link, I got intrigued and I do want now to buy the book. Is it anything like S.A.S (Son Altesse Serenissime) series? I do read mostly in French but I do enjoy reading in other languages too. Back to the websites, I think they work really well to promote the books. I always include a QR code or a clear link in my first pages of the book. People scan/follow the link and land on a page where they find extra resources to use. I also include the Books' Amazon page etc. What I did with my website is I included a subscription-based section where visitors get all the extra resources they need. I do get a very decent amount from subscription. Mind you, I do publish textbooks so maybe that's slightly different. I read several Velda books and enjoyed them immensely. I hope you do too. |
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Post by ronmiller on Jun 25, 2020 11:25:28 GMT
The only book-related site I have is this one I know it has gotten traffic and has generated some sales, but I have never bothered to check any of the numbers. Ron, did you have it redone? I remember it looking different. Nice music by the way 😊 Yes, it's entirely new. I'm glad you like the music! A friend of mine knows a musician who specially composed it! |
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Post by ronmiller on Jun 25, 2020 11:27:48 GMT
I agree, great music! Now, just clicking on Ron's link, I got intrigued and I do want now to buy the book. Is it anything like S.A.S (Son Altesse Serenissime) series? I do read mostly in French but I do enjoy reading in other languages too. Back to the websites, I think they work really well to promote the books. I always include a QR code or a clear link in my first pages of the book. People scan/follow the link and land on a page where they find extra resources to use. I also include the Books' Amazon page etc. What I did with my website is I included a subscription-based section where visitors get all the extra resources they need. I do get a very decent amount from subscription. Mind you, I do publish textbooks so maybe that's slightly different. Nope! Nothing at all like SAS, I am afraid! The Velda stories are much more like the hard-boiled detective stories of the 1950s. Glad you like the music! |
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Post by ronmiller on Jun 25, 2020 11:28:30 GMT
I agree, great music! Now, just clicking on Ron's link, I got intrigued and I do want now to buy the book. Is it anything like S.A.S (Son Altesse Serenissime) series? I do read mostly in French but I do enjoy reading in other languages too. Back to the websites, I think they work really well to promote the books. I always include a QR code or a clear link in my first pages of the book. People scan/follow the link and land on a page where they find extra resources to use. I also include the Books' Amazon page etc. What I did with my website is I included a subscription-based section where visitors get all the extra resources they need. I do get a very decent amount from subscription. Mind you, I do publish textbooks so maybe that's slightly different. I read several Velda books and enjoyed them immensely. I hope you do too. Thanks, Larika! You are very kind! |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 25, 2020 13:57:29 GMT
Ron, did you have it redone? I remember it looking different. Nice music by the way 😊 Yes, it's entirely new. I'm glad you like the music! A friend of mine knows a musician who specially composed it! Wow, the whole thing is lovely. It's unique and makes one want to stay. |
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Post by ronmiller on Jun 25, 2020 14:26:31 GMT
Since all of the Velda stories are told in the first person, I did the same thing with the website so that on all of the pages she is speaking directly to the reader. I think this adds something. I'm not sure what, but I think it does.
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Post by BlueAndGold on Jun 26, 2020 1:16:21 GMT
Holy Smokes, Ron! That is a spectacular webpage! Great spy music too!
We all hang our heads in shame and drag our sorry toys home... 
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