How do you promote your book?

AncientGardener · 09-04-2012, 11:57 AM

I've finished my first e-book and its on Amazon and i'm proud of it.

Of course unless I do something to attract attention to it, my early retirement recedes into the distance. I can imagine that doing nothing will result in a trickle of sales (there's 21,867 other books in the same category).

I'm going to contact lots of reviewers, magazines, newspapers, etc to get them to write about the book and tell the world. I've built a website too.

What have/would you do to get your precious book noticed?

Dr. Drib · 09-04-2012, 01:28 PM

We first proofread our titles!

Let me know if you want the title of this thread corrected.

Don
(Moderator)

crich70 · 09-04-2012, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

We first proofread our titles!

Let me know if you want the title of this thread corrected.

Don
(Moderator)

My thoughts exactly on the title, though it is easy to accidentally mis-type something now and then.

Lazybones · 09-04-2012, 09:34 PM

Keep writing. I've found success at offering an introductory product at a reduced price or free. Sales of my initial book went up after I released a lead-in novella that told a brief but complete story involving some of the main characters.

AncientGardener · 09-05-2012, 02:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

We first proofread our titles!

Let me know if you want the title of this thread corrected.

Don
(Moderator)

Yes please.

mr ploppy · 09-05-2012, 05:18 AM

Think about what makes you buy a book, and do that. Then think about what annoys you about people trying to sell something and don't do that.

kennyc · 09-05-2012, 07:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr ploppy

Think about what makes you buy a book, and do that. Then think about what annoys you about people trying to sell something and don't do that.

Hmmm.....

DarkScribe · 09-06-2012, 09:18 AM

You could start a rumour that your doddering old grandmother used a lottery ticket for a book mark then returned the book to the store before learning that the ticket had won.

AncientGardener · 09-06-2012, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkScribe

You could start a rumour that your doddering old grandmother used a lottery ticket for a book mark then returned the book to the store before learning that the ticket had won.

That's a bit tricky with an ebook

I was hoping to hear of people's secrets to success...

bigjantailor · 09-06-2012, 09:30 PM

My plan is to send letter to Southern US church leader say that the book (my book) turned my children against God and the church so it need to be band. A book that has a banning attempt on it's dust jacket goes right to the best seller list.

Have fun, Jan

kennyc · 09-07-2012, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AncientGardener

That's a bit tricky with an ebook

I was hoping to hear of people's secrets to success...

TBH there have been numerous threads on this, in this subsection in fact. Maybe a good place to start would be with reading them.

mr ploppy · 09-07-2012, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyc

TBH there have been numerous threads on this, in this subsection in fact. Maybe a good place to start would be with reading them.

But if anyone here does have the magic answer they're keeping it to themself. The key to marketing isn't bombarding random people with stuff they don't want, it's finding the people who do want it. There's thousands of forums out there for people with any minority interest you could think of. One of those would probably be the best place to start, but there's no point just throwing adverts at them, they'll just tune you out.

kennyc · 09-08-2012, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr ploppy

But if anyone here does have the magic answer they're keeping it to themself. The key to marketing isn't bombarding random people with stuff they don't want, it's finding the people who do want it. There's thousands of forums out there for people with any minority interest you could think of. One of those would probably be the best place to start, but there's no point just throwing adverts at them, they'll just tune you out.

True, but that's not what all the discussions involve, there is lots of actual good information. But I agree the best way is to "Write better fiction" - the market will find you.

VydorScope · 09-08-2012, 01:52 PM

It is simple really...

1) Write a GOOD book
2) Have it professionally edited
3) Get a good cover
4) Get book edited again
5) Put book in ever store you have access to, mention it to everywhere you can (blogs, friends, FB, Twitter, etc, etc)
6) While doing step 5, go back and start over with step one.
7) Repeat unlit you are dead.
8) Profit!

Fbone · 09-08-2012, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyc

True, but that's not what all the discussions involve, there is lots of actual good information. But I agree the best way is to "Write better fiction" - the market will find you.

Is this a variation on what Sue Grafton said?

"If you have a good story to tell and if you write it well, the Universe will come to your aid."

To the OP: Make sure your book is listed on GR, Shelfari and Library Thing. Create an author page with them.

09-04-2012, 11:57 AM	#1
AncientGardener Member Posts: 21 Karma: 500010 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: kindle	How do you promote your book? I've finished my first e-book and its on Amazon and i'm proud of it. Of course unless I do something to attract attention to it, my early retirement recedes into the distance. I can imagine that doing nothing will result in a trickle of sales (there's 21,867 other books in the same category). I'm going to contact lots of reviewers, magazines, newspapers, etc to get them to write about the book and tell the world. I've built a website too. What have/would you do to get your precious book noticed? Last edited by Dr. Drib; 09-05-2012 at 07:25 AM.

09-04-2012, 01:28 PM	#2
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 21,650 Karma: 7299295 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: San Borja (Lima), Peru Device: Pcktbk 360; Kindle Paperwhite (WiFi)/ Fire HD; nook STR & Col; KoboGlo	We first proofread our titles! Let me know if you want the title of this thread corrected. Don (Moderator) __________________ “How to Write the First 3 Paragraphs of YOUR Indie Novel” - by Max Waxwelp 1) Always write 3 sentences of exposition; 2) now create some dialogue, preferably no more than 2 sentences; and 3) make certain the dialogue is either inane or humorous. Example: “Bob, I did not know you wore yellow suspenders,” Sally remarked. “Gee, Sally, those are not suspenders. I am wearing yellow underwear today,” Bob revealed. The dialogue above will help produce at least 100 more pages of dialogue.

09-04-2012, 09:34 PM	#4
Lazybones Groupie Posts: 153 Karma: 1719250 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Sacramento Device: Kindle	Keep writing. I've found success at offering an introductory product at a reduced price or free. Sales of my initial book went up after I released a lead-in novella that told a brief but complete story involving some of the main characters. __________________ A magical competition goes bad, and a young wizard must fight for survival in The Labyrinth, a free download in the Kindle store. My books are available at Amazon and Smashwords.

09-05-2012, 05:18 AM	#6
mr ploppy Feral Underclass Posts: 3,410 Karma: 26134395 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Yorkshire, tha noz Device: 2nd hand paperback	Think about what makes you buy a book, and do that. Then think about what annoys you about people trying to sell something and don't do that. __________________ Hooligan fiction. Come and have a read if you think you're hard enough. http://marcusblakeston.wordpress.com

09-08-2012, 01:52 PM	#14
VydorScope Wizard Posts: 2,614 Karma: 28692326 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: Nook Color	It is simple really... 1) Write a GOOD book 2) Have it professionally edited 3) Get a good cover 4) Get book edited again 5) Put book in ever store you have access to, mention it to everywhere you can (blogs, friends, FB, Twitter, etc, etc) 6) While doing step 5, go back and start over with step one. 7) Repeat unlit you are dead. 8) Profit! __________________ Vincent My Books on: Smashwords and Amazon My E-Book Series homepage: http://losttalesofpower.com All of my books are available DRM free through Smashwords.

09-06-2012, 09:18 AM	#8
DarkScribe Apprentice Curmudgeon. Posts: 421 Karma: 3286968 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Runaway Bay, QLD, , Australia Device: Kindle DX Graphite, Touch, Paperwhite, Sony, and Nook.	You could start a rumour that your doddering old grandmother used a lottery ticket for a book mark then returned the book to the store before learning that the ticket had won.

09-06-2012, 09:30 PM	#10
bigjantailor Defender of Consciousness Posts: 69 Karma: 3323596 Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Vancouver Device: none	My plan is to send letter to Southern US church leader say that the book (my book) turned my children against God and the church so it need to be band. A book that has a banning attempt on it's dust jacket goes right to the best seller list. Have fun, Jan

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