how's this for a launch strategy

BeccaPrice · 05-24-2013, 10:06 AM

Price Dragons and Dreams at $4.99 per DWS's advice. Have it up in KDP Select for 3 months.

Shortly after D&D is released, put out Bridge of 7 Stones (or whatever title I settle on), $0.99 for a 10-page story.

When I get it done, or a month after, put out Heart of Rock at $0.99, but try to make it perma-free.

I'm a bit doubtful about the value of the perma-free. It might get people to look at my writing, but since everything is so very different, I don't want people to get Heart of Rock and think that they're getting more of the same - it is, in the widest sense, because they're all fairy tales, but the writing style of each one is very different.

gmw · 05-24-2013, 12:02 PM

Ah, but the thing is that people come back because they want more of the same. Not identical, of course, but they don't come back looking for something completely different either.

I don't have the experience or expertise to offer much in the way of advice for the launch strategy. At least a month between releases seems a good idea, but I do wonder whether your free offering (if you provide one) should be your first release - something for people to read when the paid ones come and decide they like your style enough to invest. On the other hand, with the strategy you outline above, you get the chance to evaluate whether you really want to offer one of them for free at all. IF things go well with the first two you may decide it's not necessary. And since it is unlikely that anything will happen quickly anyway, there is probably not much to lose by trying what you have planned. (I'd better stop now, I'm getting dents in my rear end from all this fence sitting.

)

VydorScope · 05-25-2013, 07:50 AM

With out permafree I would not be selling books. It is that cut and dry simple.

My first book cost 99 cents for months and nothing sold... the DAY it went permafree I saw couple THOUSAND downloads... and then book 2 started selling.

I can only speak for my own experience, but nothing has come even remotely close to the advertising and promotion power that permafree has for me.

avantman42 · 05-27-2013, 06:31 AM

I've just finished Let's Get Visible by David Gaughran, which covers launch strategies among other things. I highly recommend you read it before you launch, it's well worth the $5 price.

BeccaPrice · 05-27-2013, 08:04 AM

I got it when it was on sale for 0.99 - then I picked up the earlier book too, although that one was preaching to the choir I think.

avantman42 · 05-27-2013, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeccaPrice

I got it when it was on sale for 0.99 - then I picked up the earlier book too, although that one was preaching to the choir I think.

Fair enough. Let's Get Visible has better advice than I could offer :-)

BeccaPrice · 05-27-2013, 11:01 AM

It'll be one short story, published at B&N with a price of 0.00 - Amazon doesn't let you set a price of free, but they'll price match if you have it set free at other places. Apparently it's good advertising, to have the first book in your series as free.

VydorScope · 05-27-2013, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tonylimpei

Hi, can i ask what's permafree?

Yes, you can.

It is when you make one of your books/etc free, permanently. As in, not a sale, or temporary give away, but completely free for ever. It is usually done with the first book of a series so that if they enjoy book 1, they will buy book 2,3,4 and so on.

05-24-2013, 10:06 AM	#1
BeccaPrice Wizard Posts: 2,145 Karma: 11174187 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Sony 350, K3-3G, K4SO, KPW	how's this for a launch strategy Price Dragons and Dreams at $4.99 per DWS's advice. Have it up in KDP Select for 3 months. Shortly after D&D is released, put out Bridge of 7 Stones (or whatever title I settle on), $0.99 for a 10-page story. When I get it done, or a month after, put out Heart of Rock at $0.99, but try to make it perma-free. I'm a bit doubtful about the value of the perma-free. It might get people to look at my writing, but since everything is so very different, I don't want people to get Heart of Rock and think that they're getting more of the same - it is, in the widest sense, because they're all fairy tales, but the writing style of each one is very different.

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05-24-2013, 12:02 PM	#2
gmw cacoethes scribendi Posts: 5,809 Karma: 137770742 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Aura One & H2Ov2, Sony PRS-650	Ah, but the thing is that people come back because they want more of the same. Not identical, of course, but they don't come back looking for something completely different either. I don't have the experience or expertise to offer much in the way of advice for the launch strategy. At least a month between releases seems a good idea, but I do wonder whether your free offering (if you provide one) should be your first release - something for people to read when the paid ones come and decide they like your style enough to invest. On the other hand, with the strategy you outline above, you get the chance to evaluate whether you really want to offer one of them for free at all. IF things go well with the first two you may decide it's not necessary. And since it is unlikely that anything will happen quickly anyway, there is probably not much to lose by trying what you have planned. (I'd better stop now, I'm getting dents in my rear end from all this fence sitting. )

05-25-2013, 07:50 AM	#3
VydorScope Wizard Posts: 3,418 Karma: 35207650 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: iPad	With out permafree I would not be selling books. It is that cut and dry simple. My first book cost 99 cents for months and nothing sold... the DAY it went permafree I saw couple THOUSAND downloads... and then book 2 started selling. I can only speak for my own experience, but nothing has come even remotely close to the advertising and promotion power that permafree has for me.

05-27-2013, 06:31 AM	#4
avantman42 Wizard Posts: 1,090 Karma: 6058305 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: UK Device: Kindle Paperwhite	I've just finished Let's Get Visible by David Gaughran, which covers launch strategies among other things. I highly recommend you read it before you launch, it's well worth the $5 price.

05-27-2013, 08:04 AM	#5
BeccaPrice Wizard Posts: 2,145 Karma: 11174187 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Sony 350, K3-3G, K4SO, KPW	I got it when it was on sale for 0.99 - then I picked up the earlier book too, although that one was preaching to the choir I think.

05-27-2013, 11:01 AM	#7
BeccaPrice Wizard Posts: 2,145 Karma: 11174187 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Sony 350, K3-3G, K4SO, KPW	It'll be one short story, published at B&N with a price of 0.00 - Amazon doesn't let you set a price of free, but they'll price match if you have it set free at other places. Apparently it's good advertising, to have the first book in your series as free.