Is it worth paying to promote free books?

Trevorh53 · 05-08-2015, 10:21 AM

I'm going to run a free promotion on my ebook but wondered, is it worth paying to have it re-tweeted or included in free book lists? I've heard Fiverr is very good.

HarryT · 05-08-2015, 10:28 AM

Moved to the "Writers' Corner" forum, where such questions belong.

thewitt · 05-08-2015, 10:31 AM

BKNights on Fiverr is pretty good. I don't know about any other promotion groups there.

Nancy Fulda · 05-09-2015, 11:36 AM

Depends what your goals are. On a purely financial level, most authors who use paid promotion don't earn the money back. (There's always the notable exception.) If you're after readership, then paid promotion will get you readers you wouldn't have otherwise acquired.

It's worth noting that even major publishers don't usually run advertising campaigns for their books. Author interviews on news sites, yes. Paying for priority bookstands in stores, yes. Advertisements in the New Yorker? Highly unlikely.

Trevorh53 · 05-10-2015, 09:51 AM

Thanks Nancy, that's really helpful. It's readers I'm after, but i don't want to spend a fortune so I'll put a limit on how much. Thanks again.

05-08-2015, 10:21 AM	#1
Trevorh53 Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Wakefield, England Device: Kindle iOS App	Is it worth paying to promote free books? I'm going to run a free promotion on my ebook but wondered, is it worth paying to have it re-tweeted or included in free book lists? I've heard Fiverr is very good.

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05-08-2015, 10:28 AM	#2
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Moved to the "Writers' Corner" forum, where such questions belong.

05-08-2015, 10:31 AM	#3
thewitt Zealot Posts: 129 Karma: 1135446 Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Miami, Florida Device: iBooks	BKNights on Fiverr is pretty good. I don't know about any other promotion groups there.

05-09-2015, 11:36 AM	#4
Nancy Fulda I write stories. Posts: 700 Karma: 16437432 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Northern Germany Device: kindle	Depends what your goals are. On a purely financial level, most authors who use paid promotion don't earn the money back. (There's always the notable exception.) If you're after readership, then paid promotion will get you readers you wouldn't have otherwise acquired. It's worth noting that even major publishers don't usually run advertising campaigns for their books. Author interviews on news sites, yes. Paying for priority bookstands in stores, yes. Advertisements in the New Yorker? Highly unlikely.

05-10-2015, 09:51 AM	#5
Trevorh53 Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Wakefield, England Device: Kindle iOS App	Thanks Nancy, that's really helpful. It's readers I'm after, but i don't want to spend a fortune so I'll put a limit on how much. Thanks again.