Marketing: What works? - Page 2

BJThornton · 11-29-2010, 11:51 PM

As many have said, it helps to become a regular contributor to forums and blogs that target readers of your genre.

I'd also say that it's very valuable to have a central webpage or blog that provides in depth statistics. My webhost, for example, gives me a daily accounting of my number of visitors, which websites those visitors were referred from, and even what people typed into search engines to get to my webpage. That information helps me to know where readers have taken enough of an interest to follow me back to my site, and then I know who to feed with which kinds of promotions. Without good statistics, sometimes you can feel like you're throwing stuff out all over and getting a lot of hits but not retaining any fans. Good statistics will reveals some comforting and useful trends that can help you target your marketing.

Good luck to you.

Luke King · 11-29-2010, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Figwit

My one suggestion, and I am a buyer and not an author, is to expand on the description of the story at Amazon. It is a bit sparse.

This is definitely something that I need to work on. All my life I've avoided reading blurbs because I just don't want to know what's going to happen in the book. And now - the downside - I don't know how to write blurbs. I'm really going to have to work on it.

Thanks for the fixed link Steven (and to KC). I'll try joining Goodreads and Library Thing.

Can anyone suggest some blogs I could approach and ask for a review or some exposure?

I've approached http://www.bargainebooks.blogspot.com/ and have also asked ficbot for a review. Any other suggestions?

Luke King · 11-30-2010, 12:24 AM

I've just seen the list of reader blogs on KC's blog, so ignore that request. I'm sure that's plenty to be going on with.

kcmay · 12-03-2010, 05:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steven Lake

He mislinked it. The second page is here:

http://fantasyauthor.blogspot.com/20...ing-tip-2.html

Oops! I copied/pasted and forgot that one digit change. Thanks for correcting that.

(And I'm a 'she,' btw.

)

kcmay · 12-03-2010, 05:39 AM

I suggest making a spreadsheet or list to keep track of reviewers you query and/or send your ebook file to, if/when the respond and whether they agree or decline. After a while, I started to wonder whether I queried those people yet or not... That way, if they agree to read/review and tell you their queue is about 6 weeks long, you can check back in 8 weeks if you haven't heard from them.

DavidRM · 12-03-2010, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kcmay

I suggest making a spreadsheet or list to keep track of reviewers you query and/or send your ebook file to, if/when the respond and whether they agree or decline. After a while, I started to wonder whether I queried those people yet or not... That way, if they agree to read/review and tell you their queue is about 6 weeks long, you can check back in 8 weeks if you haven't heard from them.

I recommend that too. I don't use a spreadsheet (though maybe I should).

I just type in the name of the blog in the list for that day. After I gone through a dozens and dozens of blogs, I start wondering if the blog I'm about to send is one I've sent to before. Then I can just do a quick search. When I get a positive response, I bold the name of the blog. If I get a negative response, I strike it.

Something I'm about to start doing is is listing the email address I sent to along with the name of the blog. Often, the two have nothing in common. And it can be a chore puzzling out which blog in the list just responded.

-David

Music&Mayhem · 12-03-2010, 08:19 PM

To me, marketing is all about getting your name out there and being recognized. I'm fortunate to have a large email list [700 plus], compiled from my writing and music careers. So I did e-blurbs about the video trailer I made when I put my suspense thriller, ABSOLUTION, out in Kindle version.

This got the attention of a writer on Arts Journal, who wrote an article about me and my book and my website, where I promote women musicians. He added my video to the Arts Journal site. Big jump in Kindle sales with that.

Every author must have a website. This is crucial. Blog, smog. I don't have time to read blogs, never mind write one. But my website has been up for about three years and I've now got a solid web presence.

Also, I've done online interviews for Indie Books blog and The Indie Spotlight.

And the more speaking engagements you can do, the better. Sisters in Crime, New England chapter, has a speaker's bureau. They got me a gig speaking at a breakfast for seniors. It was great. I did my Music & Mayhem schtick, had a great time and sold a few copies of my CD and my book. They loved it and I'm sure they'll have me back when my next book comes out.

Reviews may be good once they're posted on amazon, but what's going to get someone to YOUR book's page to read them? Join writer's orgs that pertain to your particular genre. Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime are mine, but there are plenty of others.

randyflycaster · 12-04-2010, 10:06 AM

BTW, If you're interested in setting up a basic website, Yahoo - and Yahoo Site Builder - make it very easy.

Randy

sportourer1 · 12-18-2010, 07:23 AM

Getting reviews is useful, as long as they are generally favourable.

sassanik · 12-18-2010, 08:38 AM

I like what Koranth mentioned in his blog. Selling ebooks is not a sprint, rather its a marathon. Its not just the sales you make today but the ones you make in the coming year and beyond.

Amy

sportourer1 · 12-18-2010, 10:10 AM

And assuming the technology makes it into popular usage at least eBooks wont go out of print

Steven Lake · 12-19-2010, 10:18 PM

Moondog! Dude, what's up!

(*happy dance*) Nice to see you over here.

moondog · 12-21-2010, 09:52 AM

Nice to be here Steven!
Let's be the first to swap advertising on our sites for one anothers books! We'll lead the fight in cross-promoting to our individual fan bases.

Mike

Steven Lake · 12-21-2010, 05:56 PM

Sounds good to me. Just pop me a link to your stuff and I'll put a mention of it in my blog. (Sorry, I don't really have anywhere else to put it at this time. ^_^;; heh) Oh, and btw, your signature bbcode is broken.

moondog · 12-23-2010, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steven Lake

Sounds good to me. Just pop me a link to your stuff and I'll put a mention of it in my blog. (Sorry, I don't really have anywhere else to put it at this time. ^_^;; heh) Oh, and btw, your signature bbcode is broken.

Thanks Steve, everything and anything helps! Let me know when it's up.

Book 1, The Judas Syndrome, is written up here: http://www.the-judas-syndrome.com/ab...%20_novel.html

Rebirth, book 2 of The Judas Syndrome, is written up here:http://www.the-judas-syndrome.com/bo...e_Rebirth.html

Both are available on AMazon now in kindle format, book 1 is also available as a paperback. Both have a couple of excerpts from the books as well on the links provided.

Thanks again! Anything I can do for you?

Mike

12-18-2010, 08:38 AM	#25
sassanik Guru Posts: 774 Karma: 1211741 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Oregon Device: EB1150, iPhone, Cool-er Purple, Pocketbook 360, Kindle Fire	Koranth I like what Koranth mentioned in his blog. Selling ebooks is not a sprint, rather its a marathon. Its not just the sales you make today but the ones you make in the coming year and beyond. Amy

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11-29-2010, 11:51 PM	#16
BJThornton Writer Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Dirty South Device: none	As many have said, it helps to become a regular contributor to forums and blogs that target readers of your genre. I'd also say that it's very valuable to have a central webpage or blog that provides in depth statistics. My webhost, for example, gives me a daily accounting of my number of visitors, which websites those visitors were referred from, and even what people typed into search engines to get to my webpage. That information helps me to know where readers have taken enough of an interest to follow me back to my site, and then I know who to feed with which kinds of promotions. Without good statistics, sometimes you can feel like you're throwing stuff out all over and getting a lot of hits but not retaining any fans. Good statistics will reveals some comforting and useful trends that can help you target your marketing. Good luck to you.

11-30-2010, 12:24 AM	#18
Luke King Member Retired Posts: 173 Karma: 200000 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Australia Device: Kindle 2	I've just seen the list of reader blogs on KC's blog, so ignore that request. I'm sure that's plenty to be going on with.

12-03-2010, 05:39 AM	#20
kcmay Addict Posts: 363 Karma: 500001 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Georgia, USA Device: Kindle2	I suggest making a spreadsheet or list to keep track of reviewers you query and/or send your ebook file to, if/when the respond and whether they agree or decline. After a while, I started to wonder whether I queried those people yet or not... That way, if they agree to read/review and tell you their queue is about 6 weeks long, you can check back in 8 weeks if you haven't heard from them.

12-03-2010, 08:19 PM	#22
Music&Mayhem Connoisseur Posts: 54 Karma: 501724 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Boston area Device: Kindle	To me, marketing is all about getting your name out there and being recognized. I'm fortunate to have a large email list [700 plus], compiled from my writing and music careers. So I did e-blurbs about the video trailer I made when I put my suspense thriller, ABSOLUTION, out in Kindle version. This got the attention of a writer on Arts Journal, who wrote an article about me and my book and my website, where I promote women musicians. He added my video to the Arts Journal site. Big jump in Kindle sales with that. Every author must have a website. This is crucial. Blog, smog. I don't have time to read blogs, never mind write one. But my website has been up for about three years and I've now got a solid web presence. Also, I've done online interviews for Indie Books blog and The Indie Spotlight. And the more speaking engagements you can do, the better. Sisters in Crime, New England chapter, has a speaker's bureau. They got me a gig speaking at a breakfast for seniors. It was great. I did my Music & Mayhem schtick, had a great time and sold a few copies of my CD and my book. They loved it and I'm sure they'll have me back when my next book comes out. Reviews may be good once they're posted on amazon, but what's going to get someone to YOUR book's page to read them? Join writer's orgs that pertain to your particular genre. Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime are mine, but there are plenty of others.

12-04-2010, 10:06 AM	#23
randyflycaster Zealot Posts: 113 Karma: 1000858 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: New York City Device: Sony 350	BTW, If you're interested in setting up a basic website, Yahoo - and Yahoo Site Builder - make it very easy. Randy

12-18-2010, 07:23 AM	#24
sportourer1 Writer Posts: 117 Karma: 560236 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: London UK Device: none	Getting reviews is useful, as long as they are generally favourable.

12-18-2010, 10:10 AM	#26
sportourer1 Writer Posts: 117 Karma: 560236 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: London UK Device: none	And assuming the technology makes it into popular usage at least eBooks wont go out of print

12-19-2010, 10:18 PM	#27
Steven Lake Sci-Fi Author Posts: 1,158 Karma: 14743509 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Michigan Device: PC (Calibre)	Moondog! Dude, what's up! (happy dance) Nice to see you over here.

12-21-2010, 09:52 AM	#28
moondog Enthusiast Posts: 39 Karma: 540074 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Toronto, Ontario Device: Kindle	Nice to be here Steven! Let's be the first to swap advertising on our sites for one anothers books! We'll lead the fight in cross-promoting to our individual fan bases. Mike

12-21-2010, 05:56 PM	#29
Steven Lake Sci-Fi Author Posts: 1,158 Karma: 14743509 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Michigan Device: PC (Calibre)	Sounds good to me. Just pop me a link to your stuff and I'll put a mention of it in my blog. (Sorry, I don't really have anywhere else to put it at this time. ^_^;; heh) Oh, and btw, your signature bbcode is broken.