Secrets of Indie Success - Page 12

kennyc · 05-01-2012, 04:30 PM

Yah but thats always been the case and I in fact said that myself if you read the entire context of my post and not just the part you clipped out.

As far as "great writers" I might argue that. If the book is successful then they have very likely communicated something that the audience wants. It may be ideas, characters, concepts, not necessarily great writing or great plot or luscious words...but certainly something that touched the audience to make it a success. To me that is what great writing is about, connecting with the audience in a way that is meaningful.

Scott Nicholson · 05-01-2012, 08:36 PM

I've tried just about every marketing and sponsorship there is-ereader IQ, KND, ENT, etc., as well as Goodreads. Some worked and some didn't, but it also depended on the era.

I have also done blog tours, huge giveaway events, and things like Be Nicholson's Agent where I gave away 15 percent of my income one month to book bloggers. I've spent money but I have also made money--I run my writing business like a business.

I took a lot of what I learned an put it into our new site [promotion deleted - MODERAT0R]. We do a daily digest and weekly Kindle Fire giveaways to keep attracting new readers and bringing them back. We're just launching and I invite you to take a look--$10 sponsorships as out introductory price.

As an author myself, I know it is getting harder to get a book noticed, and i hope we can help. If nothing else, I hope you look at our example and be inspired by it in your own marketing! I also have lots of writing/marketing articles on my blog and website that may be helpful. Good luck.

Scott

Scott

davidwfleming · 05-01-2012, 11:00 PM

It's great to hear from you, Scott! I for one would love to hear more of your insights and advice

On another note, I experienced somewhat of a traffic spike from Stumbleupon this past weekend. About 3000 pageviews in one week. That's a whole heck of a lot more than I'd had in any of the weeks prior. I think this is indicative of the blogging experience: you blog for a long time and then an inexplicable traffic spike happens.

One of the posts that was popular, "Science Fiction is Dead. Now What?" is very similar to many of your blog posts, Mr. Jordan. That's why I, at the risk of being annoying, will continue to encourage you to BOOKMARK ALL OF YOUR BLOG POSTS ON STUMBLEUPON

.

You may want to feather in some "stumbles" from other sites among your own to guard against getting banned for spamming.

And on getting reviews, I just received a pretty decent review for my self-published audiobook of bizarro stories from an emerging book blogger I met on Goodreads. I, like other indies, am building a rather large list of connections on Twitter and Goodreads. Sometimes these connections can lead to book bloggers wanting to review your stuff without you even asking. This is a fringe benefit of maintaining a somewhat higher profile on the social media sites.

However, I preemptively admit that one must also keep writing and not just "mash buttons" on the social media sites.

VydorScope · 05-02-2012, 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidwfleming

One of the posts that was popular, "Science Fiction is Dead. Now What?" is very similar to many of your blog posts, Mr. Jordan. That's why I, at the risk of being annoying, will continue to encourage you to BOOKMARK ALL OF YOUR BLOG POSTS ON STUMBLEUPON

.

Not looked at Stumbleupon yet. Hmm.

kennyc · 05-03-2012, 10:43 AM

Patty Jansen (and Mark Coker of Smashwords) on Self-Publishing:

http://pattyjansen.wordpress.com/201...lf-publishing/

http://pattyjansen.wordpress.com/201...ther-thoughts/

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/145431

Steven Lyle Jordan · 05-03-2012, 04:15 PM

Patty's comments are good, straightforward advice.

Makes me wanna write a book.

davidwfleming · 05-03-2012, 05:23 PM

Thanks KennyC for these links, especially the free ebook on self-publishing! With regard to her book, I'm excited to read her chapter on meta-data magic. I think there might be some real gems in there.

davidwfleming · 05-11-2012, 10:36 AM

I have about 690 followers on Twitter currently, have tweeted almost a 1000 times and today I just got some of my first organic referrers to my blog (2, actually). Is it broken? Am I doing it wrong? Suggestions...

On the other hand, I am liking the results I'm seeing with StumbleUpon and, more recently, Google +. Google + currently allows it users a great deal of flexibility and exposure.

VydorScope · 05-11-2012, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidwfleming

On the other hand, I am liking the results I'm seeing with StumbleUpon and, more recently, Google +. Google + currently allows it users a great deal of flexibility and exposure.

How are you using StumbleUpon? Paid ? Free? what?

davidwfleming · 05-12-2012, 12:42 AM

I was not aware that there was a paid StumbleUpon option. I am using it free. Basically, I blogged for about a year (65 posts) then stumbled, liked and commented on practically all of my posts in a period of a little over a week (while adding other users and liking other posts as well). This gave me a fairly big spike that has since tapered off.

I have heard stories, however, of old blog posts getting huge amounts of traffic because of being randomly found and rediscovered on Stumble.

The good thing about the spike was it gave me a better idea of what posts were working and what weren't. As soon as I saw I was getting traffic to certain posts, I changed my social media buttons to display counters so that other visitors would see what posts were doing well and read those posts.

VydorScope · 05-12-2012, 07:34 AM

Hmmm, I thought that was against their rules for free accounts? Maybe I misunderstood them.

theapatra · 05-12-2012, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidwfleming

I was not aware that there was a paid StumbleUpon option. I am using it free. Basically, I blogged for about a year (65 posts) then stumbled, liked and commented on practically all of my posts in a period of a little over a week (while adding other users and liking other posts as well). This gave me a fairly big spike that has since tapered off.

I have heard stories, however, of old blog posts getting huge amounts of traffic because of being randomly found and rediscovered on Stumble.

The good thing about the spike was it gave me a better idea of what posts were working and what weren't. As soon as I saw I was getting traffic to certain posts, I changed my social media buttons to display counters so that other visitors would see what posts were doing well and read those posts.

SU is still a mystery to me. Glad you found some success with it, and then spread the word. I'm going to try this. TY

Steven Lyle Jordan · 05-12-2012, 09:12 AM

I've decided to investigate whether the "Science Fiction" label is actually impacting interest and sales adversely: I'm rebranding my books as primarily "Fiction" or "Modern Fiction" in meta tags and introductory site texts. Story descriptions are still there, so people can figure it out after they read them.

This is in reaction to this thread, where we've discussed the possibility that the SF label has become unattractive enough with the public as to be avoided or outright hidden.

kennyc · 05-12-2012, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steven Lyle Jordan

I've decided to investigate whether the "Science Fiction" label is actually impacting interest and sales adversely: I'm rebranding my books as primarily "Fiction" or "Modern Fiction" in meta tags and introductory site texts. Story descriptions are still there, so people can figure it out after they read them.

This is in reaction to this thread, where we've discussed the possibility that the SF label has become unattractive enough with the public as to be avoided or outright hidden.

Please keep us posted Steve. I know there is definite negative attitude towards science in many parts of the public these days. I'm working on an essay about it. I'm sure it's impacting hard SF as well. (though that's not part of what I'm writing/researching)

VydorScope · 05-12-2012, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steven Lyle Jordan

I've decided to investigate whether the "Science Fiction" label is actually impacting interest and sales adversely: I'm rebranding my books as primarily "Fiction" or "Modern Fiction" in meta tags and introductory site texts. Story descriptions are still there, so people can figure it out after they read them.

This is in reaction to this thread, where we've discussed the possibility that the SF label has become unattractive enough with the public as to be avoided or outright hidden.

So, gee, thanks you just pulled me into another thread... grrr... anyways I would also love to hear the results you have with this.

05-01-2012, 04:30 PM	#166
kennyc The Dank Side of the Moon Posts: 35,872 Karma: 118716293 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2; Kindle Fire	Yah but thats always been the case and I in fact said that myself if you read the entire context of my post and not just the part you clipped out. As far as "great writers" I might argue that. If the book is successful then they have very likely communicated something that the audience wants. It may be ideas, characters, concepts, not necessarily great writing or great plot or luscious words...but certainly something that touched the audience to make it a success. To me that is what great writing is about, connecting with the audience in a way that is meaningful. Last edited by kennyc; 05-01-2012 at 04:34 PM.

05-01-2012, 08:36 PM	#167
Scott Nicholson Scott Nicholson, author Posts: 363 Karma: 2029337 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Boone NC Device: Kindle	I've tried just about every marketing and sponsorship there is-ereader IQ, KND, ENT, etc., as well as Goodreads. Some worked and some didn't, but it also depended on the era. I have also done blog tours, huge giveaway events, and things like Be Nicholson's Agent where I gave away 15 percent of my income one month to book bloggers. I've spent money but I have also made money--I run my writing business like a business. I took a lot of what I learned an put it into our new site [promotion deleted - MODERAT0R]. We do a daily digest and weekly Kindle Fire giveaways to keep attracting new readers and bringing them back. We're just launching and I invite you to take a look--$10 sponsorships as out introductory price. As an author myself, I know it is getting harder to get a book noticed, and i hope we can help. If nothing else, I hope you look at our example and be inspired by it in your own marketing! I also have lots of writing/marketing articles on my blog and website that may be helpful. Good luck. Scott Scott Last edited by Dr. Drib; 05-12-2012 at 06:32 AM.

05-03-2012, 10:43 AM	#170
kennyc The Dank Side of the Moon Posts: 35,872 Karma: 118716293 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2; Kindle Fire	Patty Jansen (and Mark Coker of Smashwords) on Self-Publishing: http://pattyjansen.wordpress.com/201...lf-publishing/ http://pattyjansen.wordpress.com/201...ther-thoughts/ https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/145431 Last edited by kennyc; 05-03-2012 at 11:07 AM.

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05-01-2012, 11:00 PM	#168
davidwfleming Ebook Dude Posts: 88 Karma: 5183884 Join Date: Feb 2012 Device: Kindle	It's great to hear from you, Scott! I for one would love to hear more of your insights and advice On another note, I experienced somewhat of a traffic spike from Stumbleupon this past weekend. About 3000 pageviews in one week. That's a whole heck of a lot more than I'd had in any of the weeks prior. I think this is indicative of the blogging experience: you blog for a long time and then an inexplicable traffic spike happens. One of the posts that was popular, "Science Fiction is Dead. Now What?" is very similar to many of your blog posts, Mr. Jordan. That's why I, at the risk of being annoying, will continue to encourage you to BOOKMARK ALL OF YOUR BLOG POSTS ON STUMBLEUPON . You may want to feather in some "stumbles" from other sites among your own to guard against getting banned for spamming. And on getting reviews, I just received a pretty decent review for my self-published audiobook of bizarro stories from an emerging book blogger I met on Goodreads. I, like other indies, am building a rather large list of connections on Twitter and Goodreads. Sometimes these connections can lead to book bloggers wanting to review your stuff without you even asking. This is a fringe benefit of maintaining a somewhat higher profile on the social media sites. However, I preemptively admit that one must also keep writing and not just "mash buttons" on the social media sites.

05-03-2012, 04:15 PM	#171
Steven Lyle Jordan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,478 Karma: 5171130 Join Date: Jan 2006 Device: none	Patty's comments are good, straightforward advice. Makes me wanna write a book.

05-03-2012, 05:23 PM	#172
davidwfleming Ebook Dude Posts: 88 Karma: 5183884 Join Date: Feb 2012 Device: Kindle	Thanks KennyC for these links, especially the free ebook on self-publishing! With regard to her book, I'm excited to read her chapter on meta-data magic. I think there might be some real gems in there.

05-11-2012, 10:36 AM	#173
davidwfleming Ebook Dude Posts: 88 Karma: 5183884 Join Date: Feb 2012 Device: Kindle	I have about 690 followers on Twitter currently, have tweeted almost a 1000 times and today I just got some of my first organic referrers to my blog (2, actually). Is it broken? Am I doing it wrong? Suggestions... On the other hand, I am liking the results I'm seeing with StumbleUpon and, more recently, Google +. Google + currently allows it users a great deal of flexibility and exposure.

05-12-2012, 12:42 AM	#175
davidwfleming Ebook Dude Posts: 88 Karma: 5183884 Join Date: Feb 2012 Device: Kindle	I was not aware that there was a paid StumbleUpon option. I am using it free. Basically, I blogged for about a year (65 posts) then stumbled, liked and commented on practically all of my posts in a period of a little over a week (while adding other users and liking other posts as well). This gave me a fairly big spike that has since tapered off. I have heard stories, however, of old blog posts getting huge amounts of traffic because of being randomly found and rediscovered on Stumble. The good thing about the spike was it gave me a better idea of what posts were working and what weren't. As soon as I saw I was getting traffic to certain posts, I changed my social media buttons to display counters so that other visitors would see what posts were doing well and read those posts.

05-12-2012, 07:34 AM	#176
VydorScope Wizard Posts: 3,418 Karma: 35207650 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: iPad	Hmmm, I thought that was against their rules for free accounts? Maybe I misunderstood them.

05-12-2012, 09:12 AM	#178
Steven Lyle Jordan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,478 Karma: 5171130 Join Date: Jan 2006 Device: none	I've decided to investigate whether the "Science Fiction" label is actually impacting interest and sales adversely: I'm rebranding my books as primarily "Fiction" or "Modern Fiction" in meta tags and introductory site texts. Story descriptions are still there, so people can figure it out after they read them. This is in reaction to this thread, where we've discussed the possibility that the SF label has become unattractive enough with the public as to be avoided or outright hidden.