November 25, 2019
We’ve touched on this in the past, but it bears repeating. What’s the best way to market your books?
It’s the eternal question for those of us struggling to sell books, looking for a break, trying to find how to reach the right audience. It’s not easy. It takes a lot of time and energy. And I’m no expert.
What I do have is some experience. And I’m happy to share. Take it with a grain of salt, because I certainly haven’t found the magic formula.
Before I begin, I’m going to refine the question a bit and answer in two different sections—what I enjoy doing, and what sells the most books.
Me at the Deadly Realities book signing.
First, what I enjoy doing. I love going to events. Book events, cons, heck, this year I attended a chili festival. Anyplace where I can look the public in the eye and try to sell them my books. And talk to them about my stories and what they like to read in general. I consider it a win if I make enough to cover my table fee and what I paid for my books. Everything beyond that is a bonus.
Of course, one of the great parts of going to events is meeting other authors and vendors. Even if they don’t buy a book or two, it’s fun hanging out with new people. Or ones you’ve met at other events. I’m looking forward to the Bizarre Bazaar in Loveland, CO this weekend (Saturday Nov. 30th). This will be my third year and it’s always an entertaining day.
What sells the most books? Paid ads in various readers’ newsletters., especially when the book being advertised is on sale. (I don’t do free books, but that a discussion we’ve had before and I won’t get into this time.) There’s a bunch of them out there. Some of my favorites are The Fussy Librarian, Book Doggy, and of course, ENT- EReaders News Today. I’ll be trying a new site next week, that came highly recommended by another author. It’s called Book Rebel, and we’ll see what happens. I haven’t even tried for a BookBub ad because their price is too steep for my pocketbook.
I understand the boost you get from those sites is temporary, but gosh darn it, if feels good to see the numbers go up on Amazon and other book selling sites.
What doesn’t work for me? I can’t use Facebook to sell a book no matter what I try. Ads, posts, groups, I get crickets. Blog tours don’t do me much good either. And Twitter? Does anyone sell books on Twitter?
What’s on my to-do list? I want to try an Amazon ad. I’ve done my homework, and I think it has potential, although some articles say the ads are past their peak. We’ll see. I won’t hold my breath.
I’m hoping my fellow authors have additional wisdom to share. And if you know something I don’t, please tell me about it in the comments!
P.S. For those of you in the Unites States, I hope you have a Happy Thanksgiving.
November 25, 2019
We’ve touched on this in the past, but it bears repeating. What’s the best way to market your books?
Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.
Like you, I don’t think I’ve sold anything on FB or Twitter. I like the idea of newsletters, must give it a try. I sell more face to face too.
My newsletter is pitiful. I can’t imagine spamming people when I have nothing important to say. But I also don’t like only sending out a newsletter when I want to sell my subscribers something.
I’ve given FB the elbow. I can’t be doing with something that’s just a waste of time. I haven’t had much success with newsletters, and have cut them back now. I’ve sold a few via Twitter though.
FB is great for staying in contact with people I’ve met along the way- except for FB’s habit of not showing me all the posts I want to see!
I closed my FB account a few months’ ago and I haven’t regretted it. I’m concerned about data protection.
It doesn’t seem to matter what platform you use these days- data protection doesn’t exist.
I have no evidence I sell anything from Twitter, but for a while last year, I quit posting there and my book sales dropped off to almost zero, so … I don’t know. I have it set so my blog posts go to Twitter, just in case.
I hate HATE how FB doesn’t show all the posts I want to see. I can decide for myself what I want to read and whether or I believe it or not. I don’t need FB to make those decisions from me.
My author page has about 1700 followers- on a good day 80 of them will see something I post.
I’ve got about 1900 followers on Twitter. I’m not trying all that hard to promote it anymore. I maybe had 100 people see it when I was being really busy with it, but since I’ve slacked off, not so much. And, I’m not seeing any change in sales. I’m still promoting there, but I really think it’s a waste of time these days. Too echo-chamber!
I have my blogs set up to post directly to my FB account and my Twitter account. I have purchased books through FB posts and sold through them too. Not through the adverts though. Those just help people find and like your page it seems. My blogs seem to be my best marketing took especially guest posts.