Okay, marketing: the topic itself can pretty much make me break out in stress hives lately. With school out I've had more time to spend attempting to work on it, but I swear I always feel an hour late and a dollar short. Is that normal? Does everyone feel that way?
I want to be sure and say a MASSIVE thank you to those people who have helped me out with everything I have tried. Seriously, the support so many of you have shown is amazeballs!
I want to be sure and say a MASSIVE thank you to those people who have helped me out with everything I have tried. Seriously, the support so many of you have shown is amazeballs!
I'm kind of at a loss as to what I should be doing. I pop over to Amazon and look at other books and their trillion reviews, and am annoyed with myself for not doing more to get reviews/comments/responses. Seriously, how does someone get 100+ reviews on Amazon? (I'd settle for one more right now :) I've contacted reviewers, read everything I can get my hands on about the subject, and it just doesn't seem to be enough.
I could whine about this for ages, so I'll stop :)
So, here's my question: what do you find works best to get your name and book out there? What things have you tried that worked well (and maybe didn't work so well?). I'm seriously curious!
Ugh, I know. Keeping a low Amazon sales ranking is like pushing a boulder up a mountain only to have it keep rolling back. It really can break you out in hives. For reviews, sometimes LibraryThings' Early Reviewer program is good or even NetGalley. I self-publish so I'm usually excluded from those two, but since you have a publisher, it might be worth the shot for your upcoming release :-)
ReplyDeleteP.S. Enjoy San Francisco - looks amazeballs :-)
Thanks, Faith, I'll look into the LibraryThings one! I know my publisher isn't going to do the NetGalley one as they ask an arm & a leg for it (and a firstborn...).
DeleteBeats the heck out of me! My book is selling fairly well, but even though people are TELLING me how much they "love" it, only two have posted a review so far. Not that I'm complaining. (much) At least, they're GOOD reviews... could be worse!
ReplyDeletelol, this is true! I still need to grab my copy :) And I'll be sure to post a review!
DeleteIf anyone ever finds the answer to this question, we'll all rejoice! My publisher has said that, in general, blog tours don't help, but, I've seen the spike when I've done interviews/reviews (thank you, Meradeth! :))so, ^^ (shrugs). Tweeting, using hashtags, can help, so long as, "they" say, the promo is only 10% of the tweets. Best wishes for your books! They're great!
ReplyDeleteSeriously, if anyone ever figures this out, I'll bow at their feet :) I do think that reviews and interviews can help, though personally I haven't seen too much of this. *sigh* I'm probably really too annoying, lol!
DeleteI think just getting the book and your name out there can help. I read somewhere that most people need to see a book title/author 7 times before they will buy it. Something about the 7th time usually makes people decide to get it. So, that makes me think the more that the book is seen the better chance there is for someone to get it and then hopefully review it. Although my book isn't published yet, the Goodreads reviews I have gotten have all come from giveaways I have done. People were then kind enough to review the book.
ReplyDeleteI think you may have already asked if anyone would like a copy for review, but if not that might help (I know for me summer is usually a little easier for me to catch up on things like that).
Once I read it I will put up a review. :)
I've heard that 7-times rule a few times (and even once where it's now higher--like 11 times, before a purchase!). You're right about summer being better for reviews and such--I think I need to ask again :)
DeleteI like 7 better than 11! :) I guess the main thing is the title has to get out there a lot of times!
DeleteOver the summer I can fit in more reading than during the school year (I read a lot then, too- but correcting etc. takes up time). Now I have more time to write reviews, too! :) I bet others have more time too. Good luck and if you need any honest reviewers- let me know and I would be happy to help now that I have more time.
I'd love an honest review! I'll shoot you an email shortly :) Thanks!! And I'm definitely going with 7 and not 11--that's just mind boggling! :)
DeleteYeah when the time comes I'm going to need a lot of help with that one. I'm way, way out of the loop when it comes to marketing.
ReplyDeleteThat's a pretty picture! I've never been to Cali, though I've always wanted to go. I adore Lulu Lemon. Alas, I cannot afford it :D
I totally hear you about affording Lulu--what's up with the price? And when you do hit the publishing point, know there are a lot of us here who will help!
DeleteI also wonder the same thing. I'm still learning things, though.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you're having a great time in San Francisco.
Thanks! :)
DeletePopping in late--so behind. I won't be published until November, but I've found Twitter very helpful. We'll see if these relationships translate into book sales though...
ReplyDeleteI have been able to meet a ton of book reviewers on Twitter, and many of them have promised to get the word out. We shall see... :)
Twitter is an excellent source! Every time I wander over there, I wish I had more time to spend :)
DeleteI'm rather swamped for time at present, but I could do a review down the line, if you're looking for one.
ReplyDelete