This is a follow-up to my last post in which I shared the paid advertising results for my novel, Confessions of an Internet Pornographer. Not only did I blog about it, I was proud of my results so I shared them on absolutewrite.com
Unfortunately, all the writers at absolutewrite were un-impressed with my results. Not one felt as if the $400 I had spent were worth the sales, and they were right if you look at the situation in pure dollars and cents. But I’ve come to look at it a different way. First of all, I welcomed the chance to spend the money to spread the word about my book. Did I pay a lot for a little? Not if that little meant earning 2 good reviews on Goodreads.com, and reaching hundreds of voracious readers. The book got a 4 out of 5 star review from a guy in Bangladesh and a 3 star review from a Russian reader (and everyone knows that a 3 star book review from a Russian is like getting a 4 star in America ;). I'm also on 19 “to-read” lists. What I hate more than spending money on advertising is having my book in limbo and no one knowing it exists!
The $200 I used to advertise on Facebook was also well spent. I racked-up 91 "likes" and I now have a better idea of my demographic. It allowed me to shape good ads, as evidenced by eventually good click through rates. If I decide to advertise again I know my ads will work. That alone was worth $200.
What I have concluded? I want to try some of the other things the writers at absolutewrite.com recommended before deciding if paid advertising is better than other forms of book promotion. Remember, they did not see ANY benefit to paying for advertising.
Here are their recommendations:
1. Send out review copies to bloggers and book reviewers, and offer E-Arcs for e-book readers.
2. Create a Web site, but I don't spend a lot of money. See what other writers have done.
3. Join Goodreads.com and Library Thing and offer giveaways.
4. Don't pay for ads, online or in print. Word of mouth and written recommendations from friends and trusted reviewers are the keys.
What's my next move? A book give-away on Goodreads, and to learn about Library Thing. I’ll post my results later. I’ve also lowered my book price. I still think my novel is worth as much as a cup of coffee or a large bag of chips so it will not be .99. I only make $1 per e-book or paperback anyway, so I don’t charge from greed. The novel IS worth something. It has value. And I refuse to give it away for free!!! But that’s another post.
Until next time I will continue writing into the wind.
Luis
Unfortunately, all the writers at absolutewrite were un-impressed with my results. Not one felt as if the $400 I had spent were worth the sales, and they were right if you look at the situation in pure dollars and cents. But I’ve come to look at it a different way. First of all, I welcomed the chance to spend the money to spread the word about my book. Did I pay a lot for a little? Not if that little meant earning 2 good reviews on Goodreads.com, and reaching hundreds of voracious readers. The book got a 4 out of 5 star review from a guy in Bangladesh and a 3 star review from a Russian reader (and everyone knows that a 3 star book review from a Russian is like getting a 4 star in America ;). I'm also on 19 “to-read” lists. What I hate more than spending money on advertising is having my book in limbo and no one knowing it exists!
The $200 I used to advertise on Facebook was also well spent. I racked-up 91 "likes" and I now have a better idea of my demographic. It allowed me to shape good ads, as evidenced by eventually good click through rates. If I decide to advertise again I know my ads will work. That alone was worth $200.
What I have concluded? I want to try some of the other things the writers at absolutewrite.com recommended before deciding if paid advertising is better than other forms of book promotion. Remember, they did not see ANY benefit to paying for advertising.
Here are their recommendations:
1. Send out review copies to bloggers and book reviewers, and offer E-Arcs for e-book readers.
2. Create a Web site, but I don't spend a lot of money. See what other writers have done.
4. Don't pay for ads, online or in print. Word of mouth and written recommendations from friends and trusted reviewers are the keys.
Until next time I will continue writing into the wind.
Luis
No comments:
Post a Comment