If you read my last post, you'll know that I was busy self-publishing Daisy Dominatrix. I'm happy to report this tale of chick literotica is now available for Kindle, Nook and PDF download at ARe.
Once you get past all the self-editing, cover design, formatting for individual ebook retailers, having a self-pubbed new release is no different than having one with an ebook publisher or a mainstream publisher. Once the book is available for purchase, the name of the game is promotion.
Frankly, I suck at promotion. I hate sales pitches and feel like an idiot when I try to sell myself. The way I see it, readers will either like what I wrote or they won't so what's the point of creating this spiel that I don't believe in?
So, in order to effectively promote my new release without crossing that line to nutjob author peddling snakeoil, I've created a checklist of things I can do to get the word out.
1) Twitter announcements with hashtags #nook and #kindle--Behold the power of the retweet. If you've got some awesome followers, which I'm happy to report I do, there is no faster way to spread the word. Word of caution: don't overdo this. A few tweets with links a week is enough and continue to be a person who interacts, not just a peddler of your own wares.
2) Facebook posts and invitation for release day--Sharing is caring and sharing an excerpt or two along with links on both personal and professional pages should reach the target audience.
3) Goodreads listing--Since I'm a librarian on Goodreads, I can add a book at my whim, as long as it's listed with an ISBN or ASIN at a major retailer. Also, I've benefited from Goodreads giveaways in the past, but you have to have print versions of your book to go that route.
4) Reviews--Hitting up a few trusted reviewers to read and review my books is a must. Note the word trusted, because I'm a little paranoid about piracy and don't just upload the ebook version of my new releases to random review sites anymore. Asking friends to read and review on some of the bookseller sites is also a must.
5) Blogging--Though I don't do blog tours for every new release I always have The Laundry List and my regular post here at WGW. Sometimes I will schedule a few other stops to help get the word out
6) Newsletter announcement--the one I often forget. Newsletter is a one stop shopping where I'll include excerpts, cover images, buy links and other tidbits.
7) Paid promotion--This one is tricky. Not all paid for advertising is created equal. Many times I don't bother with this until after my book had "earned out" publishing speak for made back the money it cost to produce. With self-publishing production costs include editing, cover images and/or cover design, and formatting. With Who Needs A Hero? my production costs was ten bucks, I earned out by the end of the day. B Cubed and Bred took longer.
So that's it, my plan of attack for getting the word out about my books. Sure, I could probably do more but I'm not in this for the selling, I'm in it for the next story. Because I firmly believe that the A#1 best kind of promotion is writing an awesome book that makes readers crave more.
6 comments:
Looks like a good, sane list. Always so hard figuring out how to balance the need to promo with a) hating it, b) not wanting to look like a self-obsessed spammer, and c) still finding time to write/parent/sleep. Nice to see how other introverts bring it :)
That's good advice about the self-promo on twitter. I've unfollowed quite a few people because all I ever saw in ther tweetstream was "buy my book."
I try to stay sane Jeanette, but it doesn't always work out ;-)
Yup Gail, I'm fed up with the spammers, they're making me nuts and I don't want them in my stream.
Decent list there, girlfriend. Sounds like all your bases are covered. Now go write me another story!
I'm not the greatest at promo either. Thanks for the tips.
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