As an author, I am finding that I spend more and more time trying to find new and better ways to market my books. I can’t sell my books to people if they don’t know they are out there.
So this week, I spent time looking into radio, both advertising and interviewing. Advertising is way, way out of my league. So that left interviews. I googled, I researched, and I found several options that I am looking into.
Why radio? Truthfully? Cause internet is not working for me. There is just too much information out there to trunnel your way through to find things and my book is one of them. My latest release, A Howl in the Night, spent one day at #65 on Amazon. That was due to a huge marketing promotion. Once the promotion ended, I went right back up to #135,000. How are people supposed to find my book when it’s listed that far down the list. I can’t run a promotion every day. I wish I could, but I can’t.
I have tried google “Adwords”. I have tried Facebook “Adsense”. I have tried so many things and I have come to realize, I just don’t know enough people to get the word out. This weekend I learned that ½ of 1% of the people that know about you and your book or whatever you are trying to get noticed out there, will actually buy your book. That means 5 people out of 1000. No wonder I am having a hard time. I only know like 250 people!
So I am working on trying to get a radio interview. We will see how that goes. I’ll let you know.
Speaking of promotions, next week I will begin my blog tour with Goddessfish. Come over Monday and I will post my links for the week. Please visit at the stops and comment. Not only could you win some fun prizes, but it would make my day to see the comments and let me know that maybe something in the promo department is working, at least a little.
Have a great week everyone!
I'm in exactly the same boat as you, Courtney. The only time my book seems to sell online is when I'm doing some kind of promotion and who can do that everyday? I'm out of ideas. Let me know if you get any results from the radio. I cringe thinking of that but if it works, I'll just have to get over the fear!
ReplyDeleteMy written interview stage is now complete. So I am on to the next stage hopefully. I am just waiting to see now if I made the cut. I will let you know how it goes. Maybe it could do some other writers some help. Any at all is good in my book.
DeleteRadio! You are a brave one, aren't you? Just throwing my two cents in here, because I'm nowhere near the stage that you and Allyn are with your books. Do you have bookstores in your town? Have you tried doing a book signing at one of them? Set up a kiosk in your local mall? Rent a table at a local business expo or craft show? Does your local high school do anything that you might be able to rent a table and sell/sign books? Talk to their librarian. Wow. Marketing sounds just as hard as the actual writing. I'll keep my wheels turning for you, though. Good luck to both of you!
ReplyDeleteActually I'm scared to death! As for bookstores, there is one book store and its a B&N. They haven't been much help so far, but I keep poking them now and then when I am in the area. All the little stores that would be better for me have closed down. Its so sad.
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Good luck with the tour, Court. I have a friend who swears that radio always boosts her sales. She says you need some sort of hook to make it so people will remember you when they get home from their drive to actually look you up.
ReplyDeleteA hook...I will have to think on that. Thanks Angelia.
DeleteThis makes me think I should throw in the towel today! Course, I won't. But the whole marketing side sucks. You have done so much - total inspiration, y'are. Thanks for sharing the details, it's interesting to know how it goes and what the numbers are. Maybe you can hire a plane and write your name in the sky. :) Good luck... I know kids (and adults, too) would love your new book if they could only come across it.
ReplyDeleteNo no. No Towel tossing on my watch. Marketing does stink, but once I get the hang of it, I have to believe it gets easier. Right? Smoke signals and sky writing maybe that would work...any publicity is good or so they say.
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