tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post3331811961370117429..comments2024-03-15T04:13:22.003-04:00Comments on The Roses of Prose: Adventures in Advertising by Alison HendersonAlison Hendersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12725250883303287946noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-43548800839799268502017-03-08T09:05:31.892-05:002017-03-08T09:05:31.892-05:00Thank you for the detailed information. It is diff...Thank you for the detailed information. It is difficult to determine exactly what works. We just have to keep plugging along and getting our name out there. Even though I don't always see direct sales from Twitter, it's a quick and easy method and it does keep your name going out, and who knows when something will click. I have found some success with Ereader news Today and Kindle Books and Tips. Alicia Deanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12003539473772776004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-18187442587213621122017-03-06T12:13:04.172-05:002017-03-06T12:13:04.172-05:00Brenda, what is TRS? I'm interested in anythin...Brenda, what is TRS? I'm interested in anything that might work. If we all put our heads together, we might come up with a few viable courses of action.Alison Hendersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12725250883303287946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-28687528597188925002017-03-06T10:20:27.535-05:002017-03-06T10:20:27.535-05:00Alison, you rock for being so detailed. I've n...Alison, you rock for being so detailed. I've not done such detailed accounting on what works. I did do two things last year that amounted to the same price. On Bookgoodies I paid $45 and was supposed to be on a bunch of sites and newsletters. Well...the sites are basically all their sites. I never saw the newsletter. I saw zero results. On TRS I let them do the promo for one of their holiday parties. It cost me $40. My sales jumped on Amazon that week. I'll try it again this year and see if it was coincidence or for real. I'm going back to this post once I'm home and make notes from all the great responses and your insights.Brenda Whitesidehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04162555468154752820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-15720878776216735972017-03-05T17:43:16.867-05:002017-03-05T17:43:16.867-05:00Thanks, Laramie! This was very interesting. I don&...Thanks, Laramie! This was very interesting. I don't spend any time on Kboards, and clearly I should. That author's experience mirrored mine in many ways. She got a few sales but didn't come close to breaking even. She also spent a lot more. I was prepared to spend more--I bid more per click and had a higher per diem budget--but that wasn't enough to increase the clicks. I might have better luck if I tweaked things, but then again I might not.Alison Hendersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12725250883303287946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-45789650024733402892017-03-05T17:13:01.504-05:002017-03-05T17:13:01.504-05:00I've been trying AMS ads too, and have still s...I've been trying AMS ads too, and have still spent less than $5, for many thousands of impressions and a few clicks. One sale. :)<br /><br />Kboards has a number of posts discussing Amazon Marketing Services ads and experiments. This one includes a lot of interestingdata: http://www.kboards.com/index.php/topic,246135.msg3432036.html#msg3432036<br /><br />You can find others by searching 'AMS results' on the site<br /><br />Kboards.com writers' forum: the Writers' Cafe: <br />http://www.kboards.com/index.php/board,60.0.html<br /><br />List of useful resources for Indie Authors:<br />http://www.kboards.com/index.php/topic,149935.0.html<br /><br />Naomi Stonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13623826203832995799noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-29670849844589610122017-03-05T16:30:05.278-05:002017-03-05T16:30:05.278-05:00Connie, BookBub has other requirements beyond # of...Connie, BookBub has other requirements beyond # of reviews. They "curate" the books they accept according to whether they think their readers will want them. One of my books has 80 very positive reviews on Amazon, and they still wouldn't accept it. I have six books out but only four full-length novels and only two in this series. I think the real answer for me is to write more books, but I'm a pretty slow writer.Alison Hendersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12725250883303287946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-6205263360001155142017-03-05T16:26:54.787-05:002017-03-05T16:26:54.787-05:00Vonnie, I've heard that about Net Galley. For ...Vonnie, I've heard that about Net Galley. For some reason, that hasn't been my experience at all when I've done the KDP free days. The reviews the put on Amazon are overwhelmingly positive. The only negative reviews have been on Goodreads, and then they're only stars without any actual comments.Alison Hendersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12725250883303287946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-82423251817921137232017-03-05T15:52:21.602-05:002017-03-05T15:52:21.602-05:00Very good information Alison! Thanks! How many re...Very good information Alison! Thanks! How many reviews do you have to have on Kindle before Bookbub will take your money. I will check into the Kindle Daily Deals and Just Kindle Books. I'm new and need to simply publish more books, I think. Sales are few and far between with FB and KDP ads.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06378090146801861924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-44847086190027541022017-03-05T15:42:01.617-05:002017-03-05T15:42:01.617-05:00There are so many readers who have joined Net Gall...There are so many readers who have joined Net Galley for free books in exchange for an "honest" review. My publisher gave away 500 copies of each of my books for free for which I got no royalties. The reviews from Net Galley are more often than not very snarky. Sometimes cruel. I can always tell when a reviewer has bought the book. The tone of the review is more positive. Giving away books for free does nothing for your career, in my opinion. I'm not talking about a book here or there as a prize during a take-over at a facebook release party. Speaking of those, my sales increase after I do a 30 minute guest spot on someone's book release party. I get better results as a guest than I do when I host my own. Go figure! And I meet more readers and get more sign-ups for my newsletter and author facebook page. Vonnie Davis ~ Romance Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07360480832587538895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-30006509696535374862017-03-05T15:09:51.693-05:002017-03-05T15:09:51.693-05:00Linda, I knew when I put my latest book out free f...Linda, I knew when I put my latest book out free for four days in November that the heyday of freebies had passed. I got several thousand downloads instead of the 20K I had for the previous book in 2014. I also got 18 reviews instead of 80, but for me, it's still the best way to get a little exposure.Alison Hendersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12725250883303287946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-52605982150636821232017-03-05T15:07:34.013-05:002017-03-05T15:07:34.013-05:00Andi, it is definitely one of the great mysteries ...Andi, it is definitely one of the great mysteries of the universe.Alison Hendersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12725250883303287946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-1649007561594207772017-03-05T14:42:29.191-05:002017-03-05T14:42:29.191-05:00I rarely do promotions because they haven't wo...I rarely do promotions because they haven't worked for me. <br /><br />Long, long ago, when the only thing out there were yahoo loops, I bought some promotion on the loops. I did giveaways on my blog and contests with a book as the prize. Never amounted to much of anything. I'm still in the hole for this.<br /><br />For many years, I didn't put anything on sale or buy promo. In December, I used Google Adwords Express for 2 weeks on my latest release to see if PPC would do any good. Nope.<br /><br />Right now, I have my series at 25% off on Smashwords for Read an Ebook Week 2017. I'm not going to hold my breath waiting for sales.<br /><br />Nothing I've done has ever helped my sales. I refuse to set a book for free--I think the days for that are long over, and doing a sale since I'm wide is more grief than it's worth with Amazon and their dreaded price matching. I will probably discount a book in July on Smashwords's Summer/Winter Sale. I do like their coupons.Linda Banchehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18143074276306710646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-69323578712436311562017-03-05T14:33:24.960-05:002017-03-05T14:33:24.960-05:00Interesting, but who the heck knows what actually ...Interesting, but who the heck knows what actually works? ONe of the great mysteries of the universe.Andrea Downinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11553961600937196102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-75446885379346637232017-03-05T14:02:09.049-05:002017-03-05T14:02:09.049-05:00Leah, the only certainty for me is that Amazon giv...Leah, the only certainty for me is that Amazon giveaways produced significantly more reviews than I've ever gotten any other way. As for the rest???Alison Hendersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12725250883303287946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-49584335510165361782017-03-05T13:50:03.183-05:002017-03-05T13:50:03.183-05:00Great lesson in how this is a business, Alison. I ...Great lesson in how this is a business, Alison. I wish I knew what worked. I've done Amazon give-aways (hoping for a higher sales ranking and maybe reviews), FB boosting, Google ads and Amazon ads, and it's still a mystery. Leah St. Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11004006100786260893noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-927136581565601972017-03-05T13:04:40.258-05:002017-03-05T13:04:40.258-05:00JL, your test should be more productive because yo...JL, your test should be more productive because you have so many more books out there. I'll make a note about ebookwise. I do think some sites are more effective than others.Alison Hendersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12725250883303287946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-44347384763602528272017-03-05T13:03:23.635-05:002017-03-05T13:03:23.635-05:00Thanks, Celia. I decided to go "indie" f...Thanks, Celia. I decided to go "indie" for the challenge of learning new things AND the biggest benefit of being completely in control of the process. I was having to do all the marketing myself, anyway.Alison Hendersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12725250883303287946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-34303187984714172332017-03-05T12:52:27.692-05:002017-03-05T12:52:27.692-05:00I did something similar last year; I tried differe...I did something similar last year; I tried different advertising each month with books that my publisher put on sale. I saw definite returns from ebookwise and a couple of others (one was a Kindle-sponsored promo). I'm doing the same thing this year with books on sale and different promo spots. I really have no idea what works!J L Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04537365728150842299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-71747436210161954172017-03-05T12:46:46.185-05:002017-03-05T12:46:46.185-05:00Interesting, and well done, too. I'm not Indie...Interesting, and well done, too. I'm not Indie published--too lazy to learn all the new tricks--but I do write for one publisher who is an "Indie Publisher." She chose me, and does all the work, and I get more % royalty than any other way.<br />I have a second publisher who is not really Indie, but they expect a good, clean ms so they do only light obvious editing. <br />Thanks, Alison, for the invitation I saw on FB!<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16272417114895975742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-62304408335620720572017-03-05T12:44:54.355-05:002017-03-05T12:44:54.355-05:00Jannine, I couldn't agree with you more about ...Jannine, I couldn't agree with you more about blog tours. What a waste of time and effort! I have tried to get on BookBub once with each of the bodyguard books but was declined both times. I've heard other authors say they tried several times and finally had a book accepted. I suppose I should keep trying, but it is discouraging. Alison Hendersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12725250883303287946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-76442422175140178102017-03-05T12:41:17.507-05:002017-03-05T12:41:17.507-05:00Rolynn, your marketing plan sounds a lot like mine...Rolynn, your marketing plan sounds a lot like mine for my self-pubbed books. I've found the freebie days with paid advertising on a couple of sites to be the most effective.Alison Hendersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12725250883303287946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-37521103502672500402017-03-05T12:40:09.389-05:002017-03-05T12:40:09.389-05:00Diane, since your books are in so many retail outl...Diane, since your books are in so many retail outlets, it would be much more difficult for you to track your sales. Mine are only on Amazon, so it's much easier for me. I do admit to being a bit of a data geek, however.Alison Hendersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12725250883303287946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-30641452083919574792017-03-05T12:38:43.412-05:002017-03-05T12:38:43.412-05:00Vonnie, It's interesting how different channel...Vonnie, It's interesting how different channels seem to work for different authors. I belong to an authors' support group which re-tweets for each other, and I've never seen a single sale I could attribute to Twitter. Of course, I don't use Twitter for anything else, so I'm one of those dreaded authors who only appears to slog books. Alison Hendersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12725250883303287946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-8197119739030579712017-03-05T11:54:38.967-05:002017-03-05T11:54:38.967-05:00I've had crappy sales for my new release, with...I've had crappy sales for my new release, with Kensington pushing me on a blog tour and the Facebook page takeover. The problem is, I don't think anyone sees pages on FB unless you pay to promote the post. Also, we all know blog tours are a big fat waste of time and money, yet the pub keeps doing them for lack of a better idea, I assume. I've never done Amazon advertising but the one day my book was a Kindle Daily Deal, I got down to below 10,000 in overall rank, so I must have sold a lot of books. When I've had a Bookbub ad, which sells a TON of books, I see resulting sales in all my other books. The key is to get one book in front of a lot of readers then the back list will sell itself. Right now I need more reviews on Wilde One so Bookbub will take it. That's the only way I've seen substantial sales across the board. I'm also good about tracking sales. Between my 5 self-pubbed books which have been out a loooong time, I get about 15-20 sales per month. Months where I've had a Bookbub ad for one of my Kensington books, the total on the self-pubbed sales jumps to 50-60 books. The sales for the other books in the same series is far, far more. So, that's my only answer. One book in front of many readers. Have no clue how to do that without Bookbub.Jannine Gallanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01047728297429025804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-50570871236458036222017-03-05T11:07:24.571-05:002017-03-05T11:07:24.571-05:00Alison, I'm proud of your efforts to suss out ...Alison, I'm proud of your efforts to suss out this puzzle, and I'm so glad you're sharing your results. I've just released BAD LIES and in two months I will release CEZANNE'S GHOST. I plan to work hard on promoting both books on FB and Twitter and these: fiverr, ereadernewstoday, library thing, fussy librarian and choosey bookworm. I'm on Kindle Select (KU option, included), and will try a three-day freebie. I've planned two book sale events locally, as well. This is the year I try to figure all this out...so I'm with you in spirit if not spirited! Onward and upward.Rolynn Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09504770204968969467noreply@blogger.com