I have recently received a flurry of emails from authors all experiencing the same things …
Their books are gathering dust on the shelves (including the cyberspace shelves…)
Giveaway or Freebie days are great, lots of books downloaded or given away, then, when the book price returns, nothing moves and reviews from readers are scarce, if at all, even from the Giveaway in exchange for honest reviews…
WHAT ARE THEY DOING WRONG?
Answer = Nothing.
ARE THEIR STORIES THAT BAD?
Answer = No, probably not.
Unfortunately, I don’t have a magic wand to change the situation many of you are in, nor can I utter any words of wisdom.
However, I can remind you all that my blog was set up to be a resource for authors and to expand the existing publicity opportunities for them to promote themselves and their books.
This includes having every kind of share button possible, provided by WordPress, available under each article, so that even though I use them to share the articles everywhere I have a presence (see the list on my About page), the authors themselves can ALSO use them to share with their friends, fans and family, as well as on their own Twitter, Facebook, etc, accounts.
Now, I am not saying that my blog will make your books fly off the shelves, but I can say it provides a means for you to get that little bit more publicity.
Here’s how:
For Authors, there are two types of post I do on my blog:
Featured Author
Where I have to research my subject author (these take up a lot of my time) and the articles are posted (almost) daily. I try to have as many completed (draft) articles in reserve as I can because they take so long to generate.
Guest author
Where the authors email me their own promo article, complete with details of their books, websites, and a photo of themselves that they won’t be embarrassed by 🙂
Guest posts are normally sent out on Fridays (but I don’t mind sending them out any other day the author prefers, either way I need at least 3 days to prepare them for publishing online.
The Guest Author articles can be as long as they like to make them, most authors are not shy but tend to spend most of their efforts on detailing their books, which I think is a pity, because ‘The Readers’ DO also seem to like knowing all about these creative people, including what they look like. Hence the tendency for photo’s and personal blurbs on most books printed nowadays (especially Hardbacks) and authors profiles on the Online bookstores (which I notice are not always exploited by authors…).
Publishing Houses don’t do these things just to fill a space, like every other business, there are reasons why they do things.
I have been asked why I don’t post the reviews of books I’ve read, on my own blog, after all, I do book reviews, including posting them on Goodreads, Amazon (.com and .co.uk), Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, or wherever else the author needs them posted.
The reasons are that my reading time has become severely restricted now, for various reasons, so it takes me a while to get through books (what I could normally have read in a day now takes me a week)and I don’t want this blog to become another Books Review Site. That is why I have included a list of Book Reviewers on my blog.
If you look down the left column of my Main Blog Home page, you will find a list of Book Reviewer sites, I don’t know if they charge or not, but I do know they give good, constructive and well balanced reviews on their blogs (and in some cases, also on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, etc)
If you use any of them and they publish their review of your book on their blogs, don’t forget that most WordPress based blogs have a reblog option at the top of the page (you will need to be signed in to your own WordPress based blog to see it) plus, they usually have share buttons, so their reviews can be shared all over the place, (that’s why I have so many share buttons, so authors can share my articles about them with their own friends and fans in addition to what I do as a matter of routine).
One thing to remember, YOU are not alone in having books seem popular during giveaways, etc, then seem to fall out of favour when they need to be bought …
I suspect that the General Public, aka ‘The Buyers’ (unless they order through their local Libraries), in these uncertain economic times, consider books (like so many other so called ‘non-essential’ things) to be the last thing on their minds to spend money on.
So all I can advise is for you to adhere to the three “P’s”
publicity … Publicity … PUBLICITY at EVERY opportunity.
One last thing…you all know this blog started on 4th April 2013, have a look at the stats on the top of the left column…in 2½ months this blog has had over 8000 visitors and gathered 320 followers from around the world, so it must be having SOME effect.
But, it could have even more impact if these stats were increased by several factors and that is where YOUR SUPPORT comes in, providing you think it is worthy of it.
In order to give YOU more publicity and spread the word about your books, this blog needs to increase its readership even more, therefore, I am asking you to spread the word about it to all your friends, family, fans and complete strangers so that they come along, see for themselves what a wonderful bunch of people authors are and, hopefully, decide to come back time after time.
This is NOT an ego trip for me, I’m already a happy ape…this is about YOU getting more publicity!
It’s every authors dream to become famous and live off the proceeds of their book sales and it is my ambition to help you to do just that…
WHY? I hear you shout…
Because without books teaching me things, so I would try and do things that I’d never otherwise have tried or done, and also transporting me away from the mundane aspects of life, from a very early age, I would have gone completely barking mad before I had the chance to actually DO anything with my life.
As it is, I’ve had a full, active and interesting life (and still continues to be those things) and I strongly feel that it’s PAYBACK time!
THIS is why I keep asking if there is more I could be doing for you, are there more Groups I should join, other ways I should promote you in order to spread the word about you and your books?
Your spreading the word about this blog is needed!
Your comments are needed!
Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog 
That’s a very generous reason to set up a blog! I’ll make mention of your blog on The Self Publisher – and you’re so right, it is really hard to get reviews. There’s got to be a better way.
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Very interesting. I plan to give out some copies to about 40 FB friends and offer as a swag at different online parties, but that’s it. Know too many friends who have given away 10,000 books and received a handful of reviews. (15-25)
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Reblogged this on Writing for the Whole Darn Universe.
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Thanks for that Malia 🙂
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Thanks Alina 🙂
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I’ve seen differing advice re free books.
Derek Haines in his blog the Vandal insists you can never give away too many copies and he seems to have had luck building sales that way.
My experience is more the other way.
I give away books or have a special and then not very many people actually read the books or at least they don’t do reviews if they do.
I have a novellette that’s always free on Smashwords and while I’ve given away 70 copies, I’ve had only one little review.
And sales don’t pick up after a special, I’ve found.
I think people tend to gobble up free books and then forget about them or never get around to reading them.
I agree that people decide to just wait and the author will be sure to have another sale.
Haines talks about marketing vs. selling.
In a way freebies are selling – trying to attract individuals.
Marketing is getting yourself recognized – attracting general interest.
That’s why you, Chris, say to include lots of personal info in articles, rather than just discuss your books.
Anyway, we all do the best we can.
And I think you’re doing a terrific job with this website!
I just put it on StumbleUpon and I tweeted this article.
I think I’ll go click on Google+ now!
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Great feedback Lorinda and I think you’ve hit the nail on the head when you said Marketing is getting yourself recognized – attracting general interest
Thats where blogs like mine can help.
Readers looking for books tend to go by their preferred genre, so, because my blog (also) has books on it of all sorts of genre, it shows up on the search engines (especially Google, which is mainly why I joined Google+) as well as the Reviewers sites and the funny blog name seems to draw them in.
However, when they arrive here they are greeted by articles about authors, with books being only a part of the blog – these articles then pique their interest and THAT is when YOU start becoming their friends, as well as their newly found authors.
I am slowly getting through all the posts and trying to add the books of the featured authors into my bookcases, so these readers can go from your articles to your books, see the synopsis for them, then maybe use the download links and actually get at least one of your books to try out.
There is a madness to my method 🙂
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Hey, this is a great post, Chris!
I agree with Loretta about the free book thing.
Freebies really don’t spark sales or even reviews these days; and some are saying these free books don’t even get read most of the time.
Maybe this gleaned profits at the start of the “free trend” but no longer.
If we are going to give our books away, I think we, as authors, have to do it with the idea that we are doing it to get our books into the hands of semi-interested readers and hope that they will read it and enjoy.
Expect nothing in return.
Free can mean gift, can’t it?
We are wordsmiths, aren’t we?
Maybe we should start calling it “gifting books.”
Perhaps readers would take these gift books more seriously than just a hand out and actually read them.
That is the point of all of this, isn’t it?
The readers!
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I suspect other authors would say that there are two points Paula, ‘The Reader’ AND some financial return for the time and effort put into creating, publishing and promoting the book 🙂
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It breaks my heart to see potential writers feel they have to give away the product of all their hard work Chris.
But with literally millions of new authors and their books cluttering the market, unless they have written something which appeals to the greater majority, sadly they are destined to sit in the literary doldrums forevermore.
Take a bit of advice from someone who knows, having learned the hard way, my advice to them is simply this – write a book which will grab the attention of the market.
Don’t specialise when you are first starting out.
Instead take note of what is selling.
Take note of what genre is currently popular, and if you feel you can write within it, do so.
We indies have enough trouble doing our best to ignore the vicious attacks of the trolls.
Writing a book that no one wants to buy is equally annoying. 😉
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Sound advice Jack 🙂
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Sure Chris, I absolutely didn’t mean that authors shouldn’t do giveaways if that’s what they want to do – I’m just not sure it works so I’m just expressing my own opinion.
I didn’t mean that they shouldn’t try it. I may not even be right (I can be wrong, sometimes, lol! I can even admit to being wrong, haha) and I think it’s great that you are offering free publicity.
People like you do it because you love books and genuinely want to help authors, and that’s a big plus in my book (if you’ll pardon the pun)
When I have the energy I’ll send you a bio myself, but I have ME and am struggling to cope with the irons I have in the fire right now.
But I think what you’re doing is great.
I don’t always have the courage to put my thoughts out there so I hope I don’t cause too much outrage amongst other authors.
I’m just curious to know what others think.
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Courage comes in all forms Loretta and doing something that scares you is one of them 🙂
I don’t think authors will be outraged, but maybe more thoughtful about what you have said 🙂
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This is why I’m not convinced about the efficacy of free books.
They are a good idea when you need reviews, for a new book, but why would people pay for them when they know that you will do a Freebie Day again shortly?
I know this is a bit controversial, and also doesn’t apply to me because my books are only available direct from me, or on Blurb or Apple, not on Amazon or Smashwords, so I can’t do Freebie Days, although I do occasional Goodreads Giveaways.
I am living in the hope that my books are worth paying for, as I simply cannot afford to do it any other way.
This is just a thought, but maybe it’s time to limit the amount of books which are available for nothing.
There’s a verse in the Bible which says “The labourer is worthy of his hire” (Luke 10 v 7)
Maybe it’s time we limited the free books and start to believe they are worth paying for?
Or am I living in LaLa Land?
Just a thought, anyway, and I’m sure loads of you will disagree. *runs away and cowers in a corner*
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You have a point Loretta 🙂
However, whether or not authors chose to have free book days is up to them, what I’m offering is free additional publicity opportunities, for authors and/or their books.
I have no idea what publishing houses charge for book promotions, or even IF they charge, but I suspect that they don’t do it for love of the author concerned.
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I’ve read through dozen of author responses. I’m both pback and epublished. Indie publishing is a new effort for me. Ape makes a fab suggestion about telling readers interesting tidbits about yourself. Use the foot of every ebook to include an About the Author bio. Below that a heading: Find Me Here. Add your Facebook Author page, your website, your blog, your Goodreads author page, your Twitter handle. My first indie effort went online earlier this month. A reader in Lebanon posted on my FB page how much she liked my bio at the end of the book. Now she visits my sites often. That is key. Now about freebies: We have to invest in ourselves as writers. I have ‘lurked’ in discussion rooms on Amazon and reader sites. It is the nature of the Kindle/Nook/iBook community to download freebies. Best selling authors often post freebies as a thank you to their fans. Some freebies get read some don’t. The readers are looking for new writers to follow. Here is the greatest complaint: Many Indie authors are not having their mss professionally edited or formatted. Second greatest complaint: Indie authors are using readers as beta readers. The author uses the review to edit errors and often publish three or more ‘revised’ editions. Readers are not going to return to buy the revised book/short story–even if it’s free. Third complaint: The cover and blurb are fabulous, but the book did not deliver on the blurb’s promise. One reader complained the blurb was the best written thing about the whole book. Read one star reviews to learn what irks readers and edit your work to avoid those complaints. Whether your book is free or fee, a reader is not obligated to write a review. One can gently coax. Hope this helps.
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come on, guys, let’s share this awesome blog.
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Thanks Lisa …. This blog is FREE for authors to use as a promotion opportunity 🙂
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