Thoughts/Ideas: Author/Author Marketing + - Authors.com2024-03-28T12:23:33Zhttp://www.authors.com/forum/topics/thoughts-ideas-author-author-marketing?groupUrl=selfpublishing&commentId=3798404%3AComment%3A166158&groupId=3798404%3AGroup%3A333&feed=yes&xn_auth=noMy mother is self-published a…tag:www.authors.com,2014-01-20:3798404:Comment:1804882014-01-20T22:22:27.807ZLori Barneshttp://www.authors.com/profile/LoriBarnes
<p>My mother is self-published and while she was visiting, she told me what she pays for marketing help from her publisher. I could not believe it. As a book publisher and publicist, I gave her a number of suggestions that she could do on her own but then she told me that she really doesn't have the time to do those things between writing and teaching. She also told me that she couldn't afford the "help" from her publisher and I thought that was really unfair for self-published or even…</p>
<p>My mother is self-published and while she was visiting, she told me what she pays for marketing help from her publisher. I could not believe it. As a book publisher and publicist, I gave her a number of suggestions that she could do on her own but then she told me that she really doesn't have the time to do those things between writing and teaching. She also told me that she couldn't afford the "help" from her publisher and I thought that was really unfair for self-published or even first-time authors at small, independent publishers. So I made the decision to assist those authors that don't have a lot of money. Well, my mom just finished writing a new book and I'm happy to say that not only is she my first client, I may have found a standard publisher for her!</p>
<p>So, to all you self-published authors, I'm more than happy to answer any marketing questions that you may have. Feel free to add me as a friend and then get out there and get your book known! :)</p> Great thread... and yes.... t…tag:www.authors.com,2013-09-03:3798404:Comment:1772462013-09-03T11:58:22.187ZRaam Anandhttp://www.authors.com/profile/RaamAnand
<p>Great thread... and yes.... that's one ugly face of the marketing industry. They sell in terms of 'packages' and most of these packages use old-world marketing strategies that do not work today.</p>
<p>Great thread... and yes.... that's one ugly face of the marketing industry. They sell in terms of 'packages' and most of these packages use old-world marketing strategies that do not work today.</p> My second book is THIS close…tag:www.authors.com,2013-03-18:3798404:Comment:1662712013-03-18T04:30:46.414ZStanley S. Thorntonhttp://www.authors.com/profile/StanleySThornton
<p>My second book is THIS close to release. It's a fantasy novel. For this book, I have created my own publishing company, Mystic Dragon Publishing. So far, It is going to cost me a fraction of what it did to go with another publisher. Sure, I have to do a lot of work promoting my book. But I had to do that when I paid someone else to publish my book, except I am not paying a publisher $2 per copy just to have a book printer print the books for me. I go direct to the book printers…</p>
<p>My second book is THIS close to release. It's a fantasy novel. For this book, I have created my own publishing company, Mystic Dragon Publishing. So far, It is going to cost me a fraction of what it did to go with another publisher. Sure, I have to do a lot of work promoting my book. But I had to do that when I paid someone else to publish my book, except I am not paying a publisher $2 per copy just to have a book printer print the books for me. I go direct to the book printers myself.</p> Hi Dennis, I agree with the a…tag:www.authors.com,2013-03-18:3798404:Comment:1660672013-03-18T03:22:13.343ZCraig Brummerhttp://www.authors.com/profile/CraigBrummer
<p>Hi Dennis, I agree with the approach you're taking. I don't think the marketing services are worth a fraction of what they charge nor do I think they generate much in sales. From what I've read and seen the social media approach seems to work the best for Indie authors. I hope you are have great success with your books.</p>
<p>cheers,</p>
<p>Craig</p>
<p>Hi Dennis, I agree with the approach you're taking. I don't think the marketing services are worth a fraction of what they charge nor do I think they generate much in sales. From what I've read and seen the social media approach seems to work the best for Indie authors. I hope you are have great success with your books.</p>
<p>cheers,</p>
<p>Craig</p>
I have written two books an…tag:www.authors.com,2013-03-18:3798404:Comment:1661582013-03-18T01:42:58.529ZDennis AuBuchonhttp://www.authors.com/profile/DennisAuBuchon
<p> </p>
<p>I have written two books and have not purchased any marketing packages from anyone. I do all the marketing myself. It does not need to cost money to market and promote your book. Social networking sites such as Twitter, Facebook and Linkedin to name a few offer opportunities to get my expertise on the Internet. I also have designed my own website, have written over 650 articles posted to a variety of sites and participate in forums when I have something to add to a question. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I have written two books and have not purchased any marketing packages from anyone. I do all the marketing myself. It does not need to cost money to market and promote your book. Social networking sites such as Twitter, Facebook and Linkedin to name a few offer opportunities to get my expertise on the Internet. I also have designed my own website, have written over 650 articles posted to a variety of sites and participate in forums when I have something to add to a question. </p> For author's who write trilog…tag:www.authors.com,2013-01-11:3798404:Comment:1621642013-01-11T17:45:17.144ZCraig Brummerhttp://www.authors.com/profile/CraigBrummer
<p>For author's who write trilogies a successful approach has been to give the first book free and then charge for the other two. Michael Hicks, who wrote the "In Her Name" series (great books by the way) does that and is doing the same with his "Harvest" series. On his website he states he's given away 250,000 books and sold 90,000. Giving away so many has also put him on the top of Amazon's list and built him a large following.</p>
<p></p>
<p>That's great for trilogies or series but more…</p>
<p>For author's who write trilogies a successful approach has been to give the first book free and then charge for the other two. Michael Hicks, who wrote the "In Her Name" series (great books by the way) does that and is doing the same with his "Harvest" series. On his website he states he's given away 250,000 books and sold 90,000. Giving away so many has also put him on the top of Amazon's list and built him a large following.</p>
<p></p>
<p>That's great for trilogies or series but more difficult if you're like me and write stand alone novels.</p> Hi Stanley,
Thank you for sha…tag:www.authors.com,2013-01-11:3798404:Comment:1621602013-01-11T17:14:08.658ZCraig Brummerhttp://www.authors.com/profile/CraigBrummer
<p>Hi Stanley,</p>
<p>Thank you for sharing, I found the information you provided very interesting. I'll certainly check into it when my novel is ready for publishing.</p>
<p>Cheers,</p>
<p>Craig<br></br> <br></br> <cite>Stanley S. Thornton said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://www.authors.com/forum/topics/thoughts-ideas-author-author-marketing?groupUrl=selfpublishing&#3798404Comment152359"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>Last week or so, I recieved a letter from Google, advertising…</p>
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<p>Hi Stanley,</p>
<p>Thank you for sharing, I found the information you provided very interesting. I'll certainly check into it when my novel is ready for publishing.</p>
<p>Cheers,</p>
<p>Craig<br/> <br/> <cite>Stanley S. Thornton said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://www.authors.com/forum/topics/thoughts-ideas-author-author-marketing?groupUrl=selfpublishing&#3798404Comment152359"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>Last week or so, I recieved a letter from Google, advertising Google Adwords. They offered $100 free advertising. At first I ignored the letter, but still kept it. on the 15th I called their 800 number and talked to a representative. Using the $100 free, i've set up 2 text ads and 6 picture ads. I set the bidding at $1 max per click, and a max $10 per day. I also set up to be on sites in the US and Canada, though I have seen that my ad appears on at least one site in the UK. After 5 days, and $50 of the free advertising, I've had 36,155 views of my ads, and 97 people click through to my website. While I have a lot of information concerning my book on my website, I don't sell my books there. Since I joined the Amazon Affiliate Program, I put a link to my book, plus a banner ad to Amazon. Of the 97 who clicked the ads to go to my website, 9 took my links to Amazon. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I understand that may not sound that great, but considering the subject matter of my book, the book is titled "Christianity: Myths and Legends", I have to say that so far I have recieved pretty good results so far. I have sold one ebook on Amazon since i began this ad campaign, but I do not yet know if it was because of the ads or because they wandered onto my book as others have done in the passed. And Amazon says that apparently someone visiting my site saw some item not associated with my book and purchased it...lol</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I also don't know how many of those who visited my website purchased elsewhere, or how many people who did not click through decided later to go to a book store and possibly purchase a book.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>My next book might perform better, considering its a fantasy novel, and not a controversial topic. But this is a reasonable method to consider. At least I know 36,155 people have seen my ad, even if they didn't read it...and 97 people were curious enough to look. For a self-published book, i'd think that is pretty good, no?</p>
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</blockquote> I am doing everything on my o…tag:www.authors.com,2012-12-02:3798404:Comment:1603502012-12-02T17:52:38.352Zzabrina murrayhttp://www.authors.com/profile/zabrinamurray
<p>I am doing everything on my own and still trying to figure out what else I can do. So far I have published my 1st book on Amazon, I have made a page on my facebook, I have Twitter, I have a website up,, and I have it in a public library. I just sent an email to a book store on how to get it in there so now what I would like to know is what else can I do to advertise it? If anyone can help it would be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>I am doing everything on my own and still trying to figure out what else I can do. So far I have published my 1st book on Amazon, I have made a page on my facebook, I have Twitter, I have a website up,, and I have it in a public library. I just sent an email to a book store on how to get it in there so now what I would like to know is what else can I do to advertise it? If anyone can help it would be greatly appreciated.</p> I have officially put up a we…tag:www.authors.com,2012-10-31:3798404:Comment:1583232012-10-31T13:13:38.223Zzabrina murrayhttp://www.authors.com/profile/zabrinamurray
<p>I have officially put up a website for my book! Go to zabrinamurray.weebly.com and tell me what u think. this is my first time to make one and would like some feed back please!</p>
<p>I have officially put up a website for my book! Go to zabrinamurray.weebly.com and tell me what u think. this is my first time to make one and would like some feed back please!</p> Last week or so, I recieved a…tag:www.authors.com,2012-08-20:3798404:Comment:1523592012-08-20T06:03:06.667ZStanley S. Thorntonhttp://www.authors.com/profile/StanleySThornton
<p>Last week or so, I recieved a letter from Google, advertising Google Adwords. They offered $100 free advertising. At first I ignored the letter, but still kept it. on the 15th I called their 800 number and talked to a representative. Using the $100 free, i've set up 2 text ads and 6 picture ads. I set the bidding at $1 max per click, and a max $10 per day. I also set up to be on sites in the US and Canada, though I have seen that my ad appears on at least one site in the UK. After 5…</p>
<p>Last week or so, I recieved a letter from Google, advertising Google Adwords. They offered $100 free advertising. At first I ignored the letter, but still kept it. on the 15th I called their 800 number and talked to a representative. Using the $100 free, i've set up 2 text ads and 6 picture ads. I set the bidding at $1 max per click, and a max $10 per day. I also set up to be on sites in the US and Canada, though I have seen that my ad appears on at least one site in the UK. After 5 days, and $50 of the free advertising, I've had 36,155 views of my ads, and 97 people click through to my website. While I have a lot of information concerning my book on my website, I don't sell my books there. Since I joined the Amazon Affiliate Program, I put a link to my book, plus a banner ad to Amazon. Of the 97 who clicked the ads to go to my website, 9 took my links to Amazon. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I understand that may not sound that great, but considering the subject matter of my book, the book is titled "Christianity: Myths and Legends", I have to say that so far I have recieved pretty good results so far. I have sold one ebook on Amazon since i began this ad campaign, but I do not yet know if it was because of the ads or because they wandered onto my book as others have done in the passed. And Amazon says that apparently someone visiting my site saw some item not associated with my book and purchased it...lol</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I also don't know how many of those who visited my website purchased elsewhere, or how many people who did not click through decided later to go to a book store and possibly purchase a book.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>My next book might perform better, considering its a fantasy novel, and not a controversial topic. But this is a reasonable method to consider. At least I know 36,155 people have seen my ad, even if they didn't read it...and 97 people were curious enough to look. For a self-published book, i'd think that is pretty good, no?</p>