Road to Becoming a Fastlane Author

[Breaking Free]

So I'm preparing for my collection/novel length release this week. I'm looking into some pretty heavy marketing, and I may end up dropping several hundred to get my book out. That's how most of the "breakout" hits are happening these days. They're not found through chance. They're found through marketing.

That being said, I'm considering announcing here when I do my release. Maybe in this post, but also maybe in the INSIDERS (since it isn't searchable through Google). Would that be of interest to anyone, or should I just post the results of my marketing blitz?

 

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[Thriftypreneur]

That's how most of the "breakout" hits are happening these days. They're not found through chance. They're found through marketing.

Agree.

That being said, I'm considering announcing here when I do my release. Maybe in this post, but also maybe in the INSIDERS (since it isn't searchable through Google). Would that be of interest to anyone, or should I just post the results of my marketing blitz?

Would be interested in any information you're comfortable sharing, myself.

 

[Breaking Free]

Well, it's out there. My novella collection is now available for sale. I've written over 100k words in the past two months, and this is that culmination of that work and effort. It's a little serene, and simultaneously calming and nerve wrecking.

I've dropped about $500 on marketing at various sites, with it basically starting this Wednesday and running a week. I couldn't list or count all the sites I used, as well as the other sites that want reviews before you can submit with them.

I'm going to leave this little link here. It'll show you my published works, my pen name, and my work on sale for .99. I ask that there's no feedback on the forum about the work, or repeating my pen name. I'm essentially tossing myself out there; this is a business, and I need to treat it as such.

I'd say wish me luck, but... I don't believe in that. I'm making my own luck.

 

[britnidanielle]

Would that be of interest to anyone, or should I just post the results of my marketing blitz?

Sure!

 

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[COSenior]

My novella collection is now available for sale.

One-clicked it...sounds like a good story. May take me a while to read it. If e-books were print books, my stack would be about desk-high right now.

 

[Breaking Free]

Arrrgh, the Createspace version is trumping the ebook, so it seems my Author Central stuff is currently broken. Hopefully KDP fixes it before my marketing kicks in.

On a more positive note, my Kindle Worlds work has put me as the #799th author in Science Fiction. So, if my Contemporary Fantasy work tanks, I know where I'm switching to.

Edit: But, if anyone wants to help out my kboards post...
http://www.kboards.com/index.php/topic,166092.0.html

 

[britnidanielle]

Breaking Free,

Just to be clear...are you going to share what sites you targeted for advertising in the INSIDERS section? I'm curious to see which ones you turned to.

 

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[Breaking Free]

Short answer is... it depends.

I likely won't broadcast it to the public forum, that's for sure. I was inspired by another author's tactic, and I reached out to them for assistance. I impressed him both with my work and mindset, and he helped me shape and influence a plan, so I feel like I'd be betraying his trust and confidence to announce it to the world.

That being said, the INSIDERS may work, or maybe off of email to those that have given to this forum, or have reached out to me during this journey. I do want to give back, but it's a delicate tightrope, ya know?

 

[Breaking Free]

And today my author rank in science fiction broke the 1,000 mark, and has been holding all day.

From just a novella. That's pretty exciting. It almost, almost makes me wish my novel wasn't in the fantasy genre, so I can capitalize on that momentum.

Keep at it, find your niche...

 

[britnidanielle]

Congrats!

 

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[Held for Ransom]

And today my author rank in science fiction broke the 1,000 mark, and has been holding all day.

Awesome! Keep going!!

 

[Breaking Free]

So far, six sales total, none today (only started on one site though). Tomorrow my advertising should really kick up, and feed through the weekend.

I hope.

But, as a sanity check, if anyone has any critiques on my blurb or anything, shoot me an email. Don't want to discuss book details in public.

 

[Breaking Free]

So I'm wondering if having no reviews is hurting me. Or trying to advertise on Halloween wasn't a good idea...

Anyone have any ideas on how to get reviews? Need to try for 5-10 verified reviews with an average of 4 or higher. I've heard of gifting your book helps, but I don't have a network of readers yet.

 

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[COSenior]

Anyone have any ideas on how to get reviews? Need to try for 5-10 verified reviews with an average of 4 or higher. I've heard of gifting your book helps, but I don't have a network of readers yet.

I'll review it, when I get a chance to read it. If someone wants to loan me an extra 6-12 hours in the day, I'd appreciate it.

Gifting doesn't work as well as you would think. I wasn't worried about verified reviews, just wanted some reviews. Gave away 20 copies in various formats for reviews on Amazon, Goodreads or Barnes & Noble. That's been almost a month ago, and I think four people have reviewed it. On top of that, if the person you gift it to hasn't ever purchased anything from Amazon, they won't be able to post a review at all, even if you sent them a gift copy. Barnes & Noble will let you, though. So, my best suggestion is to ask friends and family to buy it, even if you feel you must reimburse them, and write the review for them so all they have to do is copy and paste. You can also find book review groups on Goodreads and pages on Facebook and submit it to them, but you will have to provide free copies, so you won't get a verified purchase review. They all put a disclaimer that they received a free copy for an honest review.

 

[Breaking Free]

Thanks, appreciate it. Since marketing isn't much, I may just keep that going for longer than next Wednesday, but not discount my book anymore. Hopefully I get enough sales that I start warranting a review from somewhere, to validate that my book isn't a POS to potential readers.

 

[Hicks]

So I'm wondering if having no reviews is hurting me. Or trying to advertise on Halloween wasn't a good idea...

Anyone have any ideas on how to get reviews? Need to try for 5-10 verified reviews with an average of 4 or higher. I've heard of gifting your book helps, but I don't have a network of readers yet.

Absolutely love the progress. Fantastic.

As for reviews. I've been straight up asking for them in the introduction. Granted I'm not writing fiction ...but all the same.

I am thinking of releasing two versions ..the free kdp one where i say if you got this for free 'please at least review it' and the paid for where i just say 'please review it'.

 

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[Breaking Free]

I'm not sure how many of our writers are INSIDERS, but I found a nice thread:

http://www.kboards.com/index.php/topic,163037.0.html

Though I have found someone who wrote 42 novels and doesn't seem to be making much money.

http://www.amazon.com/Ross-Richdale/e/B004WR3USG/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

The covers... they burn the eyes...

 

[Thriftypreneur]

I'm not sure how many of our writers are INSIDERS, but I found a nice thread:

http://www.kboards.com/index.php/topic,163037.0.html

.

Good lord that thread is depressing.

 

[Breaking Free]

Good lord that thread is depressing.

Really? I found it encouraging.

 

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[Thriftypreneur]

Really? I found it encouraging.

The amount of people in that thread with 10-20 titles and not making anything... Granted many of them admitted to doing little/no promotion, but still.

I think it goes to show that the ebook marking may be leveling out. First, you had the publish anything and make $$$ with little/no effort. Then, it started getting tougher and Amazon started adjusting their algo's, changing how promos affect rankings and stuff. Now, you have a lot of people who have been pretty consistent at pumping out loads and loads of titles over the years, with new authors popping up every day, effectively flooding the readers with more books than they'll ever be able to get to in a lifetime.

Pretty sure this is the same life cycle that every marketplace goes through. Now books seem to pretty much need some kind of promotion to get going and maintain rankings. I'm sure if you get to a certain threshold in your genre that sales can become somewhat self-sustaining, but mostly it seems that on-going promotion is a mandatory component now. It makes me wonder how long the perma-free promotion model will remain effective and whats next.

 

[Breaking Free]

The amount of people in that thread with 10-20 titles and not making anything... Granted many of them admitted to doing little/no promotion, but still.

I think it goes to show that the ebook marking may be leveling out. First, you had the publish anything and make $$$ with little/no effort. Then, it started getting tougher and Amazon started adjusting their algo's, changing how promos affect rankings and stuff. Now, you have a lot of people who have been pretty consistent at pumping out loads and loads of titles over the years, with new authors popping up every day, effectively flooding the readers with more books than they'll ever be able to get to in a lifetime.

Pretty sure this is the same life cycle that every marketplace goes through. Now books seem to pretty much need some kind of promotion to get going and maintain rankings. I'm sure if you get to a certain threshold in your genre that sales can become somewhat self-sustaining, but mostly it seems that on-going promotion is a mandatory component now. It makes me wonder how long the perma-free promotion model will remain effective and whats next.

Well, I also dug deeper into their work, and asked "Why are they not selling?"

As far as datapoints, I threw out anyone that didn't list specifics, or define what was or wasn't defined as selling. By clicking on their books, sometimes it's pretty easy to see why they're not selling.

To me, this is a great thread to see what people are doing that works, and what they do that aren't.

 

[Thriftypreneur]

Well, I also dug deeper into their work, and asked "Why are they not selling?"

As far as datapoints, I threw out anyone that didn't list specifics, or define what was or wasn't defined as selling. By clicking on their books, sometimes it's pretty easy to see why they're not selling.

To me, this is a great thread to see what people are doing that works, and what they do that aren't.

Yeah, I thought about that as well, but didn't bother to go through the individual books and rankings yet. Would be neat to get that information at a glance. One thing that that makes it tough for data analysis is the ever-present variable, "Are they good stories?" Which of course, is always subjective. The people I see who seem to report doing well, their books almost always look like best sellers (look professional/hip/etc).

 

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[Rawr]

Now books seem to pretty much need some kind of promotion to get going and maintain rankings.

Wrong. Stop thinking this nonsense. If you ask losers why they can't play NBA you think anyone would give you an honest answer?


These people don't write what sells. Period. Doesn't mean book isn't good, it just isn't selling. A lot of terrible covers.



Copy the winners. I actually didn't go to that thread on purpose - stick with what works, don't listen to failure.

 

[Breaking Free]

Wrong. Stop thinking this nonsense. If you ask losers why they can't play NBA you think anyone would give you an honest answer?


These people don't write what sells. Period. Doesn't mean book isn't good, it just isn't selling. A lot of terrible covers.



Copy the winners. I actually didn't go to that thread on purpose - stick with what works, don't listen to failure.

I understand your logic, but your reasoning is exactly why I read and analyzed that thread. You can copy the winners, sure, but sometimes you have to know why people fail, and why they continue to fail. See why people aren't selling. Read their reviews, blurbs, look at the covers. Determine why their works aren't selling, and don't make the same mistakes.

Because what works for one person may not work for another.

 

[Rawr]

You should copy the winners. It's a damn good idea!!!

Why read what doesn't work? I know for me, that stuff gets stuck in my head, and it will clutter and fog things up. Plus there is the issue of time.

If you can avoid that, good for you.



Here is what the reader expects in romance, to keep in perspective.



"
To the one reviewer (the only one who rated this book less than 4 stars) who complained that Cole was too stereotypical, too perfect looking to even exist, I ask how many romance stories have you actually read? I can count on one hand the number of books that I've read that did not have a gorgeous, athletic, perfect male as the hero, and I read 5-6 books a week! These books are fiction, a way to escape the every day life, if you want totally realistic stories try the non-fiction area. For those of you like me, who like to read about gorgeous boys/men who fall in love with the "good" girls, the "plain" girls, or the "damaged" girls, this book is for you. Both Cole and Aimee grow and mature throughout this book and you can tell their love is the forever kind."

 

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[Breaking Free]

You should copy the winners. It's a damn good idea!!!

Why read what doesn't work? I know for me, that stuff gets stuck in my head, and it will clutter and fog things up. Plus there is the issue of time.

If you can avoid that, good for you.



Here is what the reader expects in romance, to keep in perspective.



"
To the one reviewer (the only one who rated this book less than 4 stars) who complained that Cole was too stereotypical, too perfect looking to even exist, I ask how many romance stories have you actually read? I can count on one hand the number of books that I've read that did not have a gorgeous, athletic, perfect male as the hero, and I read 5-6 books a week! These books are fiction, a way to escape the every day life, if you want totally realistic stories try the non-fiction area. For those of you like me, who like to read about gorgeous boys/men who fall in love with the "good" girls, the "plain" girls, or the "damaged" girls, this book is for you. Both Cole and Aimee grow and mature throughout this book and you can tell their love is the forever kind."

For me, it's relatively simple. Selling fiction ebooks is a constantly changing environment.

Hugh Howey openly admits he got lucky. Dean Wesley Smith and Kris Rusch advocate different things than HM Ward and Russell Blake and JA Konrath. What works for one may not work for another.

If you study military history like I have, you look not only at how someone won a battle, but how the other side lost. When an ebook author complains about sales, it's important to identify their mistakes so you don't make them, even if it's their mindset.

But that's me. If another way works for you, who am I to argue?