Hi everyone
I've been on the forum for a year or two; viewing, commenting and posting a few times as well. I even started a thread about starting my own digital marketing agency last year that I never really got stuck into. It's crazy when you look back and realise how much you action-faked in the past.
So the point of this thread is another execution, but this time I took action first.
As the title says: I launched an ebook yesterday.
I'll give a brief overview of what the book is about and my process...
--
So the book is in the gaming genre and is technically a guide to how to play a simulation game and my experience from playing it for years. I have been part of forums and FB groups for a number of years and recently I started helping people (for free) who had problems with the game. I started receiving likes on comments and messages from people asking for more help. This is when I decided to write the book based on what I'd been helping people with. I knuckled down and wrote it in around 4/5 days and decided I was going to use one FB group specifically that had 8000+ members (it was the one I had been helping people in the most) to announce the book on to start getting sales. I used a website called Payhip which is technically acts as a hosting platform for customers to buy the book through. They only take a 5% commission and it allows people to pay through PayPal without the need of me setting up a website etc. so it was a no brainer seeing as I didn't know how well the book was going to do.
I launched the book yesterday and have received a really good reception so far, nothing out of this world, but I've never sold anything that has been created by me before so it was nice to see people interested.
Then I received my first sale! The book is priced at £5.99 and gives the customer the option to pay more if they wish. Then another came in... and another after that!
Yesterday I sold 10 copies and so far today I've sold 6. Feels great knowing that I've created something once and it can make me money at any time.
--
So I've started this thread not only to document my journey but also to ask for suggestions on ways to market my book even further. I'll give a quick overview on what I've done so far:
- Created an informational e-book on a particular video game
- Helped a number of people within a FB group relevant to the book topic (gave free value)
- Announced the book on that particular FB group
- Made 16 sales in 2 days
In terms of marketing here's what I have planned/discussed
- The group creator has welcomed me advertising the book in his group and has said he'll make a group announcement at the weekend with a link to buy the book. He's also said he doesn't mind me regularly promoting the book via the group
- Payhip stores the customers email addresses and when they purchase there is an option to sign up to email marketing (can use this for further books I'm planning to write on the topic)
- I've considered setting up a website/blog posting tips and directing to my book
- Going to look at writing guest blogs on relevant websites surrounding the game
- Currently helping as many other people for free in other groups and looking to promote the book in there as well
- I have considered Amazon and eBay however I think I read in this forum somewhere that Amazon take a large cut(?)
So that's the journey so far. It's really true that just taking action will get you somewhere even if you don't have the greatest of plans or vision in place.
I'd love to hear some thoughts on what I could do to market this further and increase sales. 16 sales may not sound like a lot but to someone who has never sold a product before it's a great feeling when those notifications come through!
Thanks for reading, I'd love to answer any questions you may have as well
I've been on the forum for a year or two; viewing, commenting and posting a few times as well. I even started a thread about starting my own digital marketing agency last year that I never really got stuck into. It's crazy when you look back and realise how much you action-faked in the past.
So the point of this thread is another execution, but this time I took action first.
As the title says: I launched an ebook yesterday.
I'll give a brief overview of what the book is about and my process...
--
So the book is in the gaming genre and is technically a guide to how to play a simulation game and my experience from playing it for years. I have been part of forums and FB groups for a number of years and recently I started helping people (for free) who had problems with the game. I started receiving likes on comments and messages from people asking for more help. This is when I decided to write the book based on what I'd been helping people with. I knuckled down and wrote it in around 4/5 days and decided I was going to use one FB group specifically that had 8000+ members (it was the one I had been helping people in the most) to announce the book on to start getting sales. I used a website called Payhip which is technically acts as a hosting platform for customers to buy the book through. They only take a 5% commission and it allows people to pay through PayPal without the need of me setting up a website etc. so it was a no brainer seeing as I didn't know how well the book was going to do.
I launched the book yesterday and have received a really good reception so far, nothing out of this world, but I've never sold anything that has been created by me before so it was nice to see people interested.
Then I received my first sale! The book is priced at £5.99 and gives the customer the option to pay more if they wish. Then another came in... and another after that!
Yesterday I sold 10 copies and so far today I've sold 6. Feels great knowing that I've created something once and it can make me money at any time.
--
So I've started this thread not only to document my journey but also to ask for suggestions on ways to market my book even further. I'll give a quick overview on what I've done so far:
- Created an informational e-book on a particular video game
- Helped a number of people within a FB group relevant to the book topic (gave free value)
- Announced the book on that particular FB group
- Made 16 sales in 2 days
In terms of marketing here's what I have planned/discussed
- The group creator has welcomed me advertising the book in his group and has said he'll make a group announcement at the weekend with a link to buy the book. He's also said he doesn't mind me regularly promoting the book via the group
- Payhip stores the customers email addresses and when they purchase there is an option to sign up to email marketing (can use this for further books I'm planning to write on the topic)
- I've considered setting up a website/blog posting tips and directing to my book
- Going to look at writing guest blogs on relevant websites surrounding the game
- Currently helping as many other people for free in other groups and looking to promote the book in there as well
- I have considered Amazon and eBay however I think I read in this forum somewhere that Amazon take a large cut(?)
So that's the journey so far. It's really true that just taking action will get you somewhere even if you don't have the greatest of plans or vision in place.
I'd love to hear some thoughts on what I could do to market this further and increase sales. 16 sales may not sound like a lot but to someone who has never sold a product before it's a great feeling when those notifications come through!
Thanks for reading, I'd love to answer any questions you may have as well
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That's brilliant, thank you for the book recommendation I'll definitely give it a read. Those steps seem logical so I'll take note and get to work over the weekend!
