RodenAddison
Literotica Guru
- Joined
- Feb 16, 2012
- Posts
- 603
I'm curious. Who do you use and what do you like about their service.
Any Epub Authors Blogging?
- Thread starter RodenAddison
- Start date
sr71plt
Literotica Guru
- Joined
- Jul 18, 2006
- Posts
- 51,872
I do no blogging (other than Facebook announcements of the mainstream books). I've always thought that blogging was a royal waste of time and effort unless lightning strikes and you get one established high profile.
Blogging among authors is the pits. In the mainstream I've tried a lot of "you promote me/I'll promote you" and authors tend only to want to promote themselves--they don't see the value of group efforts.
Blogging among authors is the pits. In the mainstream I've tried a lot of "you promote me/I'll promote you" and authors tend only to want to promote themselves--they don't see the value of group efforts.
PennLady
Literotica Guru
- Joined
- Mar 26, 2009
- Posts
- 9,413
It's not a waste if someone wants to do it, or gets something out of it. I enjoy the give-and-take I sometimes get, although I admit it's not my favorite thing and I usually only blog once every 10-14 days. In truth I think it's a pretty neutral thing.
I'd have to agree with you on the second point. I have tried to work with some other authors, offering and asking for reviews or interviews but it rarely comes to anything.
I'd have to agree with you on the second point. I have tried to work with some other authors, offering and asking for reviews or interviews but it rarely comes to anything.
RodenAddison
Literotica Guru
- Joined
- Feb 16, 2012
- Posts
- 603
Thoughts then on how best to promote your epub books?
sr71plt
Literotica Guru
- Joined
- Jul 18, 2006
- Posts
- 51,872
First, write in genres that are selling well. Get them edited and with a killer cover and a great blurb. Put them out in as many e-platforms as you can and on as many online store sites as you can. Get them favorable reviews. Do what you can to pump up readership reporting on Goodreads. Running a giveaway contest for a couple of copies there is a good start. Publish e-books regularly to get synergy on new titles popping up with those seeing these looking at what else you've published--backlists tend to stay alive longer and to a greater degree with e-books over print.
PennLady
Literotica Guru
- Joined
- Mar 26, 2009
- Posts
- 9,413
Well, you can start a blog if you like and see if you can network by sharing links with people.
Mostly -- keep writing. A Facebook page can be a good place to put a notice of new books, and there are groups you can join. I'm part of a LushStories group, Independent Authors, Erotica groups etc. You can announce them here on Lit in the Author's Hangout; there's a sticky at the top of the page. Get some free stuff up on Amazon (I've seen this advice from others).
It's a big wide pond to try to make a splash in.
Mostly -- keep writing. A Facebook page can be a good place to put a notice of new books, and there are groups you can join. I'm part of a LushStories group, Independent Authors, Erotica groups etc. You can announce them here on Lit in the Author's Hangout; there's a sticky at the top of the page. Get some free stuff up on Amazon (I've seen this advice from others).
It's a big wide pond to try to make a splash in.
Stella_Omega
No Gentleman
- Joined
- Jul 14, 2005
- Posts
- 39,700
Great covers. That means not a generic and badly drawn blond girl on the cover.
Blog, and go after guest blogging on more popular author's blogs, the virtual equivalent of booksigning tours.
Offer free downloads. Trawl (not troll) goodreads.com and if you notice reviewers that you think will appreciate your book, offer them a copy for review. If you get good feedback from anyone, ask them to add it to your product pages wherever you sell them. Make sure you have good tags for your book.
If you get a bad review, for the love of all the little fishes-- DO NOT RESPOND. The word gets out that you fight with reviewers, you can drop into never-sell hell.
sr71plt
Literotica Guru
- Joined
- Jul 18, 2006
- Posts
- 51,872
Blogging is certainly on the list. I just think it's the highest cost, time/effort wise, for the least payoff option. Unless you hit a blog where everything just clicks away (which has about the same probability of taking self-published book to the New York Times best-seller list).
And if you get in with a gaggle of other authors who are blogging for exactly the same reason you are, chances are slim to none that any of you will buy any of the other books being plugged (think about it; when in this situation, have you?). A lot of empty effort. The only place I've seen this sort of synergy work is with the near-scam, very-near self-publishing "publisher" Publish America, which managed, through an active forum, to get its authors to buy each other's books, thus making all of them think they were doing well in the marketplace--when whatever they were doing wasn't anywhere near the marketplace.
And if you get in with a gaggle of other authors who are blogging for exactly the same reason you are, chances are slim to none that any of you will buy any of the other books being plugged (think about it; when in this situation, have you?). A lot of empty effort. The only place I've seen this sort of synergy work is with the near-scam, very-near self-publishing "publisher" Publish America, which managed, through an active forum, to get its authors to buy each other's books, thus making all of them think they were doing well in the marketplace--when whatever they were doing wasn't anywhere near the marketplace.
lovecraft68
Bad Doggie
- Joined
- Jul 13, 2009
- Posts
- 43,905
I have a blog, but went into it against my better judgement and it shows in the effort I've put into it.
I'm from the school of don't talk about it, do it.
Good looking covers are important and I feel offering books in a certain vein help.
There is something to be said for being diverse, but what I have noticed is if you have several books that feature the same kink/fetish they will "feed" each other.
I have a bunch of "pseudo incest" stories up and last month the sales on all of them were pretty close, except for one that for some reason far outsold the others.
I noticed when one would sell another would sell soon after.
Being prolific helps as well. If a reader finds you and likes you and you have a lot of books for sale odds are they will keep coming back for more.
I've read and found out first hand the average e-book has a certain life span for max sales, usually the first couple of months then it tails.
However, if you keep putting up new stuff, they don't completely die out because each new book brings a set of eyes to your old books.
Editing is big too, but I don't feel as critical as it once was. People are paying .99 to $4 or $5 dollars and not normally expecting Hemingway, especially in erotica.
Don't get me wrong, bad typos and really poor grammar will hurt you, but if you're "passable" then you'll do okay.
I think descriptions are big as well, if you can't make your story sound appealing who will buy it?
Giving a book away for free is good, but only if you have others for sale. This way if they like the freebie theory is they will buy your other work.
I know a few people who have one book for sale and did it for free for a couple of days. I'm still scratching my head on it. They had hundreds of downloads to the vultures that scour the free books daily, but when it was over had minimal sales.
I guess the idea is word of mouth they liked it they talk about it, I'm not sold.
The reviews on amazon are important, but few and far between. A good strategy is to get someone to give you one calling out a few specific points you think is important in the book. Just make sure they are not over the top ridiculous like "Most amazing author ever, can't wait for more!"
I'm from the school of don't talk about it, do it.
Good looking covers are important and I feel offering books in a certain vein help.
There is something to be said for being diverse, but what I have noticed is if you have several books that feature the same kink/fetish they will "feed" each other.
I have a bunch of "pseudo incest" stories up and last month the sales on all of them were pretty close, except for one that for some reason far outsold the others.
I noticed when one would sell another would sell soon after.
Being prolific helps as well. If a reader finds you and likes you and you have a lot of books for sale odds are they will keep coming back for more.
I've read and found out first hand the average e-book has a certain life span for max sales, usually the first couple of months then it tails.
However, if you keep putting up new stuff, they don't completely die out because each new book brings a set of eyes to your old books.
Editing is big too, but I don't feel as critical as it once was. People are paying .99 to $4 or $5 dollars and not normally expecting Hemingway, especially in erotica.
Don't get me wrong, bad typos and really poor grammar will hurt you, but if you're "passable" then you'll do okay.
I think descriptions are big as well, if you can't make your story sound appealing who will buy it?
Giving a book away for free is good, but only if you have others for sale. This way if they like the freebie theory is they will buy your other work.
I know a few people who have one book for sale and did it for free for a couple of days. I'm still scratching my head on it. They had hundreds of downloads to the vultures that scour the free books daily, but when it was over had minimal sales.
I guess the idea is word of mouth they liked it they talk about it, I'm not sold.
The reviews on amazon are important, but few and far between. A good strategy is to get someone to give you one calling out a few specific points you think is important in the book. Just make sure they are not over the top ridiculous like "Most amazing author ever, can't wait for more!"
