What's acceptable self-promo?

[Bramblethorn]

I'll be putting some of my Lit work up on Smashwords soon, so I'm wondering what's acceptable by way of promotion on Lit (aside from the "Lit Authors and their Books" thread, obviously). I want to let people know who might be interested, but I don't want to get spammy.

- I presume it's OK to include a link to my Smashwords author page from my Lit profile and .sig, going by the number of other people who do it?
- I've PMed Laurel to ask whether it's OK to mention "this story also available as an e-book, see my profile for info" at the start or end of a Lit story, but has anybody already established the Word of Mod on this?
- Would it be reasonable to send a brief email to people who sent me positive feedback, to let them know the story's now available? I'm terrible at judging this sort of thing.

 

[sr71plt]

Folks here put covers in their sig lines and on their profile.

I index my publisher's Web site, but not any commercial distributor. I comment occasionally on the forum that most of my stories here have previously been published to the market and are available there, but I don't link my stories here to a version offered on a commercial distribution site.

Most of my self-promotion here is in announcing book launchings on the "authors' books forum," and I include a cover. I don't include a link to a distributor there, though. Some others do.

 

[sr71plt]

Oh, but maybe you should consult with LC on what he's going to permit. He's razzed me at great lengths on the forum for including review blurbs in my sig line.

 

[Darkniciad]

- I presume it's OK to include a link to my Smashwords author page from my Lit profile and .sig, going by the number of other people who do it?

So long as you're still a Lit author, that's well within bounds of what the site allows.

- I've PMed Laurel to ask whether it's OK to mention "this story also available as an e-book, see my profile for info" at the start or end of a Lit story, but has anybody already established the Word of Mod on this?

Probably pushing it there. I have seen authors leave comments on their own stories mentioning the availability of ebooks, but I can't think of any examples where it was included in the text of the story.

- Would it be reasonable to send a brief email to people who sent me positive feedback, to let them know the story's now available? I'm terrible at judging this sort of thing.

I think you're probably wasting your time and potentially alienating readers with that. Most who have already read the story and are interested in supporting you will discover the link in your sig/bio and do so. They type of person who will do that tends to be proactive in seeking out the means to do so. Most of the rest are simply going to be annoyed.

 

[Bramblethorn]

Probably pushing it there. I have seen authors leave comments on their own stories mentioning the availability of ebooks, but I can't think of any examples where it was included in the text of the story.

One from BonnieBrea mentions it at the start of chapter 1: http://www.literotica.com/s/ellens-bet

And this guy posted 16 chapters of a story then told readers they'd have to pay to see how it ended - IMHO that's more than a little underhanded, and I'm surprised it's still up: http://www.literotica.com/s/bean-counter-ch-16?page=4

 

[RejectReality]

One from BonnieBrea mentions it at the start of chapter 1: http://www.literotica.com/s/ellens-bet

And this guy posted 16 chapters of a story then told readers they'd have to pay to see how it ended - IMHO that's more than a little underhanded, and I'm surprised it's still up: http://www.literotica.com/s/bean-counter-ch-16?page=4

The latter actually can get a story removed/rejected. I've seen Laurel mention that, and seen people saying they've been rejected for it.

 

[lovecraft68]

I'll be putting some of my Lit work up on Smashwords soon, so I'm wondering what's acceptable by way of promotion on Lit (aside from the "Lit Authors and their Books" thread, obviously). I want to let people know who might be interested, but I don't want to get spammy.

- I presume it's OK to include a link to my Smashwords author page from my Lit profile and .sig, going by the number of other people who do it?
- I've PMed Laurel to ask whether it's OK to mention "this story also available as an e-book, see my profile for info" at the start or end of a Lit story, but has anybody already established the Word of Mod on this?
- Would it be reasonable to send a brief email to people who sent me positive feedback, to let them know the story's now available? I'm terrible at judging this sort of thing.

everything you said is fine.

What I do is whenever I get feedback from someone who leaves a return e-mail I replay with a thank you and ask if I can add them to my mailing list and let them know when I have a new story on lit or a new e-book for sale

If they say yes, they go into my constant contact address book, if they say no, or give no answer I don't add them. So basically I am not soliciting anyone who is not interested.

Aside from the game of starting a series here and leaving it unfinished on lit, but charging for the rest of it, I do not believe lit has a problem with people advertising paid work. and if you look around there are many with links in their sigs and of course the book thread.

 

[lovecraft68]

I think you're probably wasting your time and potentially alienating readers with that. Most who have already read the story and are interested in supporting you will discover the link in your sig/bio and do so. They type of person who will do that tends to be proactive in seeking out the means to do so. Most of the rest are simply going to be annoyed.

Not true.

I would think you are well aware that many people who bookmark an author book mark their story page not their home page and don't usually see announcements.

As for annoying people there is a right and wrong way to do it see my other post.

 

[lovecraft68]

The latter actually can get a story removed/rejected. I've seen Laurel mention that, and seen people saying they've been rejected for it.

True by the rules

But like pretty much everything else never enforced.

I wouldn't encourage anyone to do it because I feel its sleazy to do to the readers, but as for repercussions here? I wouldn't worry.

 

[sr71plt]

I think e-mailing folks on the availability of a new published work is too much push advertising. I'd block someone who did that to me. If I did it, they'd be getting an e-mail every two weeks--and every week if I did it on posting a story to Lit.

 

[lovecraft68]

I think e-mailing folks on the availability of a new published work is too much push advertising. I'd block someone who did that to me. If I did it, they'd be getting an e-mail every two weeks--and every week if I did it on posting a story to Lit.

It is if you just take it upon yourself to do it.

Its not if you ask permission in advance.

Yours would be confusing because I would have to check and see if you've already plugged the book before and this is just another "re-boot" that would be annoying.

 

[Darkniciad]

I think e-mailing folks on the availability of a new published work is too much push advertising. I'd block someone who did that to me. If I did it, they'd be getting an e-mail every two weeks--and every week if I did it on posting a story to Lit.

I do mine by opt-in mailing list, though I'm not publishing for pay. I coded the thing so people can narrow down what emails they want to receive ( by site, pen name, series, etc. ) and cancel at any time with two clicks of the mouse.

****

I suppose I should clarify my thoughts on the matter. I was working off the assumption of going back through positive feedback and letting people know that the story is now available for purchase. That seems like overkill, and likely to piss people off.

If you're adding a link or info about a mailing list or paid publishing to feedback replies going forward, that's nowhere near as intrusive, and will probably have a positive effect on your sales.