Thoughts on Self-Promoting

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So I hosted a non-literary book launch in a cafe a few weeks ago, which was closely patterned on the parties my friends throw at nightclubs: Book some DJs; make a poster; stick them up in appropriate public places; list the gig in all the local event guides (print and online); create an open Facebook event, and invite people.

It was a lovely party with a good turn out of family and close friends – but not one walk up from the public. Quite probably the title Book Launch put off the music fans, and the DJs and venue put off any literary people who might have been interested to meet an unknown, self-published author.

NZ's best jungle DJ at my launch: sounding good but possibly not helping sell books.
NZ’s best jungle DJ at my launch: sounding good but possibly not the correct catalyst for selling books.

Meanwhile, I am at the very beginning of an attempt to market my books online but so far this is what has happened. I have blogged about a variety of things here on WordPress and picked up a following of about 30 people. My stats show that some posts have been viewed by hundreds of people – because they were reviews, and so I was able to publicize them on popular people’s pages.

I also enlisted the Headliner service, which involves writing a short announcement and submitting it to others in your field(s) who can then choose to post it on their pages/sites in return for karma points. The karma points allow you write more announcements and approach more people to promote your work. The stats on this site told me that my announcement had reached upwards of 15, 000 tailored people.

Yet nothing so far – not the party and its ample promotion, the blogging, the genuine friends on FB, the amplifying effect of Headliner, or my feeble Twittering – has translated to sales beyond the 20 hardcopies my nearest and dearest bought on my big day.

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And so I have finally realized my best bet is to focus on promoting  the books within the literary world, and, in particular, on the very site where the books are being sold. Hence one of my e-books is free on Amazon for the next few days. Why didn’t I mention that at the top? Well, that would make too much sense.

For me, this self-publishing process is most definitely one of three steps forward, two-and-a-half back. Yet I persevere because I figure Something’s Gotta Give. (Note, too, the new Lulu icon below, which I will now put on every post, in case the people who do read them lack sufficient interest to go to my front page and find out I have something for sale…)

Support independent publishing: Buy this book on Lulu.

4 Comments

laura

Yep the self publishing world is a tough one, I’m bashing away in there myself too. My best sales have come through reviews in mainstream media, sales then made over the web. When I get a copy I’ll send it on to a few friends who review.. no promises xx Laura

Reply
E. Beth Allan

Oh that’s awfully kind! This post wasn’t really meant to be an appeal for help, so much as thinking out loud about my steps. I think the mainstream media here may be reluctant to review something that is not available in stores in NZ, only via the US or online. And I don’t think the mainstream media elsewhere would be very interested either!

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matt

Perhaps that could be the angle of the story? Instead of a review you could be a spokesperson for people that are trying to do what you’re doing – publishing online, not in stores. It’s the modern, accessible way of doing things. Then people will talk about your book in a wider context. Probably a bit more engaging, as opposed to just a review. Which only book people will read.

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E. Beth Allan

Yes, thanks for those thoughts! The trouble is that for any of the avenues to really be productive – blogging, forums (Quora, Good Reads), Twitter etc – you have to spend time on there not only keeping up content but taking an interest in other people’s. But I am working a full-time job and would rather spend all my free time writing a new novel, not pushing myself online. It’s a catch!

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