Spaceblls the Gif!
I’ve got nothing here. For a long time, I’ve felt that one needs tons of money to succeed in marketing an indie book. Another way is to send out tons of freebies in the hopes of snagging reviews. Yet, Amazon penalizes that, so I don’t understand how some people openly do it and not get banned while others are punished for a friend reviewing of their own accord. Nothing seems to work and I know most people are going to agree on that since it’s the comments I typically get. Still, I had some questions.
- Why do you think it’s become so much harder to advertise and sell a book?
- What is one tactic that you wish you could do, but can’t?
- What is a tactic that may work, but you can’t bring yourself to do it for some reason?
Legends of Windemere 
1. Hard to say. People are so distracted these days with social media and other stuff on the phone. No idea how they access ads.
2. Instagram. I don’t have an Instagram account.
3. I don’t make YouTube videos. I’ve noticed more people turning there.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I think adblockers hurt the use actual ads too. I have those and rarely see anything on Amazon. YouTube and Instagram do seem to be the ‘go to’ ones. I’ve noticed that you need to either be witty and photogenic or simply highly attractive to make those work.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I admit I do too, unless a site complains and won’t allow me to see its contents. Then I turn it off.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I just leave the site. If it gets pushy, I get suspicious.
LikeLike
I heard that you have to have a monthly newsletter in order to build a fan base, and that will sell books. But after two years of trying really hard, I saw no results at all.
It’s been more effective for me to do things on my blog and make friends that way. I have a couple of regulars who re-tweet for me, and a couple of others who tell their friends. You never know what’s going to work, but my blog is where I feel like I’m getting at least some response.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I remember people pushing the newsletter idea. It was really popular, but I don’t see it much now. I think most people had them go to spam.
Blogging is probably still the best chance as you’ve said.
LikeLike
People are still pushing the newsletter idea. I have one, but can’t manage to post more than once a quarter, what with weekly blog posts, keeping up with blogs I follow (that have produced results, if only a few).
I have a book that claims a blog is more important and fruitful than a newsletter, but I can’t remember the name. I thought it was Anne R. Allen’s book, The Author Blog, but I just skimmed through it and couldn’t find the reference. Still, I suspect that unless you have a load of subscribers, a blog is more productive. There’s no chance of someone stumbling on a newsletter, but there is with a blog.
And, in spite of my offer of a free and exclusive story, sign-ups are almost non-existant.
LikeLiked by 3 people
I think it’s become so much harder to advertise and sell a book because of the sheer number of books being launched every year. The reader has to see or hear of a book about ten times before it registers for an unknown author. That takes a lot of messages.
One tactic that I wish I could do, but can’t is to spend a million dollars on advertising. I know I could move a few books that way.
A tactic that may work, but I can’t bring myself to do it for some reason is to rengage in Amazon advertising. It is so hard to figure out that I just don’t have the energy to do it.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Saturation is definitely an issue. Makes that ten times rule nearly impossible. I didn’t have any luck with Amazon advertising. It ran into the same issue as others. I’m there on a budget against authors with thousands to burn.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes it does seem that way for sure
LikeLike
almost people are buying books from amazon
LikeLike
Charles, I’m new to marketing a book, having just published a historical fiction book on Amazon. Yeah, I wish I had millions to hire a marketing company. Or had the means to travel around, connect with other authors and advertise like like I see bestselling authors on Instagram….stories, reels, and readers advertising for them. I’m following a marketing strategy creating a blog and linking to FB, Instagram & Twitter. Title: Three Years of Her Life-book sighting in a specific city. So far I’ve posted a few and have five more to do. I’ve coined “book sighting,” others use book tour or book interview and seem to get responses. However, actual sales or reviews are slow coming. I’m an unknown, first published book author, so not expecting a windfall. Also, I shamelessly leave a link to the book on comments. ❤️🎶 Christine
LikeLiked by 4 people
That’s a really cool plan. I had my blog connected to everything, but it didn’t seem to bring in much. I haven’t found a way to connect my blog to Instagram either.
How do you put a link with a picture in your comment? I can never get that to work.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have to write info into Instagram (and it’s limited), and it won’t allow a direct link to your website or book. I refer it to my Instagram page that has my website link. And the book link is on the Welcome Page. To market a specific book in a comment, put in your URL for the book. And it automatically populates it as mine did on your site. My book URL starts with https://www.amazon.com/dp/ … then the rest are letters & numbers. 📚🎶
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. I’ll have to remember that.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree about the money thing. I don’t have the money to purchase advertising, either.
It’s something that takes up oodles of time for little result, that I can see. Most people who review my books seem to be other authors I’ve ‘met’ on the internet. I wish I could get others to do so, especially those who post 4 or 5 * but nothing written.
It’s hard to get noticed.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I ran into the same review problem on top of other issues. It didn’t help that I was so busy that I couldn’t find time to read and return the favor. A few people who were reviewing my books got blocked by Amazon too. Someone reported them as ‘friends and family’. It’s frustrating that reviews are the best promos, but it’s nearly impossible to get them without public begging.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The ‘friends and family’ thing is a problem. Some authors that I follow have reviewed my books. I have heard that Amazon sometimes counts those as ‘friends and family’, which is ridiculous. I hope it doesn’t happen when I review yours in the next few days.
LikeLike
Amazon will if someone reports them as such. Same with anyone who comments on your blog. Last I checked, it was an automated system that worked off user reports with not much human checking. So, more underhanded authors can, and have, reported reviews of those they see as competition.
LikeLike
I have luck on my tours, but sales stop almost immediately once the tour ends. Paid ads are always a loss. They cost more than I ever net. I’m kind of curious how to get ads inside apps. You know those games that give you resources if you agree to watch an ad. Probably have to have the book in the right store for that, like Apple. Too many things competing for our idle time today. Not only the billion books, but games, apps, and streaming services, too.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Betting those in-app ads are expensive.
LikeLiked by 3 people
What are some common examples of marketing problems?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Biggest one to me is that it requires more money than most indie authors have to get even a few sales. There aren’t any more affordable marketing options like there were 7 years ago.
LikeLike
Thats is very true.what most indie can do is join with an authority site.if you cant win,join the winning side😁
LikeLike
What is an authority site? I’m not sure what they are and how they’re the winning side.
LikeLike