Hey, Readers, I have a question for you! How often does anything you read on the internet or in a magazine make you go out and buy a book?
I’ll admit up front to being testy about this subject. Of course, I’m testy about everything as I write this blog. I have a book coming out in a week so I’m easing–make that hurtling–into author paranoia.
AP, as it’s known in my house is that psychotic behavior that precedes a book release and lasts anywhere from a week to a month. Will it sell, will readers like it, love it, hate it, talk about it? Will the reviews make me fly or want to eat a whole pan of brownies? With nuts.
While in the clutches of AP, I’ll google my name, the title (NEVER SAY NEVER,) I’ll check Amazon numbers and B&N numbers and my blood pressure numbers way more often than is healthy. And, I’ll suffer this malady while trying to keep my mind on the book I’m writing, the copy-edits for the book I have written, and the proposal for the book I’m going to write next.
It’s all about time. Like everyone else these days, I don’t feel like I have time to stop and sneeze (And in the middle of Fall hay-fever season, that’s a problem!) but authors these days feel pressure–both internal and external–to promote. Now, some parts of the whole promotion thing are fun for me. I usually enjoy booksignings because I usually get to talk books and that’s always a joy. What makes me a little crazy are seeing all the things other authors are doing or have done that I either never got around to doing or chose not to do. Now that it’s too late, I’m second guessing myself.
For example, I did books trailers for the first book in my contemporary series, GIVE HIM THE SLIP, but I never got around to doing one for NEVER SAY NEVER. I bought an ad in RWA’s Romance Sells magazine, but not the RWR. I sent out newsletters announcing that excerpts of NSN are now up on my website, but I never sent the info to Romance Novel TV like I intended to do.
I was a marketing major in college. I sold advertising for a living before my writing career took off. I know better! So, why don’t I do a better job at keeping up with such things?
Maybe because in my heart of hearts, I wonder if author self-promotion really is worth the time and money we spend on it. Maybe because I find it rather distasteful–it’s that Southern girl in me who was taught from the cradle not to brag or talk about myself. Or, maybe I simply have too much on my plate and I can’t find time to self-promote AND get my books written and delivered on time. Or, maybe I’m just lazy. Or stressed. Or lazily stressed.
Whatever the reason, there’s my question to y’all this week. Do you ever buy a book based on author self-promotion?
Oh, wait, before I sign off…
ON SALE OCTOBER 2!!!!!
Go to www.geralyndawson.com for more information
There. I promoted. Whew!
Happy reading!
If I see a blog were someones talking about a book & if it sounds good, yeah I’ll buy it. Today I bought 4 books that I’ve seen on other blogs. So, I guess I buy fairly often like that. I like author newsletters too. I will be getting this one. It sounds really good.
It usually helps to hear about a book in more than one place - such as on the groups, newsletters, author sites, publishing sites, etc. And I have to say for a new author, winning a book can make the author my fan for life (assuming I enjoyed the book). It’s rare that I buy a book from someone I’ve never heard anything about (I go to a lot of different blogs). So I do think promotion works.
I buy books all the time that I hear about from book reviews, blogs, author sites, advertizing. Once I read a book I really like I haunt that authors website to find out when the next book is due. Iam looking forward to your newest because I love the cover and like what I have heard of it.
Keep promoting.
I buy books from online sources all the time. I’m usually pressed for time while on a deadline, so I really hand select my books, from author sites, blogs and group sites that really spark my interest. I have an Amazon and Eharlequin account and they make it really easy to buy online and a few days later, the books arrive on my doorstep. I still love going into bookstores, but I think lately, I’ve learned about new books and authors mostly online.
I hear you about feeling left out of the loop and I even wrote an article about trying to Stay Sane in a Crazy Business. I realized I can’t do it all, so I pick and choose the kinds of promo that suit me best and stick to it.
Maybe promotion should be a four letter word, but it seems to work !
Geralyn, don’t drive yourself crazy too much with promotion. For me, I buy if I know the author and want to support them. With so little time to read I don’t have time to try to seek out work by people I don’t know. I really think the book will sell itself. My philosophy is to write the best story I know how and leave all the worrying up to the Good Lord. I know this sounds strange and I’m nowhere near the author you are. I may never be in your bracket. But I can’t obsess over something that I really can’t control. Getting the books out there is the most important thing I can do.
Good luck with Never Say Never!! It looks great. I know it’ll be terrific. I read the excerpt on your website and oh man. Lots of sexual tension.
I have to be honest. I don’t read reviews. Because I may totally disagree with the reviewer, and why discount an author on something someone else has said! About the only time I listen (and act) on online advice is when several people on a board go on and on about how wonderful an author’s book is. Then I am usually running to the store to find it.
Good Luck, Geralyn. I am sure your numbers will be outstanding!!
Good morning!
Hmm…here’s what’s different in my buying habits from what many of y’all are telling me. I buy a lot of books–I read probably three books a week. I don’t buy online, so what makes me pick up a new author is strictly the jacket and the back cover copy. I have started buying a lot of audio books because I listen to them as I walk in the mornings. Those I’ll buy based on the reviews on the website–though I usually check the Amazon reviews before I actually buy.
Promotional decisions were easier to make back in the Dark Ages when I started publishing when the only advertising venue available was RT. Jeeze, I’m feeling old…
My favorite source is listmania on Amazon. A good book will show up on more than one list and that’s my tip-off it’s good. I do read amazon reviews. I won’t throw out a book for one bad review but if I see mutiple bad reviews, forget it.
I start to hit author sites AFTER I have read ONE good book by the author. Then I’m religious about it - I search out their website/blogs, look up all their old books, search for new releases. I think a high percentage of readers are author-loyal. When you read 15-20 books a month, finding a new/good author (even if she’s just new to you) is like winning a prize.
This week I met a writer at a panel and thought she was a hoot. I’ve started buying her books just on the basis of her personality.
Being with a small press all the promotion is up to me. And I’ve been trying different things. I did Romance Sells with the first book, didn’t really see a rise in sales, so I’m not sure that works. I’ve tried to hit all the e-chats my press sets up. My first book was in the RWR, but I haven’t done RT yet. I haven’t tried a book trailer yet, haven’t decided if the cost is worth it. I do get postcards with my covers, with reviews on the back that I send out to all the RWA conferences that list they are looking for promo stuff. I’ve made up magnets and give a free book to all the conferences and I do a contest on my website once a month giving away a goody bag and a book. That seems to be getting me fans and readers more than anything else. But that’s one person a month!
So I’m in a dilemma as to the right way to promote myself as well.
As for what makes me purchase a book… with limited reading time usually for research- wanting to see what a certain publisher is putting out or because someone has said this book is really good, or it’s someone I know. I don’t spend time on all the chats and blogs other than to do my promotion on a promotion day. I don’t have time to read them all every day. I come to this blog because it is people with like interests and I go to my RWA chapter blog. I will check out author/writer friend’s blogs and thats it.
There isn’t enough time in a day to promote every day. And I’m like you, Geralyn, I always second guess if I should have done more or something different!
I have to admit I’ve bought a lot of books over the years because of bookmarks! And I do read RT Bookreviews, the RWR and watch online. As a newly published author, I struggle all the time with juggling writing time and promotion time. Plus there is the financial worry if I’m throwing my money out the window. But my years as an assistant manager for a Waldenbooks store taught me one very important fact. “People can’t buy your book if they don’t know it’s out there to be bought!” So I always remember that and just try to do what I can within my means—time & money, and hope I reach a few readers along the way. It takes a long to time to (hopefully) see the results of your promotional efforts. It’s just one more area us writers need to have a lot of paitence. Good Luck, Geralyn!
I used to enjoy browsing the bookstore but now I wonder how I decided what to read before online reviews & author websites. I always look at websites before I buy, read blogs, and usually check out the links of other writers listed on my favorite author sites. If I sit down to read these days, I want a good story. I don’t have any spare seconds or money to waste on a bad read. I think all the self-promotion an author can do will come back ten-fold in the long run. If a writer is not going to take the initiative of getting information to the readers about their own work, who will?
Color me a bit confused, but don’t the publishers have some responsibility to promote the author and the book? Regardless of the size of the press, it is benefiting from the sale of the author’s work, no?
Books, like anything are a business and who better to promote something than the corporation that not only optioned for the book in the first place, but also receives a portion of its profits. Granted, there is a bit of personal responsibility for each author to promote themselves from a career standpoint, but I’d rather my favorite authors spent their time writing their next book rather than making bookmarks or cruising every available blog whenever their latest release hits the shelf.
And before someone asks, I’m not an author. But I am of the mindset that promotion is the responsibility of all parties that benefit.
Lacy, these days (unfortunately) the publisher expects the author to have a marketing plan. Some of them even ask the author to submit their marketing plan when they submit the work for consideration. I also am with a small press and ALL the promotion for my book is done by me. The publisher puts the book on the market (their web site, Amazon, B&N online., etc.) and it’s left to me to lead readers to those places to buy the book. If I don’t have the time and money to spend on promoting the book, then I’m pretty much dead in the water from the get-go. As it happens my resources are very limited and I can’t afford to spend money on expensive ads, so I’m especially thankful to the places–like this site with all its wonderful authors–for putting up a promo for my book along with theirs. Thank you, ladies! :o)
Geralyn, I’m sure your new book will do fantastic. You have name recognition! :o)
Geralyn, I meant to say… I sympathize about not tooting your own horn. I find it very difficult myself (yet, another southern gal here). I’m amazed at some of the people I know who have gotten published recently. They’ve turned into promo hoes. (didn’t know quite how to make “ho” plural. LOL!) Anyway, they turn EVERYthing into a promo op and are shameless about it.
After twenty books, I hope I have *some* name recognition.
I’m torn on the whole promotion thing. I didn’t do a thing to promote my first USA Today bestseller and I did a major promotion blitz for my women’s fiction novel that didn’t make the list. I think some novels/authors/genres lend themselves to internet marketing better than others. I do know there are a few lines in the sand I’ve drawn…things I won’t do unless the publisher pays for them and so far that’s worked out for me.
I just don’t like feeling guilty and fretting about promotion…It interrupts my feeling guilty and fretting about my kids, my parents, the dog, my husband, and on and on and on…
Email newsletter promotions work for me! If an author over does it, it does not guarantee a sale from me.
Thanks for the new book release reminder!!
As a reader, I’m pretty lazy about finding books…they have to come to me
Being a very picky reader doesn’t help–I like histoircal WESTERNS, contemporary WESTERNS, and light romantic suspense in pretty much any setting. I appreciate any promo I may randomly come across that lets me know my fave authors have a book coming out.
If I find an author I really like and notice they have a newsletter, I’ll usually sign up…but that’s only if I notice, because I don’t really search for such things. My websurfing time is very minimul and mosty restricted to research on my current work in progress. But in the same stroke I depend on the internet for adding gems to my TBR pile–without places like Fresh Fiction or Writer’sSpace, I wouldn’t know who has what out when.
I’m anxiously awaiting the release of NEVER SAY NEVER!!! And glad to know I’m not the only obssessive self googler *g*
I buy books rarely, big into libraries. When I buy I often rummage through used book stores. I just can afford to feed my reading jones otherwise.
I buy exclusively by author. I have lots of books flow through my hands that aren’t selected by author just because my life is emmersed in books and I somehow get my hand on them, but buying…that’s by author and the only promotion that does much good for me is if a favorite author does a promotion that somehow crosses my path to inform me that they’ve got a new book coming out.
I just spend four days at a writer’s conference and was involved in this huge book signing. About forty or fifty authors at it. I saw all sorts of promotion gimmicks, drawings, candy tidbits and the ever popular book marks. I came away seriously not impressed with the results of those giveaways.
Mary
Absolutely and especially westerns because it’s not always easy to find them in stores–that was the reason behind the website http://www.lovewesternromances.com. But in addition, I troll author websites looking for their next one, search on B&N.com for new westerns and other genres I like, check out myspace to find the authors I love and new authors that sound good–and no one would consider me computer savvy. I read RT now too (that’s recent though I don’t always agree with their reviews). Since I’ve been doing this the last three years, my collection has grown and I’ve added lots of new authors to my must read list–authors I never would have found otherwise. The web makes it easy.
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