I’m insecure about the thing that most
of us are insecure about...book sales.
Over the last few months ALL of my
eBooks have plunged in the rankings and I haven’t sold a single one. This is
rather depressing. And it makes me feel like a fraud when I share marketing
tips. (Just to clarify, the tips I post here did help me in
the past, but I’ve reached the point where doing those things don’t make
an impact on old releases.) So I’m trying other things
which will include paying for ads and putting my eBooks on sale.
The first one I’m putting on sale is
30 Seconds, my novella that hasn’t been doing too well, and I’m hoping a sale
will give it a boost.
I have a prequel written for 30 Seconds (about Officer Blake Herro and what exactly happens when he goes undercover in the Mob) but with how poorly 30 Seconds has been doing, I've been debating on whether or not to even publish this, so the results of this sale will sign the prequel's fate.
Anyway, I really appreciate your help and support. Thank you! And please think of me when you need the favor returned. I love to do whatever I can for my fellow writers/authors. :)
THE END!
Sales ... a word that sends shivers through most of us. Sometimes they're great and other times the fall off the cliff. I've found being patient helps and promotion. Don't worry too much, even though I know that's hard to do.
ReplyDeleteThanks, TB! I know they fluctuate but I never had a dip last this long.
DeleteI'm constantly insecure about my book sales, I think it's something every writer goes through! I've read somewhere that authors should just have fun marketing/doing their own thing and the sales will (apparently) follow naturally...but I don't know how true that statement is. But don't worry, every author goes through a sales slump at some stage, and I know you've got the guts and determination to bounce back :)
ReplyDeleteP.S I signed up for a promo post :)!
I was having fun doing my own thing but the sales weren't following. lol
DeleteThank you so much for signing up! :D
And especially when you have a publisher, you, the author, have no or little control over the price or promotion of your books. Ugh. I hear you! My book did really well when it first released over a year ago. Not so much now. I'm just focusing on writing other books. Good luck!!
ReplyDeleteI do have a publisher (a small press) but I can request a sale for 99 cents like I am now. I can't, however, set the price. And it turns out that I'm responsible for most promotion. Thanks!
DeleteIt's just a slight slump. Keep pushing and writing and releasing. You never know when the next big up tick will happen. Don't get discouraged put that prequel out there, it may be just what you need!
ReplyDeleteI hope this slump will end soon. :) And I have an idea about self-publishing the prequel instead of using my publisher.
DeleteI'm no expert, but I think a lot of marketing and sales is ebb and flow. Maybe focus more now on story and craft, etc? Hang in there, Chrys!
ReplyDeleteI do focus on story and craft. With every story I write. :)
DeleteUgg, i tried those paid ads on numerous sites, find they don't do a thing. Waste of money for me they were. Even with nearly 100 books I can't say I get tons of sales, I get some. If you learn the secret let me know lol
ReplyDeleteI have found a couple good sites for ads that many swear buy. And they aren't expensive, so I'm going to try them and see what happens. I will share the secret with everyone! ;)
DeleteI agree book sales are not words to reckon with. Good post.
ReplyDeleteYvonne.
Thanks, Yvonne!
DeleteI signed up!
ReplyDeleteMy sales have dwindled as well. Need to try something new. I don't have the luxury of doing a sale though, so will need to think of something new.
THANK YOU!!!!!!!!
DeleteI hope you can come up with something to help your sales, Alex!
Ugh, sales. I swear that word needs to be stricken from the dictionary. That and promotion. But yeah, I’d love to help out and already signed up.
ReplyDeleteI agree! And thank you so much for signing up!
DeleteI've tried some paid adds. It can be hit or miss, but I usually get some sales as a result. Good luck. I signed up to help.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Patricia! I'll be keeping notes on what works for me and what doesn't.
DeleteThank you, Karen!
ReplyDeleteChrys, I'm gutted to hear you feeling insecure about this. Trust me, I've felt like a fraud many a times. Your tips have always been very helpful to me. Of course, I'll do whatever I can to help promote your sales.And one day, yes, I'll ask you to return the favour. ;)
ReplyDeleteYou are a great writer Chrys. I find your blog posts most entertaining and informative. Keep up the good work.
Thank you, Jeffrey! I think every writer feels insecure about this. Unless they are a big time bestseller. I appreciate your kind words and that you're willing to help. :)
DeleteAs a reminder, Monday I'll be doing my r.a.n.t. for the month. Still interested in joining in? I have one other person who will be joining in. Would be great to have you join in.
DeleteEek. I'll have to start thinking about a rant. I will do my best to have one ready.
DeleteI always though people put the first book on sale whenever they planned to release a sequel or prequel... to bring people in. So maybe this is what you need? I'm bad with the marketing, I've found haha
ReplyDeleteGood luck with it though!
They do. Especially if it's coming out soon. Mine won't be coming out soon. But I would do another sale then too.
DeleteThanks!
My sales have tanked too and it's SO discouraging. I feel like I'm that shipwrecked victim floating in the middle of the wide, tumultuous ocean on a broken piece of the ship. Wondering when someone will find me. Or if I'll starve first. Sigh. Good luck with your sale!
ReplyDeleteThat's a good metaphor. We're all floating out there with you. lol
DeleteThanks!
That was interesting to read that Alex's sales had also dwindled. Is it just a slump in the reading market? People too busy to read? Maybe with winter coming upon us and people being more indoors with weather things will start to pick up a bit?
ReplyDeletebetty
I was surprised about that too. Maybe there has been a dip this year. I don't know.
DeleteI've heard this A LOT about books sales since September. I wonder if people are waiting for the holidays?
ReplyDeleteEither way, things will get better.
I haven't sold anything in months either. :(
I'm happy to help you and I signed up.
ALSO...I haven't forgotten what you sent to me. It took a backseat when I actually had some new words of my own to write, but I will be getting back to your story shortly.
Sorry for the delay.
Heather
My sales started to drop in the summer. Right after my two short stories came out. :(
DeleteThank you so much, Heather!
That's okay. I didn't think you forgot but that you were busy. I understand. :)
I signed up for a blog post about your sale. I hope that it helps make a difference for you.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Robin!!!!
DeleteHey Lady,
ReplyDeleteHope your new additions for marketing your books turn out some great sales.
Shalom,
Patricia
Hey Pat!
DeleteI hope so too. And thank you so much for signing up. :)
I don't know how you guys deal with sales! I can barely get through the writing portion, so I try not to think about it yet.
ReplyDeleteMaybe publishing the prequel will peak more interest for the first book?
I'm thinking that too. And I have an idea about self-publishing the prequel and making it free. I'm still considering that option.
DeleteSigned up for everything. I am glad to help in anyway I can. Writing can be tough especially with sales. But chin up and remember to participate online. Two books I bought recently were by authors I found through a twitter chat about refugees (something about her tweet attracted me then I found out she was a writer and checked her site. The book grabbed me immediately and now I am a huge fan of Tatum Flynn and her D'Evil series) and another on a negative talk on YouTube that this writer was too touchy about reviews. I was curious and checked out the paperback which I bought immediately because one I loved the story and two despite being recently published there was a paperback version just under $10 on The Book Depository. So just keep yourself out there and you never know who might get curious about you and and up buying a book too.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Sheena! I really appreciate your support!
DeleteI have been doing so much more online with social media, and do hope someone will get curious enough to buy something of mine. :)
I'm pretty booked, but I will tweet about it. At least once. Here's hoping you make some awesome sales!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Crystal! A tweet would help. :)
DeleteIt must be some slump in the market or something. Thanks for sharing that, I will do my own part. Best wishes!
ReplyDeleteI think that could be the problem. Unfortunately. Thanks, Blogoratti!
DeleteI think recent tanking sales are a mystery to everyone but Amazon, and they aren’t sharing their secrets.
ReplyDeleteVR Barkowski
They never will. lol
DeleteI haven't sold anything in an entire year now, which is beyond embarrassing and discouraging. Congratulations and well wishes don't sell books. I signed up to Tweet about your sale.
ReplyDeleteNo, congratulations and well wishes don't sell books but it's a nice thing for people to do to show their support if your book isn't their cup of tea. I'd rather get a congratulations from those readers than to be ignored.
DeleteThanks for signing up! I appreciate your help. And would love to help you. All you have to do is ask.
I'll help promote as soon as I get all of my materials in line. It seems like I can't quite get on top of things, and I don't want to make promises I can't fulfill.
ReplyDeleteThat's okay, Loni! I appreciate the thought. :)
DeleteAw, Chrys! 30 seconds is a great novella. I really enjoyed it!! Ya know, getting ranked and noticed on Amazon is no easy feat and I believe has zero to do with quality of books and more to do with the impossible i.e. getting a million reviews...Definitely publish the prequel!! I'll tweet 30 seconds!!
ReplyDeleteI just sent my short story collection out to a few beta readers and immediately felt insecure and judging harshly my own word. Aren't we our own worst critics? Sheesh. Your marketing tips are fantastic!
Thanks, Lisa. I love 30 Seconds too. The problem is getting more readers and reviews.
DeleteWe are our own worst critics. It's true!
suggestion; write your book blurb in the post so we can copy and paste right to twitter for promo!
ReplyDeleteWell, it's not on sale yet and I'll be doing promos in my blog that can be shared and tweeted later.
DeleteRight! Got it. I was thinking for the 30 Seconds book but sure will help with the new one, too. :)
DeleteHaha. I think I'm confusing myself. I don't even have a blurb for the prequel. And for the 30 Seconds sale starting Friday, there will be a lot that can be easily tweeted from here (I will post the blurb here later) and other places.
DeleteUgh, that's tough. Sorry to hear, Chrys. I've found my book needs to be "babysat" almost constantly to keep my numbers from slipping. I can't imagine how one does this with multiple books.
ReplyDeleteI try to promote all of them but getting readers to commit and buy is tough. Especially for older releases.
DeleteSales... I hate sales. They don't work for me. The only way I seem to be able to get readers is when I offer something for free. My romance on Wattpad already got over 400 reads, but I doubt it will get 1 sale, if I put it up on Amazon. I should take lessons from you, Chrys.
ReplyDeleteA sale did work for me for Hurricane Crimes. It did great but mid-year even that one dropped in the rankings.
DeleteI say publish the prequel anyway, - you should get some sales from readers who have already read 30 seconds! And, if you add a link at the back of 30 seconds to your new book, maybe that will help, too.
ReplyDeleteI am struggling with sales, too. It feels like we're all in tiny boats in the middle of a storm of non-sales.
I might. And I'm thinking of srlf-publishing it versus especially using my publishdr, and putting it as free for a time.
DeleteI'm sorry you're having trouble, and don't know if this will help, they say publishing another book will rejuvenate sales. Until then do your magic. It will work out. :-)
ReplyDeleteAnna from Elements of Writing
Well, I'll be coming out with my first novel next year, so my ebooks will have to wait untill then. ;)
DeleteI know how you feel! But hang in there. You'll eventually find your audience, I believe that. Have you tried posting stuff on Wattpad to get feedback? Sometimes stuff like this is hit or miss and you just never know what's going to stick. Have you tried some of the promo services like Book Bub or Kindle Nation Daily? (There are others that I can't remember right now.) It might also be worth it to go with one of those blog tour companies to reach a different audience and to also focus your efforts locally. Whatever happens, I'm wishing you luck.
ReplyDeleteI've never tried Wattpad. I will be using Book Bub and when my novel comes out next year I'll be doing a lot if local stuff. What's difficult is that I've only published ebooks and short stories. Thanks for your suggestions!
DeleteYou must never ever allow yourself to feel you're a fraud (yes, I am wagging my finger!), Gads, that crushes me to think you're feeling that way. Could you honestly say you regret writing? Of course not. That's why we soldier on. We write. It's what we do, what we love to do. Sales and fame and all that will come, for you, for me, for Alex and everyone else who's ever dreamed of it as long as we remain too dang good to ignore:-)
ReplyDeleteWrite on, Lady Chrys. And keep em coming!
I could never regret writing. Thanks for your comment and scolding. ;) I needed it.
DeleteIt can be discouraging when you put your heart and soul into something and it is not given the love it truly deserves. Never ever think you can not give advice because you are teaching through experience and helping many others along the way. If I can I will promote it on facebook...how do I do that from here?? I think people I speak on my blog-many already know your book
ReplyDeleteIf you sign up with the form, I will send you what you need so all you have to do is copy and paste the text into a FB status and upload the image.
DeleteThanks, Birgit! I appreciate your encouragement and support.
Please know you're not alone in feeling this way! It's like you're describing me here, lol. I think we need to give ourselves a break as writers. The hardest thing is the comparison game and seeing someone else get the success we crave (at least for me, anyway!). Hang in there, keep writing! I'd love to help spread word about your sale!
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU, Cortney! Sometimes it's easy to forget that so many out there are going through the same thing.
DeleteYep, sales figures can bring on insecurities all right. It's not all about the money - they show whether or not we have readers and readers are very important.
ReplyDelete*nods* Exactly. I don't care about the money. I make a small percentage as it is because I have a publisher. It's the fact that it reflects readers, and that I really don't have many, that makes the sales figures hurt.
DeleteMarketing... ughhhhhhh :-/
ReplyDeletelol
I think publishing the prequel is a good bet. The more books you have out the more chances one or both can be discovered by new hardcore fans. Good luck with the promo!!! I signed up ;)
I'm think the prequel is a good bet too. Now I'm just deciding which route to go.
DeleteThank you so much for signing up! :)
I want to buy two more of your books to send to my sister. What's the best way for me to purchase them and make sure they are pdf? I refuse to allow you to go without purchases.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
Aw! I appreciate that, Janie. The best way to buy PDFa is through my publishers website.
DeleteThis link should bring you to my page. If not you can search for Chrys Fey.
http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=1136
I've been having a similar issue, but with my craft sales. I just found a great book on craft marketing through social media. There are different ways to get the word out. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteAnd good luck with your craft marketing!
DeleteI hope the sales pick up again Chrys.
ReplyDeleteThankd, Dolorah!
DeleteI'm still at the stage of celebrating each and every sale, they are few enough to do that :) But sales numbers aren't everything. I am supported by the feedback from people I know who have read and enjoyed my books.
ReplyDeleteWill sign up for a blog post as soon as I've hit "publish" here...
I still celebrate them too, which means I haven't celebrated anything in a while.
DeleteThank you so much for signing up!
Sorry I am late commenting. Trying to do NaNo, but no headway yet.
ReplyDeleteI have been reading about and watching webinars about publishing and book sales--One main common things seems to be finding the right key words for search engines on your website and places like Amazon.
It is suggest to look in sub categories for other areas that fit your genre or book-check out big authors of same genre see what sub categories pop up and see if your books fit in any of those---I read it can pull rankings up for being seen.
Another thing I read when launching a new book make sure your links to your website and other books and newsletter are in them, every post you write and put out there include links at bottom, and push the email list that is where the return readers that stick with you tend to end up if they like your writing. Anyway no experience just reading these things--food for thought.
http://www.junetakey.com/
I've seen those videos too. I did add categories to each book in the description area on Amazon. The problem is I didn't self-publish these. My publisher put my books on Amazon, so I can't change tags or categories. Which also makes adding links in ebooks difficult.
DeleteI signed up to post. Happy to help any way I can. Best of luck.
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU SO MUCH, Beverly!!!!
DeleteI just signed up for Twitter sharing. Poor sales happen to many of us all the time. I don't even check my ebooks' ranking or sales anymore. Chin up, babe, things will look up. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for signing up and thanks for the words of encouragement. :)
DeleteI signed up, best of luck! Also, don't beat yourself up over sales. Write your next book, that's your best marketing plan. ;-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for signing up, EE! My next book is with my publisher. ;)
DeleteHi Chrys - I commented somewhere earlier today re your book and the blurb - thought it was good .. so certainly hope the sales take off. Good luck .. and glad you've put your next book over ... and now the 3rd ...?! Cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Hilary!!!
Delete