When you get an email about an opportunity to promote your work, do you pounce on it right away and sign up? Or do you flag the email intending to return and forget until it’s too late? Like me.
Recently, I read the email and, despite nine million other things I needed to do—I immediately signed up for two (yes, two!) opportunities to promote my books.
The first opportunity came from Smashwords to their authors who write mysteries. Did I want to serialize The Case of the Bygone Brother on Wattpad? There would be extra promotion from Wattpad, as well as from Smashwords. How could I refuse? (Well, I could have by not responding.) I have several other books partially serialized on Wattpad, so I thought why not? The promotion started a week ago Tuesday. Since then I’ve uploaded eight chapters and gained thirty-nine followers. Thirty-nine doesn’t sound like many, but I’d be happy if a couple of them got tired of waiting for the next chapter and bought the book. Or once the book is finished and they liked it, they could purchase the next book in the series. Here’s the link: https://www.wattpad.com/story/72359159-the-case-of-the-bygone-brother-an-alex-o%27hara
The second opportunity came from a group to which I belong, the Science FictionRomance Brigade. A couple of enterprising authors threw out the idea of making an anthology of the first chapters of sci-fi romance novels. They were hoping to produce two volumes—one sweet and one spicy. Almost overnight they had enough authors sign up for four volumes! Ten authors in each volume. What a lot of choices! A taste for readers to see what they like before buying. At the end of each first chapter, there’s a buy link for easy purchase. Best of all, each volume of this anthology, Portals, is free. My sci-fi romance The Pilot (An Outer Rim Novel) is in Volume 2, which was released yesterday. Portals: Volume 2 can be “purchased” (it’s free) at the following:
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books...
The deal with Wattpad cost me nothing, while a small voluntary contribution helped with the cover cost of Portals. So for little money, I took the opportunities to get my books in front of readers. Will it pay out in the form of additional purchases? I hope so. But like most promotion, it’s hard to tell what works.
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Sounds like a good idea to try these things. Even if you don't get many new sales immediately, getting your name out there will definitely help in the long run. Good luck with the promotions.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ken. What can it hurt to try new opportunities? Might even help.
DeleteI think you did the right thing. 39 new followers is great. It's potential new readers that will want to buy more of your works. That's always a win. I personally tend to overthink things. So I might not always pounce on great opportunities. Wishing you well, Diane.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Murees. Usually, I intend to do things (like promotion), but you know what they say about good intentions. LOL
DeleteI'm guilty of flagging e-mails I intend to do something about and then forgetting them. Good for you for jumping right on those. For very little cost, you got some good promotion. While there's no guarantee it will work, it certainly can't hurt. I'm going to go check out the anthology now. Happy IWSG Day!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lori. Glad to see I'm not the only one who "intends" to do something.
DeleteJust downloaded Volume 2. Looking forward to reading it. :)
DeleteI'm guilty of flagging emails but then forgetting about them too. Although I recently signed up for a promotional thing over Twitter before I could forget/scare myself out of doing it...I just can't remember what it is right now, whoops! But those both seem like great ideas, best of luck with both them!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Rachel. Hope you wrote down the promo on Twitter. :)
DeleteI need to be a member of this group! I have been so down on my writing lately!
ReplyDeleteIt's great. Above where it says Click "here" that will take you to the site and you can sign up.
DeleteUgh...I definitely flag emails I intend to get back to, and almost never do. Sigh... Sounds like you have a couple of great promo opps in the works. Wishing you tons of success!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Alicia. So glad I'm not the only one to flag & forget.
DeleteI an identify with you--my first impulse is to take up any promo that is free or not too pricey. If I wait, I usually lose track of them. Thanks for posting!
ReplyDeleteNot sure how to remember what I want to do, promo-wise.
DeleteYou never know what will work until you try it; after that, I think passing on some opportunities that you know don't pay off for you are fine. I think it depends where your audience is too; romance readers are on Facebook. For me writing YA, unless I'm targeting adult readers of YA, I am not going to be investing a huge amount in Facebook campaigns. I may do some, but I want to focus my efforts on where YA writers and readers spend their time.
ReplyDeleteHere's my June IWSG post: Goal, Set, Check! Setting SMART goals
I love YA, but I'm not your target audience. Thanks for stopping by and for leaving the link.
DeleteI sometimes jump on unique promo opportunities too.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a couple of good ones.
Good luck and God's blessings
PamT
Thanks so much, Pam.
DeleteBoth promotional opportunities are ways to get your books in front of new readers, and that's never a bad thing. Good luck, Diane!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Alyssa.
DeleteThey sound like good opportunities. It's so hard to know what works in terms of promotion though, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteIt sure is, Michelle.
DeleteCongratulations on your new release! New opportunities to promote your book are always welcome, just be careful because some could be spam, so always double check before signing up. Best of luck! :-)
ReplyDeleteGood advice, Elena.
DeleteWhat great ideas (and information). Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteYou are most welcome.
DeleteGuilty of flagging and forgetting! Love the serial opportunity on Wattpad. Same with the first chapter anthologies. Hope you get lots of new fans!
ReplyDeleteI hope so, too, Leah. Thanks.
DeleteAlso guilty of flagging and forgetting. Best of luck with both opportunities. Maybe I should check into Wattpad. I have no idea what it's all about. Wishing you many new readers!
ReplyDeleteDo check it out, Marissa. I hope this works.
DeleteEvery inch forward is an inch toward success. :-)
ReplyDeleteAnna from elements of emaginette
Thanks, Anna. I wish the same to you, too.
DeleteFlag and Forget! All those articles that sound helpful, but don't have to be read today get put in a folder, and someday I'll read that folder...and my daily writing tips...and...
ReplyDeleteWay to promo! You go, girl!
Thanks, MJ I've done the folder thing, too. And then forgotten. TMI.
DeleteI don't really know anything about Wattpad, but need to look into it. What a great idea on the collection of first chapters! It's a perfect way for folks to sample for free and decide what books they'd like.
ReplyDeleteI thought the 1st chapters was a great idea, too. I'll see if it helps sales. Thanks, Shannon.
DeleteI never read those emails, perhaps I should start paying attention to them.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with both promotions!
Thanks, Doreen. I would only jump on a project from someone I know. Easy to get sucked into scams.
DeleteWhat fabulous opportunities! I really like anthologies as you get to sample different authors and read more from the ones you particularly like. I don't know anything about Wattpad so I'm off to check it out.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ellen. And thanks for the follow on Wattpad.
DeleteMy file of things I will get back to is probably the biggest file on my computer! Sometimes I jump on a promo right away and other times - well maybe lots and lots of other times - I file and forget. Good luck with the anthology :-)
ReplyDeleteTweeted.
Thanks, Victoria, and thanks for the tweet. I know what you mean about that file. :)
DeleteI, too, have a ton of emails that I plan to return to later but often later is too late. Thanks for sharing the great ideas for expanding options for marketing!
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean, Maureen. That's when I want to kick myself for not returning to that email.
DeleteGuilty of starring emails and then on to something else with nary another thought of them. Good to know you carried through with the 2 promos and are happy. I'm on wattpad, but I don't think I've uploaded anything in there....yet. I didn't know about the serialization opportunity. Doin' a happy dance with you.
ReplyDeleteThanks, JQ. The deal with Wattpad was thru Smashwords. Apparently, Smash selected their authors whose books were tagged mystery & thriller and sent invitations to those authors.
DeleteI like the anthology idea! Get a taste of the story before the purchase.
ReplyDeleteSounds like great opportunities!
Heather
Thanks, Heather. I am so glad I jumped on those opportunities.
DeleteSounds like you have responded to two great promo opportunities, I hope they work well for you. I like the sound of reading a chapter before committing to buy the whole book.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Suzanne. As a reader, I really like the idea, too. So far, I've read almost all of Volume 1 then downloaded some books. I have to force myself not to buy all. :-)
DeleteCongratulations Diane. I am very happy for you and will go to Wattpad and start following you. I will also look for those anthologies at Amazon Germany.
ReplyDeleteThose were two great ideas that I am glad you did not miss.
All the best.
Shalom aleichem,
Patricia
Thanks, Pat. Best wishes to you, too.
DeleteIt's always hard to figure out what works and what is just throwing your effort into the wind. I've decided (today anyway) just to do the things I enjoy doing anyway (blogging, going to cons, participating in events) and hope that they lead to some sales, too.
ReplyDelete@mirymom1 from
Balancing Act
Sounds like a smart choice, Samantha. Good luck.
DeleteI'm so ignorant about ways to promote. I never heard of Wattpad!
ReplyDeleteI'm just learning as I go, Bish. Check out Wattpad. Some authors use it to put up a chapter or 2 to entice readers to buy.
DeleteI'm so ignorant about ways to promote. I never heard of Wattpad!
ReplyDeleteDiane, Kudos on seizing the opportunities as they arise. I have to be honest, I'm more on the other end of the spectrum, but you remind me that I need to do better.
ReplyDeleteAnne from annehiga.com
Thanks, Anna. I always feel like I'm behind. LOL
DeleteThose are both great opportunities and could lead to more sales for you. And cheaper than advertising.
ReplyDeleteThat's for sure. Takes time, but then what promo doesn't?
DeleteI try to jump on opportunities whenever possible, but some still slip through the cracks. Great job getting on board with yours!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Loni.
DeleteGood for you for jumping on those! Hopefully you will see lots of results from the anthology.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Charity.
DeleteI have an account on Wattpad, but I've never used it. And I'm impressed with 39 followers. There are millions of stories to choose from- I'm ecstatic to pick up one reader, much less 39.
ReplyDeleteMy followers have grown to 56! Of course, I'm following 104. LOL I think I guilted them into following me. ;)
Deletean anthology of the first chapters of sci-fi romance sounds like a good idea. You have nothing to lose. Every new follower counts.
ReplyDeleteRemember, there's also the possibility of word-of-mouth advertising via those 39 followers...
Writer In Transit
Thanks, Michelle. The great thing about the anthology is not having to write anything new. We were limited to a certain # of words so I had to do some tweaking. Word of mouth is the best advertising
DeleteWow these sound like great opportunities! Good for you for taking advantage of them. I hope they both bring great returns for you.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Julie. I hope so, too.
Delete