Hello again,
Since I put 'This Son of York' out as a Kindle edition with Amazon on 10th December, I've sold 54 copies. All have gone via Amazon. The book is available with Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, Lulu, Kobo, Diesel, Apple and Sony.
I've built two web sites, which I can track using Google Analytics. The biggest visits/sales surge came after I mentioned the book on a car forum to which I belong. Going on Radio York was fun but it didn't have the hoped for effect.
I've already sent review copies to the main newspapers - as yet the only response has been a 'deleted without being read' from one of them.
So, the question is, has anyone any marketing ideas?
David - there's a free-download ebook conversion programme you can use
http://calibre-ebook.com/about
It's had good reports but I've not tried it yet.
I thought Waterstones bought from Smashwords, to be honest. And if your book's on Smashwords you can use the digital ISBN they supply - as far as I know it's not format-specific If it was Smashwords would need a half-dozen or so per title.
I'm not convinced response to a first novel is a reliable guide. Bu then I would say that, wouldn't I?! It's impossible to reach enough potential readers to judge, IMHO.
If you're looking for inexpensive UK publishing try Youwriteon.com (www.feedaread.com). They do a sensibly priced POD with optional ISBN and distribution to major wholesalers. You have to edit, format and provide your own cover pics (they do some stock covers) but the finished paperbacks are excellent quality. Royalties aren't brilliant with them, either, but they never are for quality at sensible retail.
Good luck.
Thank you, folks.
I've aired my book on another (car) forum, which triggered one more sale. My local library (I'm out in the sticks, in Cumbria) generally believe that anything with an 'e' in front of it is the devil's work. I don't hold out much hope there, especially as they showed little interest in my non-fiction hardback a few years ago.
Jonathan, did you mean the site/blog link as part of a blog signature? It occurred to me I could put my web site link out as part of my e-mail sig. As you suggest, I'm plugging on anyway. For example, to go 'e' with Waterstones involves a third party conversion to e-pub, presumably plus an ISBN. I'll be chatting to the contact they sent tomorrow.
Meanwhile, I'm in the process of getting physical copies together using Createspace. As I understand it, this Amazon offshoot will handle the marketing and distribution to demand. The royalties aren't brilliant but the only outlay seems to be postage to the UK, for proofs and if I order X copies to sell via my UK website (www.tsoy.co.uk).
I'm finding this aspect both challenging and fun. Meisterwerk No.2. is on the stocks but the sales outcome on my first novel will make a good indicator.
Thanks again, good luck with your output and let's keep one another posted.
I post or comment (usually the latter), regularly, on a small number of blogs. It seems to make a difference, the key being to have a site or blog link as at least part of your signature.
I wish there was a magic formula to guarantee sales or even some way of gauging the effectiveness of the online 'marketing' we do, but there's not. I think it's just a matter of consistent plugging away until your name becomes more recognised.
All the big-selling Kindle authors have multiple titles out there. I'm not expecting any great sales until I have at least five stories to push.
Good luck with it, anyway.
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