Comments on: Promotion Is Pay, Pay, Pay as You Go

By: Pivoting and Publishing: Updates from Marla, Margaret, and Densie - Hélène T. Stelian Coaching

Tue, 31 Mar 2020 11:17:09 +0000

[…] have on promotion, with a pitiful ROI (return on investment), but I learned a lot. I even wrote a blog post about […]

By: Densie Webb

Densie Webb — Wed, 21 Feb 2018 16:45:09 +0000

In reply to Jeanne Felfe. Jeanne, yes, I've heard 3 books is the key; I've also heard 5. My second will be published some time this year and my third is a WIP. Three now sounds doable. Five is a bit overwhelming. Best of luck to you with your second and third!!

By: Densie Webb

Densie Webb — Wed, 21 Feb 2018 16:43:15 +0000

In reply to Joyce. Joyce, Yes! If I were in it for the money, I would have dropped this quest a long time ago. Sounds like you're in the same boat. Good luck to us both!

By: Jeanne Felfe

Jeanne Felfe — Wed, 21 Feb 2018 15:20:52 +0000

I published my debut novel, The Art of Healing, in June 2016. In the year and a half since, I’ve spent some, but not a huge amount. Why? I was fortunate enough to know several authors who confirmed for me that first books rarely sell well. That it takes two, three, or four, before paid promotions begin to pay off. That said, I haven’t avoided it completed. I’ve stuck my toe into the waters of the never-ending spigot of promotional opportunities – and absolutely none have offered a positive return on my investment.

I view them more as a learning experience, something that helps me grasp the concept of marketing. I think that understanding might serve me well when I get to the point where I’m ready to seek an agent. Knowing how to promote is a valuable skill set and it’s one that uses a completely different side of the brain that writing the book did.

Therefore, I am busily writing a 2nd and 3rd book – yes, at the same time! ECK! And they are unrelated. I’ve yet to attempt a series.

I am still tempted by the idea of promotions – maybe this one will be the one to launch me into continuing sales. But then I remind myself of the “first books don’t sell” guideline (note, I didn’t rule because there are always exceptions) and pause before hitting the buy button.

By: Joyce

Joyce — Sun, 04 Feb 2018 21:31:32 +0000

Best description of the madness that I have experienced as an author. However, I have learned that I am not writing for the money or the fame. In reality I am compel to write because my soul always has something to say. Thank you for sharing!

By: Densie Webb

Densie Webb — Thu, 29 Jun 2017 19:00:00 +0000

In reply to Brindy Wilcox. Yep, my trigger finger gets itchy every once in a while, but so far this year, I've managed to restrain from expensive promotions. Working on getting that second novel done and out there so, as you say, may it will boost sales of the first.

By: Brindy Wilcox

Brindy Wilcox — Thu, 29 Jun 2017 16:22:26 +0000

Excellent advice Densie, it is so easy to get caught up in the just one more advert/giveaway etc. In essence writing more stories works better, then people who have bought will hopefully buy again and so a following builds. Overnight success is rare, be patient and keep writing with planned promotion. In truth you have about a month to make an impact, after that cost outstrips reward most of the time.

By: Francine Fleming

Francine Fleming — Sun, 09 Apr 2017 18:24:13 +0000

Very valuable article, Densie. I am one of five novice authors who are on the brink of self-publishing our debut collection of short stories. Before publishing, we’d had no idea of how costly (financially and physically) marketing and promotion can be and just last week, had a sobering discussion around our marketing plan. We have been fortunate to receive free publicity through a popular CBC Radio program here in Canada, thanks to one of our authors who eloquently promoted our novel on that program. We are learning that promotion doesn’t always have to come with a hefty pricetag (as you stated), we just have to take time to research different marketing avenues. Thanks so much for sharing your experience.

By: Densie Webb

Densie Webb — Thu, 09 Mar 2017 12:46:56 +0000

In reply to Rifka Kreiter. Rifka, glad I could be of help! It really is such a temptation. I'm still doing some promotion, but extremely scaled back. Have to be realistic. I hope that your sales are fruitful as well!

By: Rifka Kreiter

Rifka Kreiter — Wed, 08 Mar 2017 14:38:02 +0000

Densie, this is so valuable to read at my stage: two months out from publication of my memoir, Home Free: Adventure of a Child of the Sixties. The I-gotta-do-more promo bug you describe is starting to bite; I cannot afford to feed it the way you say you did. Forewarned is, etc. THANK YOU!!! and may your sales be fruitful and multiply.