TGIF, WG2E-Land!!!
With more and more of us teaming up and partnering to do a variety of special Ereading events and collaborations, it’s important to understand the benefits of these kinds of promotional opportunities.
And here’s a hint:
It’s Not All About Immediate Sales Increases
Many of you have written me privately, and I’ve also been part of fabulous discussions on our WG2E Street Team and Book Blast Loops, regarding sales expectations following these A-mazing events.
What you want to do is think of these opportunities from the Long Tail Sales philosophy.
In other words, it’s not about how much your sales increase today, tomorrow, the day after that and so on. But rather, it’s about what the exposure to new readership bases does for you over the long term of your Indie Epublishing Career.
***Note: Sometimes, these events – like our very own Beach Book Blast – can result in huge sales spikes. And that’s just an added potential bonus. 
What you’re really after, though, is what I like to refer to as:
Building Your Readership Both Deeper and Wider
Here’s the scoop from one of my discussions with our Beach Book Blast Members:
It’s totally not about your sales numbers “right now” as a result of just a couple of days of extra exposure…it’s about the long tail of sales, and that you’ve each gained substantial increases in Google real estate from all of us pumping up the event all over the internet, and yes, it’s about getting on reader’s wish lists and in their minds and getting them to begin getting to know you and hanging with you. You’ve got to become friends with them first and give first to them before they give back (in sales that you can measure).
Events build your base wider
Ebook Gifting and Personal Relationships build your base deeper.
It’s about making those heartfelt connections AFTER the event is over. It’s kind of like going to a conference and then following up when you get home.
The difference is all in the follow-up! That’s how you make readers for life!!!
***This is also why sites like our WG2E Sister Site – The RG2E – are sooo successful. We’re going deep with our Readers, building communities with them, and making lifetime connections.
It’s Your Turn, WG2E-Land: How are you building your readerships both deeper and wider? And what are your thoughts about this philosophy?
The Best of WG2E Deeper and Wider Wishes — D. D. Scott
P.S. Here’s another great way to look at it: You go on great vacations using the huge sales increases and spikes. You build a career and live well day to day on the long tail sales.
DD terrific post (as always) , and you are so right when you said “if you treat readers to one on you, there much more likely to buy more from you.” I plan to follow your lead when I have three books in my cozy mystery series out (2013 goals) Thanks! & Happy Labor day weekend to all:)
Wavin’ atchya, Lois!
I look at it like treating readers to a full-size sample, and we all know that sampling like that does work!
Readers remember when an author treats them beyond well, and they spend time (and money) in online communities where they’re having a ton of fun and “meeting” a bunch of new authors too!
Take a look at a few of the polls we’ve done on RG2E with our readers there…you’ll see exactly what I’m talking about…straight from readers:
http://thereadersguidetoepublishing.wordpress.com/?s=reader+polls&submit=Search
Great post. I have put my latest enovella on more than Amazon, Kobo and Smashwords. I have found All Romance ebooks, so there is another place for readers to find me. Also, I have just put my last 2 ebooks (YA and romance) on a website called Society of Authors, which is a service for writers and illustrators for help and advice. At the back of my romance enovella, I have put links to find me, and a preview of my next romance book to come out. I am thinking of doing something different than that for the next one. Any ideas?
Well done, Julie!
I think this one in particular is very savvy, and have found that it really paves the way for readers to then go on and buy your additional books:
“At the back of my romance enovella, I have put links to find me, and a preview of my next romance book to come out.”
I also link to the Book Page on my site.
I always include what I call a “Note from D. D.” in each book where I thank my readers for spending time with me, let ‘em know any exciting news as well as what’s coming next as far as new books.
DD, terrific advice! In the corporate world we’re taught that people buy from someone they like. Building relationships (and maintaining them) is key. Even if an author has only one book, a period of giveaways makes sense. Or for the longer term, perhaps try offering an ongoing free first chapter download to get the reader into the story. (I know authors who did this via a pdf file link and generated book sales because of it…it works well if the chapter you give away ends with a twist or cliffhanger of sorts, or we bond with a character. We’ve just got to know what happens next!)
You nailed it right here, Monica:
“…people buy from someone they like. Building relationships (and maintaining them) is key.”
That’s what it’s all about hooking your readers, whether it’s with FREE Samples and/or Chapters, and then connecting with them so they get to know you and like you. That’s what takes them from readers to fans!
Awesome advice and hints to sccess, D.D.!
Thanks sooo much, Jeanne!
How lovely to see what the others experienced! The Beach Book Blast was just that – a BLAST!
I received over 30 likes on my Facebook Fan Page and 20 followers for my blog because of the overall giveaway on the Beach Book Blast site.
And in the separate giveaway on my blog for an eBook copy of Going For it and my Romance Trading Cards there were 8 comments/entires from readers who were SO excited that I ended up giving them ALL a copy – and realizing some my have already purchased Going For It I offered one of my other titles if they did.
Let me say I was humbled by their thanks and appreciation. (And as I suspected some had already purchased Going For It!)
Thank again to all the wonderful volunteers who spent so much time putting this together.
And it wasn’t just a BLAST as in tons of fun to be part of, it was a fabulous way to BLAST up your visibility with readers too!!!
Getting those new “Likes” and Followers is what makes these events sooo terrific and productive, Liz! Thanks bunches for bringing up that point!!!
I think building the readership over the long term is the way to go. We all want sales and money in our pockets, but I think most of us want a long term career, too. Anthologies are a great name builder, and I do think some ads, like Goodreads, Facebook, and Digital Reads today, are worth the money as well, because they do help in the long term.
Love hearing the success stories from the Beach Book blast:)
It’s thinking and acting upon strategies for our long term careers, Stacy, that in that same long term will mean even more sales and money in our pockets! Well said, my friend!
And yes, I totally agree that money spent for featured spots on huge Ereader-centric sites like Kindle Nation Daily, ENT (Ereaders News Today), Pixel of Ink, Digital Reads, Cheap e-Reads and more are also well worth the investment. When you have a site, like ENT, with over 100,000 Followers, that’s a huge audience to tap into. I do think a large part of the reason I hit the Movers and Shakers List twice as well as Amazon’s Top 100 was because I had the right product (a boxed set at just $2.99) at the right time on ENT.
I haven’t tried the Facebook or Goodreads Ads yet, but I’m thinking about it…
Great post! Reminder to self: Wide and deep, wide and deep, wide and deep…
Another one of our fabulous WG2E Mantras, for sure, Sharon:
Wide and Deep
Wide and Deep
Wide Deep
Atta Girl!!!
Thanks for the post. Good info from my perspective as a soon-to-be indie author. Sometimes, there’s so much information to try to sift through…I’m doing my best not to get overwhelmed, but I’ll just keep taking small bites. Thanks again!
Congrats to you, Michelle, for being a “soon-to-be” Indie Author! We’re here to help you any way we can!!!
And we all hear ya on feeling overwhelmed, and have been right there too…and on some days, we’re still there!!! Things change sooo fast, it’s tough to keep up even when you think you know what you’re doing! LOL!!!
Just taking small bites is a brilliant approach! And before too long, you’ll have a huge bite of your Indie Epublishing Pie ready to serve!!!
U Go, Girl!!!
Great post, D.D. I think you’re definitely right about interacting with and making friends with those who participate in any event or even just on facebook or twitter. I know I appreciate the communication from and the “caring” attitude of the authors I enjoy reading. I’ve even been known to buy books I probably wouldn’t buy otherwise just because I like the person.
You nailed it right here, Rhonda:
“I’ve even been known to buy books I probably wouldn’t buy otherwise just because I like the person.”
That’s how and why I now read sooo many genres I never thought would appeal to me. Because I luuuvvv the author personally, so I try their books!!!
Hi, DD.
I love the idea of deep and wide. That reminds me of a song. Maybe not.
Another great post!
It’s truly a huge part of every decision you’ll make as an Author, David.
Every thing you do, you want to ask yourself:
Can I grow my audience wider with this? And if not wider, how ’bout deeper?