Happy Hump Day, WG2E-Land!
I’ve made some wonderful changes to The RG2E Featured Author Program!
Here’s the scoop:
After just 7 months, I’ve built The RG2E – The WG2E’s Sister Site – to a devoted fan base of over 500 readers, and we’re growing each and every month! I say 500 because that’s what our stats show as our true “sneezer” base, meaning this is the number of peeps who actively participate on the site every day (Facebook and Twitter too) and spread the news about all of the wonderful Ebooks and Authors they’re “meeting” and reading via RG2E!
And speaking of Ebooks…I’ve now Ebook Gifted over $10,000-worth of Ebooks on The RG2E and given away going on 10 Ereaders!!!
But here’s the thing…
I’ve had sooo many Authors write to me about letting them Ebook Gift their own books via RG2E so that they as the Authors get credit for Gifting Readers and not just me.
I thought about it, and I totally agree that this would be the next logical step
to growing the site for readers and for all of our fabulous RG2E Featured
Authors too!
So, here’s what my DH (Darling Husband) and I have come up with…
Beginning September 1st (this coming Saturday), there will no longer be a $25 Sponsorship Fee to be a Featured Author on The RG2E!!!
That’s right…it’s now FREE to be an RG2E Featured Author!!!
All that’s required for you to be an RG2E Featured Author is that you write a fabulous reader-focused post featuring your book and agree to Ebook Gift our RG2E Readers the day of your Feature. And yes, you can choose how many copies to Ebook Gift, based on your own budget.
Now that’s a great opportunity, right?!
For all of you who’ve already paid for a Sponsorship(s), no worries, I will
continue to Ebook Gift the books you’ve already signed up for at my expense on the days you’ve previously been assigned as our Featured Author.
So, here’s your chance, WG2E-Land…
Email us at rg2e(at)live(dot)com with the dates you’d like to be our RG2E Featured Author, and we’ll get you on our calendar. You can give us any dates from September 2012 thru December 2013, and as many dates as you’d like.
For example, if you’d like to feature one of your books each month, then we’ll schedule you a monthly slot. We would suggest you feature the same book no more than once per month to keep a fabulous variety for our readers.
Once you’ve been given a date by my DH, please email us your Guest Post as well as any images you’d like included at least a week prior to your Feature. Also, let us know how many copies you’ll be Ebook Gifting so we can include that in your post.
***Note: It’s perfectly fine to also use your Featured Post for any FREE Days
you have on KDP Select or other platforms too. And for any events you have
coming up…like the next Beach Book Blast. So, if you need a block of dates for
a multi-author event…just let us know that too.
So, email me with the dates you want.
Let’s see…what else can I tell you about this new approach?
Oh, for all of you superfab International Authors who can’t Ebook Gift yet using either the Kindle or Nook platforms (You should be able to Ebook Gift Internationally on Kobo and Smashwords.)…We’ve worked out that you can PayPal me the amount you’d like to Ebook Gift, and I’ll do the Gifting for you in your name. That way, you can treat readers too and benefit from the part you get back in royalties.
For samples of what I mean by Reader-Focused Posts, just browse through many of our Sunday Posts on RG2E and our RG2E Guest Author Posts, and you’ll get a feel for what kinds of superfab fun connections you can make with readers.
Also, do consider treating our readers to more than Ebooks too! In other words, our readers luuuvvv terrific “stuff” too, like T-shirts, mugs, and any cool tchotchkes that relate to your Ebooks and Brand.
It’s Your Turn, WG2E-Land: Let us know what you think of our new RG2E Featured Author Program…
The Best of RG2E Reaching Readers Wishes — D. D. Scott and The DH
Great idea, D.D.!
Thanks so very much, Jeanne!
My goal for The RG2E has always been to help fellow writers reach new readers as well as treat readers via Ebook Gifting.
And I think our new RG2E Featured Author Program is the next logical step forward to make those goals even more successful!
Great Idea DD. I have to figure out how’s the best way to do this.
I have 7 books already published and 2 more in the next 2-3 months (one maybe next week- a six-book boxed set you gave me the idea for). Plus, I’m already scheduled on RG2E for Sept 10 for Volume 1 of my 3 Mobsters books, and October 10 for “Mob Wives- Fugeddaboudit!”
I think maybe setting up a regular monthly schedule for each book is the best way to go. With 25 free giveaways each day. What do you think?
Fabulous way to “work it,” Joe! In your case, you could perhaps treat our RG2E Readers to one of your scoops on some famous mobster! I’m reading your first mobster book now and totally luuuvvvin’ it!!! It’s damn fascinating stuff! And would make terrific monthly features!!!
I’d luuuvvv to get you going with this series ASAP! The DH just mentioned that perhaps we could do say a “2nd Wednesday of every month” or whatever day and week works best for you. I’m just using that as an example.
And for all of you asking, it appears that on average, I’ve been Ebook Gifting between 7 and 15 Ebooks per day. Some days bunches more than that! So, for those of you looking for a ballpark figure, that would be it. But, anything goes!!! Just make it fit your budget. Readers are happy to receive anything plus have the chance to chat with you!
First class D.D.!! Pay it forward is what your site is all about and that’s why I recommend it. Lots of great ideas, resources, community participation…and someone (you) to pave the way for so many authors who might not otherwise be heard/read. I’ll keep spreading the word!
Thanks sooo much for spreading both The WG2E and RG2E Luuuvvv, Monica! U rock!!!
It is all about building communities by forging new author and reader connections.
Nothin’ works to do that like using my “first one is on me” in a slightly different way…and that is by building a community based on that principle using Ebook Gifting!
For authors, it’s about investing in yourself and readers.
All right. I’m jumping in on this idea and have sent you an e-mail. I am dead serious about this. I even put on a necktie before I typed up the e-mail and I kept my lips from mostly moving while I typed.
Now I’m going to Tweet this once or twice to help get the word out further.
Yayyy, Steve! We’ll look for your email!!!
And ohhh yeahhh, Tweet, Tweet and more Tweets! Keep on sharing the luuuvvv!!!
I have tweeted it and thrown in a link at my first ever drive-by blogging.
Thanks bunches, Steve! Gonna have to check-out your drive-by blogging too…
Thanks again, D.D., for your willingness to help indie authors reach readers! I love gifting books to readers and I can’t thank you enough for the opportunity to use your platform to do so.
U betchya, Christy!
It’s about using each of our platforms to build the biggest and best communities of authors and readers that we can.
In our current Publishing World, all we need are authors and readers…and fabulous places to connect to two and then hang together.
Thanks, D.D., for your generosity and the opportunity, for helping us authors reach readers and showing us the way!
You’re sooo welcome, Tamara!
My thought process on this is that The WG2E brings together all of us as authors, and The RG2E now connects us with readers.
We’re growing in huge leaps and bounds as an Author Community here at The WG2E, and then spreading our luv and our fabulous books into a community of very hungry and wonderful Readers at The RG2E.
This is a wonderful opportunity for us, and I enjoy reading the posts here, and will be taking advantage of this very soon. Thanks so much!
It is a wonderful opportunity to reach a wonderful group of readers, Patrice!
Our RG2E Peeps are simply the best and totally define what it means to be superfab “sneezers.”
What bonds all of us is our luv of great books! Now, we’ve got a vibrant extension of The WG2E that connects us as an Author Community with a terrific Readers Community.
That is sooooo wonderful, DD! Thanks for all that you do for Indie Authors. I’ve got a new book coming out in September and I can’t wait to get it signed up!!
I need to thank you too, Lauren! You were one of the A-mazing Peeps who told me that you’d like the opportunity to Ebook Gift via The RG2E too!
And you know me, I like making fabulous ideas…reality!
We’ll be watching for your email!!!
Thank you so much for this kind thought. I was all for gearing up to let you know about my new book and pay, then I saw you already promoting my new ebook on the RG2E site. Thank you. Will have this in mind for the other romance ebooks in the series.
Sure thing, Julie!
Use your money to treat our RG2E Readers to even more Ebook Gifts!
C’mon over to The RG2E today, Y’all…you’ll get a great sense of what our fabulous readers think of our new Featured Author Program!
http://thereadersguidetoepublishing.wordpress.com/2012/08/29/rg2e-news-weve-got-an-exciting-new-rg2e-featured-author-program-to-treat-all-of-you-a-mazing-rg2e-readers/
Feel free to interact with them in our comments section there too!!!
Cheers!!!
Fabulous! Will look forward to taking part
WooHooo, Sibel!!!
Our RG2E Readers go totally gaga for all of our Featured Author Guest Posts…so why not give ‘em more of what they luuuvvv?!
And they luuuvvv and spread the luuuvvv for all of us thanks to being the recipients of our Ebook Gifts!
I’ve done fabulous polls on RG2E where our readers there have told us that they’ve gone on to by a ton of books by the authors they’ve “met” from our Ebook Gifts!!!
Love this idea, and I’m signed on for January 10th. Thank you for making this free!
Can’t wait to feature you, Stacy!!!
I’m thrilled to be able to offer this opportunity to all of you and to all of our A-mazing readers too!!!
Thanks, D.D. You are a generous genius!
I don’t know about the genius part, Janice! LOL! But I do totally believe and act on Paying It Forward and giving first. Cheers to that!!!
This is great, and very generous! I’ll be contacting you soon! Thanks for this wonderful offer!
U betchya, Sharon!
Nothin’ beats Writers Helping Writers Reach Readers
We’ll be watching for your email!!!
Thanks for the great opportunity, and I’ve already signed up. Look forward to being featured on RG2E in October and November!
WooHooo, Anne! We’re thrilled to feature you and your superfab books on The RG2E!!! See in both October and November!!!
The DH is scheduling dates for y’all as we speak!!! Keep those superfab email requests comin’!!!
It’s great, D.D., the way you are always ready to revise a plan so that it works better. I think it’s much more interesting to learn something personal about an author than to just see a book and a blurb.
I totally agree on all accounts, Alicia!
The keys to thriving in our new Publishing World are to be first write a ton of books on a regular basis, then…be flexible, try things, revise things and continuously strive to reach new reader bases.
And yes, it’s sooo much more fun and reader-friendly to actually chat with readers than say “oh, here’s the next book.”
Fantastic idea!! My book is still with the editor so I’m not exactly sure when it will be ready, but I’ll keep this in mind. Thank you so much! Awesome, awesome site.
Go Girl Go, Rebecca! Congrats on being just about ready to release your new book!
We’ll be watching for your Featured Author Submission!
Wow, D.D.–great idea! Very cool, you will be hearing from me and (tons of authors!) very soon! Thanks so much for doing this–take care, Dee
U betchya, Dee!
And that’s totally our goal – the more writers we got, the more readers we can reach!!!
Cheers to combining our author and reader communities!!! That’s what it’s all about…making those life-long connections.
D.D., can gifting be done strictly on Smashwords? I’m not sure how it works for Kindle and Nook…doesn’t that mean I have to actually purchase each copy? On Smashwords there’s no out-of-pocket cost to me, and it works for all devices. Please advise.
Great question, Bettye!
Here’s the difference…yes, Ebook Gifting on Kindle and Nook means you are actually purchasing your book to gift to a reader. (You use the “Buy this as a Gift” Button on each site.) But, you do get the royalties back from that gift as well as those gifts count as sales for your ranking. You can also do the same thing on Smashwords via buying your own Ebook and Gifting it.
On Smashwords, you can also use Coupons for FREE downloads, right? Which used to mean that you could give readers a code to enter when they “buy” the book so that it’s FREE for them. But then, you don’t get credit for a sale, right? Maybe they’ve changed that, but that’s the way it used to work.
I never liked using the coupons because they’re just not reader-friendly in that they have to have the Code at checkout plus they’re only good for a limited time, right? So, you have to go back in and extend those dates periodically. Plus, using only Smashwords for Gifting means all your readers have to sideload the file they need into their Ereaders versus the files just automatically showing up on their readers.
Does that help a bit?
Yes, it does. I thought about that after the fact. Being able to specify in advance how many copies will be gifted will prevent this from wiping a sistah out! Thanks!
Glad that explanation helped, Bettye!
Hi – i’ve been following your post for months and your advice has been tremendous for a newbie like me. This program sounds great! I don’t know where you get the time!
Terrific, R.A.! I’m thrilled you’re finding the scoop you need to build your own Indie Epublishing Empire! That’s what it’s all about at both The WG2E and The RG2E!
DeeDee,
I’m jumping in with both feet. Great idea.
I’m sending off my email to RG2E right now.
Giant hugs!
Barbara
Giant hugs right backatchya, Barbara!
We’ll be watching for your email!
Here’s the Kindle Board Thread I started for our new RG2E Featured Author Program…so feel free to pop on there too and show your RG2E and WG2E Luuuvvv:
http://www.kindleboards.com/index.php/topic,124632.0.html
The more we as writers help other writers, the more readers we’ll connect with too!!!
Tweeted! DD, is there a way to gift our readers using Smashwords coupons?
Thanks for the Tweet, Forrest!
And yes, you can use the Smashwords coupons to Ebook Gift, but they aren’t as reader-friendly (see my answer above to Bettye), plus, then your readers have to sideload the file to their devices instead of being able to download directly.
I echo all above — fantastic idea — you’re a great inspiration for what “community” should be! Thanks so much! I’ll be sending my email off soon.
We’ll be watching for your email, K.J.! And cheers to creating reading communities that just keep on getting bigger and better!
Can I ask one more question? How are winners determined? The first number to respond to the number of eBooks to be gifted? Do the authors choose them at random, i.e., seeing the total number of replies and choosing random numbers that will correspond to the winners?
You can use random generating apps…there are many available, Bettye, where you just plug in all the names (or the participants enter their own name on some widget), and the app picks a winner, kind of like Rafflecopter does.
But yes, just pick your winners at random. And then you can announce the winners on The RG2E in the comments section, and ask those winners to contact you however you’d like to be contacted (email, Facebook or Twitter private message) to give you their email addresses to gift to.
Got it; thanks! I’m just trying to make sure I understand how this works. Thanks for being so patient and answering my questions.
No worries, Bettye! In fact, I think I’ll do a post this weekend on Ebook Gifting…I bet there’s a ton of peeps who need this info too!
Cheers!
I absolutely love this idea, D.D. I believe strongly in your cross-promotion methods and sharing the goods with our readers. My first book was released this month and I’m soaking up all the wisdom on WG2E.
I would love to join in. I notice a lot of the authors on WG2E are romance/mystery. I haven’t spent much time on RG2E, but will it matter that I write fantasy/paranormal?
Congrats on your first release, Heather! U Go, Girl!
And all genres are welcome at The RG2E, so c’mon over and join all the superfab reader-focused fun! It will be a fantastic way to get your new book in front of a bunch of really enthusiastic readers who luuuvvv to discover new authors!!!
Also, I’m thrilled to hear you’re finding tons of great scoop here on The WG2E!!!
great program idea, and really liked your posts on egifting, just pick me a date you think works best for me, and i’ll feature my one of my free books, then, on new releases, feature that with ebook gifting – thanks!