It’s Tuesday again, and I’ve managed to momentarily tear myself away from the lobster et al to pen this column. Hope everyone had been faring well!
Ever since my first novel was published a few years ago now, I’ve belonged to several forums and Facebook groups, both in the UK and the US. While they’re undoubtedly chock full of great information (Kindleboards, in particular) and lots of lovely, friendly people who are great fun to connect with, I often wonder . . . does posting there – bumping my novel threads, etcetera – really help boost sales?
In the beginning, I religiously frequented these forums and groups, trying my best to not only bump my threads when allowed (some forums, like KIndleboards, only allow you do so within certain time-frames) but also to interact and show a consistent presence. However, I became rapidly discouraged as my meagre attempts were buried in the avalanche of other authors attempting the same thing. The one place I did seem to have success was the relatively newly formed Kindle Users’ Forum (UK), whose members hadn’t quite reached saturation point with author promo and who were genuinely interested in reading and reviewing my books.
Like anything when it comes to promotion, I believe forums and groups work best when interactions are genuine and not purely promotional shout-outs. But are forums really the ideal place for authors to do this? How do we find the readers, and not just get lumped in with the multitudes of writers frequenting the site? Are these sites too big now to really make an impact?
Have you found forums helpful in helping to drive sales and connect with readers? If so, what strategies and techniques have you used?
I’d say no. My experience is similiar to yours in that regard. But then, I’m crabby about online promotion these days, having had my fill of authors constantly hawking their books. I think most of it doesn’t work beyond perhaps a handful of copies here and there. IMO, It certainly won’t gain you the hundreds or thousands of sales needed to really make a book take off.
I agree, India. I have been able to garner a few reviews because of forums, but it’s certainly not going to get me loads of sales in the long run.
I’ll admit, even though, initially, I was a huge fan of The Boards (Kindle and Nook Boards included), I’m not as active on any of them anymore.
I’m with you, Talli, in that I think their time has come and gone as far as reaching readers. For one, the darn rules on each Board are a real turn-off to me. And two, they’re sooo packed, it’s not likely that you’ll stand out.
That said, I’ll bump my threads once a month or so, but that’s it now.
In fact, I just finished an experiment in September, where I did the weekly bumps again on Kindle Boards with three threads, but I didn’t notice huge gains in sales, at least not gains that I wasn’t already on track to get from other sources.
I also got rid of all of my Yahoo Groups, except for the ones I own and operate.
I found just making these two changes – no weekly Forum/Board time and working only my own personal Yahoo Groups – have saved me a ton of time and actually limited my angst too.
Oh, and as far as reader interaction, there’s really none on any of those forums anymore. It’s getting to be writers talking to writers…not writers chatting with readers.
Great insight, as always, Talli. Yep, this is very true, DD. I still frequent the boards for info and will post advice where I can, but I don’t spend nowhere near as much time as I used to. I think everywhere is saturated now and it’s hard to stand out, so I’d much rather spend my time writing and working on my books because I think the most important marketing tool is to increase your virtual shelf
“I think everywhere is saturated now and it’s hard to stand out, so I’d much rather spend my time writing and working on my books because I think the most important marketing tool is to increase your virtual shelf.”
Exactly! There are so many authors promoting their work everywhere that it’s hard to make any noticeable impact. The best way, as you say, is to write!
I agree, DeeDee. I was religious about bumping threads for a while, but when I stopped, I didn’t find it made any difference to my sales. With only a limited amount of time, you need to focus on things that are more efficient. And it does help limit angst! And I couldn’t agree more about how it’s mainly writers talking to writers!
I don’t think I’ve ever had much success on forums, but, to be fair, I’ve never made that much of an effort. I’m relatively new, and by the time I discovered the Kindle boards, they were already so full of authors I felt like I was shouting into an abyss.
I stick to my Chick-Lit Facebook groups, for the most part.
I felt like I was shouting into the abyss, too, and that’s why I’ve backed off since. The UK forum is smaller and more personable, I’ve found, but I simply haven’t had the time lately! While I do enjoy some of the personal interactions I’ve made, it’s hard to see any impact on sales.
I agree with India. The only things that ever worked for me are Twitter and Facebook – and that’s actually talking to people, not doing the whole ‘buy my book’ thing.
Hi Louise! Yes, actually talking to people and making real connections is the best way, in my opinion, too!
I agree completely. I had to have a friend come and hold my hand to explain some better ways to use social media because I’d given up on it. These days I look on Twitter purely for social interaction although I find myself wading through a sea of authors shouting their wares, which is tedious.
I’ve had some very interesting conversations on Twitter with other authors and NOT about writing (haven’t I, Talli?
hahahha)
I find all social media tedious. The only two places I enjoy and return often is this website and Twitter. I used to not “get” Twitter because it just seemed like one giant Spam forum, but now I see its beauty in the fun conversations I’ve been able to have and the great people I’ve met on a one-to-one basis. The key is not to “hawk your wares” but genuinely connect. It’s why I refuse to automate my tweets. Marketing guru Kristen Lamb suggested not automating tweets because you’ll turn people off and lose trust, and I agree. I hate being “marketed to,” and tend not to read tweets that feel that way. I’ve always hated the “salesy” approach so have vowed to never do that. I find that genuinely connecting with people will lead them to want to know more about you, and if they buy your books as a result, great. If not, that’s fine, too, because it’s so darn fun to connect and have these great conversations and meet fun people! It’s all part of an interesting and fun journey, is how I see it.
Thanks, Talli!
This post really hit home for me. I’ve never even been able to get onto one of the major e-reader boards, and there is apparently no way to find out why. It feels like some Kafka novel. Oh, well. It’s good to know that I’m not the only one with less-than-positive feelings for the format.
So if all the traditional methods – FB, Twitter, forums – are blown, what are the mini-magic bullets for getting your work known?
(I know that’s horrible question, but am intensely curious about the possible answers…)
For me, Alison, FB, Twitter, and Pinterest are the Go-To platforms. What Talli and many of us agree on as the sites that just aren’t that relevant anymore are large forums like Kindle Boards and Nook Boards. Does that help a bit?
I spend almost all of my non-writing time now on FB, Twitter and Pinterest. I think Pinterest is actually the new place to be!
And wow is it superfab fun!!!
Thanks, DD. I love Twitter and FB, and socialise constantly, but keep my writing posts strictly to my author page on FB.
I have reservations about Pinterest especially their copyright fudging:
http://steve-morton.com/2012/02/23/why-im-against-pinterest/
I believe they’re re-examining it, but at the moment, I’m staying away.
I am really enjoying the discussion boards on Goodreads and almost all of the folks there are totally supportive of authors, provided the writers are using good board-discussion manners and not slapping people in the face with blatant promos. I’ve made some really great cyberspace friends on GR and they’ve become early readers and reviewers for me for my book Finding Round. It’s a fantastic site to get to know people on because they talk about everything on there. The other priceless advantage on utilzing the Goodreads site is the fact that there are so many male readers participating. I write thrillers and it’s hard to find a good supportive forum/discussion group that has a lot of male readers. I adore the RWA members and the fantastic resources they give us in the discussion forums and contests but, even though I’ve received invaluable input, never a sale has been generated through that sort of thing. So far, Goodreads forums are the only real gold mine, IMO.
I agree completely about the forums, especially Kindleboards. In fact, I find some of the Kindleboard interaction pretty toxic. They’re all about writers getting snarky at each other and accusing each other of breaking rules. Marketing books to other book marketers doesn’t make much sense. We need to go where readers are, not just the competition. I’ve heard from other authors like Sheri Alexander above that Goodreads has some good author/reader interaction, but I haven’t had the time to personally explore that. I have run into some snark there, too, unfortunately.
I have stopped almost all interaction on most social media. I do a few posts here and there on Facebook and blog articles, but really I have no idea what to write about anymore. I still don’t understand Twitter or how to have conversations. I am on a couple of Facebook groups and I enjoy them and I learn, but they are all writer based. I forgot to go no mail on a few Yahoo groups when I took a trip and felt overwhelmed even with the digest version when I got back. So I deleted them all. Every one. It felt really, really good too.
What feels right to me now is to just write. I’m going to do the blog hops I’ve signed up for and keep my responsibilities for guest blogging, but that’s what feels right to me. I don’t want to blog and do all this other stuff when my heart doesn’t feel in it right now.
It was so much easier when I was just writing my homeschooling blog years ago. I want to get back to that feeling of just writing as me, sharing information and experiences, keeping it all real. I think I’ve gotten trapped in an Internet Marketing Mindset and I’m letting it all go.
I have no idea where to find readers, but at this point I’m not really going to worry about it. I have a long term plan, and since I don’t have a backlist I’m just going to chill out and work on writing more books.
I’ve had the most success connecting with readers on Goodreads and FB. A little on Twitte. Maybe some on Pinterest too. I’ve always found the boards overwhelming.
I maintained an active presence early on but as toxicity spread, even throughout Goodreads, I found it simply wasn’t worth my time, energy and blood pressure dealing with rude, thoughtless people. It’s sad because at first I made genuine friends. Now, it has approached, or surpassed, saturation.
I think, as you say, interaction is the most important. There’s always a squee factor when an author you like writes back – but if they’re busy promoting across a myriad sites, how can they ever find the time?