By Caroline Clemmons
One of the problems constantly perplexing authors is
advertising/promotion. How much is enough? We want our readers to know we have
a book for sale, but we don’t want to hit them over the head with our promotion
so much that they aren’t interested.
Author Alison Henderson recently posted on Facebook
the perfect analogy by Steuart Henderson Birt: “Doing business without
advertising is like winking at a girl in the dark. You know what you are doing,
but no one else does.”
We don’t want to offer our books for sale and hope someone learns about it somehow.
Because most of us depend on our income, we need
those sales. At the same time, my friends and I don’t want to be like an author
who shall be nameless who posted numerous times every day about her latest book. We felt she was hitting us over the head a dozen times a day. We were ready to block her from our Facebook feed until someone clued her in to
what she was doing.
So, what’s the perfect way to promote? Ha! No one
knows. What works for one person doesn’t for another. The author who posted too
often made a humongous number of sales, proving that one man’s poison is
another’s cup of tea. Or something like that.
Here I am throwing a new release at you. A
BRIDE FOR DALTON, Proxy Bride Series #25, at the Universal Amazon link: http://getbook.at/Dalton. This book
released on Thursday, September 12.
A BRIDE FOR DALTON Blurb:
Rebecca
wants a husband but not the man her stepbrother-guardian insists she wed. To escape his threats
she turns to a family friend for help. Reverend McClain suggests she enter a
proxy marriage to his only living relative, a nephew who ranches in Montana.
Out of options, she agrees. Until she arrives in Sweet Springs, she has no idea
the telegram with instructions to her supposed groom has not been delivered.
Where does that leave her?
Dalton
is working with dangerous men to accomplish his goal. The last thing he needs
at this time is a wife in the way. He is a gentleman and sees no other solution
than to complete the vows. How is he going to keep her out of harm’s way while
he completes this job?
Rebecca
and Dalton embark on married life in unusual circumstances. Can love blossom in
tumultuous times?
I still don’t know how much to advertise/promote. I guess I’m
a work in progress.
Oh, Caroline, you hit the nail on the head with this post. How much not only to promote, but also how much do you spend in time and money to get a decent return? How much is too much? Am I gaining readers or losing friends? You new book sounds fascinating. Best of luck!
ReplyDeleteI agree. We all know we need to promote. But how much and where? Those are questions every author ponders. Good post. Good luck with the new book!
ReplyDeleteCaroline, I think we're all just stumbling around in the dark when it comes to marketing and promotion online. As someone so eloquently said, "It's a crapshoot."
ReplyDeleteBtw, I'm in awe of your drive and work ethic in writing and publishing frequently. You are as amazing as your stories. Congratulations.
What Joan said.
ReplyDelete