Books can be so great for creating an audience. For instance, I've recently found a bunch of great people through their books. After reading their books, I went to their websites, checked out their courses and offers, etc.
I assume that someone who reads your book is much more likely to buy something else from you than someone who's just watching a video or reading a Social Media post.
You make am excellent point Louise! Youtube, podcasts...all great. But when someone has decided to buy your book, they have made a micro-commitment to you and your mission and your authority. They believe in you. They trust you. And when you can lead them to the promised land via your book, and now they want help with implementing what they learned in your book...bingo. Those are my favorite kind of sales (they kind where they sold themselves).
Thanks so much Renee! This is the most down-to-earth and easy-to-read guide on self-publishing on Amazon. I understand, however, that it's focused a bit on non-fiction books that have a "practical use" for its readers, like self-help, business, etc. I sense this guide can also be used, with some variations, to promote fiction and short stories compilation books, which are the ones I am writing. I published one book on Amazon just to be able to gift it to my daughter, so I did not care about marketing or promotion; I just didn't want to print it myself.
The compilation of short stories I am writing is also for some family members, and I have collected some of the old tales my ancestors used to tell me when I was a kid. I recognize that having them read these stories is the ultimate goal of these works, but, at the same time, I think it wouldn't hurt if they could also be sold to other people. I am not asking for a personalized guide, though, but there must be some ways to promote a book that hasn't been done after market research like the one you explained. Thanks, Renee, again for sharing, and I will use this guide for any other non-fiction work!
Hi Luis! That is such an encouraging comment! Thank you!
So, promoting your short stories is similar to promoting memoirs... Promoting them takes a fair amount of effort over time, and do not believe the people who say they were overnight successes. They likely have been building an audience for years already. I want you to build an audience and understand their hunger for short stories like the ones from your family members; no doubt there is entertainment, wisdom, catharsis, and utility from those stories. I plan to write one based on my family's stories too, but I know I want take the time to build the audience first.
However, I do think you still can benefit hugely from market research. Mostly because by empathizing with what people want and hunger for, you will be positioned to find that intersection between writing for yourself and getting paid in kind for your efforts. Definitely continue building a following on Substack, promote these stories on Substack, get on podcasts to promote your Substack, and when the time is right, launch your short stories via podcasts and Substack tours. I think you have a ton of potential!
And I'd love to do more case studies to understand how fiction, memoirs, and short-stories can be best marketed! Great idea :D
Hey Abbey! That's awesome! Was it traditionally published? That sounds like a great opportunity. I really do think that indie publishing is getting so strong these days, especially with all the tools we have. And you get to keep all rights. What kind of book is it?
I've published two books and the biggest question I have regarding this very solid advice is "How much did it cost, and How much did you make?" Simply put, what was the ROI?
While I published two sci-fi novels I've extensively researched non-fiction publishing as well and have found it's mostly a pay for play model. I've met marketers who will guarentee a WSJ and Amazon Best Seller for $90,000USD There's similar for the fiction world as well.
I'm just curious if these 10K copies were an investment or when you made money off of this strategy.
You mention that this is solely for nonfiction. However, you'll find the basic outline here is the same steps publishers will take for fiction books. The only step I'd alter for fiction is when you give away copies, you do so strategically to bloggers, reviewers, and book influencers in your genre to promote the book for you. I see ARC reviews all the time on Instagram and though I'm not on TikTok, I'm fairly sure BookTok does it too. It creates hype for the book to gear up for launch. Getting on lists like Goodreads' most anticipated books of the year is also a boon for sales. If you search any of those books on Amazon, others from the list show up under the Amazon recommendations.
Hi Sikieng, thanks for subscribing. Stress-free living is certainly valuable, and your writing would bring a lot of value to this world. Happy to have you.
This was great! I’m working on my 6th book and first traditionally published so I’m going to use what’s worked in the past and try a few new things. The no facebook/instagram ads was a gem!
Yes but I also had no idea what I was doing. Like you said, it’s expensive to make a conversion. Meta ads are good for lead generation but not sales. I didn’t realize that back then.
This. This is about the only thing I've seen work.
This also with Bookbub ads and promotion. And I've personally tried almost every strat.
The proof that it's working comes not only from sales, and the reviews but if you do this well enough Amazon will extend invitations to promote the book for you.
I've heard great things about Bookbub ads and promotions too. There's a lot of different things to try... but totally agreed. Sales is sales. That's the proof of the pudding.
I need to bookmark this! Huge congratulations.
Thanks Michelle, and happy to hear it was helpful. Were there any aspects of this that still left you scratching your head?
Great advice, Renee!
Books can be so great for creating an audience. For instance, I've recently found a bunch of great people through their books. After reading their books, I went to their websites, checked out their courses and offers, etc.
I assume that someone who reads your book is much more likely to buy something else from you than someone who's just watching a video or reading a Social Media post.
You make am excellent point Louise! Youtube, podcasts...all great. But when someone has decided to buy your book, they have made a micro-commitment to you and your mission and your authority. They believe in you. They trust you. And when you can lead them to the promised land via your book, and now they want help with implementing what they learned in your book...bingo. Those are my favorite kind of sales (they kind where they sold themselves).
Thanks so much Renee! This is the most down-to-earth and easy-to-read guide on self-publishing on Amazon. I understand, however, that it's focused a bit on non-fiction books that have a "practical use" for its readers, like self-help, business, etc. I sense this guide can also be used, with some variations, to promote fiction and short stories compilation books, which are the ones I am writing. I published one book on Amazon just to be able to gift it to my daughter, so I did not care about marketing or promotion; I just didn't want to print it myself.
The compilation of short stories I am writing is also for some family members, and I have collected some of the old tales my ancestors used to tell me when I was a kid. I recognize that having them read these stories is the ultimate goal of these works, but, at the same time, I think it wouldn't hurt if they could also be sold to other people. I am not asking for a personalized guide, though, but there must be some ways to promote a book that hasn't been done after market research like the one you explained. Thanks, Renee, again for sharing, and I will use this guide for any other non-fiction work!
Hi Luis! That is such an encouraging comment! Thank you!
So, promoting your short stories is similar to promoting memoirs... Promoting them takes a fair amount of effort over time, and do not believe the people who say they were overnight successes. They likely have been building an audience for years already. I want you to build an audience and understand their hunger for short stories like the ones from your family members; no doubt there is entertainment, wisdom, catharsis, and utility from those stories. I plan to write one based on my family's stories too, but I know I want take the time to build the audience first.
However, I do think you still can benefit hugely from market research. Mostly because by empathizing with what people want and hunger for, you will be positioned to find that intersection between writing for yourself and getting paid in kind for your efforts. Definitely continue building a following on Substack, promote these stories on Substack, get on podcasts to promote your Substack, and when the time is right, launch your short stories via podcasts and Substack tours. I think you have a ton of potential!
And I'd love to do more case studies to understand how fiction, memoirs, and short-stories can be best marketed! Great idea :D
Very helpful, thank you! I have a book I wrote years ago, and am considering re-releasing it as a self- published book.
Hey Abbey! That's awesome! Was it traditionally published? That sounds like a great opportunity. I really do think that indie publishing is getting so strong these days, especially with all the tools we have. And you get to keep all rights. What kind of book is it?
I've published two books and the biggest question I have regarding this very solid advice is "How much did it cost, and How much did you make?" Simply put, what was the ROI?
While I published two sci-fi novels I've extensively researched non-fiction publishing as well and have found it's mostly a pay for play model. I've met marketers who will guarentee a WSJ and Amazon Best Seller for $90,000USD There's similar for the fiction world as well.
I'm just curious if these 10K copies were an investment or when you made money off of this strategy.
Thanks for this comment Michael! I left a reply in your restack. Would love to discuss all that you have learned
You mention that this is solely for nonfiction. However, you'll find the basic outline here is the same steps publishers will take for fiction books. The only step I'd alter for fiction is when you give away copies, you do so strategically to bloggers, reviewers, and book influencers in your genre to promote the book for you. I see ARC reviews all the time on Instagram and though I'm not on TikTok, I'm fairly sure BookTok does it too. It creates hype for the book to gear up for launch. Getting on lists like Goodreads' most anticipated books of the year is also a boon for sales. If you search any of those books on Amazon, others from the list show up under the Amazon recommendations.
Great point Janine. I heard that too. That does take some organization and planning, but definitely doable
Just subscribed, Renee. Looking forward to learn from you. I write about stree-free living. Let's stay connected.
Hi Sikieng, thanks for subscribing. Stress-free living is certainly valuable, and your writing would bring a lot of value to this world. Happy to have you.
Thank you for your kind words, Renee.
Thanks! This was a good read.
Swchwellcome! So glad it helped you!
missing a purpose beside money..
Surprising you see it that way.
While there doesn’t need to be another purpose, you can’t further your mission through your book without selling it.
This was great! I’m working on my 6th book and first traditionally published so I’m going to use what’s worked in the past and try a few new things. The no facebook/instagram ads was a gem!
I’m glad to hear that Rahkim!
Did you try Meta ads in the past and they didn’t work or…?
Yes but I also had no idea what I was doing. Like you said, it’s expensive to make a conversion. Meta ads are good for lead generation but not sales. I didn’t realize that back then.
Yes, I totally agree...
That's what I hear at the online business water cooler too.
If you want to grow your leads, just pay for them using Meta ads.
But if you actually want to sell something, you'll need to try something else.
I have heard that fiction does somewhat well with Meta ads. Haven't tried it yet, so can't speak to that, but Amazon ads has done wonders for my book.
Great to know! Thank you.
Saving this for later.
Woohoo!
Get those book sales Brandon!
Thank you for the encouragement Renee!
As a self-published author on Amazon, thank you for this article. Very helpful.
This. This is about the only thing I've seen work.
This also with Bookbub ads and promotion. And I've personally tried almost every strat.
The proof that it's working comes not only from sales, and the reviews but if you do this well enough Amazon will extend invitations to promote the book for you.
See e.g. https://thespacebeforeopportunity.substack.com/p/how-to-know-if-your-book-is-a-verified
I've heard great things about Bookbub ads and promotions too. There's a lot of different things to try... but totally agreed. Sales is sales. That's the proof of the pudding.
Pssst: your “Hell Yes Guest” link appears to be broken 😞 but also, GREAT POST.
Yeahhhhh... gonna update it.
Thanks for the shoutout <3 always happy to meet with folks who are curious about fiction book marketing!
Saving this for when future me completes my book! What a treasure trove. Thank you.
Side note, I can't click the link about the podcast course you mentioned. The link looks broken. Can you share?
Yes!! This is Kelly Mosser’s Hell Yes Guest course: https://work.kellymosser.com/course
Yay! Thank you!