Tag Archives: promotions

How I Went From One Sale in February to 100+ Sales in March

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How I Went From One Sale in February to 100+ Sales in March

At the end of February, I noticed a very depressing fact: I had sold exactly one book the entire month. One paperback. That was my entire sales count for February.

Now, before you assume that I’m one of those authors who can’t sell any books ever, let me tell you that before February’s slump, I’d moved hundreds of copies of Finding the Core of Your Story over its lifetime. I can sell a dozen or more copies each month without any promotion.

But it was clear that I needed a boost to get things going again. So I put together a promotion that knocked my socks off. Between my two books, I sold 143 copies in March.

What did I do to go from just one sale to more than 100 in a single month? Read on! Continue reading How I Went From One Sale in February to 100+ Sales in March →

Delay the Gratification of Launching Your Book

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Delay the Gratification of Launching Your Book

It’s always an amazing feeling when you finish your latest book. You’re finally ready to release it, make your fans happy, and hopefully get some cash. You’re all set to hit that big red Launch button. But wait! Today, I want to tell you why you shouldn’t launch your book.

Yet. Continue reading Delay the Gratification of Launching Your Book →

The Number One Way to Build Your Author Mailing List

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If you’re like me, you’ve read dozens of blog posts promising to tell you the best strategy for how to “grow your author platform.” You’ve probably seen several online courses that promise to show you how to generate more sales for your book if you’ll only shell out enough cash for the course.

And if you’re like me, you’re tired of it. You want to improve your sales. You want to build your author platform. But you haven’t found anything that really works and you’re starting to feel like you’ll never figure it out until you buy someone’s expensive course.

The reason I’m starting this post with this dim picture is because I’m about to tell you about a strategy that has the potential to grow your author platform by leaps and bounds, which in turn has the potential to increase your sales. But I don’t want you to get the wrong idea: This article isn’t going to turn into a sales pitch. This strategy is something every indie or self-published author should know about, and I’m going to tell you about it with no strings attached. Continue reading The Number One Way to Build Your Author Mailing List →

Does an Author Really Need a Blog?

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Does an Author Need a Blog Image

In the last post, I started a series asking what “things” an author really needs, such as a website, mailing list, Tumblr, Facebook, and so on. In this post, we’ll tackle the question of whether an author should have a blog.

You’ve probably read plenty of posts on this subject. It’s a pretty hot topic with authors. Some will say that authors always need a blog, and that it’s the most effective way to sell more books. Others will tell you that a blog isn’t at all necessary—and that it’s even detrimental to getting your books finished! With so many opinions, it can be a confusing question to ponder.

Little wonder, since the best answer I can give you is it depends. A blog can be a great thing, or it might not be so wonderful for you. Let’s look at some questions to help you decide if a blog is right for your author platform. Continue reading Does an Author Really Need a Blog? →

Two Ideas for Authors on Facebook

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Two Ideas for Facebook

For authors trying to use Facebook in their marketing efforts, it can seem overwhelming. That’s why I often advocate a step-by-step method: Learn just one Facebook “best practice” or attempt just one experiment at a time. With this approach, you’ll be able to master each technique and build your Facebook marketing prowess slowly over time, the same way you learned how to do almost anything. And so, for this article, I’m going to give you two ideas for using Facebook effectively as an author. One is just a theory for you to play with, while the other is a proven way to make your page more professional. Let’s jump right in. Continue reading Two Ideas for Authors on Facebook →

Four Don’ts (Plus One Do) for Authors on Facebook

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Four Don'ts Cover Image

You’ve decided that to succeed as a self-published author, you’re going to need a Facebook page. Good for you! But now you might be a little bit confused about how it works and what you should do. Don’t worry! Here are four don’ts and one do that will help you use Facebook as an author.

Don’t Use Your Personal Profile

I really can’t believe how many authors I’ve seen using a personal Facebook profile as an author page. They change their name to include the word author and off they go. Unfortunately, there are a few things wrong with this approach. Continue reading Four Don’ts (Plus One Do) for Authors on Facebook →

How to Evaluate a Kindle Deal Site Before You Buy a Promotion

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How to Evaluate Deal Sites

Okay, so you’ve decided to take the plunge and pay for a spot on a Kindle deal site. Yay! But now you have to decide which one to choose. And then you notice that they all have different prices, they all claim to be the best, your friends say this one is better, bloggers say you won’t get good results with that one, and on and on it goes.

If your head is spinning, fear not. We’re going to take a look at some ways you can evaluate a deal site before you buy the promotion. Continue reading How to Evaluate a Kindle Deal Site Before You Buy a Promotion →

How Paying for a Big Promotion Made Me Act More Professional

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This post is a little different from the usual fare here at Fix My Story. Today I’d like to share the story of how I restarted my blog—and how the reboot made me act like a professional.

The opportunity was just too good to pass up. It was expensive enough to hurt, but the potential payoff was enormous. Taking a deep breath, I sent the e-mail and launched myself into something much bigger than I thought it would be… Continue reading How Paying for a Big Promotion Made Me Act More Professional →

How to Plan Your Promotions

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Photo credit: marykbaird from morguefile.com
Photo credit: marykbaird from morguefile.com

To wrap up this series on marketing budgets and promoting your book, I’d like to take a look at planning. I’ve explained why you should have a budget, and I’ve given you fifteen ways to promote your book for free or very cheap. Now it’s time to plan and schedule your campaigns (kinda like an army general).

Let’s start with the why, then get into how to make your plan. Continue reading How to Plan Your Promotions →

Five Ways to Promote Your Book for Five Dollars

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Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons
Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

We’ve talked about how and why to make a budget for promoting your book. We’ve discussed five ways you can promote your book for free. And now it’s time to talk about actually spending your marketing budget.

Today, I’ll give you five promotions you can do for $5 or less. I’ll also include some ideas for how you could spend a little more if you have a larger budget or decide you’d like to borrow from next month’s marketing fund. Let’s jump in! Continue reading Five Ways to Promote Your Book for Five Dollars →