A couple of weeks ago I wrote a few short stories from the point of view of Priscilla the Great called Twin Shorts. Then, last weekend I self-published an ebook just to see what the process was like. I have to be honest with you here. Since Priscilla the Great has over 450 fans on facebook and nearly 900 Twitter followers, I really thought that all of her fans would jump at the opportunity to read more about her. Not so much. After four days, I’ve only sold 16 copies and 26 people have downloaded samples. But you know what? I’m happy with that. It’s a start. I’m not going to let it get me down. I obviously have to work harder to get the word out. It’s perfectly possible that those 450 fans on facebook haven’t seen my posts about the release. I know there are tons of posts I miss every day. And on Twitter it’s even worse. I miss 90% of the posts from the people I follow. I just have to keep plugging away.
This experience has helped my put things into perspective about publishing and marketing. It takes a lot of work and you can’t expect results immediately. I plan on being constant and consistent in this process. I’m going to work on my marketing a little every day. Each sale is a victory and a success.
You can read Twin Shorts for free at Smashwords. Use promotion code YK76D to get the book for free.
Funny how that happens, isn’t it? You think everyone will jump out and buy your book because they’ve expressed an interest, but in reality, the measure each purchase and prioritize, and it may just mean that your book, while interesting, isn’t yet a priority. Which sucks, because it’s YOUR priority. Takes A LOT of marketing to get consistent sales. A LOT. Just keep plugging in there and you’ll get to your goals eventually.
Yeah I knew everyone wouldn’t jump and buy it immediately, but I thought more than 16! Oh well, it’s a good reality check and really let’s me know what I’m up against and what I need to do.
Cool. I will definitely be picking up a copy.
Thanks!
Don’t let it get you down! There are just too many distractions on the internet and sometimes it takes a while for people to notice!
Thanks! I’m up to 18 copies sold and 27 samples downloaded. As long as that number creeps up a little each day, I’m counting it as a victory!
Can you add the URL link here? It’s broken.
Try this
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/19714
I fixed the link in the post as well.
It’s important to keep working consistently as you’ve said. People have to see it a few times before they’ll gather enough interest to download or buy.
I read somewhere that a consumer has to see something an average of four times before they’ll make the effort to buy it. I’m up to 27 copies sold and 34 samples downloaded.
I know that feeling. I thought my sales were less than spectucular, but my editor e-mailed me today to congratulate me on my sales! I was shocked. I guess we’re so conditioned as writers to think that we have to be on the New York Times Bestseller list to think we’ve been successful.
I was reading a depressing statistic the other day. I’ll have to check to make sure, but it was something like 98% of books sell less than 5000 copies. It really put things into perspective.