Tips and positive experiences in publishing an eBook

[Asperatus]

Hello all, again,

Again, I am about to publish my first eBook, and I am looking for a way to improve my eBook visibility, promotion, sales … Do you have any positive experience on the matter? I've read the posts and advices written in the "General topic" and many of them I found useful. At least for the hard cover/printed version...

Could you share your positive experiences or advices or tips with promoting eBooks...?
What do you think would positive review suffice? Or perhaps giving it a way for free for a period of time … or changing the price for the eBook… ? It seems there are not that many options I could use to promote my book and help it sell better…

What do you think? What do you find successful in your endeavors?
Thank you…

[Oldtimer]

Sorry, Asperatus, I can't offer a "positive" experience. I published two books last year on Smashwords and had beginner's luck with the first one as I sold a copy the very next day. Since then ... nothing, not even many downloads. You need to have an eye-catching cover, an attractive price ('Free" isn't always attractive since a lot of people believe you get what you pay for) compelling first pages in your sample to induce readers to want to read more, and patience, patience, patience. As soon as I've finished my current WIP I am going to take down my books and refresh them (that's one of the good things about self-epublishing - you can do it at any time) because obviously I am not meeting my own criteria.

[pls]

The best promotion for your first book is to write an even better second one. And then a third. Etc.

[Asperatus]

Hi all,

So sorry to hear you haven't had any luck so far Oldtimer... And I really like your comment pls. I am to finish my first book and looking for promotional activities that will surely help improve sales on my eBook ...

Networking - yes I will do as much as possible
Find a designer to design ultra-cover photo - will do
Correct pricing - will check on that also
Additional promotional activities - will google and try to implement them ...

Thank you for your time,

If you do have any other suggestions and/or proposals feel free to share - I wont mind

[wondo]

I agree with Paul. Not a surprise since we have the same first name (and a lovely one it is). Self publishing is sort of like marriage. You have to keep working at it and eventually it will flower. Write a book, publish. learn from it, write another. and another. I have several pen names and almost seventy or more books published. (Many of these are short stories, the least salable book) Most have sold at least one copy. Several have sold many copies. Just keep at it. I always have several projects going at different stages of production. I don't publish until I have edited and revised several times. Keep going over it to eliminate mistakes. Spend your time writing, not annoying your friends on FaceBook or Twitter with endless posts. My opinion, anyway.

[Asperatus]

Thank you on your advises!! I will surely keep them in mind.

On the other hand I am looking for ways to reach out to my readers and to improve my eBook downloading. I have mentioned some of the tools I plan on using ... But as I have researched - and what didnt cross my mind - is writer-author cross promotional activities. You know, book previews in others books, ads for your books in other authors book and vice versa....

Did you have any experience with those kind of activities? And what do you think - would those be successful and productive?

[wondo]

Honestly, I feel it is more important to continue to produce more material than to mess around trying to promote. I am an avid reader of Dean Wesley Smith's blog. He feels that until you have ten novels by one pen name up promotion if is a waste of time. If you have that many then they should start to turn up in searches and your sales should rise. As I said, it is a long term thing, not a get rich quick thing. I have been following his advice and am happy so far with the results. I just focus my time on writing, editing and improving what I have online. Sales should take care of themselves over time.
But that is just my opinion. Others may have had luck with the social media or cross promotion as you have suggested. But getting an author that has a lot of sales to cross promote with you may be a tough sell. The better selling author may not see a benefit to him/herself in it. If I were selling a lot I probably would not do it. I know Amanda Hocking did well using social media, as did John Locke. But I am an old fart and don't know how to fully utilize Facebook, Twitter and the like. And for me to spend the time needed to learn how, I just feel it is more productive to keep writing, editing and improving. Again, just my opinion.

[wondo]

Here is the link to Dean's blog. He has some books available to buy and has posted a wealth of material about self publishing.
http://www.deanwesleysmith.com/

[wondo]

Click the "Think Like a Publisher" link. Then get a pot of coffee brewing and read away

[Asperatus]

Thank you for the advices and the links. "Think Like a Publisher" article seems very helpful and useful. Will surely read it thoroughly.

Again, as I was researching for tips and advices I've found author cross promotion as a tool to help improve book visibility and promotion.

Did you have any experience with author cross promotion (exchanging chapters, critique, review and previews)?