In January, 2023, I gave away 60,301 books on Amazon, Apple, Barnes & Noble and Kobo mixed. And that’s only for one title.
I almost died of pleasure. Not solely did it imply 60,000 individuals had been keen to take an opportunity on my ebook, however it meant publicity, gross sales and a number of other different large wins for a tiny little creator like me.
How’d I do it? It took blood, sweat, tears and somewhat luck.
A glance into my ebook advertising technique
To grasp my advertising technique, now we have to rewind a few yr.
Round March 2022, I made a decision to make the primary ebook in my collection, Fireplace in Frost, permafree.
Permafree is a time period that merely means the ebook is at all times free or “completely free.”
Although I don’t make any cash on downloads of this ebook, the thought is to seize readers’ consideration so that they’ll hopefully purchase the subsequent books in my collection. Once I made this determination, I had already self-published the primary and second books, and the third was virtually prepared.
Quick-forward to December 2022. I submitted my free ebook to BookBub for consideration — for the tenth time. You may solely apply as soon as per 30 days, and I used to be decided to maintain attempting.
I couldn’t imagine it after I acquired the e-mail saying they’d accepted my ebook for a function and had been planning to run my advert on January 4, 2023.
What’s BookBub? And the way does BookBub work?
In case you’re not acquainted with BookBub, it’s the holy grail of ebook advertising for fiction authors.
BookBub is what made all of the distinction on this promotion. In case you hang around with different writers lengthy sufficient, you’ll uncover that BookBub is THE place to promote your books for those who can.
However you possibly can learn tons of BookBub critiques on the internet, and I’d reasonably go a step additional and aid you use the instrument.
So right here’s how BookBub works. The corporate sends out newsletters to hundreds of readers every day. You pay to get your ebook featured of their newsletters. The value varies relying on the worth level of your ebook and which e-newsletter you need to be featured in.
They’re keen to contemplate completely free books, however on the whole, they’re in search of ebook offers which might be deeply discounted.
BookBub for authors: Learn how to get a BookBub function
Whereas BookBub is extremely efficient for authors, it’s extraordinarily onerous to get your ebook accepted.
I attempted 10 instances with my free ebook earlier than lastly getting accepted. I not too long ago had one other creator good friend say she tried 18 instances earlier than getting accepted.
With that in thoughts, there are a few issues you are able to do to extend your odds that BookBub will function your ebook.
Listed below are my ideas for getting your ebook featured in BookBub:
1. Make it the perfect deal you possibly can.
BookBub desires to offer their readers the perfect offers, so attempt to provide your ebook free (if it’s the primary within the collection) or for $0.99. They often gained’t function something above $2.99, they usually’re unlikely to function your ebook at that value level if it’s at all times priced there.
2. Strive with the primary ebook in a collection.
BookBub appears to love first within the collection as a result of (as I perceive it) they may generate profits off affiliate gross sales of your different books if their readers purchase the remainder of the collection.
3. Make your ebook out there on all platforms and in all territories.
BookBub desires offers that enchantment to all their readers. Though they generally function books which might be unique to Amazon, you usually have a greater probability in case your ebook is accessible on all platforms (Amazon, Apple, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and Google Play) and if the deal is accessible in all territories (US, UK, Australia, India, and Canada).
4. Have an incredible cowl.
Imagine it or not, readers actually do choose books by their covers, and so do the individuals over at BookBub. When you’ve got a canopy that’s not eye-catching, it’s value contemplating a redesign, not only for BookBub however as a result of it should assist in all your ebook promotions.
5. End your collection.
BookBub lastly accepted my deal as soon as your complete collection was out there on the market on all platforms. This isn’t a assure that they’ll settle for your ebook, however it helps as a result of readers don’t need to wait round for the subsequent one. Providing a whole collection makes your deal extra interesting.
6. Collect critiques.
BookBub doesn’t require a minimal quantity of critiques, however extra critiques give the impression that your ebook is extra fashionable. It additionally offers BookBub’s editors an thought of how readers will reply to your ebook. You may collect critiques by together with a name to motion on the finish of your ebook, gifting away free copies, or encouraging critiques from individuals who’ve already learn the ebook.
7. Discuss up your ebook.
BookBub encompasses a remark part while you submit your deal. Use it to speak up your ebook. Point out if it’s gained any awards or what editorial reviewers or big-name authors have stated about it. I discussed that my collection had over 200 5-star critiques on Goodreads (on the time), and I believe that helped me land a function on BookBub.
8. Be versatile.
BookBub is in such high demand that for those who want a sure date, it would already be full.
As a substitute, contemplate planning your promotion round them. They’ll ask you in case your date is versatile or not. Be open to something, and it’ll enhance your probabilities of getting a function.
9. Preserve submitting.
Submit as typically as you possibly can (as soon as a month), and don’t surrender!
Learn how to leverage a BookBub advert
After paying for the advert (see price particulars under), I knew I wanted to plan a recreation plan.
I wished to take advantage of out of this function. I utilized to a number of different advert websites and e-newsletter companies and acquired accepted to most of them. I deliberate to run advertisements that entire week to spice up my Amazon rankings.
Many of the advertisements ended up working on Monday or Tuesday, and the BookBub function ran on Wednesday. Right here’s how my funding broke down:
- BookBub: $115*
- EBook Soda: $15
- Guide Goodies: $17.50
- The Fussy Librarian: $5
- Studying Offers: Free
- ReadFree.ly: Free
- EReader Information In the present day: $35
- Many Books: $25
*BookBub advert costs fluctuate relying in your class and value level. I ran my advert for a free ebook within the Teen & Younger Grownup class.
I additionally elevated my Amazon advert spending to $10 per day and ended up spending $39.68 throughout the week of the promo. Plus, I ran Fb advertisements for $10 per day and spent $43.69 throughout the week of the promo. For different free promos, some pals agreed to share the ebook of their newsletters, and I additionally shared the freebie with mine.
My aim was to achieve as many individuals as attainable with my ebook promotion. When all was stated and performed, I spent $295.87 to advertise my freebie.
The end result? These promos catapulted my free ebook from round #2,000 within the free Amazon Kindle retailer to #7 in your complete retailer. I hit #1 of all free teen books on Kindle.
Right here’s what that appeared like (see #7):
That high Amazon rating additional elevated my publicity and saved the collection promoting nicely your complete month, and for months afterward.
Total in January, I had 33,485 downloads on the Amazon U.S. website, 8,491 downloads on Amazon’s worldwide websites, and 18,325 downloads between Apple, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo.
What did I get out of my BookBub promotion?
Right here’s how I benefited from this ebook promotion:
I made a revenue off my books
You is likely to be questioning why I might do all this only for a free ebook. In any case, I’m not making any cash off it, proper?
Effectively, that’d be the case if I solely had the one ebook. By reaching readers with the primary ebook, gross sales of the second, third, and fourth books additionally spiked.
By the tip of the promo week, I’d already made my a reimbursement and extra from gross sales of my different books.
I acquired plenty of constructive critiques
After working the promo, my critiques spiked. I’ve acquired nicely over 50 extra critiques on ebook one on Amazon, and I’ve now exceeded over 1,000 critiques of the collection on Goodreads. All this interprets into much more publicity.
I achieved bestseller standing on Amazon
Towards the tip of the month, I made a decision to run a fast $0.99 sale on books two, three, and 4.
Because the gross sales enhance from this promo had already elevated my rating, this further sale helped push my books to #1 of their Amazon classes. I additionally made the highest 100 creator record for teenagers.
Granted, it’s no New York Instances bestseller, and I gained’t be bragging about being an Amazon bestseller on my ebook covers or something, however it was a private aim of mine that I used to be comfortable to hit.
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