“Ninety percent of your sales will come from word-of-mouth or digital promotion by 2011.” I read this striking prediction in late 2009 and made a note of it. I think it’s already true for upcoming novelists like me. The second part of the original post was even more important: How do you change what you’re doing today to be ready for that?
I believe I’ve already made these necessary changes by:
- expanding my online presence (Twitter, Facebook, CrimeSpace)
- beefing up my digital mailing list by running contests (Vertical Response)
- networking directly with readers on the sites where they hang out (Goodreads, LibraryThing, Kindle Forums, MobileRead)
But is it enough? What else should I be doing? What are you doing to prepare for this significant change?
Apex Publications offers its books both in print and in many eformats. The anthology I edited is available in a broad range of formats. I’ve sold more Kindle copies at Amazon than I have print copies from the same place. I still think it’s trippy that the book is available as an iTunes/iPhone app! LOL
I push myself and Apex and my friends on Facebook and Twitter. I’m also on GoodReads. I had no idea there was a KindleForum. I’ll have to check that out. thank you!
Like you, I’m sure there’s more I could be doing … :/
I’m working on a ‘Fun With Fiction’ program to try to promote myself in schools, and I’m trying out my ‘Fine Art of Self Promotion’ presentation and accompanying workshop at a few venues later this year.
If they go well, I plan to get myself booked to do a lot more talks. Digital promotion is great, but the personal touch is even better for that ‘word of mouth, don’t you think?’
Personal connections are wonderful. That’s why I’m teaching workshops and doing library talks and book club discussions. But there are only so many of those opportunities. To reach a wide audience, you have to be online.
This is one awesome blog post.Really looking forward to read more. Really Cool.
What an excellent text! No idea how you were able to write this report..it’d take me days. Well worth it though, I’d suspect. Have you considered selling banners on your blog?