This is really good info! I struggle horribly with getting sales on my books and even more with people that want ARCs for upcoming ones. I am definitely going to review what I have in asking for ARC readers and fix things. I have a new book coming out soon and I am terrified that it's going to release to crickets like my last one. I've had people read them, but then they don't always follow through and review on launch day like I ask. Anyway, I am feeling hopeful now. Thanks so much!
Getting together a launch team is a very important and valuable idea. But if your ideal reader is a very specific kind of person and you don't have any such people in your immediate acquaintance, ideas on how to find those people would be a perfect next chapter!
It is really important to know your target reader and where they hang out. You may have demographic info, which will help you to target them in ads. Perhaps some market research could help you. Have you considered a survey?
Personally, I'd like to see more advice for people who don't want to use social media. My friend just published a nonfiction book with no facebook/IG or twitter. I am doing the same thing with romance this year.
Interesting! Your marketing plan is completely dependent upon what you want to do. Do what excites you. Do what you love. I know some authors who sell 95% of their book sales at school visits and in person events. For me I would hate that. Amazon Ads, bulk sales through special programs, building a great email list… all very valid. I’m excited about the interview with Brian Jud coming in a couple of weeks to learn more about the bulk sales side.
If people buy the book in a pre launch does Amazon count it when they buy it on the prelaunch or the day that it launches in order to get to number one
Having someone with a great deal of experience with your genre really does help. But it important to analyze the market, niche, and your target audience because if you get that wrong, you won’t be successful. You can’t market to people you don’t know. What are their wants/needs, pain points, values that your book can speak to.
My understanding is that you can't incentivize your launch team because Amazon forbids it and if you do you're in danger of losing your account. It's in the Amazon rules. And also you can't include your family members. She seems to be forgetting these rules. And what if you are not on Kindle Select? What if you're wide? Who do you send it to then?
Amazon understands and allows Advanced Reader copies. You cannot require someone to provide a review but you can utilize launch teams and have fun with it! If family members join your launch team, let them share your book on social media or post reviews to their social media. If you’re wide - people can still review the book on Amazon, Goodreads and other places they are purchasing your book.
@@SelfPubMadeSimple THANK YOU for sharing these extremely valuable interview suggestions. I love all of the tips, however, one questionable idea stands out. Amazon rules state that authors cannot incentivize launch team members by offering gifts, so how do some authors get away with it? I'm confused by the mixed messages. For example, I know an author who told his launch team participants that one lucky winner would receive a 3-4 day exquisite treehouse getaway (an upscale, outdoor hotel-like experience) in exchange for their book reviews on Amazon. He had many connections, and people participated in droves. But I was informed that I could lose my KDP account if I offered launch team members a $25 gift card to Starbuck's as a thank you for participating and providing honest reviews. What are the rules with Advanced Reader copies (ARCs) and incentives? Thank you for your help, April. I love your podcast, and now I'm a huge fan!!!!! 🥰
Both are great. Amazon gives you SEO and you can reach people all over the world. Make sure you put a call to action (CTA) in your book that will take them to your funnel. Also put the link in your Amazon author page bio.
Blessed is she who speaks a kindness, thrice blessed is she who repeats it
Love that!!
This is gold!
Glad you liked it!
After publishing three books on KDP. I am now researching "book launching" instead of "how to publish". Thank you Jenn Foster!
Great!!!
So glad this was helpful
Your videos are really good. Very informative! Thank you!
Thank you K.C.!
Where can we find the slides?
I will look for them. Sorry!!!
great ... thank you... on my first book
It is addicting!!
Thank you for this, I hadn´t even considered a book launch team
It is a wonderful way to get you off to a winning start!
@@SelfPubMadeSimple absolutely. Thank you
This is really good info! I struggle horribly with getting sales on my books and even more with people that want ARCs for upcoming ones. I am definitely going to review what I have in asking for ARC readers and fix things. I have a new book coming out soon and I am terrified that it's going to release to crickets like my last one. I've had people read them, but then they don't always follow through and review on launch day like I ask. Anyway, I am feeling hopeful now. Thanks so much!
Glad to hear it!
A key is to have a strong book launch. We did a bestseller campaign for all of our authors to generate initial sales and reviews
Getting together a launch team is a very important and valuable idea. But if your ideal reader is a very specific kind of person and you don't have any such people in your immediate acquaintance, ideas on how to find those people would be a perfect next chapter!
It is really important to know your target reader and where they hang out. You may have demographic info, which will help you to target them in ads. Perhaps some market research could help you. Have you considered a survey?
A great way to do this is to join groups on FB, Linkedin etc that have your target audience.
So for this team, do you send them anything free?
Some do. Others offer a discounted purchase, like .99 for a $9.99 ebook.
Some will provide them special things or a free ebook or activity book, bookplate etc.
Personally, I'd like to see more advice for people who don't want to use social media. My friend just published a nonfiction book with no facebook/IG or twitter. I am doing the same thing with romance this year.
Interesting! Your marketing plan is completely dependent upon what you want to do. Do what excites you. Do what you love. I know some authors who sell 95% of their book sales at school visits and in person events.
For me I would hate that. Amazon Ads, bulk sales through special programs, building a great email list… all very valid. I’m excited about the interview with Brian Jud coming in a couple of weeks to learn more about the bulk sales side.
You can use your email list instead of social media.
great
Thanks!
If people buy the book in a pre launch does Amazon count it when they buy it on the prelaunch or the day that it launches in order to get to number one
It counts when they buy it.
It doesn’t get counted on launch day but rather on the days the purchase is made.
How do I hire a book launch manager who can handle all these steps for my book launch?
Having someone with a great deal of experience with your genre really does help. But it important to analyze the market, niche, and your target audience because if you get that wrong, you won’t be successful.
You can’t market to people you don’t know. What are their wants/needs, pain points, values that your book can speak to.
This is something that I do if you’re interested. Just grab some coaching hours.
I have an amazing team. Feel free to grab discovery call - aprilcox.com/consult
Right? Right?
Right!!!
My understanding is that you can't incentivize your launch team because Amazon forbids it and if you do you're in danger of losing your account. It's in the Amazon rules. And also you can't include your family members. She seems to be forgetting these rules. And what if you are not on Kindle Select? What if you're wide? Who do you send it to then?
Amazon understands and allows Advanced Reader copies. You cannot require someone to provide a review but you can utilize launch teams and have fun with it! If family members join your launch team, let them share your book on social media or post reviews to their social media. If you’re wide - people can still review the book on Amazon, Goodreads and other places they are purchasing your book.
@@SelfPubMadeSimple THANK YOU for sharing these extremely valuable interview suggestions. I love all of the tips, however, one questionable idea stands out.
Amazon rules state that authors cannot incentivize launch team members by offering gifts, so how do some authors get away with it? I'm confused by the mixed messages.
For example, I know an author who told his launch team participants that one lucky winner would receive a 3-4 day exquisite treehouse getaway (an upscale, outdoor hotel-like experience) in exchange for their book reviews on Amazon. He had many connections, and people participated in droves.
But I was informed that I could lose my KDP account if I offered launch team members a $25 gift card to Starbuck's as a thank you for participating and providing honest reviews.
What are the rules with Advanced Reader copies (ARCs) and incentives?
Thank you for your help, April. I love your podcast, and now I'm a huge fan!!!!! 🥰
Why become a best seller on Amazon when you can get people to buy from your own website and put them into a funnel. Don't you want to make money? lol
Why not do both?
Both are great. Amazon gives you SEO and you can reach people all over the world. Make sure you put a call to action (CTA) in your book that will take them to your funnel. Also put the link in your Amazon author page bio.