How do I promote a new Kindle version book

Hi

I am Ian Weaver and have recently published my novel in Kindle version. There seem to be plenty of 'self plugging' and 'shameless promotion' forums about, both in Amazon UK and the US yet interest in my book is slow to say the least.

What I'm looking for is sound advice for budding authors to promote their work outside the usual forums. Don't get me wrong; the forums are useful and get some interesting posts which I enjoy reading, but I want to look beyond this arena and gain publicity on a wider scale.

Any thoughts would be welcome.

Ian Time and Again http://www.ian-weaver.com

Ian, I don't know if this may help. Tag your book and then when people look at that discussion forum, kindle and fiction for example on the right it will be in the Help The Community box. I know that I am not the only person who looks at this and like me others may click to read more about the book, and hopefully purchase it. Good luck anyway.

Thanks - I'll try that
Ian

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Ian, if your book is already rated #54 in war fiction on Amazon UK, I think it can do fine in the US. I agree with M. Dowden; tags are important. You need to add all appropriate tags. First, look at the most popular tags (these are the ones on Amazon.com:http://www.amazon.com/gp/tagging/cloud/ref=tag_dpp_pt_icld). Then, tag your title with the most popular ones that apply. I added "WWii" and "world war 2" but I'm sure there are more. Does your book involve time travel? I couldn't tell if it did (which is a good reason to work on your book's synopsis so it gives the reader more info); if it does, "paranormal romance" is a definite tag for it. The second important thing is blogs. Just look up lots of US book blogs; if the book is available in ebook format only, there are still plenty of book blogs that take ebooks. Email any blogger who might have the remotest interest in the book and offer them a .pdf. One third will say no, one third will say yes but won't review it, and one third will read it and review it.
The Kindle has been out in the US market longer than it has been in the UK market, and the discussion forums have been active for much longer, but there is no reason for your book not to attract attention if people like it.

Hi Chris

Thanks for your views even if they are a little negative. Not all kindle authors are self published - I'm with a small house and published in paper back. By holding onto my electronic rights I get the full kindle royalties and can hardly expect my publisher to do the promotion of the kindle version for me, so I have no alternative but to self promote. And if it gives a bit of free publicity for the kindle then so what? More kindles might mean more people buying my book!

Ian Time and Again

Hi Libby

I didn't even know it was rated in war fiction and never really understood the tagging system so thanks for the post - I'll get on it.

Ian

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Hi Chris
Whether Kindle format or not my novel is a work of fiction so I believe it meets the criteria of the forum. I'm actually looking for helpful advice and considering you don't agree with me posting this subject in the 'fiction forum' you seem to be the biggest contributor.
Ian

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Hi Chris

But if you went into a piano players forum and asked for advice on finding someone to tune your piano you might expect some help. Nobody here appears to be "post(ing) my(their) business details as a tuner, teacher etc" - just looking for advice on how to go about it. As for being "used" - well so long as it's mutual then as you say: "so what".

I'm still after any useful advice from authors/readers that don't feel like they're being used too much.
Ian

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Hi Ian - there will always be people who do not appreciate the self-published author. But, this is the growing trend in the literary field right now. Even traditionally published authors are starting to release some of their own work themselves. The amazon boards in the US are slightly more receptive to "indie authors" but those who are annoyed by us make their voices known. Just try to ignore the negative comments and if your work is good then the reviews will follow (mine have appeared on the US site only - where I live). With good reviews - sales will come. I wish you luck!

S.L. Baum
A Chance for Charity (The Immortal Ones)

Chris,

Being ranked in "war fiction" is a little more of a big deal than being ranked in "dysfunctional rleationships." I agree, there's plenty of garbage on the Kindle, but I speak from experience. I first self-published on the Kindle in January 2008. I self-published in paperback in May 2008. My book was picked up by Duckworth publishers in January 2009, hardcover in July 2009, Kindle in Feb (I think), paperback this past September. The US forums are not as helpful as they were in 2008, but the UK ones are, I think, where the US was in 2008. And the blogs are priceless. I owe much of my succes to this post about food blogs:http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2008/jul/13/art.comedy
War on the Margins

Thanks guys I'll keep at it and not let negative posts worry me.

Ian

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Ian you can try looking on kindleboards dot com. It's a thriving kindle community, and you'll find plenty of support. I agree with much of what's been said, people on the UK boards seem annoyed most of the time when we try and plug. On the US forums, you'll find a lot more friendly faces, but don't start a thread for your own book as a general rule, find the forums your book fits into and talk about your book on the Indie author threads.

Good luck, it's not only a thrill when your book sells, it's a bigger boost when you get good reviews, and even better if you get fan mail!

Lisa

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Thanks Lisa

Ian

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Lisa - I have joined kindle boards thanks and will look around before posting as per your advice - thanks - Ian

Chris - you're just making me laugh now - even my wife comes in periodically to see if you've posted anything new! Oh and one corrrection - you put 'people' whereas I think it should read 'person' "...telling us to get lost." - Ian

Ian I'd say putting a link to your book(s) at the end of your posts is fine, also recommending your book in a relevant thread (i.e it's a discussion on detective fiction, your book is detective fiction, then go ahead. So long as you make it clear you are the author or a vested interest). I say this as a reader, not a writer.

Couple of things I want to cover; firstly, lately there has been a bit of an increase in author activity here (there isn't a doubt in my mind it's tied to the kindle's release) rather unfortunately there hasn't been an awful lot of other things up for discussion besides this, thus it ends up looking like the forum is populated largely by authors. There isn't anything wrong with this, but I can sort of understand where Chris is coming from with his frustration. But at the same time I can't helping thinking this just a virtual shop we're talking in, thus it's not particularly logical to complain about people trying to sell you stuff (as annoying as it can be sometimes)

Secondly, the notion that the publishing industry is moving to self published may be correct (I happen to think it is), but that is not the entire future. Authors will most likely form together into their own publishing houses to provide support to one another (this idea follows the example of say Image Comics in a not too dissimilar market), or the authors who make it big in a self published future will do so not from plugging their books here, but from contacts they make in other media or with reviewers. I don't think anyone should be expecting a massive reappraisal of the self published market place by the average reader, at least not in the near future. Afterall, the book marketplace is just too over populated to bother dredging around it for the stuff you'll actually like, lowering the barriers to entry is only got to make this harder.

Thanks JJG

I do add a link to my novel and a web address in the forums that are specific to promoting books and I did in my initial post to this thread so people would know who I am. However, I didn't start this thread to promote my book, rather to ask people for promotion advice for outside of the forums. To that end I have left links and addresses behind. This was intentional, in order that it did not become just another 'plugging' thread and thus attract the disapproval of other members - oh well. But thanks for your helpful advice, and as we are discussing things other than book titles I guess it has been a little successful in its own way.
Ian