My pal, Martin Cavannagh of Reedsy, has sent me a link to a whole raft of book marketing “opportunities,” all of which feature only free and/or deeply discounted books.
…BookBub and Bargainbooksy as well as some lesser known ones that we’ve done our best to vet.
https://blog.reedsy.com/book-promotion-services/
You can sort by genre and advertising cost — and we’ve even allocated them into tiers based on their reputation: from tier one, meaning that they come highly recommended; to tier four, which probably won’t do much for you (but at least they’re free).
Yeah, well, I pass the link along, in case any of you want to discount and advertise your books. Or in case any of you want to score some free or deeply discounted books.
Me, I subscribe to the Ruth Brown school of sales.
MA
Dan Antion
September 18, 2017 at 9:01amWhen I was consulting, we would often be asked if we wanted an engagement that we could do during down time. Our standard answer was, “If I’m going to starve, I’d rather starve on the beach than in your office.”
I always feel bad when I see these offers and think, “yeah but it doesn’t sound like something I’d like to read…” I worry about sending the “no, not even for free” message, but if it’s not what I enjoy, I’m not going to download it.
Marian Allen
September 18, 2017 at 10:17amAnd there are lots of books I would LIKE to read, free, discounted, or full price, but there are SO MANY, I just don’t have time for them all. I’m more likely to read a print book that I paid actual money for than a free ebook. Sad but true.
joey
September 18, 2017 at 3:05pmI agree with Dan, sometimes, not even for free. Because it’s not free, it’s time. And if it doesn’t interest me, well, it’s not like I’m bored. Sad, but true. I am pretty good at getting others interested in that which doesn’t interest me and gift some when it’s right up their alley.
Marian Allen
September 18, 2017 at 4:32pmYeah, I love it when I can click a reader together with the right book for them, even if it isn’t the right book for me. One thing I’ve learned from submitting fiction to editors: “Not for me,” means, “Not for me,” not, “No good.”
Alicia Butcher Ehrhardt
September 18, 2017 at 3:22pmLoved the Ruth Brown clip – and will save it.
Because there is a whole system of indie marketing which uses free, permafree, 0.99 – and I’m getting to the place where I don’t think the readers who demand free or dirt cheap are the readers I want to like my work.
It brings results (they say) for lots of people – who write quickly, publish frequently, and say they edit well and fast. I am so happy for them.
I’m also NOT them. What I write is literally produced with my life’s blood (which doesn’t necessarily make it good, I know), and you aren’t going to get it from ANYONE else.
Plus I tried a few 0.99 sales and newsletter offers. Nothing more embarrassing than setting your work to that price – and having practically no one buy it anyway. I think/hope they sensed what they might be getting into, and said ‘No, thanks!’
I hope to figure it out some day, how to attract the ‘right’ readers for ME (like Marian – I love Marian) in quantity. I know they’re out there. But I suspect they are turned off by free.
I want the people who like Ruth and get what she means. Which was beautifully, stylishly, and hilariously done.
Marian Allen
September 18, 2017 at 4:37pm~HUGS~ Love you back! Also: ALL YOUR CHARACTERS, even the stinkish ones (and she knows who she is). I have four books permanently at .99 electronic, and I sell almost none. So I blow a big fat raspberry at free and deeply discounted. I think you’re exactly right: it’s a brilliant tactic for people who write relatively quickly, especially if they write a series of all books of a kind (all mysteries or all romances). People who write all over the place, as I do, or who write painstakingly, as you do, wouldn’t benefit from any kind of “bounce” from free/discounted books. ~weeps~