Friday, November 28, 2014

Frantic Friday

Are you doing Black Friday shopping? Are you crazy? Hopefully, you're home like me in the warm thinking about shopping online. If you have a moment, check out my post at the A to Z blog. I'd appreciate some company over there.

One of the things I like about this day is no cooking. Lots of leftovers to be had. I'll probably drag out some Christmas decorations but otherwise, I'm going to work on my writing and preparing for the release on Monday of The IWSG Guide to Publishing and Beyond. Don't miss it.

With the start of holiday shopping, I expect lots of new electronic devices will be gifted to deserving persons. Like most writers, I hope the new owners fill their device with books. I hope they use all those Amazon, iTunes, and Barnes and Noble gift cards to buy my books. How will I convince them.

Getting 'found' is a conundrum. There are so many books out there and many platforms to buy them from. Most small press authors like me make the majority of their sales on e-books. In the USA, Amazon sells around 50% of digital books. Nook captures 15-20% as does Apple. Kobo and others split the rest. Kobo is based in Canada and actually edges Amazon out on their home ground. How does one get noticed among the millions of books available on each of those retail sites?

Were you expecting an answer? I have no understanding of why some of my books have been bestsellers and others not so much. I'm taking the advice of many to just keep writing and telling the best story I can. And check out the ideas on promotion found in the IWSG Guide to Publishing and Beyond. Learn how to use social media to grow your readership and some other unique ideas to market your work.

From The Old Farmer's Almanac:
A word to the wise is enough. English proverb

Did you go shopping today? Shop from home? Buying book gift cards or some new tech for Christmas? Have a word for the wise?

9 comments:

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Susan .. glad to see you don't need to cook now - yes the next day's left overs are usually good! Enjoy.

Been to the A-Z and will do the IWSG on Monday .. getting found is a challenge - take care .. cheers Hilary

L. Diane Wolfe said...

It's hard to be heard over the roar of the crowd. We just have to place our books in front of our target audience over and over again.

Finished my shopping this morning in my robe!

Pat Hatt said...

Hard to get found indeed, unless you have millions to spend on advertising, in which case you don't need to get found lol

shelly said...

Going to work later. Writing now. No Frantic Friday shopping for me. Yuck!

The Armchair Squid said...

No shopping for me. Lazy day at home - bliss...

Tyrean Martinson said...

I'm with Diane - it's hard to be heard, but we just have to keep putting our books out there and hoping for the best. :)

And, we did go out shopping today, but we waited until after noon and just went for a few hours - so, it wasn't too bad and we still found a few sales.

We go to my Aunt's house for Thanksgiving and I just bring side dishes so our leftovers are minimal, but I made a bit pot of chili so it wasn't too hard.

Best wishes with all your writing and Christmas, and life endeavors this week and in December!

Ava Quinn said...

I never go out for Black Friday. I'd rather go to jury duty.

But I did swing by Barnes and Noble. My girls secretly picked a book for each other as Christmas gifts. I helped them buy and hide them to get them home unseen. Then we went grocery shopping.

mshatch said...

No shopping for me on Black Friday, thank you. Way too many people.

Cate Masters said...

Yep, when you learn the answer to that million-dollar question, please share! :)

No Black Friday for me, especially on Thanksgiving.