Boosting kindle ratings

[fackinell]

My e-book is climbing well!! I'm advertising in every way I can think of (FB, Author page, Twitter, web based and local area advertising and promoted posts, GoodReads, Amazon and local newspaper Editorial.) Anyone got any ideas they've tried?

Put the name of it on here?

Thanks for replying, Mikki. I'm not sure I'd be allowed to do that and it would also 'out' me, haha. Then everyone could put a face to my posts!! I emailed MN HQ about paid advertising on the site mths ago but didn't hear back.

Why don't you report your thread/ second post and ask MNHQ about paid advertising again in the report message? There is normally someone from MN on duty, maybe your original email 'slipped through the net'

That's a great idea, Greenhill!! Bloody genius that you are!!

Done!! Thank you, Greenhill.

What's it about?

It's a chicklit, Ninja. Humorous (so I'm told) and more or less a true story. I don't want to say too much as its a bit cheeky to advertise on here and I'm definitely not sales fishing but I'm happy for you to pm me if you'd like to know more about the storyline.

How many copies have you sold/given away free, OP? My brother's doing this at the moment and he's looking for ways to increase sales, too.

Hi Imperial, I'm not sure how many total in all but its gone nuts in the past 2 weeks and I've sold 265 copies since may 1st!!

What helps is to look more carefully at category. I changed mine to humour and contemporary women from general fiction and romance. What type book is it? I aimed for a common search and a more select, less crowded category.

Also what helps is to change the price. I dropped mine to 99p as it goes out in email alerts to customers and in 'cheapest book searches.' I changed it lower again the other day and got even more sales. The higher it goes the more likely it is to come up as a suggestion or in 'people who bought this also bought.'

Has he a FB author page and a bio on Amazon? some of my friends have been amazing reposting it on FB and Twitter. I also follow writers in Twitter and 'friended' my favourite author on FB (which is more a public page than a genuine one but still a buzz.) building a 'fan base' of friends has been invaluable.

I got nowhere with retweet requests to authors but I prob wouldn't promote something if I hadn't read it either, to be fair. May be worth a try though. Get it out there locally too. I approached my local paper and bugged them till they gave me an editorial. I also hand out fliers to local businesses to put up or have several to take away.

Shy bairns get nowt!! Tell him to get out there and get it known!!

Feel free to PM me if you want any more tips or if he has any to share with me.

I was going to say, local paper, but you've already done that. How about local radio, or independent digital radio?

Good idea, Solid. I will give that a go.

Hello fackinell, I have a novel that sounds a bit like yours on kdp. Thanks for the tip about categories - I will look at mine again.

I found the free days worked for me. After a couple of free weekends a month ago mine is selling well in America. I'm assuming the two are linked but they might not be.

If yours is more or less true have you thought about magazines, the type that like real-life goings on? You even get paid for your story, I got £250 a couple of years ago for talking about my hair falling out. It would be easy to promote a novel alongside.

Hiya Procratinating, well done on cracking the USA. I've sold two there
I've sold almost 3k in June alone in the UK though and about to give my notice to work. Hooraaaayyyy!!

It had crossed my mind about magazines but I'm torn between wanting the publicity and trying to fly under the radar a bit for bringing it to the attention of the name changed ones!! Difficult to explain but they would know who they are. It's not libellous and it is a comedy but could open a can of worms. Can pm you more details if this has left you confused haha.

Ha! I haven't cracked the USA! I've sold less than you and it is a big place.
You are doing amazingly well. Brilliant to be able to give up work, that is quite an achievement.

I see your problem, but it does sound like your writing is taking off so isn't there a danger that they will read it anyway?

Thank you. It was a bit of a leap of faith giving up work but such a relief too. My job was so 'not me' at all.

the US is notoriously hard to get noticed though, way more books and people. it could snowball very quickly for you!! If you have a fan page or link you can pm me I'd be happy to post it on my wall for you. Absolutely no problem if you'd prefer not to 'out' yourself in real life though.

Yeah, there is every chance the name-changed will find out anyway. They'd have to have balls of steel to out themselves though

What about contacting book bloggers and asking them to review?