BookBub roller coaster

At the urging of two friends, I decided to try BookBub, a popular promotional service, to advertise Lies Told in Silence.

Here’s how they describe themselves: “BookBub is a free service that helps millions of readers discover great deals on acclaimed ebooks while providing publishers and authors with a way to drive sales and find new fans. Members receive a personalized daily email alerting them to the best free and deeply discounted titles matching their interests as selected by our editorial team. BookBub works with all major ebook retailers and devices, and is the industry’s leading ebook price promotion service.”

Promotions are not cheap – well, let’s be honest, it’s expensive if you choose multiple geographic markets – and I became increasingly nervous as the days counted down to October 9th. Like throwing a big party and wondering if anyone will show up – that kind of nervous.

BookBub sent me numerous messages reminding me to change my prices on all platforms BEFORE the promotion date BUT not too far in advance or else dire consequences might ensue. However, the support folks were great, always promptly and politely responding to my questions and sending other helpful suggestions through links to FAQs and other materials.

I designed a campaign to run along with the BookBub promo – using Mailchimp, personal emails, Facebook, Twitter, my blog, and even Goodreads where I set up an event.

The first time I looked at my Amazon stats, my eyes grew wide, and then wider still. “Is that really a number over 1000,” I said to my husband. We had been in transit from Toronto to Chicago so I did not see the sales volume until after lunch.

“Yup,” he said.

Best Sellers rank Oct 10 9AMThe number was a whopping 1,178! And it kept climbing. By Saturday morning, Lies Told in Silence was #1 in historical romance,  and #28 in the Top Paid 100 on Kindle. Unfortunately, such success is fleeting and by Oct 12, the book was #134 in the Top Paid 100 and #5 in historical romance. Still, it had been languishing with only occasional sales each month and was ‘nowheresville’ in the rankings despite some great reviews and strong endorsements.

Number 1 in historical romance 2015-10-10 at 9.14.41 AM

 

My conclusion? BookBub is definitely worthwhile. The process is relatively straightforward, although sometimes you have to submit your book more than once before it’s accepted. You have to know how to change pricing on the platforms you select for the promotion. And I would definitely advise getting the word out across social media when your promotion launches.

FOR MORE ON READING & WRITING HISTORICAL FICTION follow A WRITER OF HISTORY (using the widget on the left sidebar)

M.K. Tod writes historical fiction and blogs about all aspects of the genre at A Writer of History. Her latest novel, LIES TOLD IN SILENCE is set in WWI France and is available from Amazon, NookKoboGoogle Play and iTunes. Her debut novel, UNRAVELLED: Two wars. Two affairs. One marriage. is also available from these retailers.

Mary can be contacted on Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads.

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5 Responses

  1. Service free only to readers and a promotional boost to writers. I assume with 1000 extra sales of the book promoted and maybe incidental extra sales at higher prices of your other books this has covered the Book Bub writer’s fee. I would be interested to hear of others experiences.

  2. Hi Mary, Thanks for sharing about Book Bub. You are always so generous, and I am thrilled with the success of Lies Told in Silence. It is on my list!

    I wonder if you would be so kind to give me a little advice. I would like to submit another proposal to HNS to do a workshop and/or panel at the next conference.

    As you might remember, I have two ancient historical novels—not religious, but based on little known biblical women (Noah’s Wife and Angels at the Gate). So I can do a workshop on how to research a time period where there is no or little written records.

    I also have a narrative nonfiction historical about the investigation of the 1963 Birmingham church bombing that killed four young girls and changed history and can do a workshop on writing and researching creative historical nonfiction.

    Do you have a sense of whether either of these would be pertinent or if I should focus on one or the other, or submit both? Or any thoughts on a different approach that might be well received or needed?

    Thanks so much, T.K.

    T.K. Thorne http://www.TKThorne.com

    Signup for my private Newsletter: TK’s Korner

    Blogging at: TKThorne.com/blog What Moves Me—Whales to Whirling Dervishes

    Facebook Page: T.K. Thorne

    Twitter: @tkthorne 

    Your personnel recommendation is the best way to help a writer! Thank you!

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