As I continue in my quest to understand book marketing, particularly as it relates to “Getting What I Deserve,” I realize that I have a lot to learn--if anything, the ROI (Return On Investment) isn’t there yet. In other words, I’ve spent much more on advertising than I’ve received in sales.
I can’t help but ask myself if this is worth the investment. Am I ever going to sell the number of books it will take to turn a profit? Can this work? I realize it takes time to learn the ropes in terms of the types of ads that sell my books, the advertising avenues that work best for me, and simply how I can best reach the readers who will be interested in my books.
I believe that there’s an audience for any quality book. The trick is connecting with that audience.
I’m going on two months of this commitment, and I’m making important progress.
If you’ve written a story or novel that you’re passionate about, you understand that you feel a certain pride and protectiveness in your protagonist. You also have a belief in their potential.
“Getting What I Deserve,” while it still has a long way to go, has had more interaction, more reviews, and, yes, sold more copies than any of my other books. The ratings and reviews have been especially gratifying, though some expressed some frustration in the shorter length of the story. A lesson for next time!
This is one of the images used in my ads, which also included the book description.
The Facebook ads have been especially motivating as I learn about some of my potential audience. Some of the ads include a question related to the theme of the book: Would you forgive your worst enemy?”
The comments potential readers have left in response to that question are deeply passionate and are usually from those who experienced bullying in the past (some many decades ago). These are just a few of the many I’ve received:
Some are philosophical...
Absolutely! It's not easy but neither is life. You accept forgiveness, it brings healing, peace, and comfort. It's a win situation all the way around
Some Angry...
Never in a million years.
Some are disdainful...
Suck it up, buttercup.
And some are haunted...
It is so hard to forget when you still dream about running from them and I am 70 years old and STILL running. Help me deal with it, please.
“Getting What I Deserve” was originally intended for a young adult audience. The comments and the mini-communities they form encourage me to improve my efforts to reach a wider audience that might benefit from Charlie’s story.
This response also is valuable in revealing that I'm not necessarily reaching the parents whose children would benefit from this book. I still have work to do!
If you would like to help, please consider passing this book on to a teacher, friend or loved one. You can purchase the paperback right here, or if you prefer Amazon, it's available in ebook, paperback, hardcover and audiobook. It's also free to read on Kindle Unlimited.