How To Sell Books: My Marketing Journey
I thought my romcom writing career would last forever. I didn’t make much money on my first book, She Sins at Midnight, during its debut year. But I knew going in that would probably be the case. Sales wouldn’t go gangbusters until my second book, The Reinvention of Mimi Finnegan. Which is exactly what happened.
I peaked making high four figures a month on Amazon as an indie author. It was a ride I assumed would continue. Yet, for a number of reasons that wasn’t the case. First of all, the second book in my Mimi Chronicles, Mimi Plus Two, really pissed off some of my readers (I dealt with postpartum depression in the second half of the book and apparently that wasn’t okay for a lot of them.) Then my third book in the series, Kindred Spirits, came out and it never took off. Something had significantly shifted in the formula for success as an Amazon exclusive writer.
For the last 18 months, my numbers started to dwindle like nobody’s business. It got to the point where I was making less than a thousand dollars a month. With the romcom category on Amazon was full of erotica, I began to have a crisis of faith. Was this where I was meant to be? Were people still interested in funny without explicit content? Why was I not selling?
I toyed with the idea of switching genres and had gotten as far a writing a thriller. As I have no footing in this category, I decided to hand it off to my agent in search of a traditional deal, which is a journey all its own. The four months I spent writing See No More, meant I was that much farther off track in my romcom career.
I made the decision to take the summer off and regroup my sanity. I even went so far as announcing this to my author friends. Then I woke up on June 7th and my muse had another plan. I fought her for two days before giving in and letting her have her way. This is the story of Relatively Normal.
I’m normally a very fast writer, with a first draft (80k words) normally taking about 6 weeks. Then another 2-4 to polish. The first draft of Relatively Normal only took 2 weeks! Then there was another 2 to polish, run through the editors etc.
I’m not foolish to think the success of this book was all my doing because it most certainly wasn’t. I’m going to share the whole journey with you though, so you can see which parts were kismet, which parts were luck, and which parts were actual know-how. Put them all together and you have the perfect storm.
1. I asked as many people as I could think of to review this book prior to release. I even asked some who I thought too successful to actually consider doing it. For some reason a lot of people could blurb it and did so, FAST. Even the fancy ones.
2. I decided to go wide on this release in hopes of getting a Bookbub New Release Editor’s Pick. I got it the day after I released and sold 180 downloads that day at full price.
3. In order to make the most of this new release, I booked Hidden gems for reviews and I also booked Netgalley. Hidden Gems had 75 review requests and came through with 60 reviews, NetGalley was much less impressive. I don’t think I’ll bother with them again.
4. After the first week, I thought about going straight into KU and racking up the page reads, but I thought I’d try for a Bookbub $0.99 deal first. I’d never had one and I know the chances would be better if I was wide. I got it!
5. During Bookbub week (last week) I also ran promos with ENT, Read Cheaply, Book Cave, Hidden Gems newsletter, Fussy Librarian, Love Kissed Book Bargains, Robin Reads, Reader Café, Shifted Sheets, Awesome Gang, and Ebook Hounds. I also did four newsletter swaps with other authors, asked bloggers to share the sale, ran Amazon Ads and Facebook Ads. I’m pretty sure I easily spent $1800.00. I ultimately had just under 4500 downloads last week.
6. I made it a goal to try for USA Today with this book. Why? Probably vanity and knowing I might not have a chance like this again. Do I think I got it? I’ll know Thursday, but chances are slim. I kind of chickened out. I should have committed to spending another $1000 bucks and really pushing, but I didn’t. Overall, it just got super exhausting doing all the self-promotion.
7. Yesterday I made the book exclusive with Amazon and put it into KU. When I woke up this a.m., Relatively Normal already had 12k page reads. It currently has 16k, just from today. I’m currently #138 in the paid store and have been #1 in Comedy for 5 days. During Bookbub week (last week) I peaked at #54 in the paid store, earning me the title of National Bestselling Author (not a list, but not a bad booby prize either.)
I probably lost about 4K in new release income doing this, but I think that loss is only temporary. I put The Reinvention of Mimi Finnegan (my bestselling and most award-winning book before RN) into the backmatter of RN and it’s gone from 80k in the paid store to 6500 today. A LOT of new people who have never heard of me are now reading me.
MOST IMPORTANTLY – here’s what I’ve learned. There are more than 10k possible readers for our books out there. There are millions! It was hard for me to wrap my head around this concept, but you have to in order to be comfortable giving so many books away for nothing and next to nothing. My book has been out for 6 weeks and already over 8000k people have downloaded it in some paid capacity (most for $.99).
ALSO, being an author is not a solitary job. We need each other to share information, encouragement, etc. I think it’s very common for us to look at the rock stars in our field and ask, “Why is she doing so well and I’m not? I’m a better a writer than she is!” You may very well be a better writer, but the people succeeding are better business people and ultimately that is what’s going to pay our bills. I’m finally realizing that I’m not going to be the exception to this rule and the only way I’m going to succeed long-term in this authoring gig is to learn the business side of things (dammitI!!!)
I hope this info was helpful to you!
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Dineen is a multi-award-winning author of romantic comedies, nonfiction humor, and middle reader fiction. Her latest offering, Relatively Normal, is taking critics by storm. Whitney and Bernadette are currently in negotiations over what’s next.
Find out more about her on her website https://whitneydineen.com/
RELATIVELY NORMAL
Successful New York City event planner, Catriona Masterton, has been on a mission to keep her new fiancé from meeting her family. This Thanksgiving, she’s flat out of luck when orderly and regimented Ethan Crenshaw declares he will meet the Masterton Clan.
It’s not that Cat’s ashamed of her eccentric family, but how does one explain a mother with a kitchen gadget fetish, a father whose best friends are taxidermied field mice, and a super stoner man-child brother who lives in the basement? That doesn’t even include the fiercely-proud Scottish grandmother with a proclivity for profanity.
Just when the visit couldn’t get much worse, Cat is thrown a large curve ball when her ex-boyfriend and his family show up for Thanksgiving dinner. She’s torn between the order and predictability Ethan and her life in New York City represent, while her family and the Midwest pull her in a different direction. Will Cat make it out of her hometown in one piece or is she willing to embrace the chaos? Mishaps, mayhem, and confusion ensue in this laugh-out-loud tale of familial pandemonium.
Early Praise for Relatively Normal
“Relatively Normal by Whitney Dineen is among the best chick lit novels that I have read so far. Not only did it give me a long hearty laugh on many occasions, but the story also comes together splendidly. The unpredictable turns of the plot are adeptly created to grip the attention of any reader. Paired with the humor, the book makes for a must-read for anyone with an appreciation of romantic comedies.” — 5/5 Stars, Readers Favorite
“Relatively Normal is a piss yourself, hold on to your belly, catch your breath, and spill your pint tale. This story is hilarious, off the wall, daft, and you can picture each and every event as its being unfolded in your mind’s eye. This was my first read by Whitney Dineen but will not be my last thinking we should be bancharaids.” — A.J. Book Remarks
“You’ll laugh, cry, and scream (in a good way), at the utter hilarious pandemonium this lovable family can cause. Meeting the Mastersons this Holiday season will make you laugh, cry, and swoon with happiness at the wild, outrageous parties this lovable, kooky Scottish clan can deliver. Bring on the haggis! Whitney Dineen does it again! 5 Humongous Stars!!!” — Ms. Birdlady Book Blog
“Dineen has a talent for spinning a tale that is both hilarious and heartwarming. I loved this book!” — Bestselling Author Becky Monson
“Whitney Dineen continues to delight and surprise with her latest collection of quirky characters in Relatively Normal. You’ll laugh, groan, and get all the feels along with heroine Cat when she spends the holidays with her wacky family and finds herself in the center of a very complicated and compelling love triangle. This book is a must-read for fans of Marian Keyes and Kristan Higgins.” — Tracie Banister, Author of Izzy As Is
“Relatively Normal is Whitney Dineen’s best book to date. It will have you laughing out loud one moment and swooning the next. Above all it will make you grateful for all the weirdos in your own life that make life worth living.” — Jennifer Peel, Author of The Sidelined Wife
“Whitney Dineen knocks it out the park with a laugh-out-loud romantic comedy full of family weirdness and personal revelations. I loved it!” — USA Today Bestselling Author Sheryl Babin
“I loved Relatively Normal so much! It’s rare a book makes me laugh out loud but this one did…. repeatedly! I will be adding it to the top of my list of favorites for 2018!” — Annabella Costa, Author of My Perfect Ex-Boyfriend
“I’ve reviewed a number of Dineen’s books, so I expected to have a grand time reading this offering. If anything, it exceeded my expectations. Relatively Normal is definitely not your normal story about in-laws and holidays!” — Jack Magnus, Readers’ Favorite, 5/5-Stars
“So many LOL moments! I loved reading about a family that may just may be zanier than my own! Don’t miss out on this feel-good funny by Whitney Dineen.” — Kathryn Biel, Author of Made for Me
Buy the Book Here
Category: Contemporary Women Writers, How To and Tips, On Book Marketing
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As I am just beginning my marketing journey I really appreciate the practical advice in your article.
I also have a romcom book out and I agree with the fact that I’ve only touched on a tiny fraction of the readers. I’ve tried the free promos and had some success with that. I’m going to work with someone on marketing it better. I thought it was interesting that he said I might want to have more of an illustrated cover for romcom because that’s what most of them have. My book also has a picture. I’m also switching genres for my trilogy that is coming out to NA epic fantasy. But, I would like to write another book to go along with the one I have out.
The illustrated cover debate seems to be an ongoing one. I rebranded over the summer and replaced my illustrated covers with people in hopes that was the issue. Ultimately, I’m selling WAY more book snow, but am sure that has more to do with marketing than the cover. As long as your cover is very professional looking I think you’ll be fine. Good luck with your pursuits! It sounds like you have a lot on your plate.
Thanks! My cover is fun and people like it, so if the cover’s not the issue, I won’t change it. I just have to figure out the whole marketing thing. Thanks for the ideas.
Outstanding progress. You went through a lot just to market (and a lot of money). But, in the long run, it sounds like you’re back on track. I look forward to one-day publishing and sharing my book with the world! I have a short story through Amazon, but my baby is still WIP. Keep it up, I’ll check out your novel 😀
Good luck, D.A.! It’s a very satisfying journey in the end.
Wow, thanks for all of these specifics! It helps to get the numbers. And it helps to know you shot high in a lot of these areas. It gives me confidence to try. I just released a book a couple of weeks ago (see the cat story on here) and now I know my downloads aren’t as bad as I thought. They’re not as high as yours at all but I think respectable for never having put out a novel previously. Will check out your book. Cheers!
Good luck, Karen! We all need to be there to help each other out. xo
I’m both highly impressed at all of your clever marketing ideas and also exhausted just reading about everything you did!
How were you not overwhelmed? This is fantastic information for authors and your stats and what you spent helps put everything into a helpful perspective.
I appreciate your honesty and sharing your hard work.
Way to go!
Thanks Jill! It was exhausting. But I’ve managed to stay #1 in Comedy for a couple weeks now so it was worth it. xo