The difference between a successful writer and an unknown writer is tenacity
Funny Tip: Before You Advertise Your Books Online, Do the math!
Sure it sounds easy. Create a little banner or text ad for your book and drop it into a PPC (pay per click) internet marketing engine (i.e., Google AdWords) and sit back and count your royalties!
Before you whip out your credit card, consider the following story:
Once upon a time, there was a tiny house who told an author that she could sell her books online for as little as $50! "Your ad will be seen around the world by thousands if not millions of people," the little house said.
"How is that possible?" asked the author.
"When readers search the Internet for your type of book, your ad will appear on their computer screen!" exclaimed the house.
"And then they can buy my book!," said the excited author, with great delight.
"Yes, but only after I collect a small fee in return," said the little house. "It's nothing much, just pennies or just a few dollars. You won't even notice it after you've sold all your books!" he added with a smile.
"Perfect, let's go for it!"
So the little house created the ad and cast it out like a finely meshed net on the Internet. Within a few hours the author looked at her computer screen and was amazed. "Wow, my ad got 732,000 . . . uh, impressions? Does that mean I've sold that many books?"
"Exciting isn't it?" the little house said. "Unfortunately, no, those are all the people who may have seen your ad. Wait for the clicks!" Upon saying the word click, the little house smiled widely.
When the author looked again she jumped for joy! The computer screen now said 866,232 impressions AND 148 clicks! "Wow, I've sold 148 books in one day!"
"Well, not exactly," said the little house. "Those were most likely 148 people that clicked on your ad to see your book."
The author was becoming frustrated. "But how can I tell if I've sold any books?"
"Call your publisher," replied the little house.
"Hmmmm, okay. Well, I guess this was good first day. What about tomorrow?" asked the author.
The little house replied, "I'd like to help, but unfortunately you're $50 is all spent."
"Spent! Already? How?" asked the author.
"I collected 25 cents per click for the first 47 people, and then 35 cents from the next 20."
"Wait! Why did you raise your fee on those clicks?" asked the author.
"Well, some people clicked on different key words, and some cost more than others," answered the little house.
The little house explained further, "So then I collected $1 per click from the next 7, $5 per click from the next 3 clicks, and $10 for the last."
"Oh," is all the author could say.
"I'm sorry I made a mistake," said the little house.
"Really?" said the author hoping for a glimmer of good news.
"I miscalculated my fees. You still owe me 75 cents," said the little house.
MORAL OF THE STORY - "With a few notable exceptions, the house always wins!"
Questions or comments? Send them to me: sandy@bookcandystudios.com
Before you whip out your credit card, consider the following story:
Once upon a time, there was a tiny house who told an author that she could sell her books online for as little as $50! "Your ad will be seen around the world by thousands if not millions of people," the little house said.
"How is that possible?" asked the author.
"When readers search the Internet for your type of book, your ad will appear on their computer screen!" exclaimed the house.
"And then they can buy my book!," said the excited author, with great delight.
"Yes, but only after I collect a small fee in return," said the little house. "It's nothing much, just pennies or just a few dollars. You won't even notice it after you've sold all your books!" he added with a smile.
"Perfect, let's go for it!"
So the little house created the ad and cast it out like a finely meshed net on the Internet. Within a few hours the author looked at her computer screen and was amazed. "Wow, my ad got 732,000 . . . uh, impressions? Does that mean I've sold that many books?"
"Exciting isn't it?" the little house said. "Unfortunately, no, those are all the people who may have seen your ad. Wait for the clicks!" Upon saying the word click, the little house smiled widely.
When the author looked again she jumped for joy! The computer screen now said 866,232 impressions AND 148 clicks! "Wow, I've sold 148 books in one day!"
"Well, not exactly," said the little house. "Those were most likely 148 people that clicked on your ad to see your book."
The author was becoming frustrated. "But how can I tell if I've sold any books?"
"Call your publisher," replied the little house.
"Hmmmm, okay. Well, I guess this was good first day. What about tomorrow?" asked the author.
The little house replied, "I'd like to help, but unfortunately you're $50 is all spent."
"Spent! Already? How?" asked the author.
"I collected 25 cents per click for the first 47 people, and then 35 cents from the next 20."
"Wait! Why did you raise your fee on those clicks?" asked the author.
"Well, some people clicked on different key words, and some cost more than others," answered the little house.
The little house explained further, "So then I collected $1 per click from the next 7, $5 per click from the next 3 clicks, and $10 for the last."
"Oh," is all the author could say.
"I'm sorry I made a mistake," said the little house.
"Really?" said the author hoping for a glimmer of good news.
"I miscalculated my fees. You still owe me 75 cents," said the little house.
MORAL OF THE STORY - "With a few notable exceptions, the house always wins!"
Questions or comments? Send them to me: sandy@bookcandystudios.com
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© 2009 Created by Debra Cornelius on Ning. Create a Ning Network!
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