I
came across a post today called Do Free Day eBook Promotions Still Work? As the
title suggests it talked about why Kindle’s KDP Select free promotion
option doesn’t work as well as it used to. Indie authors aren't seeing the same number of free downloads that they used to, and the after sales aren't what they hoped for.
I just put out a post two days ago, and wasn't going to do another one so soon, but this article got me thinking.
Scratch
that, it got me fuming.
To
start, there was nothing wrong with the article itself. On the contrary, it was
well-written and insightful. The author, Marla A Madison, lists several key
reasons why Kindle freebie days aren’t boosting sales like they used to. The
three I consider most important are:
1.
the competition for eBook sales
has increased exponentially over the past few years
2.
freebie promo sites have increased and are now overwhelming readers with choices
3.
readers’ kindles have become saturated
with freebie downloads, further overwhelming their choices
If
this blog post is correct – and I suspect it is – then there is a
growing frustration among indie authors that they are getting less and less recognition
for the same amount of work …
Seriously?
Wah, wah, wah!
You
know what? Any indie author who is banking on Kindle freebie days to make them
a barrelful of money needs to revisit his or her priorities. Success is not an
overnight thing for the majority of us. It can’t be gained by resorting to
promotional gimmicks. It is a long and continuing struggle. It is our writing,
our story-telling ability and our connection with our readers that will build
our following.
Any
indie who disagrees with that is in the wrong business.
Readers
aren’t stupid. They don’t just blindly follow us because we're in the top spot on our free promo days. That doesn't mean anything.
Readers are deeply passionate about the books they
choose to love and the authors they choose to trust. However cleverly we market
ourselves, however diligent we are with getting the word out, at the end of the
day our books that sell themselves, not the marketing options we choose for them.
So,
okay, the glory days of the Kindle freebie promo are on the out. Deal with it.
It is what it is. If you’re passionate about writing then you’ll watch it go by
with an “oh well.” And then you’ll go right back to writing. Because your
career is not dependent upon some marketing gimmick. It’s founded on solid,
passionate, dedicated writing.
To
all those authors out there who write for the love of writing: keep at it. It’s
your writing that defines your career, not how well your kindle freebie days
catapult you into the spotlight. You will build a following of readers slowly
and steady if you do. These readers are the ones that will stick with you book
after book because they appreciate your talent, and trust you to give them the emotional
satisfaction they demand from the books they read.
To
all other indie authors who can’t accept that … quit. You’re probably in it for
the wrong reasons anyway.
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