Slapping a book on a blog is not all it takes to sell it. I know you know this, but I had to explore this book-marketing-101 concept further.July 8, 2013 6:30 am
Slapping a book on a blog is not all it takes to sell it. I know you know this, but I had to explore this book-marketing-101 concept further.
I mean, it seems like a logical idea, right? Create a blog, develop a loyal following, and they’ll buy your book. Easy, peasy!
But being the curious type, trapped in Post Book-Launch Stress Disorder, I decided to don my gumshoes. (BTW, thank you for all the awesome comments on PBLSD. I want to reply to each and every one, just gimme some time. Remember, PBLSD cannot be cured with two aspirin and a morning call.)
I opened my WordPress stats. In the last six months, this blog has had approximately 75,000 visits.
Wow, right? Amazing. I can’t believe it myself.
Six months ago is when I inserted links to pre-order THE MONSTORE in my blog column (so it appears on every page on this site) and on my books page. And guess how many clicks those links have had?
7,500? That would be about 10%—not too shabby. But no.
1,500? That would be about 2%. Still pretty respectable. When I was working in marketing, a 2% response to a direct mail offer was considered average. But, nope. Not even close.
Out of 75,000 visits, links to order THE MONSTORE have been clicked on only 355 times. That’s [almost] 0.5%.
But, I have no idea how many of those clicks turned into purchases. If it’s 2% like my direct mail experience has shown, then I’ve sold 7 books.
Kinda humbling, isn’t it?
75,000 visits = 7 books sold.
Now, I realize this is very unscientific. Any statistics professor would knock my knuckles with a ruler. People have other ways of purchasing books, and I know I’ve sold more than 7 books!
But, I wanted to demonstrate that slapping a book on a website is not all it takes. That don’t do diddly.
Boy, I’ve just realized this post is really not helping the PBLSD! (But maybe it will help you!)
BTW, if you do want to crawl inside THE MONSTORE, you can by clicking below. Ya can’t blame a girl for trying!
IndieBound.org
Amazon.com
BarnesandNoble.com
BooksAMillion.com
Chapters.Indigo.ca
“My two boys (3 and 6) loved this book. They wanted me to read it many times. Then they played Monstore games all afternoon. They made their own monsters (pom-poms, pipe cleaners, and googly eyes). They built Monstores with blocks. Then they made booby traps and trap doors with couch cushions. I can’t remember the last time reading one book led to such prolonged creative play.”
~ Amazon customer review
Posted by Tara Lazar
Categories: Blogging, The Monstore
Tags: Book Marketing, Book Sales
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You are right, Tara, you’re doing everything you are supposed to do. It’s very hard when you can’t see the results. I don’t have a blog (which I probably should have but can’t think of enough interesting things to say) but I do put links on my website as to where people can buy it. It’s the ups and downs that are hard, especially when Amazon is about the only place to even get an idea of how you are doing. One week it’s 3 books sold, the next it’s 10 and then back down to 4 and you wonder what else you could be doing. (And you think “why doesn’t anyone like me? If they did they’d buy my book.) It’s a hard path we’ve chosen, not for the weak. Just know that you’ve got a good book out and it will find it’s audience.
By Tim Young on July 8, 2013 at 6:46 am
Thanks Tara! Keep on keepin on… Winter gift season is coming…
By Jenn DesAutels Illustrator on July 8, 2013 at 8:54 am
I’ve done it – finally! (You must be a good mom – you give good guilt trips.) I’ve ordered your book and will be a proud owner in a few days. I suspect my (nearly) four year old will love it.
By Melanie Ellsworth on July 8, 2013 at 10:37 am
Tara,
Thanks for the stats! You can add a book to your tally! I didn’t click from your site, but I own the book and love it!!!
By Penny Klostermann on July 8, 2013 at 11:41 am
Thanks for letting us ride the roller coaster with you, Tara! The posts leading up to and after MONSTORE’s launch have been so helpful. And that Amazon review! Fantastic!
By Lori Alexander on July 8, 2013 at 12:00 pm
Your book is in our city library, so something worked! Anyway, it’s really word-of-mouth that sells books, not websites. I’ve seen that with my own first published picture book.
By Anne Bromley on July 8, 2013 at 12:19 pm
…and word-of-mouth takes time *sigh* SO hard to be patient with all this stuff, right? Of course, I’m only a wannabe published author trying to stay patient on the road to where published authors are. It’s better (in my opinion) to at least be on the published side 😀
By :Donna Marie on July 8, 2013 at 9:38 pm
Thanks for sharing, Tara! I agree with Tim, it’s hard when you can’t track your results but trust that your work is good and your audience will come. I think the key is to not be attached and know that online is just one way to get the word out. Brick by brick…Plus, you’re talented and just a cool person. Good things are a comin’! (See you at Princeton-yay!!)
By Diane Kredensor on July 8, 2013 at 1:11 pm
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and frustrations. I’m not sure how much online helps — another friend is struggling with the same thing. We are up against a lot. I still think word of mouth is the best seller. I really believe you have written a really good and funny book and that in the end will sell. And, we all need to go to Goodreads and write reviews. I’ll have to check our library and if it isn’t there yet, request they order it.
By Patricia Tilton on July 8, 2013 at 1:21 pm
Aw, Tara, I hate seeing you suffering from PBLSD! The best way to get accurate sales numbers is to simply ask your editor (or you could ask your agent to ask)–though you’ll likely be given a general range than exact numbers. Bookscan #’s are good,… but as you know, they’re not entirely accurate. At least it’ll give you base numbers… though I don’t encourage you to obsess about numbers you have very little control over. And plus, it’s too early to get good numbers anyway. You’re doing everything right. Now, you can relax a little and get on that next idea! I know you have them! AND… you know how to write sell-able material!
More time writing/ less time marketing, will make a happier (and less frustrated) writer! Trust me! Email me anytime if you need more hugs or support, or ideas for distractions! You’d laugh at how many projects I’m juggling right now… which means I don’t have any space left in my brain to worry about any current releases or their sales. XOXO, Salina.
By Salina on July 8, 2013 at 6:45 pm
Hey Tara, I just noticed you also made the Kid-Lit-Review 10 best list! It’s a nice place to be! http://kid-lit-reviews.com/top-10/
By Tim Young on July 8, 2013 at 6:56 pm
…and so are YOU, Tim 😀 Yay for you both!
By :Donna Marie on July 8, 2013 at 9:42 pm
That is really interesting, Tara. I am a faithful reader of your blog, but I do not have any kids that age. Would it help if you had another blog for young mothers or maybe grandmothers? Recommend games, books, early learning strategies, what’s normal, time management, funny experiences? For the audience of this blog, you could write a book about writing for today’s kids (?) I don’t know, I only know that, while I’d like to help, this particular book is not for me.
By bluerabbit on July 8, 2013 at 6:59 pm
Oh, bluerabbit, don’t feel guilty! I hope it doesn’t feel like I’m forcing people to buy my book. I’m just happy you’re a reader of this blog. Thank you!
By Tara Lazar on July 10, 2013 at 9:03 am
I love your PBLSD name! FYI…you can add that I purchased 2, one for my kids and one for my niece!
By tinamcho on July 8, 2013 at 7:06 pm
It must be hard analysing stats. You don’t know how many come to your site but buy elsewhere. People can have things on there to buy list for ages before buying too. You need a distraction. A mascot or something. Have some fun 🙂
By Catherine Johnson on July 8, 2013 at 8:40 pm
In the end, I guess there isn’t much you can do. You have a great book out there and I’m sure it will find an audience. I bought it without clicking on the link on your blog, btw. And I loved it!
By Diana Murray on July 9, 2013 at 8:41 am
OK, THE MONSTORE just arrived from B&N and it’s just what I expected! I LOVE it! 😀
By :Donna Marie on July 10, 2013 at 1:36 pm
Wow. This is really disheartening.
By K.L. Pickett on July 10, 2013 at 6:54 pm
K.L., my comment is disheartening, or what Tara was expressing? *confused*
By :Donna Marie on July 10, 2013 at 11:49 pm
Tara, you’re awesome! Sales take time, I’m sure. Thanks, even, for sharing the disheartening parts of authorship. I figure if we get an advance, and we keep selling more mss, then we’re alright.
By Christie Wright Wild on July 10, 2013 at 10:04 pm
Hey Tara, remember that if you only link to the US stores then people like myself won’t be able to use your links – I need to order from a UK store, so when looking at your stats only include visitors from the US. True it might not make a huge difference, but it may make you feel a wee bit better 🙂
By Eric on July 11, 2013 at 1:23 pm
You are funny! Welcome to the world of children’s authors. It is hard to sell thousands of books. It is a gift to be even touching a few lives with your stories. I vote for less stress and more joy!
By Carol Gordon Ekster on July 15, 2013 at 11:38 am
Hi, Tara 🙂 In case you didn’t see/know this:
http://inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2013/7/15/simon-schuster-childrens-books-affected-by-the-bnss-dispute.html
By :Donna Marie on July 24, 2013 at 4:48 pm
Wow Tara, that is almost depressing, but will it stop us – No! Kids need good books and we have a compulsion to create them. 🙂
By kayleenwest on July 24, 2013 at 7:18 pm