Lori Culwell

Reading the Amazon Advertising Tea Leaves: What Your Metrics Are Saying About Your Books

Reading the Amazon Advertising Tea Leaves: What Your Metrics Say About Your Book

Amazon Advertising can be a goldmine for authors, but if your ads aren’t delivering the results you want, it might not be the ads that are the problem—it could be your book. Your advertising metrics can reveal a lot about what’s working and what needs improvement. Let’s break it down.

Warning: brace yourself. You are probably not going to like any of these conclusions/ recommendations. No one ever likes anything I have to say, mostly because it implies a shit-ton of work that not only

1. Problem # 1: Low Click-Through Rate (CTR)

What’s happening:
People are seeing your ad but aren’t clicking. You will know this because your ad has impressions but no clicks. Like this:

What this says about your book:

Your cover might not be catching their eye.

Your title might not resonate or intrigue them.
Your ad copy might not make them curious enough to click.

How to fix it:

Take a hard look at your cover: Does it match your genre and appeal to readers? If not, it’s time for a redesign.
Tweak your title and subtitle to make them more compelling.
Revamp your ad copy with a stronger hook or clearer benefits.

2. High Click-Through Rate but Low Conversion Rate (CVR)

What’s happening:
People are clicking, but they’re not buying.

What this says about your book:

Your book description might not deliver on the promise of your ad.

The Look Inside feature could be turning readers off due to weak writing or formatting issues.
Your price might not be competitive for your genre.

How to fix it:

Rewrite your book description with a strong hook and a call-to-action that seals the deal.
Polish the opening pages of your book to grab attention right away.
Check your pricing and make sure it aligns with reader expectations.

3. High Ad Spend but Low Return on Investment (ROI)

What’s happening:
You’re spending on ads, but the sales aren’t covering the costs.

What this says about your book:

You might be targeting the wrong audience.

Your book’s cover, description, or reviews might not scream “professional and worth buying.”
Competing books in your genre might be offering more value or appeal.

How to fix it:

Refine your ad targeting to reach readers who are more likely to love your book.
Add some social proof to your page, like reviews or awards, to boost credibility.
Study your competition and see how your book stacks up. Make changes where needed.

4. High Impressions but Low Clicks and Sales

What’s happening:
Your ads are being shown, but readers aren’t engaging with them.

What this says about your book:

Your keywords or categories might be too broad or irrelevant.

Your cover or title might not be grabbing attention.

How to fix it:

Revisit your keywords and categories to ensure they align with your book’s content.

Double-check that your cover and title are both visually striking and genre-appropriate.

5. Poor Overall Sales Despite Good Ad Metrics

What’s happening:
Your ads are doing their job, but your book isn’t closing the deal.

What this says about your book:

Negative reviews or weak content might be hurting word-of-mouth sales.
If it’s part of a series, your book might lack a strong series hook to keep readers coming back.
You might not be capturing readers’ emails to build a loyal audience.

How to fix it:

Address constructive criticism in reviews and improve your book if needed.
Add teasers or bonuses to encourage readers to dive into the next book in your series.

Use a call-to-action to collect emails and start building a long-term connection with readers.

Final Thoughts

Amazon Advertising metrics are like a crystal ball for your book’s success—they show you what’s clicking (literally) and what isn’t. Fixing a cover, refining a description, or polishing your opening pages can turn those lukewarm clicks into loyal readers.

Your ads can only do so much. When your book looks professional and delivers on its promise, those clicks and impressions turn into something far more valuable: fans who keep coming back for more.

So, what are your ads telling you about your book?

Book Marketing

Making Your First Book Free Forever (Permafree): A Strategy That Actually Works

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Ever wondered why some authors give away their books for free? It might seem counterintuitive, but making your first book permanently free (some call it “permafree” ) can be one of the smartest moves you’ll make as an author. Let me tell you why.

Why Would Anyone Give Away Their Book?

Think about the last time you discovered a new favorite author. Chances are, someone recommended them, or you took a chance on a good deal. That’s exactly what permafree is about – it’s like offering samples at a grocery store. Readers get to try your writing without any risk, and if they love it, they’ll happily pay for more.

This strategy works especially well if you’ve written a series. You make the first book free, and once readers are hooked on your characters and story, they’re excited to buy the rest of the series. It’s not just about immediate sales either – you’re building a loyal readership who’ll anticipate your future books.

Making It Work For You

Let’s talk about how actually to do this. First, you’ll need to pick the right book. If you’re writing a series, this is pretty straightforward – use your first book. Just make sure it’s your absolute best work. Remember, this is many readers’ first impression of your writing, so it needs to be polished, professionally edited, and have a cover that looks fantastic.

Now, here’s where it gets a bit tricky. Amazon doesn’t actually let you set your price to zero (wouldn’t that be nice?), but there’s a workaround. You’ll need to make your book free on other platforms first – places like Apple Books, Kobo, or Google Play. Then Amazon will usually price-match it. You can use services like Draft2Digital or Smashwords to help distribute your book to multiple platforms at once.

Making The Most of Your Free Book

Your free book needs to work hard for you. At the end, you want readers thinking, “Wow, I need more!” Here’s how to make that happen:

First, make sure your book ends in a way that naturally leads readers to want the next one. Include a preview of your next book – just enough to leave them eager for more. Add links to where they can buy the next book, and consider offering a free bonus story if they join your email list.

You’ll also want to spread the word about your free book. There are websites dedicated to promoting free books, like Freebooksy and BookBub. Social media can be powerful too – people love sharing good deals with their friends. If you’ve got an email list already, definitely let them know about your free book.

Learning From Success Stories

Look at authors like Hugh Howey, who used this strategy with his Wool series. He made the first part free, and readers were so hooked they couldn’t wait to buy the rest. Or take Bella Andre – she’s used free books to build a massive readership in romance fiction, leading to millions of downloads and a very successful career.

Watch Out For These Pitfalls

There are a few things that can trip you up with this strategy. The biggest one? Making sure all your books maintain the same quality. If your free book is amazing but the paid ones disappoint, readers won’t stick around. Also, don’t just make your book free and hope for the best – you need to actively promote it.

Is This Right For You?

Permafree isn’t a get-rich-quick scheme. It’s a long-term strategy that works by building trust with readers. Think of it as an investment in your future readership. You’re trading short-term profits for long-term gains.

The key is patience and consistency. Keep monitoring how many people download your free book and how many go on to buy the next one. Try different approaches to promoting it, and pay attention to what works best for your specific genre and audience.

Remember, the goal isn’t just to give away a free book – it’s to find devoted readers who’ll stick with you throughout your writing career. When done right, a permafree strategy can help you build exactly that kind of loyal, enthusiastic readership.

Book Marketing

Does Amazon Buy Back Books?

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If you’ve ever looked at your bookshelf and wondered what to do with books you no longer need, you might have considered selling them back to Amazon. But does Amazon actually buy back books? The short answer is no, but with some workarounds. Here’s everything you need to know about Amazon’s book buyback process and alternative options to make the most of your unwanted books.

Amazon’s Textbook Buyback Program (Now Retired)

Amazon used to have a formal textbook buyback program (which it started way back in 2011) where you could sell back used textbooks in exchange for Amazon gift cards. However, this program was discontinued in 2020. So, if you’re specifically looking to sell textbooks, Amazon no longer has a dedicated program for that purpose. Sorry! Textbook Buyback is in the Amazon Graveyard, which we keep track of right here.

Can You Still Sell Books on Amazon?

Yes! While Amazon no longer runs a buyback program, you can still sell books directly on their platform. Here’s how:

1. Sell Books on Amazon as an Individual Seller

We actually have a whole article about selling books on Amazon right here. The gist is this:

You can list your books for sale on Amazon’s Marketplace as an individual seller. Here’s how:

Create an Amazon Seller account if you don’t have one already. There’s only a fee if you go over a certain number of transactions (or want to be a professional seller, which you probably do not). Otherwise they take the fees out of whatever you sell. https://seller.amazon.com

Go to the product page of the book you want to sell.
Click the “Sell on Amazon” button.
Set your price and choose your shipping options.

Keep in mind:

Amazon charges selling fees (usually a percentage of the sale price).
You’ll need to ship the book yourself once it sells.

2. Sell Books on eBay

Another surprisingly decent alternative to Amazon’s marketplace is to sell books on eBay. Yes, eBay is old school, but they have a really huge digital footprint, which basically means your listing will get found (and hopefully bought) very quickly. That’s something!

Here’s how to do that:

Create an eBay account. Your (or your parents) probably have an old one from the 1990s.
Research Pricing: Check similar listings and sold prices on eBay to set a competitive price.

Create a Detailed Listing: Use clear titles, honest descriptions (include condition and defects), and quality photos.
Choose Affordable Shipping: Use options like Media Mail (U.S.) and package books securely to avoid damage.
Promote Your Listings: Share on social media and consider offering free shipping or discounts to attract buyers.

3. Partner with a Third-Party Book Reseller

Some third-party services, like SellBackYourBook.com or BookScouter, work in conjunction with Amazon to help you sell books. These platforms allow you to compare buyback prices from multiple vendors, making it easy to find the best deal.

Tips for Selling Books Successfully

To maximize the value of your books, follow these tips:

Check Condition: Books in excellent condition fetch higher prices. Make sure there are no torn pages, stains, or excessive wear.

Research Market Value: Use tools like BookScouter to compare prices across platforms before listing your book.
Bundle Sets: If you have a series, sell it as a bundle to increase its appeal to buyers.
Take Good Photos: When listing books on Amazon or other platforms, clear and well-lit photos can make a big difference.

TL;DR

While Amazon no longer has a dedicated book buyback program, it still offers avenues to sell books through its Marketplace. Additionally, third-party platforms and local options provide alternatives for selling or donating books. Whether you’re looking to clear shelf space, make a little cash, or support a good cause, there are plenty of ways to give your books a new life.

Advertising Books on Amazon

Amazon KDP Ads– the keyword/ product ad

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ok! Here we are– part 2 in the paid ads series!

I’m hoping you did every single thing on the list in this article, because if you did not, you are going to waste even more money on ads by starting keyword-specific campaigns. Please! Go back and work your way through the list!!

I’m going to trust that you did everything on the list and then ran some low-cost automated targeting ads for a week or two. If you did that and got some conversions, great! Let’s move on. If you did that and didn’t get any sales, go over to this article to try to figure out why. Does your book need a new cover? More reviews? A better description? Is it not competitive in its genre? Don’t shoot the messenger, but I would love for you to solve any egregious problems with your book before you spend any more money on ads.

If you’re totally happy with how your initial Automated Targeting campaign went, frigging great! Let’s proceed to the next step.

Log in to your Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) account and go over to the “Promote and Advertise” part of the specific book you’re working on, OR go to ads.amazon.com and see if they will let you log in over there. Sometimes Amazon gets their sh*t together and consolidates the logins. Worth a try! Also, I know you know where to log in by now, because you’ve been monitoring your automated ad, right? RIGHT?!

Anyhow, find the Automated Targeting ad you ran, click down into the ad itself (which looks like this):

Then look for this section:

You’re looking for two things:

1. Keywords that generate clicks and sales.

2. Products your book has performed well against, and

You’re going to use this information to create a Manual Targeting campaign:

Focus on high-performing keywords identified in your Automated campaign.
Use any product that your book converted against.

Use the keywords from your keyword research and anything you found on Publisher Rocket.

Go through the same interface as when you started the automated ad, then choose “keyword targeting.”

Both of these types of ads work great, and you can run them both at the same time (you’ll need to start them separately). As with all things Amazon, the more specific you get the better, so make sure you are prepared with a good list of keywords and/ or a list of competitive titles. As with the “Automated Targeting” rant, I will encourage you to never ever take Amazon’s default suggestions. Remember, they are trying to make money for themselves, which they do when they sell advertising clicks, not when you sell books.

Here’s an example of how they are going to try to do that in the “Manual” keyword interface:

This is hilarious. If I click the “Add All” button and start this ad, Amazon is going to advertise this book against the words “Book,” “Cookbook,” “Free Books,” “marketing,” “sap,” “how” and “free,” and is going to charge me up to $1.21 PER CLICK for that privilege.

Again, no thank you, and please get ahold of yourself, Amazon. I would be happy to come in for a meeting if you’d like some feedback.

The way to best use this particular interface (and to harness the magic of the Amazon suggested search algorithm) is to switch over to the “Enter list” tab. Switch to “custom bid” and set the bid for something really low like 10 cents. Also, uncheck “Broad” for match type, because that gets us back into “Amazon wilding out and advertising your book against random words” territory again.

Your screen will look like this:

ok, now enter the topic/ genre/ subject of your book, and hold on to your hat! This part is cool.

Well, will you look at that?! Amazon is actually being insightful and helpful. Most of these suggestions are what my book is actually about. I will just repeat this type of search with phrases like “how to market a book” and “marketing self-published books” until I have a list of about 50 keywords. When you get the hang of this you can go up to 100 keywords per campaign, but for right now let’s stop at 50 and get this thing launched.

Nice! You should have a similar list that is related to your book’s subject matter or genre. You can use the names of other authors, other books, and anything else you think might be relevant or get someone to buy your book. Also, if you never filled out the seven keyword slots when you published your books, take some of these great keywords and fill those out right this minute!

Next up is “Negative Targeting,” and we’re skipping that because this is our first ad and we don’t have that kind of insight yet. I swear we’re almost done!

“Campaign bidding strategy” is after that, and I recommend that you choose “Dynamic bids, down only” because you never want to give Amazon permission to spend MORE of your money than your default bid. “Down only” is a good option because that way, Amazon can LOWER your bid to see if doing so will still yield a click. If/ when it does, great! You’ll know that for the future.

You made it! You’re on the very last choice before you can launch this ad!

I know, that was stupid complicated. I feel your pain.

The very last thing we’re going to do is fill out the “Settings” for the ad. Here’s what mine looks like:

Amazon has now moved this down to the very bottom, which is even more problematic for you because you are likely to be fed up by then and miss this “gotcha” moment. The default for this screen is “No End Date,” but you should actually NEVER start a brand new ad with no end date!! Having no end date is going to make you think you can “set it and forget it,” which you absolutely cannot ever do with paid advertising. “No end date” is just Amazon wanting to stick their hand in your pocket and start taking your money from now on, whether or not your ads are working. They are counting on the fact that you are a right-brained creative ADHD type and you will probably a) forget this ad is running, b) forget to check it regularly, and c) never come back to optimize it. So, whatever they are offering you here is what’s going to happen from now on, and I promise you, you’re not going to like it when you get the bill at the end of the month. Remember, you have to pay Amazon for these ads whether or not they result in book sales.

So— change that date to two weeks from the day you start running the ad. You want to schedule this like everything else in your life that costs money and needs maintenance. You wouldn’t enter into an open-ended, paid agreement with no end date with any other company, so don’t do it here.

The second problem is that you have absolutely no idea what to set your daily budget for, and Amazon’s certainly not going to give you any guidance that might discourage you from getting in over your head. They’ll let you set that sucker to $100 a day and spend every penny! They do not care if you sell no books and end up cash flow negative. They made money, so who cares about you?

I advise people to just set this for $5- $10 dollars per day at the beginning and check it every single day. You will have ample (just, so many!) opportunities to raise your daily budget, so start small and manageable and scale up as you gain more knowledge. There is no need to “go big or go home” at this moment in your career.

Shockingly, YOU ARE NOW DONE with your second ad! Hit that beautiful blue “Launch campaign” button at the bottom.

This button right here!! I made the screenshot huge so we could celebrate this moment together.

Book Promotion

This Just In: Amazon Will Disappoint You

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If you’re a self-published author who’s uploaded your book to Amazon and waited for the sales to roll in… well, you’re not alone. I’m going to tell you some stuff right now that you’re probably not going to like, and for that I am very sorry.

Here it is: just putting your book on Amazon is not enough, and it has never been enough. Amazon isn’t a magical bookstore fairy that showers visibility and readers upon every new title, and the fact that you used their book publishing service (Kindle Direct Publishing, or KDP) makes zero difference to them. In fact, those are two completely different businesses that rarely talk to each other. Amazon is, at its core, a marketplace—a very big and busy one—and it’s your job to make sure people actually find your book.

Here’s the thing: Amazon doesn’t care if your book sells. I know, it’s harsh. But Amazon is a business, and their priority is making money from whatever products sell well—books, gadgets, even inflatable unicorn pool floats. If your book isn’t already getting traction, they’re not going to step in and help.

So, what can you do after that terrible realization? Let’s break it down.

Amazon Is a Marketplace, Not a Marketing Machine

This is where a lot of authors go wrong. They think, “I’m on Amazon. That’s exposure, right?” Well… not exactly. Being on Amazon is like putting your book on a shelf in the world’s biggest library. Sure, it’s there—but how will anyone find it among the millions of other books unless you point them to it?

Amazon’s algorithm only works for books that are already selling well or have a lot of reviews. If your book doesn’t have traction, it gets buried under the digital pile. The good news? There are ways to give it a boost.

Step One: Nail Your Keywords

Amazon does give you one important tool: keywords. These are your way of telling the algorithm what kind of readers should see your book. For example, if you’ve written a cozy mystery, your keywords might include “amateur sleuth,” “small-town mystery,” or “cat detective.” (Yes, that’s a thing.)

The key is to think like your reader. What would they type into Amazon when looking for a book like yours? If you’re not sure, use tools like Publisher Rocket or just type keywords into Amazon’s search bar and see what comes up. And don’t be afraid to experiment. If your book isn’t getting found, go back and tweak those keywords. Use Publisher Rocket to help with this. It’s a great asset.

But here’s the thing: even with the perfect keywords, you still need to do more.

Step Two: Drive External Traffic

Amazon loves it when you bring readers to their site. They reward books that generate external traffic because, at the end of the day, more traffic means more sales for them. So how do you get people to click over to your book?

1. Build an Email List

If you don’t already have an email list, start one now. Your email list is like a direct hotline to readers who already love what you do—or who are curious enough to sign up for updates.

One of the best ways to grow your list is by offering a reader magnet. This could be a free short story, a bonus chapter, or even a printable checklist related to your book’s topic. Use a service like MailerLite to set up a sign-up form and start collecting emails. Once you have a list, you can email readers about your new book, sales, or promotions.

2. Use Social Media Strategically

Social media can be a great way to connect with readers—but it works best when you’re consistent. Share behind-the-scenes looks at your writing process, post fun trivia about your book’s genre, or even just engage with readers about things you love.

When it comes time to promote your book, don’t just post a “Buy my book!” link over and over. Create engaging content, like graphics, teasers, or videos, that encourages readers to click.

3. Run Paid Ads

If you don’t have a big audience yet, paid advertising can help. Start small with Amazon Ads to target readers searching for books similar to yours. Facebook and Instagram ads can also work well if you know how to target your ideal audience. Not sure where to start? Try a small budget and test different ad copy and images to see what works.

The Cold Truth About Visibility on Amazon

Amazon is a powerful platform, but it’s not a marketing service. If you upload your book and do nothing else, chances are it’ll just sit there collecting digital dust while you become more frustrated by the day. To succeed, you need to take control of your book’s promotion.

Optimize Your Keywords: This helps Amazon understand where to display your book.
Drive Traffic: Use email lists, social media, and ads to send readers to your book’s page.

Build Momentum: Early reviews and consistent promotion will help your book gain traction.

In Conclusion: It’s On You

Here’s the bottom line: Amazon isn’t going to sell your book for you. That’s your job. But the good news is, you don’t need a giant marketing budget or a huge audience to get started. By focusing on the basics—keywords, traffic, and engagement—you can set your book up for success.

So don’t let your hard work go unnoticed. Take charge of your promotion, and let readers know your book exists. Amazon may not do the heavy lifting for you, but with a little effort, you can make your book stand out in the crowd.

Self-Publishing

Author Marketing Series: Hosting!

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In this video, I talk about the types of hosting you need if you are an author trying to market your website and books.

Now with music!!

Book Marketing

Author Websites: Own Your Name!

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As an author, your name is your brand. It’s how readers identify your work, connect with you, and recommend your books to others. Owning your name as your website domain isn’t just a matter of convenience—it’s a strategic move that can set you apart and solidify your presence in the publishing world. Here’s why owning your own name as a domain is so important and how to make the most of it.

1. Establishes Your Professional Identity

Your name is your calling card as an author. Having a website like YourName.com demonstrates professionalism and signals to readers, agents, and publishers that you take your career seriously. It’s a simple but effective way to build credibility.

What If Your Name Is Taken?
If your ideal domain is already in use, don’t panic. Try these alternatives:

Add “Author” (e.g., JaneDoeAuthor.com).
Use your middle name or initial (e.g., JaneEDoe.com).
Add a relevant keyword, like “Writes” or “Books” (e.g., JaneDoeWrites.com).

Include your genre (e.g., JaneDoeRomance.com or JaneDoeThrillers.com).

The key is to keep it simple, memorable, and reflective of your brand. Adding a genre can help attract the right audience and clarify what type of books you write.

2. Centralizes Your Online Presence

Your website is your home base online, the one-stop shop for everything about you and your books. When readers, media, or industry professionals look for you, they should find a single, cohesive destination where they can:

Learn about your books.
Read your blog or news updates.
Join your email list.

Follow your social media accounts.

Owning your name as a domain ensures that when people search for you, they find you—not someone else with the same name or a third-party site.

3. Protects Your Personal Brand

If you don’t claim your name as a domain, someone else might. It’s not uncommon for unrelated individuals, companies, or even opportunists to register domains that match an author’s name. This can lead to confusion, lost opportunities, and even reputational risks.

Pro Tip: Even if you’re not ready to build a website yet, secure your domain name now. It’s a small investment that can save you big headaches down the road.

4. Makes Marketing Easier

Imagine telling readers, “Visit JaneDoe.com to find all my books and updates.” It’s clean, straightforward, and easy to remember. Compare that to directing them to a long or generic domain like GreatBooksByJaneDoe.com or a social media page. Owning your name streamlines your marketing and reinforces your personal brand.

5. Future-Proofs Your Career

Your writing career will evolve. Today, you might be promoting your debut novel, but what about tomorrow? Owning your name as your domain ensures your website grows with you. Whether you branch into new genres, write under a pen name, or take on other creative projects, your site remains your constant, adaptable hub.

6. Enhances SEO and Discoverability

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is crucial for visibility. When people search for your name, having your own domain ensures your official site ranks higher in search results. This helps potential readers and collaborators find you more easily.

7. Builds a Stronger Connection with Readers

Readers don’t just fall in love with books—they fall in love with authors. By using your name as your domain, you invite readers into your world, making it easier for them to connect with you, learn about your journey, and stay engaged with your work.

How to Get Started

Search for Your Domain: Use a domain registrar like Namecheap to see if your name is available.

Choose the Right Extension: While .com is the most recognizable, extensions like .net, .author, or .books can work if .com isn’t available.
Register Your Domain: Secure it for several years to avoid lapses.
Build Your Website: You can start with a simple landing page featuring your bio, book links, and email signup form. Platforms like WordPress, Squarespace, or Wix make it easy to design a professional site.

Final Thoughts

Owning your name as your domain is one of the smartest investments you can make in your author career. It establishes your credibility, protects your brand, and creates a direct connection with your audience. Whether you’re a first-time author or a seasoned pro, claiming your name is the first step in building a lasting, recognizable presence in the literary world.

So don’t wait—secure your domain and start building your legacy today!

Book Marketing

Marketing Ideas: LinkedIn, Your List, New Social Media, and More!

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Today I’m going to throw out some marketing ideas I’ve been talking to authors about over the past couple of months. These are the ones that have floated to the top as having gotten excellent results. Try one of them to shake up your marketing plan!

LinkedIn: This is one that even I was skeptical about because I’m not on LinkedIn that much, but it really worked. Earlier this year I took a course on LinkedIn (just to brush up) and noticed that they’ve added a “publications” section to profiles. This is something you should definitely go over and fill out, especially if you write non-fiction. I mentioned this to a friend of mine, she put her brand-new eBook into the publications section, and she ended up getting a multi-thousand dollar consulting gig out of it. Pretty great, especially for the five minutes it took to fill that space out. You also will definitely want to syndicate whatever social media you’re doing through LinkedIn’s now-enhanced feed. You can do that through HootSuite or manually. LinkedIn Groups are also a totally underutilized tool for non-fiction authors, in my opinion. Open up your LinkedIn profile today and make some updates!

Your List: We’ve discussed the absolute vital need for you to have a mailing list ad infinitum, but it occurred to me over the weekend that many of you are probably not emailing your lists regularly because a) you don’t know what to say to them/ don’t want to bother them, b) don’t feel like you have enough material for a “newsletter,” or c) have never emailed them so you just feel awkward about the whole thing. I feel your pain, but this is something that is so essential to your success as an author, I would urge you to make an effort to get over that hurdle sooner rather than later. If it helps, stop using the word “newsletter.” Most “newsletters” are too long anyway, and we never end up reading all the content. Try penning a short letter to your list, just about what you’re working on, something that might be helpful to them, or an interesting factoid you learned recently (like about deep fried turkeys, for instance). Those people signed up for your list because they want to hear from you. They know not everything you have to say is Hemingway-like. Just talk to them!

Find a Social Media Site That Fits You: Authors feel like if they’re not into GoodReads, Facebook, or Twitter, they’re never going to get anywhere. So not true! If you try Pinterest and discover that you TOTALLY LOVE IT, then use Pinterest to market your books. The key is to find you something you can live with every day that lets you be your best self, and if you haven’t found that yet, don’t give up! This year saw the introduction of super-short videos (shown on Vine and Instagram), but check Namchk.com for a list of over 150 of them. Keep browsing until you find something you like!

Book Marketing

Nine Jobs for Writers (Paying the Bills)

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We’re all about trying to help you sell more books here at BookPromotion.com, but until you find the “magic formula” that’s going to work to sell more of your books (whether that’s advertising, book bloggers, building your mailing list, growing your social media, or any of the other stuff we talk about), I thought that today I’d give you some ideas for earning some money using those writing/ editing/ design skills. After all, you’re much more likely to be a successful author if you’re not desperate for money and driving yourself bonkers checking your book’s ranking on Amazon every five minutes.

Until you can get to the goal of “author as your full-time gig,” here are some jobs that will allow you the freedom to write and develop your skills further while being paid to do so. Again, I’m not AT ALL trying to discourage you from continuing to write and market your own books. I think you should do both! I just know it can be frustrating when you’re trying to find the exact right marketing plan for your book and you need money for Christmas shopping.

With that in mind, here is a list of jobs for creative type people. I hope one of these is helpful!

1. Graphic designer/ virtual assistant/ PowerPoint maker/ a variety of other “odd job” type jobs. If you had an administrative-type job in an office or you’re one of those super-organized types, a VA job could be a great fit for you. There are still business owners who don’t want to outsource assistant jobs overseas, and if you can take care of someone else’s administrative stuff (for pay) while doing your own (for free), you come out money ahead. Basically you register with Elance, then you get the chance to look at proposals from business owners who need everything from writers to V.A.s to social media managers to part-time accountants and everything in between. The advantage of doing something like this is that it gives you the chance to work on your own schedule and write when you’re not working.

2. Social media assistant/ social media manager. Social media (and former unemployed dance teacher) Kate Buck Jr. now has a six-figure business managing social media for clients. Her “Let’s Get Social” course is inexpensive, packed with information, and comes with coaching calls and a large network of people. I actually require everyone who works for me to take this course, and I took it myself. If you use Twitter or Facebook to communicate with your friends and fellow authors, believe it or not, you are probably already experienced enough to take on this task for clients. The one consistent thing missing from social media is (in my opinion), good writing, so you’ll instantly be providing value. If you’re super skilled, you could even offer this service to other authors, like some of our contributors!

Let’s Get Social course: http://www.letsgetsocial.com/video/

3. Copywriter
I’m assuming you’re here because you wrote a book, which means you’re a writer, right?? If you’re good at copywriting at all, definitely sign up to be a content provider at Elance. You will have to “claim” jobs on each network, but depending on your area of expertise), this can not only be a great source of income, but a chance to build your writing muscles, which will help you with your next book. I actually met a writer last month who ghost-writes eBooks and writes articles through Elance, all while raising six kids and writing books of her own. You guys– she writes 10,000 words PER DAY. That is the power of being paid to write for other people– you quickly lose that “writer’s block,” and this translates very well into your own work.

So, Elance is where I would start with that, and I know some writers who have had luck with these site as well: RealWritingJobs.com and WitMart.com. I have also heard good things about this person’s course (maybe I’m biased because I think all authors should know a little SEO). You also could register (for free) on this site, to get notifications for copywriter jobs in your area.

As you probably know by now, freelance gigs are mostly about networking, but you must have something in your portfolio to show people, so that’s where I would start. You also might want to put a gig or two on Fiverr— you won’t get rich writing articles for $5 a pop, but you will probably pick up “bonus” gigs or residual work if you do a great job. I have personally hired several writers I found on Fiverr for repeat gigs.

4. Affiliate marketer (also known as “Internet Marketer). Internet marketing is a useful skill no matter what you use it for, and once you’re familiar with the concepts of doing keyword research and setting up WordPress sites, it’s fun to continue learning new things as you promote people’s products (which can certainly earn you a full time income). I would say that Marcus Campbell’s Blog Profit Network is the simplest and most straightforward for accomplishing this goal. Basically, this course will teach you how to build sites as well as how to write marketing copy and choose affiliate offers. I think authors need this skill anyway.

5. Photographer. With the hundreds of photos you’ve taken for your blog, you’ve actually learned a little bit about photography and gotten good at it, right? Honestly, digital photography is a real skill that people need-from real estate agents to other moms who want family portraits done to pet photographers to people who need nice photos of their cars for their CraigsList listing. Here is a website where you can find a guide to starting a home-based photography business, since you are probably already doing this for your child, his or her friends, and their soccer team. You could start this by putting together an inexpensive website showcasing your work, or by signing up to contribute to stock photography sites like BigStockPhoto.com or iStockPhoto.com.

6. Designer/ developer. Honestly, it is much more difficult than you think to find an affordable, experienced designer these days. If you found that you absolutely loved putting together your author website, maybe this is a skill you should offer to other authors (or business owners, or just about anyone, actually)! This is something you could definitely sign up to do on Elance. Another way to go with this is to enter (and hopefully win!) web design “contests”. CrowdSpring.com is a site where anyone can participate in design “contests.” The good news: everyone is different, so no matter what kind of designer you are, you will probably be able to find a customer who is receptive to this, plus once you win the contest, chances are that person will not only stay your client, but refer you to their friends. Visit CrowdSpring.com or 99Designs.com to sign up and get started. If you’re looking for leads, you might also want to put a gig or two on Fiverr.com. You won’t get rich doing jobs for five bucks a pop, but if you’re good (and fast), you will start building up leads. I personally have found several designers on Fiverr that I use all the time (for more than $5).

7. Mystery Shopper. Go with me on this. Writers need interesting things to write about, and it’s good for us to get out of the house. Mystery shopping accomplishes both of these goals, plus it pays. Secret shopper is actually a job that stores need, because it gives them valuable feedback on how their employees/ stores are doing and alerts them to things they need to change. This is a job that myself and several of my friends do, because it can make errands pay for themselves and because it’s fun and interesting. Basically, you sign up over at this site, get alerted to jobs in your area, accept them, and go! You’ll need strong writing and organizational skills (and probably a camera), but it’s interesting work and you’ll never have the same day twice. Try it! Personally, I once reviewed a grocery store, a bank, and a fancy watch store all in the same day, just because I was in the area. This type of job will also build your writing skills, because you have to turn in reports on deadline.

8. Public Sector Job. I know, this one doesn’t really count as a job you can do from home, but I thought I would include it because a) there seem to be a lot of part time public sector jobs available right now, and b) some of them require writing skills, so it could offer you some extra money and still be a way of developing your writing. Here is a site where you can find more info on that.

9. Santa’s Elf. I’m kind of kidding about this one, but there actually ARE a lot of seasonal jobs out there, and if you’ve ever read David Sedaris’ “Santaland Diaries,” you’ll recognize that the more absurd the job, the more fodder for excellent writing in the future. Seriously– I have had many, many jobs, and the weirdest ones make the best stories.

Self-Publishing

My Year-Long Blog Challenge: Lessons Learned (Part 1)

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In case you don’t know me, almost one year ago I committed to writing a blog post every single day of this year (2013). I chose my blog “Funny Strange” to write on. That blog has been around for about eight years and gets good traffic, but I was trying to see how much better it could get it if I put a daily effort into it. After all, I wrote a whole book called “How to Market a Book,” so I wanted to lead by example.

I am now approximately two weeks away from completing this goal, and I’d like to tell you about how it’s been going! I will of course share the “final final” results and lessons learned after the year is over, but I thought I would give you some preliminaries now.

Part of the reason I undertook this challenge was so I could be informed when I talked to authors who “simply do not have the time to blog 2-3 times per week.” I always suspected this was a BS statement, and so I set out to prove that keeping your blog active is something you not only SHOULD do, but that it can become something that is a natural part of your life.

Here’s how that’s been going:

1. Yes, it was hard to get into the habit. I run this business, consult for several companies, write books, and manage this website. I was trying not to make excuses, so I downloaded Wunderlist (an awesome to-do list app thing) on my phone and iPad. I made “blog post” a line item that recurs every day, and I actually get great satisfaction in checking it off.

2. Pre-scheduling is your friend. When I was really on a roll with writing, I found that I could write about five posts on different topics.

3. Pictures can sometimes be just as good as words. A couple of times a week, I put a funny photo up on Instagram. I set it up so the photo then gets pulled through my blog and goes out through social media, and sometimes I go back in and write some thoughts about it. These photos often lead to funny comments and conversations, so my readers stay engaged.

4. You don’t have to WRITE every single word. Sometimes I get an idea for a post while I’m out and about, and since I was under the gun to produce every single day, I forced myself to learn the “voice record” function on my iPhone. That has actually been a life-saver, although I will say that I have to go back through and edit almost everything, because the dictation function can only do so much. This definitely helped with the fear of staring at a blank screen every single morning.

5. Practice makes perfect (or at least better). It’s true, I was cursing myself for this challenge a few times throughout the year, but it really was a great tool for just making me write every single day, whether I was in the mood / inspired. I think that making writing a daily part of our lives is really important, and I’m glad this challenge did that for me.

So– that’s it for today’s update. I’m thinking about a new challenge for 2014, and I would love to know yours! Are you going to blog every day? Produce a book? Now’s the time to start thinking about it!