While the sample set was not large, the results were interesting. Thanks to those that participated in the poll I posted last week.
If you missed that opportunity, it’s not too late to do so – you can find the poll questions here, and if additional folks do so, I’ll update the data below.
The purpose of the poll was to try to find out which promotional methods really work. Not surprisingly, word of mouth came out on top, with 27% of respondents including this in their list of techniques that directly produce sales. Close behind were book reviews.
| General word of mouth |
9
|
27% |
| Book Reviews |
8
|
24% |
| Kindle Countdown/Kindle Free Days |
6
|
18% |
| Releasing a new title (synergy with existing titles) |
3
|
9% |
| Other? |
2
|
6% |
| Newsletters (your book for free) |
2
|
6% |
| having a book reading |
1
|
3% |
| Other |
1
|
3% |
| Kindle Worlds |
1
|
3% |
| Newsletters (your book at a discount), e.g., BookBub, ERT, etc. |
1
|
3% |
| Advertising |
0
|
0% |
It would be very interesting to run the same poll again with a larger sample size, and also qualify some of the questions more closely. For example, it would have been more illuminating if I had asked each question only for those respondents that had actually tried the technique in question. As a result, it may be that the poll may be equally informative to read as asking this question: “What promotional techniques have you tried?”
Assuming I can find a way to boost the number of participants, I’ll try this little experiment again with an expanded list of questions. The fact that I’ve just been invited to join quite a large social media author’s group may do just that.
The Lafayette Campaign
A Tale of Deception and Elections
Only $2.99. Read sample chapters here
Sounds like you’re learning as much about how to ask survey questions as the answers to the questions themselves right now, that’s pretty neat. Hope your new social group provides lots of great info, thanks Andy.
Right you are, Adan. Also learning more about what free tools are available to use for this purpose.
Interesting poll results, Andy. Thank you.
Is this delaying the outlining for Book 3? I hope not!
Ah, Marcus – you’re a ruthless taskmaster!
I know the general plot for Book 3; I even believe that it’s even important that I write Book 3, because it relates to a very serious vulnerability that the U.S. and Europe are rushing pell mell into, but which no one is focusing on (another one of those “inconvenient truth” things). But I have not started Book 3 yet. It’s hard to get back on the treadmill.
Hopefully the fit will come upon me soon. I’ll keep you posted.
Meanwhile, ahem, I’ll look forward to Book 2 from one Marcus Case. The arrival of which is anxiously anticipated.