tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7047843651411739466.post2139189350657664916..comments2024-03-28T12:11:42.691-04:00Comments on For What It's Worth: my monday musings: Book promo Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13958940283330319507noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7047843651411739466.post-40760812843846185652018-06-06T08:44:05.143-04:002018-06-06T08:44:05.143-04:00Quote: "but then again why are they popular? ...Quote: "but then again why are they popular? Are they already talking about what everyone wants to read and then sneak in a few smaller, less publicized titles?".<br />Ah, to have the answer to that question. I've often wondered about the reason why some bloggers are popular...except, more often than not, I suppose their being popular is more of a "getting a lot of hits from friends and the likes" thing than anything...not being real "influencers". Because as you said, maybe a very small percentage of those friends actually buy a book they recommended...Roberta R.https://www.blogger.com/profile/18228840429799100354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7047843651411739466.post-28372150435645731212018-05-20T19:36:17.690-04:002018-05-20T19:36:17.690-04:00I'm not the biggest fan of promo posts, mostly...I'm not the biggest fan of promo posts, mostly those that are cookie cutters. Blitzes sound like fun but I don't find them to be effective. I like promo posts that provide unique content like playlists, interviews, mood boards, things like that. I definitely wish that publishers/authors care more about the posts too.Amber Elisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00671652212967695538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7047843651411739466.post-47907640404273767182018-05-20T11:09:29.474-04:002018-05-20T11:09:29.474-04:00Yeah. They've gotten pretty generic. When I do...Yeah. They've gotten pretty generic. When I do them I tend to stick with reviews and only for books I'm truly interested in or authors I've loved in the past.Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13958940283330319507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7047843651411739466.post-52994988775522718272018-05-20T11:08:29.933-04:002018-05-20T11:08:29.933-04:00But I think there's a trickle *up* factor too....But I think there's a trickle *up* factor too. I know I've mentioned books to people with more followers and then they blog about it and then it passes up the chain so it all helps. <br /><br />But also, some books just aren't going to appeal to large numbers of readers. I've blogged about books from all levels of the publishing spectrum & there are certain tropes/genres etc that take hold and others don't except for niche readers. <br /><br />Like I said in my post - I did posts about smaller titles (and this was back when I had a lot of pageviews in general) but those posts got next to nothing in comments and views unless I really gushed about them but even so - if it's not what people are into at a given time it doesn't matter.<br /><br />For example - I read/review quite a bit of M/M romance. I could scream from the hilltops to you about how great a book is. You are not going to read it (& neither are most of my followers). <br /><br />I don't know...I don't think it's quite as simple as being popular (although it helps - but then again why are they popular? Are they already talking about what everyone wants to read and then sneak in a few smaller, less publicized titles?).<br /><br />Ok....I'm rambling now and my train of thought is running all over the place but there are probably several reasons (like short attention spans, various platforms are more popular than blogging) and answers to this so I'll just stop. lolKarenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13958940283330319507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7047843651411739466.post-59385556936872864652018-05-20T10:28:09.398-04:002018-05-20T10:28:09.398-04:00Quote: "Maybe we're a jaded group??? So i...Quote: "Maybe we're a jaded group??? So it doesn't work on US??"<br />LOL, very likely!<br /><br />Quote: "I still think that the promo that does work is when someone specific - a blogger (usually a bigger one) etc personally endorses/likes the book. Then people start paying attention and the hype begins."<br />That makes a lot of sense. That's why I'm sad about being only a small fish in the blogging sea...Then again, how many times a bigger blogger endorses an underhyped/unknown book? Not to be snarky or anything, but usually it's us smaller ones who care for stuff hardly anyone else seems to know about LOL.<br /><br />(My) quote: "I realise know".<br />Aaargh, the awful typo.<br /><br />Roberta R.https://www.blogger.com/profile/18228840429799100354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7047843651411739466.post-37146337917575043372018-05-19T01:34:41.322-04:002018-05-19T01:34:41.322-04:00Ahh! Thanks for the mention! I'm not big on th...Ahh! Thanks for the mention! I'm not big on the promo tours. It really is hard after 2-3 of the exact same post to visit yet another to support a blogger friend and come up with something to say. And when they do hundreds of participating blogs with the exact same thing. Ah! lol<br /><br />Anna (herding cats-burning soup)https://www.blogger.com/profile/17422129120413380189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7047843651411739466.post-74509108138907015072018-05-17T13:34:08.826-04:002018-05-17T13:34:08.826-04:00Nooooo! I like the random bookish and pet pics on ...Nooooo! I like the random bookish and pet pics on Instagram. I don't want to see blitzes on my feed. Those people will get unfriended.Bark At The Ghoulshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05201971932093705929noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7047843651411739466.post-5045271404923564452018-05-17T11:47:30.811-04:002018-05-17T11:47:30.811-04:00I don't care about the pageview drop so much a...I don't care about the pageview drop so much as I'm genuinely curious as to what *would* work. It's so much effort and if the goal is to get people to try the book and no one reads the post...Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13958940283330319507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7047843651411739466.post-3028771595843519312018-05-16T11:26:57.826-04:002018-05-16T11:26:57.826-04:00I like to promo books that I like the look of and ...I like to promo books that I like the look of and want to read. I also like to post upcoming books from authors that I have enjoyed in the past (if I think the new release looks interesting). I never use the quick copy/paste html posts that promo companies send out as I like to cut out some of the junk and make it work for me and my blog.<br />I think promo posts are important for getting lesser known authors some visibility. I realise that some will just ghost over them - and they do get less comments - but I don't mind. :)Niccihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12122972546470154598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7047843651411739466.post-6486102774640489882018-05-16T10:34:45.577-04:002018-05-16T10:34:45.577-04:00I like your Shelf Envy posts (I linked to it) beca...I like your Shelf Envy posts (I linked to it) because those tell me so much about an author and I've looked up almost everyone you've featured so far. Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13958940283330319507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7047843651411739466.post-37955767859321002462018-05-16T10:33:35.301-04:002018-05-16T10:33:35.301-04:00I'm so curious about it though. Like...it must...I'm so curious about it though. Like...it must work in the sense that ads etc do sell books (& all things or else no one would do it). If you see something enough it's now on your radar - for good or bad. Maybe we're a jaded group??? So it doesn't work on US??<br /><br />Of course, the promo posts did work years ago when there were less bloggers and it felt fresher. Now it's a well oiled machine that feels more slick and curated than fun.<br /><br />But like you said - it's really hard to promote those smaller/indie reads. They need coverage but if no one reads it unless they already like the author...I don't know where to go with that. My indie promo posts went nowhere! And they were so much effort to put together. <br /><br />I still think that the promo that does work is when someone specific - a blogger (usually a bigger one) etc personally endorses/likes the book. Then people start paying attention and the hype begins.<br /><br />*shrugs* I really don't have an answer. But keep it short and fun seems to be the consensus of where to start anyway.Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13958940283330319507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7047843651411739466.post-31025037789595239352018-05-16T10:23:40.642-04:002018-05-16T10:23:40.642-04:00I'm much more inclined to read a book when an ...I'm much more inclined to read a book when an author is doing something completely unrelated to their book. A fun personality goes way further for me to give them a try.Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13958940283330319507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7047843651411739466.post-46488654996799518002018-05-16T10:22:21.641-04:002018-05-16T10:22:21.641-04:00I find those posts fun when I'm looking for a ...I find those posts fun when I'm looking for a romance author for some reason. I love humor and a lot of those lists give me insight to their personality and the way they write. Event hen though - it has to be something that grabs my attention and it's rare. Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13958940283330319507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7047843651411739466.post-26501085665496261472018-05-15T21:57:58.790-04:002018-05-15T21:57:58.790-04:00I don't do a lot of these, tbh. I only do a ye...I don't do a lot of these, tbh. I only do a yearly one with Simon & Schuster for their Timeless Tour. So unless I get invited, then accept their blog tour, I always try to do something other than the norm. Joy https://www.blogger.com/profile/08176549392514186645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7047843651411739466.post-73537878249259308812018-05-15T16:45:35.623-04:002018-05-15T16:45:35.623-04:00Sorry I'm late...but this (fab) post deserved ...Sorry I'm late...but this (fab) post deserved a little more time and ease for me to comment.<br /><br />In 5 years and a half, I've only posted 25 Blurb/Cover/Excerpt Reveals-Guest Posts-Interviews-Book Teasers. Most of them were for favourite authors/authors I've developed a close relationship with (B.C. Johnson, Erin Callahan and Troy H. Gardner). Only in a couple of instances I hadn't read the book prior to posting. I can't care less about having a promo post just for the sake of numbers, even if it wasn't hard work all the same (formatting, as everyone has already pointed out, is a living hell) and if it enhanced my stats (which, everyone admitted, is not likely to happen). I will admit I'm guilty of posting long interviews or excerpts occasionally. I realise know that anything too long is not a blogger's friend...though even my reviews are too long...but I digress.<br /><br />Personally, I may look into a promo post of sorts if the book sounds up my alley. But (as everyone seems to agree about) it's got to have a personal touch. I do believe blitzes are bound to backfire at this point, because our feeds are full of stuff, and to have duplicates of said stuff on top of that is kind of annoying. Plus, if they're just blurbs or the same 3 excerpts recurring, see one, see all. It's not like having the same book shoved at me repeatedly in a few hours, or even days, will convince me to read it (quite the contrary LOL).<br /><br />So, the general consensus here seems to be short personalised posts, fun (and equally short) interviews and maybe a few quotes...I'll keep that in mind for the future 😉.<br /><br />As for fresh ways to promote books, I don't know...I hosted a Making the Cover guest post once, but it's not like it got many hits. I suppose it's the thing you should expect when people haven't heard of the book already, but isn't it the point of promo posts? to spread the word about unheard-of novels?<br /><br />Juicy post! 😃<br />Roberta R.https://www.blogger.com/profile/18228840429799100354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7047843651411739466.post-48114038776318870922018-05-15T15:45:55.065-04:002018-05-15T15:45:55.065-04:00The way I see it, an author is just a random stran...The way I see it, an author is just a random stranger I don't know? So I don't really care what their fave movies are or w/e. Unless I've read some of their books, in which case they seem like less of a complete stranger, and I might be curious to know more about them. But that's why I generally prefer interviews/guest posts that focus more on the book or something related.Kit @ Metaphors and Moonlighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10113986982046115579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7047843651411739466.post-74681085199642258642018-05-15T13:25:19.963-04:002018-05-15T13:25:19.963-04:00This is an interesting one. I much prefer it when ...This is an interesting one. I much prefer it when an author isn't promoting their book, like you say. I want to see them and see if I like them because I can read about their book anywhere. In fact, I wanted to read Whitney Gardner's You're Welcome Universe after she did a New Year post over at Pop Goes the Reader. I mean, sometimes it's fun to see someone talk about the inspiration behind a book or to see an excerpt but, as a whole, I like to get to know the face behind the book and find out their influences or read an bloggers thoughts about why they're excited for a book.Becky Bakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14938602345709426466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7047843651411739466.post-34035740100460419132018-05-15T08:17:36.441-04:002018-05-15T08:17:36.441-04:00Thanks. It's weird because I think they did wo...Thanks. It's weird because I think they did work years ago but maybe there are just too many or we're all too busy...I don't know but it feels like a waste of time now.Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13958940283330319507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7047843651411739466.post-12602043191125683282018-05-15T08:16:36.725-04:002018-05-15T08:16:36.725-04:00This is what happened to me. Something looked good...This is what happened to me. Something looked good so I would help promote it then hate it and feel like a jerk if someone bought it thinking I rec'd it. <br /><br />I do them very rarely and usually for authors I have worked with before or I know I love the book.Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13958940283330319507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7047843651411739466.post-72498795764034548392018-05-15T08:14:53.661-04:002018-05-15T08:14:53.661-04:00It really is! It seems like it would be easy. Cut....It really is! It seems like it would be easy. Cut.Paste. lol But it NEVER is! <br /><br />I don't mind interviews or lists if it's revealing and says something about how the author thinks. Then I'll take the next step and check out the book or read a few reviews.<br /><br />But it's hard to grab my attention for something I have no prior interest in.Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13958940283330319507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7047843651411739466.post-39886048884146362482018-05-15T08:12:37.190-04:002018-05-15T08:12:37.190-04:00It wouldn't be so bad to dot hem if I felt the...It wouldn't be so bad to dot hem if I felt they worked but it seems like all the effort is wasted.<br />I think our personal endorsement or a short/fun post by the author goes farther to help sales.<br />I know the tour groups can get word of mouth out there but if I see any one thing too often in my timelines I glaze over - especially if it's from people I don't know. Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13958940283330319507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7047843651411739466.post-55162616646144825432018-05-15T06:59:12.747-04:002018-05-15T06:59:12.747-04:00I totally agree with you on all of your points and...I totally agree with you on all of your points and I love Carole's new post Books From The Backlog. I am cutting back on promo/spotlight posts from tours and only have a few scheduled in June. Great post!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17347142236227831576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7047843651411739466.post-25639622652010001252018-05-15T03:48:11.425-04:002018-05-15T03:48:11.425-04:00i used to do all the cover reveals and blitzes for...i used to do all the cover reveals and blitzes for any book that piqued my interest, but then i got tired of putting them together especially when i ended up not liking the book as much as i thought i would when i finally read them. so i stopped doing them altogether. then i decided i'm only going to do cover reveals and blitzes for my favorite authors because i do want to to highlight these books that i am genuinely anticipating despite not having as many views. they're more self-serving than anything else i guess because i do like going back and seeing the books i was excited for in the past.<br /><br />btw, thank you for stopping by my blog and commenting. sorry it took me so long to reciprocate<br /><br />-Michelle<br /><a href="https://booksandmakeup.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Undeniably Book Nerdy</a>Michelle Santiagohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00040069428575572352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7047843651411739466.post-34573779908521275382018-05-14T16:55:19.293-04:002018-05-14T16:55:19.293-04:00Ugh the cutting and pasting IS a lot of work to ge...Ugh the cutting and pasting IS a lot of work to get everything formatted correctly, which is why I rarely participate in blog tours. And those posts end up being super long with all sorts of quotes of praise about the book. <br /><br />When it comes to reading them, I like reviews from bloggers I follow. I don't care for lists if it's an author whose book I've never even read. I like interviews if the questions are tailored more about the book/author, but I'm not all that interested in the generic question interviews. Guest posts can be interesting, but it really depends what the author is talking about. If the post is just the cover and blurb, then I just don't even know what I'm supposed to comment. So it's really hit or miss for me I guess.Kit @ Metaphors and Moonlighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10113986982046115579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7047843651411739466.post-18194993081346096592018-05-14T16:53:54.177-04:002018-05-14T16:53:54.177-04:00I agree about blitzes. I used to participate in a ...I agree about blitzes. I used to participate in a lot of them, way back when I first started blogging. It didn't take long to realize that no one was actually reading them! :/ It's bizarre to me that authors pay for blitz promotions when it doesn't feel like they make much of a difference. Great post!Tracy https://www.blogger.com/profile/10715236765292209452noreply@blogger.com