Promoting your book

[rod seeber]

Hi there, I was wondering if anyone here has discussed the option of your book being promoted by a website solely dedicated to promoting the book?

My site situated in the signature line is going to add installments on how to go about it and I do think for a small amount of time and about $60 tax deductible a year and you can do it for each of your books , I am of the belief this is a sound strategy as part of a book promotion

Any views on this ?

I think the cost benefit is well worth it and unlike facebook you have a little more freedom in style ....etc
Although I am planning to show how to add the facebook like button to your own site as well

[Jena Grace]

The problem is getting people to seek out this website. If you're going to spend that much money, why not have a website in your own name where you can publicize all of your books?

[rod seeber]

I do not think that $60 a year and about $8 per domain name is all that much of a cost, keeping in mind you are indexed by google, bing, and yahoo. Each of the sites can link to each other adding further promotion, you can also install plugins aimed a seo (search engine optimization) The thing about a website in your name is that its 'your name' and yes it is an option and the info i am supplying on my site is still applicable. Basically it's a case of all eggs in one basket or spreading them out. Worth noting the web is a valuable resource in a world that is only getting more and more people online, this just one option

[Thandi Makhubela]

Hi Rob
I think getting your own website will be a lot better. How will people reach that web? Will what you propose really promote the book/s?

Thandi

[Jena Grace]

I'll stick to the one basket theory.

[Emily MacGowan]

Hi rod,

Starting to read like a sales pitch....

Anyway, the way to market your self-published book is definitely through blogging these days, it seems. You send your book (plus gifts, ponies, magic and roses) to popular book bloggers and beg them to talk about it (and pray that the review ends up being favorable). That's what Amanda Hocking did.

If your website has more hits than a good book blog, then maybe it would be helpful. I wouldn't use it, though, as a reader. Why go to a site and read advertising when I can read a review by someone whose opinions I respect and enjoy reading?

[C K]

Rod,

You may be a bit confused about indexing. There are plenty of sites and third-parties that charge for indexing, but the fact is that google and the ilk are actively involved in indexing all on their own. Put your own site up for two days and it will be indexed, poof, my magic. Search engines already have a financial incentive to index your site. You don't need pay for it.

Also with your own site, you've got all the freedom available to coding to make your site what you wish.

I'm not actual sure what you're asking. It's silly to pay for indexing as an author. Readers are either going to search for author name or book title. It's hardly nuanced. It's silly to play for "more freedom" than facebook when you can just code with free or low-cost software that gives you complete freedom.