And now for my last book-focused
site: BookBub. This site is similar to the Fussy Librarian. It has a subscription
element for readers and a marketing aspect for writers. It’s a giant in the
book newsletter subscription market.
site: BookBub. This site is similar to the Fussy Librarian. It has a subscription
element for readers and a marketing aspect for writers. It’s a giant in the
book newsletter subscription market.
Readers, through a subscription
to the newsletter, can get lists of discounted and free books either weekly or
daily in a wide variety of genres. The website also displays current deals on
the main page. Users can both receive emails about discounts or just view the
site. (Great for keeping the inbox tidy.) Readers can follow authors and
receive notifications when new or discount titles are available. Recommendations
can be focused by type of book (digital, print, etc.), genre, and specific
author. And all titles, other than the new releases, are discounted or free. A
reader’s paradise!
to the newsletter, can get lists of discounted and free books either weekly or
daily in a wide variety of genres. The website also displays current deals on
the main page. Users can both receive emails about discounts or just view the
site. (Great for keeping the inbox tidy.) Readers can follow authors and
receive notifications when new or discount titles are available. Recommendations
can be focused by type of book (digital, print, etc.), genre, and specific
author. And all titles, other than the new releases, are discounted or free. A
reader’s paradise!
Authors can do well with this
site. If your book is published, create an account, and put your profile out
there. Again, use the same headshot from other social media. Add details like
your book(s), but also write up a great bio. Tell what genres you write in.
site. If your book is published, create an account, and put your profile out
there. Again, use the same headshot from other social media. Add details like
your book(s), but also write up a great bio. Tell what genres you write in.
Then for the meat—favorite books.
It’s best to keep your favorite
lists to books within your genre and newer books. This keeps your profile fresh and shows that
you read in your genre. It can also help you connect to others of the same
genre.
lists to books within your genre and newer books. This keeps your profile fresh and shows that
you read in your genre. It can also help you connect to others of the same
genre.
Speaking of, follow those authors
and other authors of your genre on BookBub. Not only will this assist you in
finding great new books to read but also connect you with the writing
community. Following an author adds them to your notifications list. You will
be notified when they have a sale or a new book.
and other authors of your genre on BookBub. Not only will this assist you in
finding great new books to read but also connect you with the writing
community. Following an author adds them to your notifications list. You will
be notified when they have a sale or a new book.
Now recommend books. Pick out
half a dozen books (or more) in your genre and recommend them. Write up a great
review and share it. Authors helping authors in this way can eventually come
back to you. (Don’t expect other authors to automatically review/recommend your
book if you do theirs. But it can’t hurt to share some love.)
half a dozen books (or more) in your genre and recommend them. Write up a great
review and share it. Authors helping authors in this way can eventually come
back to you. (Don’t expect other authors to automatically review/recommend your
book if you do theirs. But it can’t hurt to share some love.)
So why invest at BookBub rather
than Fussy Librarian? For one, the larger subscriber’s list. But really, it’s the
deals! Featured Deals can get you on a bestseller list if you play your cards
right. They are like precious stones. Expensive, beautiful, and profitable (okay,
the metaphor doesn’t work on that last one…) There are several kinds of deals:
ads on the bottom of the page, a Featured Deals, and Featured New Releases. Featured
deals can change an author’s career, but it’s not easy to grab one.
than Fussy Librarian? For one, the larger subscriber’s list. But really, it’s the
deals! Featured Deals can get you on a bestseller list if you play your cards
right. They are like precious stones. Expensive, beautiful, and profitable (okay,
the metaphor doesn’t work on that last one…) There are several kinds of deals:
ads on the bottom of the page, a Featured Deals, and Featured New Releases. Featured
deals can change an author’s career, but it’s not easy to grab one.
How to get a BookBub deal. Persistence
is the key thing to winning a deal. They are difficult to get and you must be
ready to really invest in your book. Book deals must meet certain criteria
including: discounted at last 50%, be the best deal available for the title, error-free, a limited-time deal (with some perma-free exceptions), appropriate
length for genre (150 pages for fiction), widely available, and not offered for
the last six months on BookBub. Even if your book meets all these benchmarks,
it still might not be chosen. Keep resubmitting unless there is an underlying
problem with the book.
is the key thing to winning a deal. They are difficult to get and you must be
ready to really invest in your book. Book deals must meet certain criteria
including: discounted at last 50%, be the best deal available for the title, error-free, a limited-time deal (with some perma-free exceptions), appropriate
length for genre (150 pages for fiction), widely available, and not offered for
the last six months on BookBub. Even if your book meets all these benchmarks,
it still might not be chosen. Keep resubmitting unless there is an underlying
problem with the book.
Cost for the Deals. The pricing
page here
at BookBub can give you an idea of the cost for your book. Prices vary by
genre and discount level. The list shows how many subscribers for each genre. Free
books are less expensive. But if you don’t have a series to go with the free
book, you won’t see much of a return on your investment. Book Bub Deals work
best when you have a backlist to go with a free or deeply discounted book.
page here
at BookBub can give you an idea of the cost for your book. Prices vary by
genre and discount level. The list shows how many subscribers for each genre. Free
books are less expensive. But if you don’t have a series to go with the free
book, you won’t see much of a return on your investment. Book Bub Deals work
best when you have a backlist to go with a free or deeply discounted book.
Featured New Releases also has a
cost based on the genre and subscribers list. All authors can help the New
Release option. This will tell people who follow you that you released a new
book. Featured New Release will go out to all BookBub subscribers, a huge
audience. To be Featured, you must submit your title to the editorial team as
you would with a Featured Deal. Even if you don’t get chosen, still use the New
Release option to tell your followers you have a new item for purchase. (These
do not have to be discounted.)
cost based on the genre and subscribers list. All authors can help the New
Release option. This will tell people who follow you that you released a new
book. Featured New Release will go out to all BookBub subscribers, a huge
audience. To be Featured, you must submit your title to the editorial team as
you would with a Featured Deal. Even if you don’t get chosen, still use the New
Release option to tell your followers you have a new item for purchase. (These
do not have to be discounted.)
Ads are more confusing (at least
to me) because they work on an auction system. Ads, which end up at the bottom
of the newsletter and on the webpage, are given to the highest bidder at the time
of publication. I’m not sure how this boils down to actual cost. My thought is
it’s an auction, you could pay anything. They are a great info section here about
the content of ads. If I ever learn to do these ads, I promise to make another post.
to me) because they work on an auction system. Ads, which end up at the bottom
of the newsletter and on the webpage, are given to the highest bidder at the time
of publication. I’m not sure how this boils down to actual cost. My thought is
it’s an auction, you could pay anything. They are a great info section here about
the content of ads. If I ever learn to do these ads, I promise to make another post.
But Ginny! I’m not ready to spend
that kind cash yet or I only have one book. No worries. Still create an
account, follow other authors, make recommendations, get free books. Someday,
you’ll be ready to launch a Featured Deal. For now, lay the groundwork!
that kind cash yet or I only have one book. No worries. Still create an
account, follow other authors, make recommendations, get free books. Someday,
you’ll be ready to launch a Featured Deal. For now, lay the groundwork!
Thanks for this post, Ginny. I've got a reader account and an author account and am all at sea at how to use either effectively.
Small steps to get yourself going. Like some authors, favorite some books.
Thanks. I have begun liking authors and figured to start doing that with books.