I suppose it’s clear to anyone in business that the first thing you need is a product. After that you’ve got to get it to market. Now assuming your product is worth putting it on the market, the first question to ask is how. That’s the struggle I’m dealing with as the solo writer who is without an agent or decent contacts.
I’ve been tracking how many books I’ve sold since Minus Epsilon went live in December 2013, and when you break it down to sales per month, it makes for sober reading:
Minus Epsilon: 1157 days (roughly)—130 books sold—8.9 days between a sale
Defiant Order: 580 days (roughly)—64 books sold—9.06 days between a sale
Horizons: 427 days (roughly)—36 books sold—1.86 days between a sale
Remnants of Empire: 152 days (roughly)—18 books sold—8.4 days between a sale
It’s enough to drive a man insane. At least the trend is drifting in the right direction with book IV!
Now, part of the problem is the lack of advertising or marketing on my part. Sure, it needs to be done, but it needs to be done properly. As we speak I’m on stand-by, waiting for a friend to help me launch the most awesome advertising campaign of 2017. It’s the waiting part that isn’t fun.
I suppose when you’re an artist, or struggling writer, people ask how you’re getting on and occasionally offer help. Well after 3 years the only help I’ve received is obvious advice (get an agent), and tech support. Hell, I wouldn’t be where I am now without tech support.
Do I need an agent, quite possibly, but that isn’t the focus of 2017. This is the year of the Facebook Ad campaign, whenever that takes off. It’ll be glorious!
All I can do right now is to keep trucking with book V and the spin-off. Perhaps things will pick-up, or a contact will finally come through with a real lead on something. Perhaps.
Can’t hold our breath.
Anyway, dear readers, you heard it here first, off the record, on the QT and very hush-hush.
PS: If my arithmetic is off, sorry. I hate maths.
