Win, Win, Win
Being a winner is a great feeling.
One way to help promote interest in a book is to give something away through a contest.
The winners feel special.
It’s different from just giving the book away for free with KDP Select. With a Select freebie, everyone gets the book for free. Through a contest, only the lucky winner gets something free.
When the book is free for everyone, it tends to be valued less. When you win something, it tends to be valued more.
People who enter the contest, but don’t win, have learned about the book. The contest provides exposure, creates buzz, and helps with branding.
As with all marketing, it works best when readers in your target audience participate.
You still have to promote. People won’t come out of the woodwork, marching zombie-style to your contest.
But promoting a contest or giveaway may be a little easier than promoting your regularly-priced book. You might find bloggers and websites willing to help promote your contest.
The prize can be a free copy of your book, an autographed copy, a special edition, a bookmark, or a t-shirt, for example. The idea is to give something that the target audience will value to help stir interest in your book.
One popular website for arranging contests is Rafflecopter. Charles E. Yallowitz, author of the Legends of Windemere sword and sorcery series, presently has an amazing Rafflecopter giveaway running through the end of February. This was put together by Danielle Taylor.
There are over two dozen prizes, including many great books and a $10 Amazon gift card. (Charles E. Yallowitz has his Legends of Windemere books participating, Danielle Taylor has entered her books, one of my books, A Visual Guide to Extra Dimensions, in color and in paperback, is participating, and there are over two dozen others.)
Click here to see and enter the giveaway.
Another way to give a few free books is through a Goodreads giveaway. Some recipients will post reviews or ratings at Goodreads. Several people will mark the book as to-read. Reviews on Amazon aren’t as likely.
Publishing Resources
I started this blog to provide free help with writing, publishing, and marketing. You can find many free articles on publishing and marketing by clicking one of the following links:
Chris McMullen, Author of A Detailed Guide to Self-Publishing with Amazon and Other Online Booksellers
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chrismcmullen 
Reblogged this on Year 'Round Thanksgiving Project and commented:
Some good books are being given away in this promotion – check it out!
Like a whole shelf from a bookstore. 🙂
Reblogged this on Legends of Windemere and commented:
Win, Win, Win sums it up pretty nicely.
Great odds, too. 🙂
Reblogged this on Beneath The Headstone and commented:
This interesting piece introduced me to a new service (Rafflecopter) and contains many good links for readers and authors alike. Definitely worth checking out! 🙂
Awesome giveaway!
Reader’s paradise, imo. 🙂
Hi, Charles has been a long time friend here; may I re-blog this on your behalf and help to promote him at the same time?
Certainly. We’ll even throw in a big THANK YOU and some smiles. 🙂 🙂
Grin!
Reblogged this on ReadTuesday and commented:
Win one of many nice books. With so many prizes, the odds might even be in your favor… 🙂
Reblogged this on Busy Mind Thinking and commented:
In support of great friends and terrific ideas…I re-blog.
Thank you for your support. 🙂 An extra smile just because. 🙂
Just because is the greatest reason there is for everything, smiles. You’re most welcome.
Sounds like a great idea Chris. I’ll definitely give it some thought before I do my next one. By the way, today is the last day of my give-away: http://kevs-domain.net/2014/02/18/it-ends-today-people/ if you’re interested. 🙂
You have a nice image on your cover. Good luck with your promotion. 🙂
Thanks Chris!