What Are YOU Doing to Juice Your Backlist?

writeway
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Posts: 485

What Are YOU Doing to Juice Your Backlist? Jul 23, 2021 6:21:44 GMT K'Sennia Visitor and tweek like this

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Post by writeway on Jul 23, 2021 6:21:44 GMT

Today I put up my August book for preorder, and now I am officially on my vacation from writing. This is the best part about having a large backlist (80+ books). If you have a large list, it should be making you money passively or something is wrong. You shouldn't have to promote every single day but yes, you have to juice up that list once in a while especially when you take a break like I am. The biggest mistake writers do is take a break but don't do anything while away and then come back surprised their book sales are in the toilet. Don't neglect that backlist!

Me, I always have a certain amount of promos running a month for new and old books but I really kick it in gear when I'm on my break. I have my promos lined up throughout August, mostly for my backlist books.

This is what I have planned for August and I have multiple promos every week:

1. Mailing list Builders (I use these for cross promotion for my permafrees as well as getting new subscribers.) I mainly use BookFunnel but also will try other builders. I don't do Booksweeps anymore. Audience isn't engaged. I also do sales promos on BookFunnel where I promote my paid books.

2. I've booked promos in paid mailing list sites for some of my permafrees.

3. I'm making some of my KU books free (I have some books in KU and some wide) including a box set and have booked them on various promo sites. I figure I will get tons of reads from these promotions.

4. I'm dropping a wide, 5-book boxset to 0.99 for the entire month and running promos for it on paid mailing list sites throughout the month.

5. I've booked a highly-recommended promo company for a book spotlight for my permafree. This is for exposure that will hopefully lead new readers to the rest of my series but also for reviews. This company has a great rep when it comes to getting authors reviews.

6. Booked promos for my new August release as well.

7. Participating in big giveaways and group sales promos on Loved Kissed for my romantic suspense and erotic romance books.

8. Great backlist tip: From now on, I will be rotating a backlist book at the bottom of my newsletter whenever I send out my mailing list.

You probably look at this and go, "Dang, she must've spent a thousand dollars!"

Heck no. One thing about me is I work smarter, not harder and that goes for how I spend my money too. I'm frugal and I try to get the most I can spending the least amount of money. I will spend more if I know the promo is worth it but you can promote your work without spending an arm and a leg. I don't run clicks ads at all BTW. I know everyone is used to authors bragging about using ads, well I don't and am doing better since I stopped. All I use is paid mailing list ads, BookFunnel, etc.

Most of the sites I booked were $5-$10. A few $15 and one $30. The promo company was $150 but the rest? I might've spent close to a 100 dollars altogether but don't think I even spent that.

Anyway, you gotta push your backlist especially if it's large or you're wasting it. Your old books are what's important. It's not the new ones, they die off. Once a book gets old and becomes a part of your catalog, that's when they really start making you money if you take advantage of them.

So, what do you do to keep your backlist going and the money flowing?

Last Edit: Jul 23, 2021 6:25:55 GMT by writeway

K'Sennia Visitor
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TUOK Crae

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What Are YOU Doing to Juice Your Backlist? Jul 24, 2021 2:23:25 GMT writeway likes this

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Post by K'Sennia Visitor on Jul 24, 2021 2:23:25 GMT

Great thread starter, writeway!

I always loved these sort of threads when Kboards had them.

I can't contribute because I've never done any advertising at all.

For TUOK, I'll have to start using whatever marketing methods are available in 2256 or whenever I actually finish.

I hope you get some responses from either posters who also advertise, or from newbies with questions about how to start.

While Faith Manages I'll be in the car.

tweek
Junior Member

Posts: 57

What Are YOU Doing to Juice Your Backlist? Jul 28, 2021 19:22:13 GMT K'Sennia Visitor likes this

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Post by tweek on Jul 28, 2021 19:22:13 GMT

I run continuous ads for around $150-300 a month (mostly the lower end) with the occasional BookBub thrown in (this year they've only granted me internationals so the boost has been much weaker than previous years). Sometimes I run other paid promos with the BookBubs, but mostly not anymore. I found they don't return that well. I do have a small mail list, plus FB followers, Twitter followers, BookBub followers, etc, and I have a blog attached to my website. I don't blog often, mostly because I don't have a lot to say. But I blog about all new releases and send them to my lists.

I rotate the discounted books I'm actively advertising every 3-4 months, or however long it takes before the results decline.

I use Google Ads and FB (not FB for the past year because the site is too politicized and the comments are idiotic) because I can advertise all platforms (I'm wide).

I use high quality ad cards and lately I let Google Ads tell me which ones are most successful based on their ad reactions.

So, I don't do anything specific to juice my backlist because I never stop marketing. My backlist sells continuously. I keep an eye out for new marketing tactics and I switch PPC suppliers if the one I'm using runs dry. Summer is my quietest period (my readers are primarily male and they tend to be busy in Summer doing guy stuff). And I try to release 3 - 6 books a year, although lately it's been more 3-4. I've been publishing since 2014.

K'Sennia Visitor
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TUOK Crae

TUOK Or Die!

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What Are YOU Doing to Juice Your Backlist? Jul 31, 2021 22:31:29 GMT

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Post by K'Sennia Visitor on Jul 31, 2021 22:31:29 GMT

This is kind of related. I'm in Rosalind James's FB reader group, and I just saw an ad where she runs a contest for all newsletter subscribers. They could win a necklace that's priced at over $100, and win signed paperbacks. I was thinking, "wow," that's generous, and a nifty way to get more engaged newsletter subs - if you can afford that kind of thing.

I do definitely want to have a TUOK newsletter. I've heard that newsletters are the best way to get book sales. Sell to those who've already bought from you, they say. So that's my contribution. I just thought it was a fun idea. Not that contests are anything new.

I'm trying to spend more time on FB while working on my series outline in google docs, so I'm seeing more writerly ideas. And thinking, "oh yeah. I knew about that thing. It's a good idea."

While Faith Manages I'll be in the car.

writeway
Senior Member

Posts: 485

What Are YOU Doing to Juice Your Backlist? Aug 1, 2021 4:00:17 GMT K'Sennia Visitor likes this

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Post by writeway on Aug 1, 2021 4:00:17 GMT

Jul 31, 2021 22:31:29 GMT K'Sennia Visitor said:

This is kind of related. I'm in Rosalind James's FB reader group, and I just saw an ad where she runs a contest for all newsletter subscribers. They could win a necklace that's priced at over $100, and win signed paperbacks. I was thinking, "wow," that's generous, and a nifty way to get more engaged newsletter subs - if you can afford that kind of thing.

I do definitely want to have a TUOK newsletter. I've heard that newsletters are the best way to get book sales. Sell to those who've already bought from you, they say. So that's my contribution. I just thought it was a fun idea. Not that contests are anything new.

I'm trying to spend more time on FB while working on my series outline in google docs, so I'm seeing more writerly ideas. And thinking, "oh yeah. I knew about that thing. It's a good idea."

Not newsletters are the best for sales but just a mailing list period. You can have a mailing list but not do newsletters. Many authors just have a mailing list where they post about their books and any discounts or specials they are running. Some only send out when they have a new release. A newsletter is when someone actually coordinates articles or posts and many times this is stuff outside of their writing. I don't do that have no interest to. I have two mailing lists where I send out info, releases, do swaps, and share BookFunnel group promos. You definitely need a ML because that's the only place you can stay in contact with your true supporters. It can give you a boost.

writeway
Senior Member

Posts: 485

What Are YOU Doing to Juice Your Backlist? Aug 1, 2021 4:02:39 GMT tweek likes this

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Post by writeway on Aug 1, 2021 4:02:39 GMT

Jul 28, 2021 19:22:13 GMT tweek said:

I run continuous ads for around $150-300 a month (mostly the lower end) with the occasional BookBub thrown in (this year they've only granted me internationals so the boost has been much weaker than previous years). Sometimes I run other paid promos with the BookBubs, but mostly not anymore. I found they don't return that well. I do have a small mail list, plus FB followers, Twitter followers, BookBub followers, etc, and I have a blog attached to my website. I don't blog often, mostly because I don't have a lot to say. But I blog about all new releases and send them to my lists.

I rotate the discounted books I'm actively advertising every 3-4 months, or however long it takes before the results decline.

I use Google Ads and FB (not FB for the past year because the site is too politicized and the comments are idiotic) because I can advertise all platforms (I'm wide).

I use high quality ad cards and lately I let Google Ads tell me which ones are most successful based on their ad reactions.

So, I don't do anything specific to juice my backlist because I never stop marketing. My backlist sells continuously. I keep an eye out for new marketing tactics and I switch PPC suppliers if the one I'm using runs dry. Summer is my quietest period (my readers are primarily male and they tend to be busy in Summer doing guy stuff). And I try to release 3 - 6 books a year, although lately it's been more 3-4. I've been publishing since 2014.

I'm always doing something throughout each month too. Also, having permafrees helps a lot because they bring in readers without me lifting a finger. Of course, I have to promo them too every so often but not all the time. As for Bookbub, I find their 99 cent promos aren't worth it anymore and I haven't done a free promo with them in a while because the results from Freebooksy and Fussy Librarian are just as good AND the sites are cheaper. I also have a huge backlist so that helps a lot because I can always be promoting something.

Last Edit: Aug 1, 2021 4:05:29 GMT by writeway

tweek
Junior Member

Posts: 57

What Are YOU Doing to Juice Your Backlist? Aug 1, 2021 9:18:34 GMT

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Post by tweek on Aug 1, 2021 9:18:34 GMT

99c BookBub Featured Deals have been declining since I started using them in 2017. I only ran them once or twice a year and they were 20-30%
less effective each time. But the international only deals are even more useless. They make a profit but it's not enough to warrant BookBub's reputation. Some people seem happy enough with the results (short tail and lower profit) of international only, but honestly there are easier ways to emulate that which don't have a gatekeeper. People faithfully apply 20, 30, 100 times hoping to get a BookBub but I can't be bothered with that.

I've not made any books free, either briefly or as permafree. Maybe I will one day but I haven't got around to it yet.

I've got 35 books, one pen name, one genre. I only promo the box sets. They do really well for me. I just switched FB back on. It's doing alright for the moment. About time it sorted itself out.

Last Edit: Aug 1, 2021 9:18:58 GMT by tweek