Taking an active role in promoting your eBook

I have an upcoming eBook being released on October 1st. The publisher is a small one, consequently that means they're not going to be doing publicity for my novel. Obviously, I want to take an active role in promoting my eBook. I'm already using my blog, putting the word out on some social networking sites, etc etc etc. It's going to be on Amazon, so I have that going for me.

Here's my question, In your opinion what are the best ways to promote my eBook, so that I can get the word out to as many people as possible? I have checked out some sites that offer "promotional services". They charge a monthly fee, but "claim" they will make a huge difference. Has anyone done this and is it worth it?

That's good advice veinglory. Thank you

Thank you Arpeggio; I will definitely check them out

Nightmelody said:

Does your publisher send books to review sites? If so, then they should have a list. If not you will want to send your book to review sites. Also, there may be established group blogs for your genre. You can ask other bloggers/authors in your genre about guest blogging and set up a blog tour.

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johnnysannie said:

Blog about it, do guest blogs (very important), Twitter, Facebook, send out press releases to media in your immediate area and if your book is set elsewhere, send them there too.

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I'm not sure if my publisher sends books to review sites, but if not then I'll definitely be the one sending the eBook there. I'll also look into guest blogging and doing press releases. Thanks Nightmelody and johnnysannie

MartinD said:

The blog spots, interviews, guest blog stuff is probably more important than buying advertising. I have two friends who bought ads (one for his mystery, one for her romance novel) and neither one saw any difference in sales.

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I really was on the fence about buying ads and now that I hear this, I think I'll save my money. I know the one site I looked at wanted $40 a month. I really don't want to spend that amount each and every month if it's not going to increase the overall sales of my eBook. Thanks Martin; I appreciate the feedback everyone has given me

Captcha said:

Write another book.

Unless you enjoy promo and want to do it. But if you don't enjoy it (I know I don't!) spending your time writing will probably be just as effective. Every book you put out promotes the ones before; readers seeing your name on a list of books for sale is just as effective as readers seeing your name on an ad somewhere; etc.

Maybe this is just a rationalization I've adopted in order to justify avoiding something I hate, but I'm pleased with my sales numbers (I'm not with huge publishers, but I do well for the publishers I'm with) and I hardly do any promo. I just write more books!

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I've already written two others. My second manuscript is the one I was able to get published. The first one I'm in the process of revising. Now, I could go two ways when it's finished. I could try and land an agent, using the fact I've already had an eBook published. Hopefully, my sales of it will be impressive enough to help. I figure if I get an agent, he or she will be instrumental in not only selling my book to a big publishing house with deep pockets, but in getting the word out on any future books. I know I'll still have to promote it, but having someone who has lots of influence and being published by say a Doubleday or Simon & Schuster would mean they would pay for lots of advertising. My other option, if I can't land an agent, would be I could try and convince my current publisher to publish it. Doing that would mean I would still have to devote a ton of hours to promoting myself on my own. I do agree with you that readers like to see someone who has written a significant amount of material.

Arpeggio said:

I agree, at least that way you know x amount of effort will lead to x amount of productivity. Unlike advertising.

Having pondered over my other thread and done a bit more research I'm probably going to make around half my book into 3 seperate PDF's without DRM for £1.29 each to compete with pirates on price, give customers full interpobility, offer ebooks that work on their own and act as an introduction to the full print book without making the whole book piratable.

For fiction I guess that could work for small novels, selling 3 short stories at .99 each (with an explanation at the beginning of the book they are from the larger version) and a full print version (and maybe ebook too) with 7 short stories 5 of which are only available in that full version.

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You're right about productivity and I think your idea is interesting. I wish you the best of luck with it