Actual success on Kindle Boards?

[markobeezy]

Has anyone seen any real sales increases as a result of Kindle Boards activity?

[markobeezy]

Well...alright then!

[Steve Vernon]

Well, I'm working on that whole "success" part of your initial question - but I've met a lot of amazingly cool people here on Kindle Boards - both writers and readers - and I have gained a whole boatload of information on how this "earn-your-first-scabrillion-dollars-in-ebook-writing" business really works.

So, does anyone here know exactly how many zeroes are in a sca-brillion???

[Kevis 'The Berserker' Hendrickson]

Contrary to popular belief, Kindle boards is NOT an author-centric site. It has always been, and remains, a site dedicated to fans and owners of Amazon's Kindle device and related subjects. The vast majority of Kindle boards members are not authors, never have been, and hopefully never will be. The author-dedicated forums such as the Writer's Cafe and The Book Bazaar were created to facilitate the specific interests of KB's author members.

The only "true" success one should actually look for here is to enjoy themselves engaging other members in conversation and hopefully make a few friends along the way. If authors happen to make a few sales along the way, that's a bonus. But it should never be the focal point of anyone signing up to join this site. Anyone who does, might come away disappointed by having unrealistic expectations of what Kindle boards has to offer.

[Michael J. Scott]

What Kevis said is undoubtedly true, but given the intent of your question, I submit that yes, I too, have seen sales increase since interacting on Kindleboards. Sometimes it feels like the only place my sales actually come from, and I suspect that's because this site is for readers, and readers know it and congregate here. Therefore, it's a great opportunity to meet and interact with fans and critics alike, if you can peel yourself away from your next story, that is (and I confess freely that I have a lot of trouble doing that! )

[Guardian]

Don't know, but actually I'm here to speak with authors and readers. I advertise only once a week in my threads and that's all about my marketing activity. The rest is all about discussion, learning new things, etc, etc... If it's raising sales, I'm just glad, but honestly I don't know. I haven't seen any connection between my actual sales and my Kindle Boards activity.

[telracs]

Contrary to popular belief, Kindle boards is NOT an author-centric site. It has always been, and remains, a site dedicated to fans and owners of Amazon's Kindle device and related subjects. The vast majority of Kindle boards members are not authors, never have been, and hopefully never will be. The author-dedicated forums such as the Writer's Cafe and The Book Bazaar were created to facilitate the specific interests of KB's author members.

The only "true" success one should actually look for here is to enjoy themselves engaging other members in conversation and hopefully make a few friends along the way. If authors happen to make a few sales along the way, that's a bonus. But it should never be the focal point of anyone signing up to join this site. Anyone who does, might come away disappointed by having unrealistic expectations of what Kindle boards has to offer.

Thank you Kevis.

From a reader's point of view, an author will get of KB what they put into it.  If you stay in the WC, you will get lessons (hopefully helpful) from your fellow writers on craft, sales, etc.  If you only post in the book bazaar, you may sell a few books.  But if you come out into the main board, you will find a lot of fun stuff.  And you might find yourself tangentially selling a few books.

Re-reading this, I find myself curious about something.....  How exactly would you know if you sold a book because of KB? 

[jljarvis]

Has anyone seen any real sales increases as a result of Kindle Boards activity?

Does this mean you're not here for our delightful repartee?
I suddenly feel cheap and used.

[Millard]

Going by the posts/numbers stats on the front page, Book Bazaar and Writers' Cafe are by far the most popular boards on here.

[Krista D. Ball]

Has anyone seen any real sales increases as a result of Kindle Boards activity?

Nope, not at all. I'm sure folks on KB have purchased my stuff, but has it made such a jump that I've noticed? Nah.

I'm not here to make a buck. I'm here to cause trouble 

[cblewgolf]

Has anyone seen any real sales increases as a result of Kindle Boards activity?

100% yes.

The wealth of information alone is worth being a member.

[Krista D. Ball]

How exactly would you know if you sold a book because of KB? 

There is an internet myth that a person can come to KB, post in the book bazaar, bump their threads every week, and make hundreds of sales a month.

[George Berger]

Going by the posts/numbers stats on the front page, Book Bazaar and Writers' Cafe are by far the most popular boards on here.

At least we're consistent in our pursuit of quantity-over-quality.

[Kevis 'The Berserker' Hendrickson]

I'm not here to make a buck. I'm here to cause trouble 

And all this time I thought you were here to make friends.

[Krista D. Ball]

I don't make friends, Dear Kevis. I make enemies and allies.

[JRTomlin]

Thank you Kevis.

From a reader's point of view, an author will get of KB what they put into it.  If you stay in the WC, you will get lessons (hopefully helpful) from your fellow writers on craft, sales, etc.  If you only post in the book bazaar, you may sell a few books.  But if you come out into the main board, you will find a lot of fun stuff.  And you might find yourself tangentially selling a few books.

Re-reading this, I find myself curious about something.....  How exactly would you know if you sold a book because of KB? 

I've had someone post in a Bazaar thread that they'd bought my book because of seeing the cover. At the time, I was posting quite a bit in the Book Corner so I think it was a tangential thing, but generally we wouldn't know. I've never considered posting here to be about sales. A few sales are an added benefit.

[Kevis 'The Berserker' Hendrickson]

I don't make friends, Dear Kevis. I make enemies and allies.

LMAO!

[KayBratt]

I have learned a lot by sharing information and receiving information that would take me hours to find via Bing or Google. I don't think I have any 'sales' by using the board, but who knows. Now I'm addicted and cannot stay away. Help. Do we have a WC Anonymous started yet?

[Judi Coltman]

There is an internet myth that a person can come to KB, post in the book bazaar, bump their threads every week, and make hundreds of sales a month.

What is this Book Bazaar of which you speak?  

I'm pretty sure I was sent here to keep you out of trouble.

[anne_holly]

At least we're consistent in our pursuit of quantity-over-quality.

*snicker*

[Bards and Sages (Julie)]

I'm here because the Force guided me here to counter-balance all of the sugar-coated Light Side nonsense.  Otherwise, the internet would EXPLODE in a rainbow cloud of fluffiness and all snark would cease to exist.

That, and I was told there would be chocolate...

[telracs]

I've had someone post in a Bazaar thread that they'd bought my book because of seeing the cover. At the time, I was posting quite a bit in the Book Corner so I think it was a tangential thing, but generally we wouldn't know. I've never considered posting here to be about sales. A few sales are an added benefit.

Thank you! That's a very healthy attitude.

I'm here because the Force guided me here to counter-balance all of the sugar-coated Light Side nonsense.  Otherwise, the internet would EXPLODE in a rainbow cloud of fluffiness and all snark would cease to exist.

That, and I was told there would be chocolate...

If I'm here, there most definitely IS chocolate.

And Julie, do you think it's time for a new Queen of Mean election?

[T.K. Richardson]

For me the real value of being a KB member is the friendships that are made and the knowledge received.

That and it's free entertainment.

[Krista D. Ball]

And Julie, do you think it's time for a new Queen of Mean election?

Blink

There are elections for that? Where do I sign up? 

[Bards and Sages (Julie)]

And Julie, do you think it's time for a new Queen of Mean election?

Hmmm, we may in fact be overdue...