Do Kindle Boards help sell books?

[*DrDln* (dr.s.dhillon)]

I have published on amazon for over a year. But I am comparatively new to KB compared to majority of the authors. 

I have not seen any dramatic increase in sales since I joined kindle boards.

I am curious if Kindle boards have made any significant difference in sales of other authors.  Or it has simply taken us away from writing which most of the authors love to do.

I am talking about sales, not the social and entertainment aspect to hang around for a change.

[Jon Olson]

I think it helps. You may not see a sale the minute you post, but give it a day or two, or a week or two, and keep at it. It's a reminder that you're there, and those who are inclined to like your titles, will eventually get around to it. As best-seller Karen McQuestion says, "it's cumulative."

[Dawn Judd]

I think it does.  Sometimes directly, sometimes indirectly.  I think having a presence here helps, but also the advice you get from other authors is invaluable. 

[Bob Mayer]

I believe it helps build community and eventually that helps sell books.  One of the hardest lessons I've learned is to be patient, be consistent and be positive.  Mostly, it will seem you are talking to other authors here, and you are.  But authors are also readers.

[Nathan Lowell]

I think there's a third path.

Just joining the boards is unlikely to help.

Joining and posting about your book releases is also unlikely to help. It might hurt.

Participating in the discussions, following the threads, and learning from others about what worked or didn't work for them can -- if applied -- very definitely help you do better in sales. Not necessarily because of the people you interact with here, but in your application of what you learn out there where the readers are.  While you may sell a few here, the limited nature of this audience and the granularity of taste, influence, and inclination means you're not likely to find a lot of new readers. Particularly not in the Writer's Cafe.

Just my opinion, and I've been wrong before.

[julieannfelicity]

Yes - I believe it does help, but you really need to venture out of the Cafe and mingle around in other areas on the board. A great place is in NQK (Not Quite Kindle). There are tons of threads about regular stuff, not just about books or writing, but about life. People needing support for smoking or losing weight or divorce. People talking about what their favorite tv shows are, or latest fads they're interested in. Or Girl Scout Cookies.  

You can't promote your books in the other areas (except the bazaar), but seeing your signature, with your books displayed, will/can help get your name/books out there.

It's all about having a presence. Good luck!

[Dawn Judd]

But authors are also readers.

Absolutely.  I was reading a post the other day. (ok, it was on the amazon boards, not here, but I hardly ever visit there.  Mostly hang out over here.  So the same scenario could just as easily happen here)  One of the posters had such a neat story about why she wrote her book that I had to go check it out and did end up buying it.  

[SuzanneTyrpak]

I come to the Writers' Cafe to share views and information. Being a part of this community has been extremely valuable. Initially, I came to Kindleboards to promote my books, now I come here to participate in the community of writers and readers.

Regarding sales: I've spent years in advertising and marketing. It's often difficult to track sales, but I guarantee (as others have said) creating a brand is cumulative--every time you post, advertise, blog, you are making an impression.

[pidgeon92]

I think our members read vastly more fiction than non-fiction.

[daveconifer]

  the granularity of taste, influence, and inclination 

I always feel like a caveman after I read a Nathan Lowell post...

[AnnaM]

It does help, but as someone mentioned it is cumulative.

I've purchased books from many here, and I've also recommended books to friends.  I sold at least six copies of a member's books one night. I was at a party, and a topic came up that his books addressed, so I wrote down the title and passed it around.  I know these people purchased, because when I later checked his product page my books were showing in the "also bought" list (and of course my friends have purchased my books). Later a few of them told me they'd read his book. Word of mouth is powerful. I know most of us take opportunities to market each other's works, and that is a very powerful aspect of this indie community.

[Debra Burroughs]

I believe it does. I am new to Kindle Boards with my first book. I asked a self-pubbed author, who is doing very well, how she got her sales climbing and she told me she got very friendly on KB. That is only one of the ways, but it was one of the main ways.

[sebat]

I'm a reader not a writer.  I read 2 to 3 books a week and at least 50% of what I read is either freebies or from authors that post on KB.  I wouldn't be reading those Indy books if I hadn't seen them here.  I rarely go to Amazon or a bookstore to shop around, I have far more book to read than I'll ever get through anytime soon. I only purchase on recommendations here and when an author I've interacted with has a book that strikes my interest it will usually get pushed to the top of the pile.   I do read mostly fiction but occasionally I'll pick up a book in the non-fiction category.   

In my opinion, you have to get out of the authors only threads if you want it to help your sales.  While authors are readers too, there's far more readers here that never venture into the writers only type threads.

For example...I see you wrote a book on reincarnation.  Just a week or two ago there was a thread talking about reincarnation.  While you can't go to that thread and post about your book, you can post and share some of your expertise in the field.  That is a thread that would allow some of us to get to know you and allow you to indirectly promote that book.  IMO, if you haven't posted in that thread you have really missed the boat!

[hs]

Whether a KB member clicks on my link and buys my book is a secondary reason why I joined the boards. What's been more useful to me is learning about what other authors do and reading all the encouraging things that people write.

[DevonMark]

I always feel like a caveman after I read a Nathan Lowell post...

Read? You don't read one of his posts, you digest it...

[Talia Jager]

I think it helps. I know I've recommended books from KB to friends before. I don't know if they went and bought them, but I remember books I see here and try to help out authors by spreading the word. Even if it's not a book I'm interested in, someone else is, and I will let them know.

[JRainey]

I know for a fact that people have bought my book after seeing it on here (they told me so), so I'm gonna say yes. By the same token, I've bought books that I've seen on here, too.

[Nathan Lowell]

Read? You don't read one of his posts, you digest it...

>.<

sorry about that.

I get a little carried away.



Thanks, I think.

[daveconifer]

>.<

sorry about that.

I get a little carried away.



Thanks, I think.

My end of the conversation was a compliment.  I always take something good away from your posts...

[A K Smith]

I think it can help, both directly from board presence, and from learning through other authors' posts what worked for them.

That being said, it does seem like a lot of authors on this board are targeting all the same people/websites, which I think might be a mistake in some cases.  Instead of more and more authors targeting the same audience, we should be working to enlarge that audience and to target people who do not (yet) visit Kindle Boards, Kindle Nation, Daily Cheap Reads, or any of the other sites that all the other authors are on.  It's almost incestuous the way everyone advertises in all the same places.

People should seek out other communities that are related to what makes their books unique.  For example, if you write fantasy novels, you might want to advertise on forums for fantasy games, leave flyers in gaming/comic book shops, etc.  If your novels have vampires, advertise in online vampire communities.  If you have a series about an amateur sleuth who builds model trains, advertise in hobby shops.  If your books are about fashion or interior decorating, try advertising on a fan website for the Sims franchise.  And by advertise, I don't mean hit-and-run spam - either pay for advertising, or become a participating member of the community before mentioning your book(s).

[bobavey]

Hmmm... Good question.

[Paul Clayton]

Yes, I'd have to say it's helped.  I've gotten some great help here from folks.  Mostly about how to promote, who's reviewing, looking for interviews, etc.  Some of these folks seem to have moved on. 

[Philip Chen]

>.<

sorry about that.

I get a little carried away.



Thanks, I think.

I think both responses were flattering that your comments are proof of the "helpfulness " of KB.

[intinst]

I think that if you joined KindleBoards and post only to increase sales of your books you are bound for disappointment. This really isn't a captive audience that must respond positively to your requests to buy your books.
From the bottom of every page:

KindleBoards is an independent resource for people who own or have interest in Kindle - Amazon's wireless reading device.

The authors who have sold many books here are very active in all parts of the forums, participating in threads that have nothing to do with selling their books. Many authors also use the discussions in the Writer's Cafe to improve their craft, marketing, covers or other things that directly or indirectly affect sales. But making every post about selling more books is going to turn members away from your work.
Just my two cents as a long time reader and member.

[Abigail]

I think both responses were flattering that your comments are proof of the "helpfulness " of KB.

I agree too.  

In answer to the OP I have no idea, I guess the proof in the pudding would be if someone that was selling a lot of books stopped chatting on KB and waited to see what happened. I am not volunteering though as mine is selling consistently and I wont rock the boat.   I do panic if I can't get to KB, but I am not sure if that is because it is addictive.