Do Kindle Boards help sell books?

[Kimberly Van Meter]

I've found the Kindle boards immensely helpful for a newbie to help navigate the tricky waters of indie publishing. I'm not sure if it's helped my sales but it's certainly boosted my knowledge. I confess, I'm addicted to perusing the threads and finding fun topics. I really need to be writing but this feels like a guilty pleasure that I'm not quite ready to put to bed. :-)

Kimberly V.

[Beatriz]

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!

I think you're right.  The boards are valuable.  You never know who's reading them although at times it seems that all you ever get are other authors promoting their books, but that's the name of the game and one must keep on trying.  It's nice to encounter a reader however.

[alan nayes]

Don't know yet--my kindle book BARBARY POINT is nearing a release date. The boards are great for answering questions though.

[Tiphanie Thomas]

My debut book has been out for two weeks, and KB has been super helpful in meeting other great writers, who are supportive, and helping me figure what type of marketing I can do. So thanks a bunch, Kindleboards, for that!!!

[Kate Hamilton]

No, to my knowledge I have not sold any books as a result of being on kindleboards. But it is fun, and you learn a great deal.

It is good to connect with other authors and mingle with the mindset.

Some have gone out of their way to be helpful and I've been struck by the level of generosity and good will.

Kate.

[Betsy the Quilter]

To everything that has been said, let me add from a reader point of view, that most of the books I've bought in the past year have been Indie books that I discovered here on KindleBoards.  Some of them I've discovered while cruising the Bazaar posting Welcome Letters or pruning over-exuberant posts.    Most of them I bought because they were recommended here on KBoards OR because I've enjoyed reading something an author posted.

I like to say that people buy books when browsing but they seek out books by people they like.

Betsy

[Edward C. Patterson]

I would venture to say that Kindleboards is a principle source of new readers and friends. Does it sell books. You bet your bippie it does, and any author treating this site as a weak tea place to promote yourself, look to your patience and perhaps your persistance. 

Edward C. Patterson

[Rin]

Well...since coming to the boards here, I've bought more Kindle books than when I was just browsing - I still sample a lot, but clicking through people's promotional posts, queries, success stories and the like, have led to me buying a lot more books.

So, it helps a little.

[Cristian YoungMiller]

Well...since coming to the boards here, I've bought more Kindle books than when I was just browsing - I still sample a lot, but clicking through people's promotional posts, queries, success stories and the like, have led to me buying a lot more books.

So, it helps a little.

Rin,
Do you think that you enjoy reading the books more when you've interacted with the author on KB? Or do you think of KB more as just a place to find books?

As for me, I know that I have sold a few books to readers that hang out here, I have found places to promote my book because I was here, and I have learned a tremendous amount about what to write about to sell more books because I was here. Oh yes, I have also created better covers and blurbs because I was here as well. And that also led to more sales.

What can I say? I'm very grateful to have found you guys. 

[Rin]

Rin,
Do you think that you enjoy reading the books more when you've interacted with the author on KB? Or do you think of KB more as just a place to find books?

Oh, I definitely enjoy the experience more for having interacted with the authors. Especially if I buy something in, like, it's first week of release and then I get to watch the sales grow and feel glad that I was a minuscule part of helping the author achieve their dream.

It's also nice to know that if I feel the need to fangirl over something, the author is only one PM away.

[Emeline Danvers]

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

I was at a party, and a topic came up that his books addressed, so I wrote down the title and passed it around... Later a few of them told me they'd read his book. Word of mouth is powerful.

It definitely is.  I was at a gathering last weekend, and a woman was recommending a book to me.  She pulled out her kindle to check what the author's name was, and I pulled out my kindle to put the book on my wishlist.  

I love my Kindle.  


[As an even more-off-topic aside:  She also was trying to steer me clear of writing/self-publishing as a way to make money.  Her suggestion was multi-level marketing of some kind.      Yeah, because soooo many people make money that way.]

[Emeline Danvers]

Well...since coming to the boards here, I've bought more Kindle books than when I was just browsing - I still sample a lot, but clicking through people's promotional posts, queries, success stories and the like, have led to me buying a lot more books.

So, it helps a little.

Well, the real question is:  does it help enough to offset all the extra spending you do on other authors' books?   


but seriously, I think being here can help, but it depends on a lot of things.  But since Dr.'s books are non-fiction, his time is probably better spent on forums of interest to the audience he's aiming at (with similar book links in his signature in those forums).  And some improvement in covers might help too. Just my first impression, but the covers don't draw me in, and I'm a huge fan of non-fiction books, especially on nutrition and healthy eating. 

[Beatriz]

To everything that has been said, let me add from a reader point of view, that most of the books I've bought in the past year have been Indie books that I discovered here on KindleBoards.  Some of them I've discovered while cruising the Bazaar posting Welcome Letters or pruning over-exuberant posts.    Most of them I bought because they were recommended here on KBoards OR because I've enjoyed reading something an author posted.

I like to say that people buy books when browsing but they seek out books by people they like.

Betsy

Very well said and very true.  Happy reading!

[Tamara Rose Blodgett]

I don't know, but I sure appreciative the support and affirmation from other authors and it's been fun to check out the Book Corner too...I maintain a strict writing schedule which falls between the boards, twitter and all my other social networking fun!