Author Topic: New FREE book promo tool for Indie Authors, all because of a Writers' Cafe post (Read 15433 times) Tweet

geraldmkilby · « **on:** May 22, 2015, 08:37:55 AM »

The original idea for this has been percolating and distilling through this post here. http://www.kboards.com/index.php/topic,214473.0.html for quite a few weeks now.

Essentially it boils down to the idea of cross promoting each other's books on our respective websites. 'I'll promote your books if you'll promote mine' .

Nice idea in principle, and I set out to try and implement it in practice. You can see the results here http://bookpromocoop.com

It's very early days with this, but please feel free to try it out and let me know your thoughts, comments, etc.

[EDIT] This has now been significantly updated, you can even add in your own Amazon affiliate code now.

Vera Nazarian · « **Reply #1 on:** May 22, 2015, 09:29:53 AM »

Looks great!

I'm definitely joining, plus I just added it as a resource to my Author Utilities webpage:

http://www.veranazarian.com/goodies/author-utilities/

Rayven T. Hill · « **Reply #2 on:** May 22, 2015, 09:38:50 AM »

Nice idea. Once the categories kick in I'll be interested if you can make the code more customizable.

geronl · « **Reply #3 on:** May 22, 2015, 10:13:19 AM »

I think it's a great idea too!

geronl · « **Reply #4 on:** May 22, 2015, 10:24:09 AM »

I added it to the bottom to see how it looked, but since nobody ever looks at the bottom I added it to the right sidebar too

geronl · « **Reply #5 on:** May 22, 2015, 10:32:38 AM »

Now if we can just get all those e-book websites and blogs to put up the ad too (they'd probably want click-through-buy-through royalties)

Vera Nazarian · « **Reply #6 on:** May 22, 2015, 11:13:48 AM »

Okay, it's live on my website.

I hope it's okay that I tweaked the code to fit it via the vertical instead of horizontal, otherwise it's too wide and hangs off past the edge of my sidebar.

Anyway, now we just hope more folks add their books, otherwise it looks like I am just promoting my own books there...

geraldmkilby · « **Reply #7 on:** May 22, 2015, 11:20:09 AM »

Glad you like it.
Based on feedback from you all I'll try and add in any new features requested like different sized promotional blocks, etc.

I've added in 'Views' so you can see how many times your book has been displayed across the network. You can see it beside your book.

Will be looking at the 'category' filter once there are enough books on board.

Now I'm off to see Mad Max with my kids. Can't believe it's 30 years since the last one...

geronl · « **Reply #8 on:** May 22, 2015, 11:23:32 AM »

Can I add "8 Short Stories" too?

Rick Gualtieri · « **Reply #9 on:** May 22, 2015, 11:24:27 AM »

Quote from: Rayven T. Hill on May 22, 2015, 09:38:50 AM

Nice idea. Once the categories kick in I'll be interested if you can make the code more customizable.

I'd agree on this. Aside from that (and I realize this is a first pass), this looks like it has promise.

Jan Hurst-Nicholson · « **Reply #10 on:** May 22, 2015, 11:25:36 AM »

I'm still waiting for my activation email

Feel like I'm missing out on the party

ETA Just got it

Rick Gualtieri · « **Reply #11 on:** May 22, 2015, 11:29:02 AM »

Playing around with it now. Will try to add it to my website this weekend.

First ask: allow us to select multiple genres. Would love to promote Fantasy and Horror.

Jan Hurst-Nicholson · « **Reply #12 on:** May 22, 2015, 11:36:35 AM »

How do I change the size to make it vertical? It only shows as one and a half books.

Vera Nazarian · « **Reply #13 on:** May 22, 2015, 11:38:18 AM »

Quote from: geraldmkilby on May 22, 2015, 11:20:09 AM

Glad you like it.
Based on feedback from you all I'll try and add in any new features requested like different sized promotional blocks, etc.

I've added in 'Views' so you can see how many times your book has been displayed across the network. You can see it beside your book.

Will be looking at the 'category' filter once there are enough books on board.

Now I'm off to see Mad Max with my kids. Can't believe it's 30 years since the last one...

Thanks, I really appreciate your work on this!

Have fun at Mad Max!

Rick Gualtieri · « **Reply #14 on:** May 22, 2015, 11:40:36 AM »

Quote from: Vera Nazarian on May 22, 2015, 11:38:18 AM

Thanks, I really appreciate your work on this!

Duh! Sometimes I get so excited by a new toy, I forget my manners.

Likewise, a big thanks for this!

Vera Nazarian · « **Reply #15 on:** May 22, 2015, 11:41:09 AM »

Quote from: Jan Hurst-Nicholson on May 22, 2015, 11:36:35 AM

How do I add the code? The site asked me if I want to add text or a photo etc. Not sure how to add the code

Look for a place to add widgets, then select the text or HTML type of widget, paste your code in it, then drag the widget over to where you want to to be.

Vera Nazarian · « **Reply #16 on:** May 22, 2015, 11:42:50 AM »

Quote from: Rick Gualtieri on May 22, 2015, 11:29:02 AM

Playing around with it now. Will try to add it to my website this weekend.

First ask: allow us to select multiple genres. Would love to promote Fantasy and Horror.

That's a great idea.

I would love to see a list with tick-boxes where I can select as many (or as few) as I like types of genres.

harker.roland · « **Reply #17 on:** May 22, 2015, 11:51:24 AM »

That is too cool. I am preparing for a re-branding on this name so didn't add any books yet but will be moving the code to my site.

Just an idea for you, either add a DONATE button or possibly start incorporating a subscription fee or flat fee to compensate you for your time. You could have the free service include all categories and the paid to allow people to customize.

I can easily see this becoming a great tool!

Rick Gualtieri · « **Reply #18 on:** May 22, 2015, 12:00:06 PM »

Quote from: harker.roland on May 22, 2015, 11:51:24 AM

Just an idea for you, either add a DONATE button or possibly start incorporating a subscription fee or flat fee to compensate you for your time. You could have the free service include all categories and the paid to allow people to customize.

Two ways around that, off the top of my head. Gerald could (and maybe already does) code this to use his Amazon affiliate ID. Therefore he'd technically make his revenue off of any books sold. Second idea, and the one I'd favor more, is allow for a subscription fee and for us to be able to add our own affiliate IDs for a chance to make this a potential revenue stream.

jdcore · « **Reply #19 on:** May 22, 2015, 12:09:41 PM »

Thanks for this.

Also I have a question.

I am trying to start a coop for fiction podcasters. Code like this would be great for that. It should be an easy tweak now that you already have the basics built. Wanna give a brother a hand?

Jan Hurst-Nicholson · « **Reply #20 on:** May 22, 2015, 12:14:33 PM »

Quote from: Vera Nazarian on May 22, 2015, 11:41:09 AM

Look for a place to add widgets, then select the text or HTML type of widget, paste your code in it, then drag the widget over to where you want to to be.

Thanks

. Found it. Now I need to know how you made yours vertical as I'm having the same problem of overlap.

Vera Nazarian · « **Reply #21 on:** May 22, 2015, 12:18:35 PM »

Quote from: Jan Hurst-Nicholson on May 22, 2015, 12:14:33 PM

Thanks . Found it. Now I need to know how you made yours vertical as I'm having the same problem of overlap.

Here is how you do it:

Find this part of the code in yours:

height="230" width="290"

Now simply change the numbers to be:

height="390" width="250"

Hit save.

That's it!

Jan Hurst-Nicholson · « **Reply #22 on:** May 22, 2015, 12:34:18 PM »

Quote from: Vera Nazarian on May 22, 2015, 12:18:35 PM

Here is how you do it:

Find this part of the code in yours:

height="230" width="290"

Now simply change the numbers to be:

height="390" width="250"

Hit save.

That's it!

Brilliant. It actually worked

This kind of stuff is usually nerve-wracking for me as I'm scared of losing everything

You can check it out on my website http://just4kix.jimdo.com/ down on the left

Vera Nazarian · « **Reply #23 on:** May 22, 2015, 02:39:51 PM »

Quote from: Jan Hurst-Nicholson on May 22, 2015, 12:34:18 PM

Brilliant. It actually worked This kind of stuff is usually nerve-wracking for me as I'm scared of losing everything
You can check it out on my website http://just4kix.jimdo.com/ down on the left

Glad it worked! And looks great on your website!

Oh, and sorry that so many of my books seem to be showing up upon refresh -- I hope more people add books, and soon!

geraldmkilby · « **Reply #24 on:** May 22, 2015, 02:58:17 PM »

Thanks for the feedback. I will spend some time over the weekend tweaking the filtering.

I had thought about the check box idea for genres, and it's not a problem. As soon as there are enough books in the pool I'll set it up.

Will add in the vertical banner option too.

The key with this is to make it fast, accurate and simple so that people can have confidence in it. Will take a bit of time but it's a good start.

BTW, Mad Max was fantastic, loved it.