Gaining traction at Google Play, Apple

3495 Views 34 Replies 18 Participants Last post by ireaderreview, Feb 23, 2015

Kimberly Van Meter

Discussion Starter · Feb 21, 2015

I know this topic has been broached before but I would love to hear any updated tricks or tips to gain traction at Google Play and Apple. I was doing decently at Google Play until about four months ago and then my sales just dropped off a cliff. I have several perma-frees at both sites but my sales have trickled to a stop. Anyone else experiencing this kind of drop?

I'm all ears for tips and tricks if you would like to share.

Kim

1 - 20 of 35 Posts

anniejocoby

· #2 · Feb 21, 2015

Hmmmm...I was just going to say that Google Play, for me, was just a matter of patience and time. It's been a slow build for me there, and nothing has affected it. Not even a bb ad moved the needle there. But, this month, I should make close to a grand there. When I first started, and for many months, I made coffee money there.

I suppose one trick is to make sure your links are updated in your book. I put links in the front and the back of my book. And I put the link to the next book after the last line of the previous book. I do that for all the platforms. I only recently did this for Google Play, and I have seen increased sales since I put in these links.

The only other thing I can recommend about Google Play is to be sure you have all your metadata filled in. I remembered that I had issues finding one of my books when I searched for it. Turns out I didn't put my author name in when I uploaded the book. Google Play is tricky and the least intuitive of the sites. I miss stuff there all the time. When I fixed that error, I started seeing a jump in sales.

I wish that ads help, but they really don't. At least not for me.

iTunes is a bit different. They promote you and you have to look out for those opportunities. I think that there's a way to submit your book for consideration. Go to the page where it says "contact us" and there's an option there for submitting your book for promotional opportunities. I'm going to get better at doing that myself, because their promos are the bomb.

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Mark E. Cooper

· #3 · Feb 21, 2015

anniejocoby said:
Hmmmm...I was just going to say that Google Play, for me, was just a matter of patience and time. It's been a slow build for me there, and nothing has affected it. Not even a bb ad moved the needle there. But, this month, I should make close to a grand there. When I first started, and for many months, I made coffee money there.

I suppose one trick is to make sure your links are updated in your book. I put links in the front and the back of my book. And I put the link to the next book after the last line of the previous book. I do that for all the platforms. I only recently did this for Google Play, and I have seen increased sales since I put in these links.

The only other thing I can recommend about Google Play is to be sure you have all your metadata filled in. I remembered that I had issues finding one of my books when I searched for it. Turns out I didn't put my author name in when I uploaded the book. Google Play is tricky and the least intuitive of the sites. I miss stuff there all the time. When I fixed that error, are started seeing a jump in sales.

I wish that ads help, but they really don't. At least not for me.

iTunes is a bit different. They promote you and you have to look out for those opportunities. I think that there's a way to submit your book for consideration. Go to the page where it says "contact us" and there's an option there for submitting your book for promotional opportunities. I'm going to get better at doing that myself, because their promos are the bomb.

Are you talking about the 250 promo codes that you can request? Or something else? I have to admit, my Apple sales are pitiful, but it's my own fault. I've never run a free promo with those codes... yet

anniejocoby

· #4 · Feb 21, 2015

Mark E. Cooper said:
Are you talking about the 250 promo codes that you can request? Or something else? I have to admit, my Apple sales are pitiful, but it's my own fault. I've never run a free promo with those codes... yet

Actually, I was talking about something else. I'm not clear on the details - it was something I came across when looking for something else. But the promo code thing sounds good too. How does that work?

Daizie

· #5 · Feb 21, 2015

Kimberly Van Meter said:
I know this topic has been broached before but I would love to hear any updated tricks or tips to gain traction at Google Play and Apple. I was doing decently at Google Play until about four months ago and then my sales just dropped off a cliff. I have several perma-frees at both sites but my sales have trickled to a stop. Anyone else experiencing this kind of drop?

I'm all ears for tips and tricks if you would like to share.

Kim

I was selling awesome on Google Play too until December, and my sales also fell off a cliff. I have a free lead-in too.

Vivian_Wilde

· #6 · Feb 21, 2015

Interested to see what people say. There was a post a few months ago about ways to gain visibility on Google. I followed it where applicable, filled in metadata and everything - still nothing. The only time I sold 1 single copy was when it was free.

Why is the visibility so poor?

jackconnerbooks

· #7 · Feb 21, 2015

I just took two series out of Kindle Select and have gone wide with them, so this topic is of great interest to me. The first book in each series is a freebie, and I've started to get a small trickle of giveaways, but no sales, yet. It's only been a week or so, though. If there is a way to promote outside of Amazon, I'm all ears.

Saul Tanpepper

· #8 · Feb 21, 2015

My sales on GP have been growing by 25% month-over-month and have passed Amazon for me in terms of earnings. I wish I knew how to push them more as I'd do it, but metadata and keywords, as well as having a funnel book, are about all I've been able to find to help visibility.

Mark E. Cooper

· #9 · Feb 21, 2015

anniejocoby said:
Actually, I was talking about something else. I'm not clear on the details - it was something I came across when looking for something else. But the promo code thing sounds good too. How does that work?

No idea! You click your book in the itunes dashboard, and top right is a promo button. Click that, and you get up to 250 free codes to give away. I'm unsure if that is per 90 days like Select free days. I've never used them, and don't know what to do with them. I could offer them to my list, but I have a feeling my peeps already have all the books. Not sure where else to offer them.

KelliWolfe

· #10 · Feb 21, 2015

Daizie said:
I was selling awesome on Google Play too until December, and my sales also fell off a cliff. I have a free lead-in too.

Yeah. Whatever they did affected a lot of us. I was making significantly more there than on Amazon until they did that.

Nancy Warren

· #11 · Feb 21, 2015

This was an open letter from Apple to authors that was posted fairly widely a couple of days ago. I've cut and pasted below.

Mark, re: the 250 copies, you can use them as prizes or for reviewers or maybe newsletter giveaways? You request batches at a time as you need them and they expire in a month. 250 total for each book. I haven't done it, but I just found this out. I'm going to start offering them as prizes, I think.

Re Google, I also followed the advice given here for keywords and I've seen a small bump at Google. It seems to me that Google play is friendlier to certain genres? Here's the Apple letter.

Nancy

Dear Authors,
Now is a great time to sell your books on iBooks. Here are many reasons why:
iOS 8
Last September, Apple introduced its new mobile operating system, iOS 8. Now iBooks automatically appears on any iPhone, iPad or iPod touch running iOS 8. Since then, we’ve added an average of one million new customers per week worldwide.
iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus
Also in September, Apple begin selling the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. With bigger screens (4.7-inch and 5.5-inch, respectively) and Retina HD displays, we believe these are the best phones for reading Apple has ever released. In fact, from October–December of 2014 Apple sold 74.5 million iPhones.
iBooks is Global
iBooks sells books in 51 countries. While each storefront is managed by local teams, we collaborate to create features that are executed globally, helping you connect with readers around the world. Since iBooks opened in 2010, customers have downloaded more than one billion books worldwide.
Editorial
iBooks is 100% editorial — we don’t accept co-op payments in exchange for store placement. Instead, we read the books we promote and promote the books we love, whether they’re from traditional publishers or independent authors.
Pricing Flexibility
Regardless of how you price your books, and whether you’re a large publisher or an indie author, we 􏰀􏰁􏰂􏰃􏰄􏰅􏰆􏰂􏰄􏰇􏰈􏰉􏰂􏰄􏰊􏰈􏰇􏰋􏰌􏰄􏰅􏰂􏰃􏰉􏰇􏰄􏰍􏰀􏰃􏰄􏰂􏰈􏰌􏰆􏰄􏰊􏰀􏰀􏰎􏰄􏰇􏰀􏰏􏰐􏰑􏰄􏰒􏰓􏰔􏰕􏰓􏰄􏰃􏰂􏰖􏰂􏰗􏰘􏰂􏰄􏰇􏰙􏰏􏰋􏰅􏰇􏰚􏰄􏰛􏰋􏰅􏰆􏰄􏰒􏰓􏰜􏰄􏰝􏰀􏰋􏰗􏰝􏰄􏰅􏰀􏰄􏰅􏰆􏰂􏰄􏰙􏰘􏰊􏰏􏰋􏰇􏰆􏰂􏰃􏰄 or author.
As a way to gain readership, you may also choose to experiment with free book promotions. Many of 􏰀􏰘􏰃􏰄􏰉􏰀􏰇􏰅􏰄􏰇􏰘􏰌􏰌􏰂􏰇􏰇􏰍􏰘􏰏􏰄􏰈􏰘􏰅􏰆􏰀􏰃􏰇􏰄􏰌􏰆􏰀􏰀􏰇􏰂􏰄􏰅􏰀􏰄􏰐􏰀􏰄􏰇􏰀􏰚􏰄􏰂􏰇􏰙􏰂􏰌􏰋􏰈􏰏􏰏􏰞􏰄􏰀􏰗􏰄􏰅􏰆􏰂􏰄􏰟􏰃􏰇􏰅􏰄􏰊􏰀􏰀􏰎􏰄􏰋􏰗􏰄􏰈􏰄􏰇􏰂􏰃􏰋􏰂􏰇􏰠
Pre-Orders
We accept pre-orders up to one year in advance of a book’s release. Depending on the number of pre-orders sold, your book can show up in iBooks’ top-seller charts well before publication, alongside 􏰊􏰂􏰇􏰅􏰇􏰂􏰏􏰏􏰂􏰃􏰇􏰄􏰅􏰆􏰈􏰅􏰄􏰈􏰃􏰂􏰄􏰈􏰏􏰃􏰂􏰈􏰐􏰞􏰄􏰈􏰖􏰈􏰋􏰏􏰈􏰊􏰏􏰂􏰠􏰄􏰡􏰃􏰂􏰢􏰀􏰃􏰐􏰂􏰃􏰇􏰄􏰈􏰏􏰇􏰀􏰄􏰍􏰈􏰌􏰅􏰀􏰃􏰄􏰋􏰗􏰅􏰀􏰄􏰟􏰃􏰇􏰅􏰢􏰐􏰈􏰞􏰄􏰇􏰈􏰏􏰂􏰇􏰚􏰄􏰙􏰃􏰀􏰖􏰋􏰐􏰋􏰗􏰝􏰄􏰞􏰀􏰘􏰄􏰛􏰋􏰅􏰆􏰄􏰈􏰄 powerful way to build sales and awareness on iBooks.
Additionally, you can add excerpts or chapters to your books in advance of publication date. Customers love to read excerpts and will often share excerpts with their friends, helping you grow your audience before your book goes on sale.
Marketing Resources
Once your books are available on iBooks, we provide several marketing-related resources designed 􏰅􏰀􏰄􏰆􏰂􏰏􏰙􏰄􏰞􏰀􏰘􏰄􏰐􏰃􏰋􏰖􏰂􏰄􏰅􏰃􏰈􏰣􏰌􏰄􏰅􏰀􏰄􏰞􏰀􏰘􏰃􏰄􏰃􏰂􏰇􏰙􏰂􏰌􏰅􏰋􏰖􏰂􏰄􏰅􏰋􏰅􏰏􏰂􏰇􏰠􏰄􏰤􏰆􏰂􏰇􏰂􏰄􏰋􏰗􏰌􏰏􏰘􏰐􏰂􏰑
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all your marketing.
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SB James

· #12 · Feb 21, 2015

I can't do any of those promo things because I use a distributor for iTunes.

Kimberly Van Meter

Discussion Starter · #13 · Feb 21, 2015

anniejocoby said:
Hmmmm...I was just going to say that Google Play, for me, was just a matter of patience and time. It's been a slow build for me there, and nothing has affected it. Not even a bb ad moved the needle there. But, this month, I should make close to a grand there. When I first started, and for many months, I made coffee money there.

I suppose one trick is to make sure your links are updated in your book. I put links in the front and the back of my book. And I put the link to the next book after the last line of the previous book. I do that for all the platforms. I only recently did this for Google Play, and I have seen increased sales since I put in these links.

The only other thing I can recommend about Google Play is to be sure you have all your metadata filled in. I remembered that I had issues finding one of my books when I searched for it. Turns out I didn't put my author name in when I uploaded the book. Google Play is tricky and the least intuitive of the sites. I miss stuff there all the time. When I fixed that error, I started seeing a jump in sales.

I wish that ads help, but they really don't. At least not for me.

iTunes is a bit different. They promote you and you have to look out for those opportunities. I think that there's a way to submit your book for consideration. Go to the page where it says "contact us" and there's an option there for submitting your book for promotional opportunities. I'm going to get better at doing that myself, because their promos are the bomb.

Thank you! I was unaware of this option. I will check it out right away. And yes, I do update my links in the back matter. I just wondered if I was doing something colossally stupid and didn't realize it or not doing something really important. *sigh* Where's the easy button when you need it!

Kimberly Van Meter

Discussion Starter · #14 · Feb 21, 2015

Nancy Warren said:
This was an open letter from Apple to authors that was posted fairly widely a couple of days ago. I've cut and pasted below.

Mark, re: the 250 copies, you can use them as prizes or for reviewers or maybe newsletter giveaways? You request batches at a time as you need them and they expire in a month. 250 total for each book. I haven't done it, but I just found this out. I'm going to start offering them as prizes, I think.

Re Google, I also followed the advice given here for keywords and I've seen a small bump at Google. It seems to me that Google play is friendlier to certain genres? Here's the Apple letter.

Nancy

Dear Authors,
Now is a great time to sell your books on iBooks. Here are many reasons why:
iOS 8
Last September, Apple introduced its new mobile operating system, iOS 8. Now iBooks automatically appears on any iPhone, iPad or iPod touch running iOS 8. Since then, we've added an average of one million new customers per week worldwide.
iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus
Also in September, Apple begin selling the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. With bigger screens (4.7-inch and 5.5-inch, respectively) and Retina HD displays, we believe these are the best phones for reading Apple has ever released. In fact, from October--December of 2014 Apple sold 74.5 million iPhones.
iBooks is Global
iBooks sells books in 51 countries. While each storefront is managed by local teams, we collaborate to create features that are executed globally, helping you connect with readers around the world. Since iBooks opened in 2010, customers have downloaded more than one billion books worldwide.
Editorial
iBooks is 100% editorial -- we don't accept co-op payments in exchange for store placement. Instead, we read the books we promote and promote the books we love, whether they're from traditional publishers or independent authors.
Pricing Flexibility
Regardless of how you price your books, and whether you're a large publisher or an indie author, we 􏰀􏰁􏰂􏰃􏰄􏰅􏰆􏰂􏰄􏰇􏰈􏰉􏰂􏰄􏰊􏰈􏰇􏰋􏰌􏰄􏰅􏰂􏰃􏰉􏰇􏰄􏰍􏰀􏰃􏰄􏰂􏰈􏰌􏰆􏰄􏰊􏰀􏰀􏰎􏰄􏰇􏰀􏰏􏰐􏰑􏰄􏰒􏰓􏰔􏰕􏰓􏰄􏰃􏰂􏰖􏰂􏰗􏰘􏰂􏰄􏰇􏰙􏰏􏰋􏰅􏰇􏰚􏰄􏰛􏰋􏰅􏰆􏰄􏰒􏰓􏰜􏰄􏰝􏰀􏰋􏰗􏰝􏰄􏰅􏰀􏰄􏰅􏰆􏰂􏰄􏰙􏰘􏰊􏰏􏰋􏰇􏰆􏰂􏰃􏰄 or author.
As a way to gain readership, you may also choose to experiment with free book promotions. Many of 􏰀􏰘􏰃􏰄􏰉􏰀􏰇􏰅􏰄􏰇􏰘􏰌􏰌􏰂􏰇􏰇􏰍􏰘􏰏􏰄􏰈􏰘􏰅􏰆􏰀􏰃􏰇􏰄􏰌􏰆􏰀􏰀􏰇􏰂􏰄􏰅􏰀􏰄􏰐􏰀􏰄􏰇􏰀􏰚􏰄􏰂􏰇􏰙􏰂􏰌􏰋􏰈􏰏􏰏􏰞􏰄􏰀􏰗􏰄􏰅􏰆􏰂􏰄􏰟􏰃􏰇􏰅􏰄􏰊􏰀􏰀􏰎􏰄􏰋􏰗􏰄􏰈􏰄􏰇􏰂􏰃􏰋􏰂􏰇􏰠
Pre-Orders
We accept pre-orders up to one year in advance of a book's release. Depending on the number of pre-orders sold, your book can show up in iBooks' top-seller charts well before publication, alongside 􏰊􏰂􏰇􏰅􏰇􏰂􏰏􏰏􏰂􏰃􏰇􏰄􏰅􏰆􏰈􏰅􏰄􏰈􏰃􏰂􏰄􏰈􏰏􏰃􏰂􏰈􏰐􏰞􏰄􏰈􏰖􏰈􏰋􏰏􏰈􏰊􏰏􏰂􏰠􏰄􏰡􏰃􏰂􏰢􏰀􏰃􏰐􏰂􏰃􏰇􏰄􏰈􏰏􏰇􏰀􏰄􏰍􏰈􏰌􏰅􏰀􏰃􏰄􏰋􏰗􏰅􏰀􏰄􏰟􏰃􏰇􏰅􏰢􏰐􏰈􏰞􏰄􏰇􏰈􏰏􏰂􏰇􏰚􏰄􏰙􏰃􏰀􏰖􏰋􏰐􏰋􏰗􏰝􏰄􏰞􏰀􏰘􏰄􏰛􏰋􏰅􏰆􏰄􏰈􏰄 powerful way to build sales and awareness on iBooks.
Additionally, you can add excerpts or chapters to your books in advance of publication date. Customers love to read excerpts and will often share excerpts with their friends, helping you grow your audience before your book goes on sale.
Marketing Resources
Once your books are available on iBooks, we provide several marketing-related resources designed 􏰅􏰀􏰄􏰆􏰂􏰏􏰙􏰄􏰞􏰀􏰘􏰄􏰐􏰃􏰋􏰖􏰂􏰄􏰅􏰃􏰈􏰣􏰌􏰄􏰅􏰀􏰄􏰞􏰀􏰘􏰃􏰄􏰃􏰂􏰇􏰙􏰂􏰌􏰅􏰋􏰖􏰂􏰄􏰅􏰋􏰅􏰏􏰂􏰇􏰠􏰄􏰤􏰆􏰂􏰇􏰂􏰄􏰋􏰗􏰌􏰏􏰘􏰐􏰂􏰑
- Link Maker:􏰄􏰥􏰃􏰂􏰈􏰅􏰂􏰄􏰏􏰋􏰗􏰎􏰇􏰄􏰅􏰀􏰄􏰞􏰀􏰘􏰃􏰄􏰊􏰀􏰀􏰎􏰇􏰄􏰀􏰗􏰄􏰋􏰦􏰀􏰀􏰎􏰇􏰄􏰀􏰃􏰄􏰈􏰗􏰞􏰄􏰌􏰀􏰗􏰅􏰂􏰗􏰅􏰄􏰀􏰗􏰄􏰋􏰤􏰘􏰗􏰂􏰇􏰄􏰀􏰃􏰄􏰅􏰆􏰂􏰄􏰧􏰙􏰙􏰄􏰨􏰅􏰀􏰃􏰂􏰠 -􏰤􏰆􏰂􏰄􏰧􏰣􏰏􏰋􏰈􏰅􏰂􏰄􏰡􏰃􏰀􏰝􏰃􏰈􏰉􏰑􏰄􏰤􏰆􏰂􏰄􏰈􏰣􏰏􏰋􏰈􏰅􏰂􏰄􏰙􏰃􏰀􏰝􏰃􏰈􏰉􏰄􏰈􏰏􏰏􏰀􏰛􏰇􏰄􏰞􏰀􏰘􏰄􏰅􏰀􏰄􏰙􏰏􏰈􏰌􏰂􏰄􏰏􏰋􏰗􏰎􏰇􏰄􏰀􏰗􏰄􏰞􏰀􏰘􏰃􏰄􏰛􏰂􏰊􏰇􏰋􏰅􏰂􏰄􏰈􏰗􏰐􏰄􏰂􏰈􏰃􏰗􏰄􏰄 􏰄
commissions on sales generated by your audience.
- Widget Builder: Easily create interactive widgets for your website or blog.
- Banner Builder: Easily create digital banners to use on your website, blog, or emails.
- iBooks Badge:􏰄􏰤􏰆􏰂􏰄􏰩􏰪􏰀􏰛􏰗􏰏􏰀􏰈􏰐􏰄􏰀􏰗􏰄􏰋􏰦􏰀􏰀􏰎􏰇􏰫􏰄􏰉􏰈􏰃􏰎􏰂􏰅􏰋􏰗􏰝􏰄􏰊􏰈􏰐􏰝􏰂􏰄􏰌􏰈􏰗􏰄􏰊􏰂􏰄􏰘􏰇􏰂􏰐􏰄􏰅􏰀􏰄􏰏􏰋􏰗􏰎􏰄􏰅􏰀􏰄􏰞􏰀􏰘􏰃􏰄􏰊􏰀􏰀􏰎􏰇􏰄􏰍􏰃􏰀􏰉􏰄
all your marketing.
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􏰤􏰆􏰂􏰄􏰋􏰦􏰀􏰀􏰎􏰇􏰄􏰤􏰂􏰈􏰉

Thank you Nancy. Very interesting. I distribute to Apple through D2D because even though I have a Mac, the process was too laborious to mess with. I'm pretty happy with D2D, although it seems I'm missing out on some of the promo options. Darn it. Now I might need to rethink using a distributor.

Donna White Glaser

· #15 · Feb 21, 2015

Is it true that Google Play will randomly discount your books and then get you in trouble for selling for more on Amazon? I've been leery of putting my book up in GP for that reason.

thewitt

· #16 · Feb 21, 2015

They discount yes. You will need to increase your price on Google Play to match Amazon

Usedtoposthere

· #17 · Feb 21, 2015

With iBooks, going direct and having a free first in series are really helpful. I just talked to somebody from iBooks on the phone the other day, and based on that conversation, I'll definitely be going permafree with my first in second series too, when I put that series wide in April. And BookBub DOES seem to have a big effect at iBooks, at least it has for me. Not for Google Play, though.

Both those things (free and direct) help in getting promotion. iBooks seems really eager to grow and to improve their site and so forth. In my second month of going wide, I sold almost as many copies of the books I had on iBooks as I did on Amazon. That surprised me, because I write for a slightly older reader and don't have sexy covers. I think it may be the wide geographical distribution--they have a lot more readers in other countries than Amazon does. Readers there also seem more willing to pay than they do on Amazon, and to review (at least rate) more, too. My first book had over 200 ratings and a few reviews within six weeks or so. That helps with sales, I think.

Google Play--free doesn't do much, BookBub doesn't do anything. I have had slow growth, but to give you an idea--it was a month before I sold ANYTHING, and I checked the other day and I've made $350 in almost 3 months. So...that's better than 0, or $12 which it was about 6 weeks ago! We'll see how it goes over time. Wish I had words of wisdom about that one.

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Kimberly Van Meter

Discussion Starter · #18 · Feb 21, 2015

It's absolutely mind -boggling that the Google machine cannot figure out how to make Google Play more intuitive. They have the power to rival Amazon and yet...they don't. What the French?

D-C

· #19 · Feb 21, 2015

Kimberly Van Meter said:
It's absolutely mind -boggling that the Google machine cannot figure out how to make Google Play more intuitive. They have the power to rival Amazon and yet...they don't. What the French?

I have to admit, I looked at GP and freaked out, and I'm tech savvy. It's on my list of things to go back to.

Saul Tanpepper

· #20 · Feb 21, 2015

I find the GP dashboard very quick to publish new titles. But it isn't intuitive. Once you get used to it, it's very quick, and books usually publish almost immediately. The "random" discounting complaints aren't as malevolent as they would appear. The discounting is, with rare exceptions (and only if you're selling like gangbusters there), predictable. But you have to be aware of the practice and set your prices accordingly to avoid Amazon price-matching.

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