Wednesday, November 21, 2012

3 Reasons A Book Giveaway Can Help the Indie Author

Someone asked me why book giveaways are important. After all, aren't I losing money by giving away free copies? Sure, I am. But on the other hand, I could be gaining something even more valuable--readers and fans. It's basically the same concept writers are using to present their books for free in Kindle's Top 100 Free list. Here are several reasons writers participate in giveaways.


1. Giveaways create fans--it's all about the readers! A great way to begin building your fan base is by getting your name out there. There are so many ways to do this, but giving a reader a free copy of your book is one of the best. You're putting the your words directly into their hands and hoping they like it, will want more, and spread the word to their friends!

2. It helps generate reviews. Ever wonder how writers get reviews? We don't all have a NY Times critic in our back pocket! Many of us have to rely on readers posting their thoughts about the work on the web or places like Goodreads. It's another way to get the word out.

3. Giveaways can actually boost sales. If a reader likes your work, it's possible they'll want to check out what else you 've written and this time pay for it!

I think giveaways also help you show your fans and readers that you care, that you get that times are tough, and they don't want to spend money on something they may or may not like. It shows confidence in your work, too, displaying that you feel it's good enough to draw people in and perhaps influence them to check out your other novels.

I've done several giveaways and been pleased with the results every time. I especially like it when people are so excited about winning that they take the time to email me and let me know what they want their signed copy to say. It really is fun for me, too.

Have you done book giveaways? What have the results been for you? What worked? What didn't?

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