Things that stop me from buying/reading a book:
1. I know something off-putting about the author
2. The marketing leans into erotica or gore*
3. Sample pages are badly written or just not my style
4. It's only available as an ebook
* I don't read these genres
#pretendpanel
The things that get me to buy/read a book are:
1. I already love the author
2. I've heard good things from trusted fellow readers
3. The premise sounds engaging
Actually 3 is even more important than 2; even if others love it, if it doesn't sound interesting, I'll pass
#pretendpanel
#pretendpanel ngl marketing is hard and it sucks, so if you're indie I kinda don't really care about how people go about marketing since everyone is just doing their best. Most of it doesn't work on me anyway; I'm picky.
That said, if I catch a whiff of AI, it's over.
If I see you've posted once every 1-30 minutes the same ad for your book, I just block or mute. I tend to check out people's pages and if it's all ads, I'm not following, and I'm surely not buying your book. #pretendpanel #writing
This is just a personal thing, I'm sure it works for plenty of people, but I've never been fond of "it's this thing meets this thing" taglines. It makes me feel like I've already read this! I wanna hear about how a piece of work is different from everything else! #pretendpanel
Chronic exhaustion!
I can barely get through writing these days and marketing is taking a horrible back seat for me, which means no sales, no tips, I can't do comms... I know how to do stuff and I have amazing ideas but all o wanna do is sleep. #pretendpanel
The second requires support because artists, designers, printers, editors, etc. need/deserve to be compensated for their efforts.
Social media marketing is made easier with a good strategy and preparation (message, graphics).
2/2
#PretendPanel
#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
Hello #PretendPanel, I have a little catching up to do. My biggest obstacles to marketing are energy and resources.
The first issue is more direct and can be remedied with a period of regular sleep and proper rest.
1/2
#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
#PretendPanel
Getting to know the writer in some way (ex. thru social media). Writing a great, short blurb. Having a beautiful cover. Recommendations from other authors. Reading a good book by an author & then hearing about a new book. I'm more inclined to buy.
#PretendPanel
Yes, and it happened to me this morning. Today is my birthday. Some guy friended me, liked a bunch of my posts, and DMed me to wish me a happy birthday- and to pitch his book. I not only got pissed and had no interest, I unfriended him. DO NOT DO THAT! It's spam.
#PretendPanel
Okay. I'm going to do a thread about marketing etiquette tonight. I'll go from this post. I'm busy right now so it has to wait. But yeah, there is a LOT. And it's pretty much universal.
But for starters: unsolicited DMs, hijacking other ppl's posts, non-stop self-deprecation.
OK, I need to add another post here because I keep seeing other people mentioning AI and YES. It's horrible. I was so angry when NaNoWriMo used disabled writers as a justification for supporting AI use. I'm a disabled writer and anyone who uses me to play that card can get fucked.
🏷️ #PretendPanel
Pity marketing and (attempted) emotional manipulation are extreme icks for me 🤢
I read stories because they look like I might enjoy them, not because the writer has tried to make me feel sorry for them so I'll buy their book. It's creepy and weird and I wish people wouldn't do it.
🏷️ #PretendPanel
Oops, I missed the Friday one. The best thing for me is a good blurb or log line that sounds like something I'd want to read. If I see that while scrolling, I'll write down the title or author or immediately go to a bookstore or library site to search for it. #pretendpanel
Book marketing that works best with me:
- A recommendation from a friend who knows my reading tastes
- Great cover art that matches the tone of the book (made by an actual human)
- A compelling premise, whether it's wildly original or a fun new take on a favorite concept or trope
#pretendpanel
#PretendPanel Some have already been said; some may just be me! 🧵
👻 AI use
👻 pity marketing
👻 overreliance on comps - often, I haven't engaged in the comps, so if there's nothing else to latch onto 🤷♀️ also I don't know WHICH aspect of a comp is being invoked; what if it's the part I didn't like?
#PretendPanel: AI usage is a huge one. If I catch onto it, I will just scroll past.
Also immediately cold DM-ing me as soon as one of us follows the other. It will make my bot alarm go off and I will never engage with you again. If you're going to DM me, at least make an effort to seem human.
I wish there was an easier way to see ALL the posts from this weekend's #PretendPanel, including all the comments and subposts (without the mountains of scrolling and clicking on individual post). It's all about marketing Dos and Don'ts, and there are some gems here. Amazing insight! #WriteSky
Yeah, this is a gross practice that seems to have bled over from Twitter. I don't subscribe to the "follow back all" practice either. Neither practice fosters community, which is why I'm on social media in the first place. I'm trying to build a community.
#PretendPanel #WritingCommunity #WriteSky
The top things that immediately turn me away from a book are:
- Using AI
- When someone constantly markets their own work, but never seems to uplift anyone else's
- Pity marketing and/or punching down on other authors
- When the back of a book is just pull quotes and not a summary
#pretendpanel
In reading through the #PretendPanel posts from this weekend, I'm noticing that a common Don't is using AI.
I'm curious: Is this anti-AI connected to just the books, or is this connected to ALL content?
(FYI, I don't use AI for content, so I'm just curious.)
#WritingCommunity #WriteSky #BookSky
I can tolerate a lot, but these are the rare annoying cases:
-AI stuff period
-Reposts the same pitch every day, & that's the whole account
-Getting a follow during a pitch event just for them to drum up interest, then they unfollow & leave Bsky till next event
(Plz talk, be real)
#pretendpanel
Oh, I've had this happen for things like services. It's totally ick and really not community supportive. It feels scammy.
#PretendPanel #WritingCommunity #WriteSky
OMG, yes. It's yuck. I've actually had this happen to me, multiple times. It reeks of the used-car salesman who is trying to get rid of the lemon off the car lot.
Don't use DM marketing in this way. You'll be labelled as a scammer and get blacklisted. #PretendPanel #WriteSky
It's the lack of engagement, right?
It's because the author forgot that social media is meant to be "social".
#PretendPanel #WritingCommunity #WriteSky
Ooo... Yeah. I've seen that happen, and talk about ick. 1) It's a panel, so everyone deserves the spotlight. 2) We've gone to the panel to hear about the topic, not about why you think your book is the best on the planet. It's a totally different approach.
#PretendPanel #WritingCommunity
Trying to wrap their head around book marketing? Take note of this thread. The entire thread. It highlights many things that writers do trying to gain attention without thinking about their target audience. There's some good thoughts here.
#PretendPanel #BookSky #WritingCommunity #WriteSky
Social media is called "social media" for a reason: because it's meant to be "social".
That said, I will admit that sometimes, it's hard to remain "social" when the well is running on empty. It's hard staying engaged when all you want to do is curl up with a good book. #PretendPanel #WriteSky
#pretendpanel
I can tolerate most marketing tricks, although some won't actually convince me to buy anything.
The one thing I do hate, is that subset of authors who, the minute you follow them, slide into your DMs like 'Oh hi. I see you can read. Read my book!'
No. Get in the bin.
Biggest marketing Don't: not telling others the book exists. Can't buy what I don't know anything about?
Next marketing Don't: badmouthing other writers and industry professionals publicly. It's just ick. (But call out the scammers on their bull****.)
#PretendPanel #bookSky #WriteSky
