Guerrilla Marketing for Great Scifi ebook Results in Top 10% Sales
Dangerous Dreams continues rise fueled by Guerrilla marketing, hits top 10% best selling scifi at online retailers (Sony - 7%, efollett - 8%).
RICHARDSON, TX - 03-22-2004 -- Dangerous Dreams, continuing its rapid climb up the charts, is now in the top 10% best selling science fiction ebooks, even soaring into the top 7% on the Sony Clié eBookstore (http://www.pdastore.com), and top 8% on efollett's ebookstore (http://ebooks.efollett.com).
It being there is not the headline news story, how it got there is.
The sales formula (good product, appropriate price, market awareness) applies to ebooks just as it does any other product.
Dangerous Dreams (http://ddreams.tschurter.com) is a very good book -- already tagged by many reviewers as a GREAT book. And its priced right (ebooks average 25% less than Mass Market paperbacks).
That leaves market awareness, which for a new author (this is Terry Schurter's 1st novel) is where things get rough. With ebooks, gaining market awareness is even tougher.
The ebook market is really just now evolving," said Mike Courtney of MR Insight (a Dallas Market Research firm). There are no solid statistics for this market yet. Its a very difficult market to track buyer habits, establish demographics, and derive any clear market conclusions from."
So armed with a marketing budget of $120, the author has used the Internet to find his audience.
The basics of book marketing just dont apply to ebooks," said Terry Schurter (the author), there are no brick and mortar stores where product is neatly stacked on easy to browse shelves. Cover design, while important for ebooks, doesnt carry the weight it does for printed books. For ebooks, the number one issue is market awareness, followed by cover design, flap copy and content quality."
So how do you find and reach out to your ebook market?
After careful consideration, I decided to directly approach affinity groups of likely customers with a virtual postcard" of myself -- i.e. to give them a taste of my writing style. Online forums are the ideal venue for this. I targeted three primary groups -- science fiction, mobile devices, and book groups. In each category I found the largest forums where I could tap 10s of thousands of registered members. I then joined these and wrote -- a lot."
The author is also giving away a number of his short stories in ebook format, both from his own internet sites and other free ebook sites. By strategically releasing free content in high traffic locations, the author has funneled substantial traffic and sales through to Dangerous Dreams.
Im impressed with the results of (the authors) campaign," said a Dallas marketing executive. Its smart, aggressive marketing. A very innovative Guerrilla marketing approach. Hes obviously hit the bulls-eye."
Coupled with traditional website marketing, directory listings, etc. the overall marketing campaign has brought Dangerous Dreams into the awareness of potential readers...
and readers have received Dangerous Dreams with open arms.
"Dangerous Dreams is quickly gathering a band of loyal followers. I'm starting to get a lot of feedback from readers. It's all positive with only one tough question - when is the next book going to be out!"
Dangerous Dreams is capturing a broad audience as well, "I'm hearing from teens to grandparents. Some are enamored with the Elastic Society Theory (that gets introduced in Dangerous Dreams), others are hooked on the action and drama that makes up the book's main plotline."
With the swelling of interest and support, the author is now booking guest appearances at scifi events, such as the upcoming scifiexpo Fan Appreciation Day at the Richardson Convention Center (Texas) April 17th.
"I want to get out and interact directly with my readers. They're what it's all about. I've been working hard to get some nice show pieces together including a very cool picture for autographing and a commercially printed CD with Dangerous Dreams on it that can also be autographed. I think this stuff will blow them away."
What about a print version?
"You can count on it. With whom and exactly when I can't say just yet. It's definitely not a matter of IF, only a matter of WHEN."
And the next book in the series?
"Well, the current title is ON THE PLANET. It's moving along well. I am hopeful for a pre-Christmas release. That is what I am working for."
Author Contact:
email: terry@tschurter.com
website: http://ddreams.tschurter.com
phone: 972-234-2210
BOOK INFORMATION FOR THE MEDIA
Review copies and interviews with the author may be arranged directly with the author (contact info above).
Title: Dangerous Dreams
Author: T. Schurter
Publisher: Double Dragon Publishing
ISBN 1-55404-108-2
ebook, 273 pp., $4.99
A copy of the front book jacket can be found online here:
http://www.double-dragon-ebooks.com/images/DangerousDreams510.jpg
|
