Multiple (well, two) ebooks--which to promote first?

[Cokead]

I am 95% on the way to putting my first two titles out there for sale, as ebooks and paperbacks, in all the typical channels, as well as through my website. I wrote them years apart, but if I start squawking about both of them simultaneously, won't that dilute the impact? And if I want to approach any local venues (bookstores, local papers, etc.), should I pick just one? If so, how long should I wait before "launching" the other one? Keep in mind, they'll both be available 24/7. And if I wait 6 months or a year before plugging book #2, will it be seen as "old" by then, since it's been out for awhile? An odd problem, I know, but I haven't seen it discussed here. Other than the voice/genre (humorous suspense) they have nothing to do with one another. Not a series, no common characters, etc.

[J. Tanner]

Squaking has little impact in general to dilute and "getting old" is not an issue with ebooks at all that I've seen yet. Heck Ed Mcbain 87th Precinct books are being pushed by Amazon in the last few months and the author wrote them starting around 1960.

My 2 cents: Put 'em both out there. Do whatever you feel like to promote them as you feel like doing it. Keep in mind that writing and publishing more books tends to be the most effective marketing tool for your other books.

[Cokead]

Thanks, Ed. Yes, I do realize that quantity (and quality, of course) is a great asset, which is why I'm making both available right away, vs. staggering their "releases." I just don't know how the local media/booksellers will perceive me if I can't make up my mind.

[merrihiatt]

We're all still learning what the best way to promote e-books is. I wrote a trilogy and released all three books at one time. It has been selling well. I recently wrote the first book in a trilogy and released it before the other two books were done. The first book sold well. I released the second book about a month later. Sales have been slower, yet steady. Would it have been better to wait until all three books in the trilogy were complete and release them all at one time? Time will tell.

It does seem that if people like one book that you've written, they will be on the lookout for others. It helps to have another book available for them to find.

[Ginger Writer]

Originally Posted by Cokead

Thanks, Ed. Yes, I do realize that quantity (and quality, of course) is a great asset, which is why I'm making both available right away, vs. staggering their "releases." I just don't know how the local media/booksellers will perceive me if I can't make up my mind.

If you feel uncomfortable with this (i.e. promoting both books via all venues), then maybe you should promote one book via one half of the local media/bookstores and the other via the second half. Maybe even switch up where you promote what in a couple of months? Or would that be too complicated? Oy, I don't even know that I'm making sense anymore. But I think that it would seem like the compromise here. I would have probably staggered it myself, but maybe that's just me.

[Cokead]

Well, it's not too late to take any approach--nothing is officially out there yet. I might ask a local bookstore owner for their take on it. I think the only two things it affects are 1.) trying to generate publicity (press releases, interviews, book clubs, library gigs, etc.--not that I'm assuming any of this will happen) and 2.) the local retail scene, like if one store wanted to put my book on an endcap with a "featured local writer" tag or something--well, I doubt they'd put BOTH books out like that, so what's it gonna be? I know we're all still learning. Ultimately, I'll report back here with any relevant findings.

[Yukinara]

why not both? Just put them out there and see how your readers like them.

[Captcha]

I think for long-term success, you promote yourself as an author, not any of your books individually. I mean, sure, mention the books, but you're probably going to write a third, fourth, and fifth book too, right? So it's best if all the effort you put in isn't too terribly book-specific.

[Stijn Hommes]

Originally Posted by Captcha

I think for long-term success, you promote yourself as an author, not any of your books individually. I mean, sure, mention the books, but you're probably going to write a third, fourth, and fifth book too, right? So it's best if all the effort you put in isn't too terribly book-specific.

I agree. People will want to read more of the stuff you wrote if they like the first thing they see. Make sure you promote yourself as well as the books and start promoting both at the same time.

[The Hobbit]

I just released my books on smashwords last week and I've been promoting them both. One's a romance and the other is a children's novel that my kids helped me plan so I've been promoting them almost as if they were competing. It's my book versus my kids' book. It's working somewhat well with my friends and family but I think that's as far as it goes. I'm waiting for my ebooks to go to Apple and for me to finish getting the print aspect ready before really going for the all out promotion locally.