Self promo...

I often wonder if self-promo works...

Once upon a time, I was a gung-ho blogger...I posted daily and commented constantly on other people's blogs. I set up a Facebook page, a Twitter page, and I got into Goodreads and Shelfari...hoping to gain more visibility. We have all done that. 

I joined with other authors in group blogs...and I truly enjoy these social things. But I have also realized something very important. How much of this supreme effort is totally wasted?

The audience we all seek is an audience composed mostly of readers. Now, other authors sometimes do read our books, but most often they do not. They are too busy working on their own books to have the time to do that. I genuinely do appreciate it when other authors comment on my posts, and tell me that they love my books...but have my author friends actually read my books, or only the excerpts and blurbs that I leave? Are they simply being kind, and helping me to promote my books, or did they truly enjoy reading that book?

Now I am an oddball...because I DO buy and read my friends' books. I love reading stories that send me to different places and times. I adore seeing how romance is spun out between characters that I did not create. In fact, in the past six months, I have purchased and read over 50 books written by others.

Now here is the big question...how many of the members of this blog are actually readers, reviewers, (and authors who read other authors' books)? How many of us have seen the blurbs, excerpts, and other promo, and thought "Wow. I have GOT to have that book!"?  In the last week, how many of us have bought and read books by other authors because they blogged an excerpt?

I do...constantly. So those who blog do know that at least one author certainly does buy their books. LOL! 

How many of you see an increase in your book sales when you blog? After a chat? Of course, chatting is fun, but it IS a sales tool. I'm not sure how many of you purchase ad space on the big review sites...I spent some money on that a couple of years back, but saw little effect on sales. Why? Because most of the people who go to those sites are...authors. Not readers.

I genuinely believe that what sells books is the cover...that and the blurb. AND the title, of course.  The most evocative covers have sold the most books for me. 

That may seem terribly superficial...but when we enter a web page with dozens of books vying for our attention...or walk down an aisle loaded to groaning with paperbacks...most of us look at the cover...them check the blurbs and excerpts. 

I can only pray that my newest book will be blessed by the cover goddess with an exceptional, delicious cover that will drag the eyes...and then the hands to it. 

Tell me which of these covers attracted you the most...then tell me why...

Thanks...

Fran Lee