Actually launch day, as eventful as it was leading up to it, I took a major breather. I slept, I did family and friend things and most importantly did not ONCE look at my sales ticker. I didn’t want to be overjoyed or depressed. Understanding that I’m an Indie Author I realize there are things that go with that. First….I don’t have a big name. Second….I don’t have a big publishing house behind me. What does this mean for me? A lot more work, but ultimately the traditionally published author and I have one thing in common….our chances of success. They don’t have a huge marketing team behind them either; it makes no sense but that’s the gosh darn truth unless they are a huge household name. Of course I would choose Indie over the other because I like knowing what I’m getting into and not be let down by a house meant to protect me and show me off.
This is my second go-round and I am quite certain I’ve figured out plenty since the first. If you have read my blog from the beginning or checked through the archives you will realize marketing/social media and I have had our time in the ring. I’m stubborn and confused. You can throw numbers around and TELL a person what works, but in actuality there is no algorithm on current human behavior so it’s a crap shoot. Your determination plus lots of luck is what gets you places. We’ll use Instagram and things of the like as an example. The interaction/follows/likes don’t add up, especially on Instagram. I can post the exact same thing on my author accounts as I do the private ones (really, Is Instagram really private though?) and a funny thing happened. With the same exact picture, caption, and hashtags I get more interaction on the private one. On there I have twice as many followers and I can honestly say it’s not because they’re all friends I’ve met in real life. So what gives? Logically speaking they should be identical but they’re not. That is why I give up on trying to mathematically figure out what in the world is going on in people’s minds. The best I can do is keep trying to figure things out.
I would LOVE to get the word out. I would LOVE for people to enjoy my work and even be a bit more fantastic by leaving a review. I’m obviously not in it for the money, I do it because I love it. The biggest thing I would LOVE???? More interaction; I’m a people person not someone destined to be the only voice in the room.
SO BACK TO WHAT I DID ON LAUNCH DAY….by the end of the day I was in the company of two fabulous friends sitting around the table drinking pumpkin spice coffee (yes I’m one of THOSE) and enjoyed myself. I think I’ll leave the stressing for another day don’t you think? There’s only so much confusion I can handle.
Now to keep interacting with everyone and I’ll be right as rain.