If you’re an author with an eBook to promote, here’s some interesting findings.
This information comes from Jim Milliot, co-editorial of Publishers Weekly, who compiled the text for reports from the Book Industry Study Group.
“Respondents also indicated that reviews played an important role in spurring them to acquire an e-book, with online reviews having more of an impact than print reviews…
“All online vehicles were not equally effective in reaching e-book consumers, however. Respondents to the first survey fielding reported that Facebook, Twitter, and other social networking sites had little impact in prompting them to purchase e-books… such responses were even more prevalent in the third fielding.
“The minor impact of social networking sites on e-book acquisitions seems to have a clear cause: for the most part, e-book consumers are not using social networking sites.”
Wow! What does everyone think about those findings?
15 comments:
I think we need to pay attention to what the readers of our books respond to. Thanks for posting this L. Diane.
Nancy
N. R. Williams, fantasy author
Thanks for the tips Diane,
Yvonne.
At first I was really surprised. However, after thinking about it a few minutes, I realized that I don’t use FaceBook or Twitter when I’m determining which book to buy next either.
Surprising. I know so many ebook authors use the sites. So, I imagine the readers are going directly to the ebook pub sites?
Jane, my guess is since online reviews are important but not social sites, they are not classifying blogging as social networking.
Sia, mostly likely yes. They probably just browse Amazon or the IBookstore.
I always read the Amazon reviews, if I'm looking at the book on Amazon to buy. I rarely search Twitter and FB for reviews, although I have, on occasion, looked up a book on Amazon if I saw a lot about it on Twitter.
Interesting!
I agree that the reviews should be online as that way the person can easily find the book at an online store.
Social networking sites do help raise reader awareness, but I have no idea how much. Personally, I've encountered so many new authors since I've been on Facebook.
Makes perfect sense to me. I've never thought that socal networking sites are helpful in building readership or prompting readers to buy a writer's work.
Jai
Hi Diane .. I don't think all bloggers, readers, Facebookers, emailers, Tweeters .. have all joined the dots .. some will have all of them covered, some a few of them (eg me .. haven't quite got to FB and Twitter yet, some just 'look' ..
the strategies will need to be reworked as you're suggesting ..
Thanks .. Hilary
Absolutely fascinating, and a nice reminder that the Web is still a bit like the Wild Wild West. We haven't figured it out yet. Excellent posts! I liked what you had to say about reviewers earlier. Some wonderful reminders in there. I appreciate the consistent quality of your blog.
Really interesting. I don't find books I want to read very often on FB or Twitter but I do sometimes find links to blogs I want to read.
Social media is really only about being social. It's not about marketing but branding and making connections. I believe it's about authentic personality creating an opportunity for a potential buyer to want to look into the business side of you. I'm not surprised by those findings. Have the confidence to be yourself and the marketing will organically grow.
I hope you're well.
Thanks, Samuel! Sometimes I wonder...
Simon, you said it most profound.
Very interesting! I often find books that spark my interest on blogs, but not really on Facebook that I can remember.
I do not use social media sites like Twitter and Facebook to find books, but I definitely do look at my own blogging friends, blog reviews, author interviews, and guest bloggers on tour. So far, I'm only reading e-books on the Kindle download to my PC, but I may get a real e-reader soon for its convenience. I like e-book prices. :)
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