Support for Indie Authors discussion

My book has sold reasonably well in UK but I'm keen to kickstart some sales in USA where I'm pretty confident it will be well received.
I've been promised guest slots on various dog / pet related blogs and websites (the book is a humorous and compassionate look at my business as a dog walker in West of Scotland) but they don't come to fruition.
I've tried a Goodreads Giveaway and I'm now trying an Amazon countdown sale from 23rd to 26th March. The price will be reduced by 67% to 99 cents.

But here's the problem - despite having 18 x 5 star reviews on Amazon UK, and 6 x 5 star reviews on Amazon USA, I've been declined for promo entries by ENT. Twice.
So anyone got any ideas how to get the word out there? How do I tell the USA about this offer?
Cheers.

If is it sci-fi, I found Book Barbarian a good advertisement. If you reduced your book down to a real steal, they have a website and a mass mailing. It cost me $15.50 USD to run the ad, and I sold enough to pay for the ad, and got a couple reviews out of it. So, all in all, it was successful. Hope this helps.

Morris wrote: "If is it sci-fi, I found Book Barbarian a good advertisement. If you reduced your book down to a real steal, they have a website and a mass mailing. It cost me $15.50 USD to run the ad, and I sold ..."

Thanks Morris .... but it's a humorous and compassionate look at my business as a dog walker in West of Scotland.

Cee Tee wrote: "My book has sold reasonably well in UK but I'm keen to kickstart some sales in USA where I'm pretty confident it will be well received.
I've been promised guest slots on various dog / pet related b..."

Initial thoughts -- Have you got friends in the US? Do a Google search to see if there is an organization that US dog walkers belong to and contact them. Find a dog walker counterpart in the US and brain-storm with them on how/where to promote your book. Do some Google research and find people who are involved in breeding dogs and showing them at dog shows. Dog people are very friendly and helpful. Someone could point you in a direction that may result in something. Use this site to query if anyone knows a dog walker that they can put in contact with. Google the Humane Society in the US and contact them. Query them and see whether they can offer you some insight on how/where placement of your book might pull in readers. Do a Google search for Scottish clubs in communities, contact them and offer them a free book to hold up at a meeting with a hook something like -- "read about a bit what our counterparts are doing". Try to get an article in a "senior" type magazine or newspaper with the angle of new senior retirement career -- dog walker.

Granted, these are not social media/blog type ideas. They're old school techniques on how to reach out to find "customers" who might be interested in your product.

Big idea! -- Contact Ceasar Milan -- US TV program -- Dog Whisper and send a book. Who knows something might come of it. Remember -- nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Have you tried joining some blog hops with bloggers primarily in the US? It is sometimes tricky to see. The Little Things Blog hop that is going on tomorrow https://www.facebook.com/groups/17189... and most of the members are US based. Also, finding takeover parties where the bulk of the members are US (Or Canadian, because at least you are in the same area, right?)

To be fair, ENT has been rejecting a lot of entries lately, including one for a book that just had a Book Bub promo. Seeing that they are #2 after the bub, they might be swamped. There's a bunch of other sites out there and fortunately, some folks have made lists like this one:

http://kindlepreneur.com/list-sites-p...

I can't say for certain that any will get you success, but seeing as most are free, it's worth a look.

G.T. wrote: "Cee Tee wrote: "My book has sold reasonably well in UK but I'm keen to kickstart some sales in USA where I'm pretty confident it will be well received.
I've been promised guest slots on various dog..."

G.T. wrote: "Cee Tee wrote: "My book has sold reasonably well in UK but I'm keen to kickstart some sales in USA where I'm pretty confident it will be well received.
I've been promised guest slots on various dog..."

Thanks G.T.

You have some super sounding ideas here. I thought I'd kinda covered most bases!
The one thing I've been wary of, is coming across to other bloggers / dog walkers etc as blatantly blagging my book. I do have a few contacts via these sites so maybe I should just ask them directly, and if they're narked, then at least they're several thousand miles away!

Your Cesar Milan idea is not so far fetched .... I had contemplated doing the same thing with Martin Clunes and Paul O'Grady who present dog related programmes here in UK. Just need to do a little bit stalking now, and find out where they live! :-D :-D

Thanks again, G.T. - I'll get to work on this tomorrow.
Cheers.

Heidi wrote: "Have you tried joining some blog hops with bloggers primarily in the US? It is sometimes tricky to see. The Little Things Blog hop that is going on tomorrow https://www.facebook.com/groups/17189537..."

Thanks for this, Heidi.

Yeah - I take part in the Blogpaws Blog Hop most Wednesdays. However, you're not meant to use that as a means of promoting products. I have made a couple of US contacts through this, and message them direct from time to time. Maybe i need to get more direct & just blag my book a bit more.
I've requested to join that Blog Hop you mention, so will see where that leads.

But what is a 'takeover party?'

Cheers Heidi. Thanks for your time.

Christina wrote: "To be fair, ENT has been rejecting a lot of entries lately, including one for a book that just had a Book Bub promo. Seeing that they are #2 after the bub, they might be swamped. There's a bunch of..."

Thanks Christina,

I wasn't aware of this list, so many thanks. I have had a quick look and see a few that are not simply for 'free' books. (With only the one book out at moment, I'm not sure I'd gain anything by giving it away free at the moment.)

But yeah - I'll get to work on this tomorrow.

Cheers

In addition to the ideas above, have you reached out to any podcasters? You could find some who focus on animals in some way plus approach shows whose focus is simply authors and writing. Search shows on Stitcher (easier than iTunes in my opinion) and Blog Talk Radio. If you're interested in being on my program, then send me a private message, and I'll direct you where to schedule. I don't want to post the name of my show here because I'm not sure if that's against the rules in this thread. I also feature authors on one of my blogs, and via a show I co-host on Blab.im.

Hi Kori,

I have a lot to learn, obviously! Never thought of that either. I'll check out Stitcher and Blog Talk Radio over the next few days. To be honest, I've never downloaded or listened to a Podcast so know very little about them / the numbers of listeners etc.

This could be a completely new avenue. Thanks for that. (I'll maybe take you up on your kind offer.)
Cheers