Tips for Self Promotion, Sales, and Advertising discussion

I just joined a new website for authors and readers called writersout.com - you just need your book cover and a PDF to upload to start selling your books there. I have averaged 2 downloads a day so far (I only have 2 of my books up there). Not bad sales for a site that just launched.

Thought some other authors might want to check it out to see if you can sell books there. No cost to you but your time.

This sounds too good to be truth. I'm totally new at this game and everything seems way over my head, suspicious and scary. I don't know where to start. Please advise.

Yeah, I was thinking that too. I checked it out and went to the Self Publishing tab. At first, it lists a bunch of services and to send an inquiry, it asks what package you'd like.

I was thinking it was a pay site until I saw the under the package type there's also an option for NONE. I sent an inquiry so we'll see how it goes.

WritersOut.com, from which I recently received a promotional email, purports to assist writers with marketing their work; however, their site is marred by poor grammar, misspellings and/or wrong word choice; incomplete or blank page tabs and appears to have been hastily thrown together. They claim to provide free tools for authors, but the only sign of such I can find on their sight is a reference to the widely known fact that word-of-mouth is the most effective form of advertising. Besides come-on's about Oprah's Book Club and "doing for writers what myspace did for music," they lure you in to get access to your address books and social networking site (Facebook, LinkIn, etc.) contacts, to which they will then hawk their wares and services. This bunch looks to capitalize on Lulu.com's success, minus Lulu's premium marketing services (which I'm sure will be coming on line down the road at WritersOut.com). No, WritersOut seems aptly named: the writer is entirely OUT--out of luck.

Thank you for this post. I've been getting emails and Tweets from them for months now, and I was wondering if it was worthwhile to list my books with them. There are a lot of people trying to make money from all the turmoil in the publishing industry, and it's hard to know which way to go sometimes.

I'm not crazy about the site. I don't like the way it displays your photo and cover art. It's stretched and blurry and, really, just looks like crap.

They will not let you price your book lower than $2.00 unless it's free. My books are $0.99 on Amazon and Smashwords. I am not posting them for free, but posting them higher than the prices on the main sites is ridiculous.

Personally, I don't think it's worth while.

Hi everyone, I've joined this website a month ago and uploaded my books and blogs after a friend got me interested. I love the freedom it gives writers as well as how easy it is to share my books on my Facebook and LinkedIn.

I was even approached by a local publisher which is amazing on it's own!

Dennis, I didn't really feel as you have as it looks like a legitimate website which has never sent me any "junk" mails or used my info. I understand your concerns as Facebook and all other social media website can do that but so far only positive experience for me.

Good to know.

Beth wrote: "This sounds too good to be truth. I'm totally new at this game and everything seems way over my head, suspicious and scary. I don't know where to start. Please advise."

Beth wrote: "This sounds too good to be truth. I'm totally new at this game and everything seems way over my head, suspicious and scary. I don't know where to start. Please advise."

Amy wrote: "I just joined a new website for authors and readers called writersout.com - you just need your book cover and a PDF to upload to start selling your books there. I have averaged 2 downloads a day s..."

Hi, Beth, Welcome to the club--the club of overwhelmed, scared, and suspicious new authors, I mean. Start googling WRITERS BEWARE and read this website plus the links given on this website. Also google Joel Friedlander and download his free guide "10 Things You Need to Know About Self-Publishing". It's a treasure trove. And also go to the links given in this guide. This will keep you busy for a while.--And if you are still bewildered, as I am, and can afford it, hire somebody, as I will, to help you with marketing. You can also go to my profile on Goodreads and send me a message to tell me more about your book and your so-far experiences to publish and sell it. I'll be glad to share my experiences with you. My name is Lilo Huhle-Poelzl