My BookBub Featured Deal went live across the world yesterday. It’s always a little tricky following the numbers really closely, courtesy of the time differences. Here in the UK things got going a little earlier than in the US, and a few sales trickled in, one or two at a time.
Once the US woke up, things became rather more interesting, and I started obsessively refreshing the Amazon sales report page.
454, 515, 645, 749….
Bemusing, though, how the sales rank of the book didn’t update for over half a day. Once it did, though, WOWZERS! By mid evening, THE PRINCE’S MAN had hit #1 in classic fantasy, #2 in dark fantasy, #2 in action adventure fantasy, #5 in the uber-hot main category of epic fantasy, #4 in the equally hot sword and sorcery, and #112 in the entire US store!!!
By the end of the evening, that had changed into: #1 in 4 categories, and #56 (later rising to #54) overall in the entire US store!!!!
It also earned the coveted orange sticker twice over in Canada, #1 in both Fantasy Romance and Epic Fantasy!
In fact, #1 in all its categories in Canada, and #24 overall in the store!
Then, when I decided to take a look at the new KDP reports beta page, I discovered something that really raised my eyebrows – not all the sales were for THE PRINCE’S MAN – I’d also sold 39 copies of book #2, THE PRINCE’S SON, and 34 copies of #3, THE PRINCE’S PROTEGE.
Are people really reading my books that fast? Bear in mind these are each upward of 125K words, so not a quick read by my reckoning.
Or have they just decided to buy the set right off?
Who knows? Whatever, I’m really happy – the other books are at full price.
I generally have an 80% read through to #2, and a 90% read through from #2 to #3, but I’m not sure how these figures will hold up when people have impulse-bought off a sale, so I will be monitoring the figures really closely as the next few weeks pass. Looks promising, though.
By midnight, UK time, THE PRINCE’S MAN had sold 1341 copies (1154 0f those in the US), plus 41 copies of THE PRINCE’S SON, and 36 copies of THE PRINCE’S PROTEGE.
Overnight in the UK, Australia woke up, with yet another (woohoo!) bestseller tag.
The final figure for yesterday was:
- THE PRINCE’S MAN 1570 copies
- THE PRINCE’S SON 48 copies
- THE PRINCE’S PROTEGE 42 copies
At the time of writing (midday Monday), THE PRINCE’S MAN has sold another 115 copies, bringing the total so far to 1685. Still a little short of BookBub’s average of 1860 but sales haven’t ceased yet.
The ad cost $704. So far, sales have recouped $589.75, going on the advertised title alone.
However, total royalties so far including books #2 and #3, already stand at $804, and sales are continuing to come in at a slower but steady pace.
Whether sales will reach the average figure or not, I’m definitely counting this promo as a success.
Was the high price of the BookBub ad worth it?
Hell yes!
deborahjay 
:-O
CONGRATULATIONS!
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Thank you Icky 😀 I am still over-excited!
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Wonderful! Congratulations, Debby! 🙂
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Thank you Sue 😀
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Wow Deb. Thanks so much for sharing the stats with us. This is fascinating! I know it’s a lot of money to fork out, but the exposure and making the money back is the best part. More profits are the gravy. The important thing is that you don’t lose money. And love that people are so enthused they pick up the next in the series! I appreciate your shares, and am delighted for you. ❤
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Thanks Deb. I can totally see that it wouldn’t be the best option for someone not writing a series – it’s in the read through that the money is really made – I just never expected people to start buying the others so quickly!
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So wait, you think the trickle down effect only work well for books in series? What about for authors having several books, but not series?
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I believe the effect is less. As I understand it from reading other writers experiences, although if a reader likes an author they will buy other books by that author, way the biggest success is with series.
I don’t know about non-fiction authors, I must admit I haven’t researched that.
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Well, you’ve prompted me to ask these questions of a nonfiction author, but I appreciate all the info you share ❤
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Of course, and I’m only too glad to share. I see Memoirs comes in at an even higher price than my genre, but shows an average sale number of 2460, and I’m guessing with the way many of your books are linked, that would have a similar effect to a series.
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Thanks Deb. I was thinking about that. And you are correct, memoir gets charged more money. It’s been awhile but I think it was like some crazy $700? U.S.! That’s almost $1000 Canadian. I’m not rich, lol 🙂 xx
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$944 US to be precise. Mine was $704 and I put it on my credit card,
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Woww, gone up since I last checked. That large lol 🙂
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Reblogged this on Sue Vincent's Daily Echo.
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Thanks for sharing Sue 😀
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My pleasure, Debby 🙂
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Wow! This is great. Hopefully, these readers tell their friends and pass the word on. To get your book in that many hands is awesome. Congratulations!!
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Thanks Darlene, I’ve had two International BBs before, both of which boosted sales for weeks afterward everywhere but the US, so to get this exposure in the US has been an ambition for years!
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That is amazing. I´m so pleased for you.
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Cheers 😀
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Wonderful! Thanks for sharing.
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You are very welcome 😀
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I tried their ads and got not a single sale….and wrote them off. Maybe I should take another look.
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Ah, their ads are a completely different ballgame from the Featured Deal. I run ads continuously and only get one or two sales per month (not a problem as they only charge when someone clicks, so low cost).
The results I’ve had this week are why the Featured Deal (a recommendation to their newsletter subscribers) is SO difficult to get, and people are willing to pay the huge price.
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That’s awesome, Deborah. What a great experiment and thanks for sharing your success. #1 in “paid” is excellent! Woot woot. Congrats.
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Thank you! I’m now curious to see how long the bump in rankings will continue.
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The price is such a barrier, but it sure does seen worth it!
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I don’t see it as a barrier once you realise you are going to make it back and then some, although I realise I’m in the fortunate position to have that money available in the first place. I get twitchy when big earning authors talk about spending thousands of dollars a month on advertising, though it obviously brings in sustainable returns.
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I think it’s that initial leap of faith that’s hard. I can imagine you’ll do it a second time without a second thought. 🙂
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Absolutely! I must admit I had moments of panic while paying for this one, wondering if it was going to work out, despite my history of applying persistently over several years.
I do have the advantage that I’ve had International BBs (everything but the US) twice before, and they are much cheaper ($188 if I remember correctly), with good sales success, so I’d had a taster of what might come without taking that huge plunge first time.
https://deborahjayauthor.com/2018/01/15/how-i-sold-1000-books-over-the-holidays-marketing-bestseller/
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[…] the excitement of my BookBub Featured Deal, I needed something light and entertaining to read, and this second book in The Highland Horse […]
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WOW, Debby! Congratulations!! I’m late getting here, but so glad I finally made it! Your experience has opened my eyes, but even more, the way you’ve tracked it all is amazing. Honestly, I have no idea how to go about anything like this, but before the next year is out, I WILL learn!! I may never match your numbers, but that’s okay. Improving mine will make me very happy!
So delighted with your results, and they are well-earned! Yay, YOU!!! 🙂 ❤
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Anything you want to know, Marcia, you know where to find me!
Ten days on and sales are still great, I will do a final report after a month, but so far I’m up to 2150 sales of The Prince’s Man and 2500 total! The price of the ad is scary, but I’ve recouped it more than twice over.
It’s taken years to get it, but the persistence is worth it in the end, and I see no reason yours shouldn’t hit these sorts of figures, you just have to keep applying.
Thanks for the congrats, and don’t forget to ask me anything about it!
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You are so kind!! You deserve these numbers and I’m so happy for you! I’m going to start with some smaller ads (I’ve never done any, anywhere!) and will work my way up to BookBub, at which point, you might be sorry you volunteered to help. 😯 But I appreciate it immensely! I can’t wait to find out what your final numbers are! You GO, girl! 😀 ❤
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Thank you!
And do ask me, honestly I’d love to help, your books deserve a big audience. I’ve experimented for several years with smaller ads as well as these BBs, so ask me before you part with any money!
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That sounds like a Plan to me, Debby. Will do!! 🙂 ❤
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[…] already share with you, in my interim report, the number of Amazon Bestseller rankings that THE PRINCE’S MAN achieved during the peak of […]
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