May 25, 2016

Hello!

I hope everyone is having a great week. The Noxian Gate is alive and kicking, we have 83 copies sold! Once we get to 250 copies Inkshares will make sure each of you has at least one copy in your pocket. Until then I wanted to give you a ’behind the book’ look at the kinda of data I get to see using the Inkshares platform. 

The first chart I see when I pull up my ’dashboard’ is the dreaded progress chart.

As you can see, this week I have not done any promoting, and the pre-orders flatlined. I’m working on creating a video in a few weeks that should help get more eyeballs to the page, and looking for media outlets (blogs/websites/etc) that might want to do an interview- all in an effort to get that line to go back up. This chart tracks us all the way to the BIG publication goal of 750 copies, which would be great as it includes a lot more professional editing, design, a print run, marketing, and distribution to bookstores nationwide.

Until then, my first goal is to make sure the book gets into your hands. For that to happen we need 250 copies pre-sold. We can do it! 

The next chart I look at tell me what kinds of links actually lead to people visiting the page. While not all visits turn into orders, it helps to engage. I have found that e-mail is actually the highest conversion by a factor of about 10.

 The top three ways to get eyeballs on the book are:

1. Facebook

2. Good Old Fashioned E-mail

3. Surfers from Inkshares

If you are reading this far into the update - thanks! Also now that we have weeded out the browsing folks I want to ask you favor. If each of you sent out 3 or 4 e-mails to friends you know who might like sci-fi books it could really boost our numbers. Here is a sample e-mail you could send out:

"Hello !

My nutty friend is writing an amazing science fiction book, but in order to get published he needs to have 250 pre-orders. He is writing the book on Inkshares, which is kinda like a kick-starter for books. You can follow him along as he writes new chapters, adds insights, corrects his many spelling mistakes.... and also get special offers as he works to get the book published.

I bought a copy, and thought you might want to get a copy for yourself or for a friend. It is sure to be a fun ride. Thanks for helping him out! 

Love  [your name]"

Thanks for helping me keep the momentum going, and stay tuned for some exciting new updates in the next few weeks!

-Tim