Thrilled to report I hit 213 books today -- 24 days into the campaign. I have 66 days remaining and I hope to make the best of them. The facebook page is still up and running: https://www.facebook.com/UnderbellyOfTheBeast.
I'm still working through my facebook friends as well as tweeting about this whole enterprise. I've also begun to hand out business cards that link to inkshares and this book. In short, I'm doing all I can do to drag the book closer to publishing.
Some may ask, what can *I* do to help? That's rather simple: Please spread the word via facebook and any personal contacts you may have. Apparently, that's how crowdfunding works: When friends of friends make the promise to purchase, then the book gets funded. All I can conclude with is this: Onward.
I'm three weeks in. I hit 171 today. That's simply awesome.
I continue to beat the bushes. I started a facebook page for the book (here: https://www.facebook.com/UnderbellyOfTheBeast/notifications/). If you'd like the page that gives me some facebook credit, which is awesome.
All I can say is that I'm humbled by your support and looking forward to closing the crowdfunded financing on this deal. Onward.
I'm 21 days in and I have 171 orders. That's awesome.
First and foremost: Thanks to the virtual auditorium filled with this grand group of folks who have purchased those books. It's very humbling to receive that support. Indeed, this is already a victory, even if I fail to gain a single additional pre-order.
That said, I continue to trumpet the book to anyone who will listen. I have also begun to hand out glossy business cards with directions on how to get here . . . sort of kooky, but also sort of fun to hand out here and there to people I meet in every day life.
Please consider recommending the purchase of a pre-order to a colleague, friend or family; indeed, if you text them with the link from your confirmation order, you'll receive $5 in credit for their referral/order -- so you can actually get a free book on inkshares.com for your effort. (And, you get the satisfaction of actually acting as a patron in the highest sense of the word!)
We hit 100 today. I'm really thrilled by that. I remain very hopeful. Indeed, I hope my friends/family will share/tell others about the project.
Today I recorded a segment for Bill Martinez. He is a radio talk show host, syndicated in more than 250 markets. I did about a 12 minute interview. When I learn when the interview will air, I'll update through the comments.
At 10 days in, I have 96 books pre-ordered. Basically I'm 10% to the goal number. I remain very hopeful. A few of my contacts told me they'll read the book when it comes out. I think they misunderstand that there is no charge until the book reaches its funding goal. Then it will come out a short time later. I truly appreciate all the support I've received in the first week and a half.
Tomorrow I record the Bill Martinez Show segment (15 minutes) about the book. When it airs, I'll notify the group of the interview.
Thank you for all your support. I added a comment to the Inkshares.com page for the book. I'll be on national radio on Sunday (The Bill Martinez Show) pitching the book (and Inkshares). I'm thrilled that in the first week, I've sold 70 advance copies, which puts me closer to my goal. Onward!
Thank you everyone. Simply thank you. I'm closing in on 10% of the way to my goal in the first week. While it's been a lot of footwork for me, it's simply awesome. I'm humbled.
I'll be pumping the book on the radio this weekend. I'll be on the Bill Martinez Live Show (a nationally syndicated show, with 250+ affiliates) on Sunday 06.07.2015 at 320PM PDT. I'll be talking about my book, Inkshares, and thanking all of you, too.
Incidentally, I'm learning as I go. It turns out, if you recommend this project to another, and that person purchases a copy, Inkshares will give you $5 credit for each referral that purchases a book. Your email contains a receipt, with a unique link for your referral. When that referral buys, you get notice that you now have a $5 credit. Inkshares' FAQ has further information on this referral credit, too.
(In fact, my informal Sales SVP earned $125 in book credits by pumping it to his friends. Bless his heart!)
Moreover, you also can receive $5 in credit, apparently, for simply recommending the posted Chapter I have on this page.
* * *
One of the other things I've come to learn in using social media is worth mentioning. Your crowd can sustain a remarkable amount of repetition--at least according to the experts I read. The experts taught me that I can post 4-10 times a day on twitter and annoy no one, because such a small part of one's audience checks twitter at any one point in time.
Similarly, the experts counsel you can repeat messages on Facebook 3-5 times a week without being overly obnoxious. While this felt odd when I began doing it, I think the experts, in the end, are right. I say that because I can see some people responded quickly to the third Facebook post, apparently because they missed the first two posts (or ignored the first two and reacted to the third).
I say all that because I'm now convinced the only way this book will succeed via this crowdfunding method is if I get friends of readers (and friends of friends) to actually commit to a purchase. Given the results after the first week, I like my odds. Wish me luck!
It's quite humbling to see 21 books sold in less than 24 hours. It's clear I'm going to have to hustle to get another 979 books sold in the next 88 days, but I'll give it everything I have. Thank you to all for your support. --Craig.
Hi All,
I'm three weeks in. I hit 171 today. That's simply awesome.
I continue to beat the bushes. I started a facebook page for the book (here: https://www.facebook.com/UnderbellyOfTheBeast/notifications/). If you'd like the page that gives me some facebook credit, which is awesome.
All I can say is that I'm humbled by your support and looking forward to closing the crowdfunded financing on this deal. Onward.
--Craig.
Thank you for all your support. I added a comment to the Inkshares.com page for the book. I'll be on national radio on Sunday (The Bill Martinez Show) pitching the book (and Inkshares). I'm thrilled that in the first week, I've sold 70 advance copies, which puts me closer to my goal. Onward!