“Most visitors saw an ad then Googled for more information.”

I suppose that
a) Makes repeated impressions even more important, as I might not notice your ad until I see it for the 20th time
b) Makes buying cost-per-click ads cheaper, as some people look but don’t click
c) Must be kind of annoying to those doing the advertising.
:bmww:

For Facebook, I’ve gotten about 100 clicks in four/five days, which I honestly consider pretty freaking amazing (because I assume most of that is new traffic). It’s going to be difficult to judge if there’s an overall rise in traffic aside from those clicks because I’m running this contest (which will generate more traffic anyway.) I might try to run an ad later in the year during a quiet blog/no release time to get a sense of the impact on site traffic.

And I definitely put the images from the last two single title covers, lol. If the marketing dept at Berkley is convinced that a good-looking dude works, then I’m not going to argue :joker:

Pesonally as an avid reader and a huge internet user I never click through to a website. I do however note online ads – they generate about 50% of my buying, I will see the ad check out the information at an online booksite or even the authors website and then I order it or go to the local bookstore.

I say if you are going to advertise do impressions not click. Make sure the image has one of those amazing covers of yours — that is what draws the eye.

Azteclady and Thea — yep yep. And I read somewhere that it takes at least three times before a name/brand sinks in.

Chris — oh, good! I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Anthologies are almost the same idea, I think. Not to sell the stories short, because some stories need to be told and they don’t fit a full-length format — but it plays on the same idea that the buyer is actually picking it up for the big names, and the little names just hope their work sinks into your subconscious

It all sounds very cynical, because when I write a novella I don’t think: “Oooh, now I will get new readers.” But I can’t ignore that most people won’t be picking up the anthology for my work, and have to make sure the story fits that audience. I’m very glad it did

JC — that is my thinking, as well. I really doubt that many people click through then head straight to Amazon. They might, but more likely they will click through, look at the book descriptions, maybe read an excerpt, think about it … and then maybe pick up a copy on their next trip to the bookstore. Or maybe it’ll go on their wish list.

Leilani — Cover and back blurb are definitely very, very powerful parts of advertising. Demon Angel, for example — I’ve had some people tell me they picked it up because of the cover, others that were turned off by the cover. More turned off than on, I think — and that’s why the change in the look of the series with Demon Night.

And those first pages have to have great writing and hook. Which is, of course, the hardest part

Jaq — I do find that I’ve gotten a little more careful about reading excerpts. It didn’t used to be that way, and I still do buy favorite authors without reading the excerpt … but for a new-to-me author, it has become a must.

Which is why (this is for all the authors out there) you NEED TO HAVE AN EXCERPT UP ON YOUR SITE! The longer it is, the better. If it’s a full-length title, please have at least a chapter up.

Fancy — Yay! I’m glad you liked it

I wonder if most people buy that way — become more careful and discriminating the longer they read in the genre. I don’t really count, because when I was a kid I’d read anything that said “Harlequin” on the front … but I think once you get hooked on something it’s natural to go on a kind of indiscriminate glom … and then after a bunch of clunkers, become more careful.

Nicola — cover blurbs can be hard, because the author you love might have very different reading tastes. The way I use author blurbs is mostly to place the style of the new author … if Christine Feehan blurbs something, I know it’s probably going to be a paranormal. If Eloisa James does, I feel they’re going for the character-based historical slot, and it’ll probably be on the intellectual-clever side rather than slapsticky-humor.

Bookstore displays play an enormous part in getting people to pick up books — so much that publishers put out tons of cash to get their books in the right spot. So you definitely aren’t far off on that! They do want you to think, “wow, so many books, everyone must want one … I must have one!”

I haven’t been placed up there yet

Since I started blogging about a year ago though, I’m at no loss for new authors or books to try out.

I rarely pick anything up unknown at the library — they just aren’t set up very well for browsing any more, IMO.

Cover art is one way to hook me (or repel me!), then the premise described in the blurb. I think I’m influenced too by the number of copies stacked up in the store — wow, they must think it’s REALLY good if they bought 20 copies of it! Maybe I’ll try it!

And somewhat less reliably, if a favorite author has offered a cover blurb, that might also catch my eye. Tho I get burned on that as often as not.

Nowadays I tell myself to try a new author from the library first for the sake of my bank account, but hey, impulse buying will never stop. It’s depends on my mood most of the time. If I’m itchy for a new read and the blurb and cover works for me, buy.

Btw, I’ve read ‘Thicker than Blood’, and I really love Jack! Thanks for the book.

Wor-of-mouth and/or reviews are never enough, those other things I’ve mentioned still factor into my decision, *especially* the excerpt/writing sample. If the writing doesn’t work for me, all bets are off.

If something sounds familiar, I will take a closer look to jog my memory, but I might’ve picked it up anyway if the title/cover art caught my eye. Sort of 6 of one, half a dozen of the other.