Comments on: Free As A Tool

By: Teddypig

Teddypig — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 17:09:15 +0000

Well sure, people responded well because that Chase series is one of your best. I read the first one and immediately bought the rest.

I keep telling you that you rock with the whole small town, big family thing. I hope you do more for Samhain like that. Even Lora Leigh does not have that trick.

I also think people respond to you personally because you are positive and because you are excited about ePublishing and you embrace it’s potential. That’s going to make you stand out from the traditional crowd.

By: Taige Crenshaw

Taige Crenshaw — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 15:43:52 +0000

Congrats on your mention in the NYT article.

And I totally agree with free as a tool. It costs nothing and is a great way to try out an author. Also I get a real rush out of doing free reads. Giving back to readers who have supported me.

By: Sheri Salazar

Sheri Salazar — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 03:12:02 +0000

I totally agree with you. I buy a lot of books, digital and print. So I am a good risk to give a free book. I have found a several new authors through free books or $1.00 books, (almost free). I also think as far as digital books go, bundling is a good thing. I actually bought the first three books for the Chase series in a bundle at Diesel Ebooks, because it was a great deal! Since then I’ve bought everything you’ve done that I can find!

By: MichelleKCanada

MichelleKCanada — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 20:41:42 +0000

You know my favorite form of publicity? (besides of course the awesome book giveaway contests that you hold)
I love to read the reviews on Amazon. I can tell a good book review and a lousy one. I really like the honest ones where the reviewer really tells like they feel. I have purchased more books that way than any other way. As such, I try to do reviews back hoping that I can help someone else like me.

By: Jackie Burris

Jackie Burris — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 20:07:24 +0000

:grin: Free you say, like that word when it is used in the same sentence with books! I have bought more new books because of something I won in a giveaway drawing than because I was already reading something by a particular author. I love following all the contests and posts like this one by you Lauren because you are dead on, promoting is all about building a fan base and if you start out by using free books and they are good the readers like myself will then buy
more!
Reading is a treasure and people like yourself who are willing to share that with free books and help other authors like yourself by promoting their works, these people are treasures also. Keep it up and we the fans are behind you all the way, even those like me who now have more books to read than may ever find the time for!!!

jackie b central texas

By: Meg

Meg — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 14:54:45 +0000

These promotions do work! I have found several authors that I would’nt have picked books from if they weren’t offered free! I learned from you Lauren that I could go to diffrent authors web sites (and other forums) to find out what they are offering free which allows me to afford to try new authors and genres ! Thanks for all you do to make your readers feel special! Meg

By: Tweets that mention Free As A Tool | Vixenwriter -- Topsy.com

Tweets that mention Free As A Tool | Vixenwriter -- Topsy.com — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 05:34:17 +0000

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Moira Rogers (Bree), Lauren Dane, zoewinters, Vivian Arend, Donna and others. Donna said: RT @laurendane: Free as A Tool http://bit.ly/5Fu07H Hope it's coherent, my kids are wilding all over the place today [...]

By: Tina S.

Tina S. — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 00:24:36 +0000

I love getting free books, especially if they are a first in a series. Usually if I like the book I will go and buy the others. It allows me to read other authors I might not have heard about or just might have overlooked.

By: Jamie D. (@VarietyPages)

Jamie D. (@VarietyPages) — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 23:36:34 +0000

Congrats on your article!

I’ve always thought that freebies would help drive book sales, and I love being able to “sample” work before I buy. Quite often I’ll read something free (downloaded from a web site or blog – I don’t have a kindle), and go buy that author’s entire backlist, so it definitely works on me. That’s my strategy with my blog serials – get people wanting more, then when/if I finally get published, I’ll have at least some people who will be in line to buy the first “official” book (and hopefully more after that).

So often artists and writers are told to “never give their work away” – I’m glad the tide seems to be changing on that (though giving away all digital editions seems too far).

Great post – excellent information. :-)

By: Lori

Lori — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 23:09:51 +0000

I agree. I found some authors I’d put off reading until their book was free. And of course, I went and bought more from them. (You can’t include me in your Kindle sales #s, though, since I already have all of yours and Shannon’s books ). But I think it’s a fabulous way to introduce an author to thousands of people. And we consumers appreciate it, too!