Post-ReaderCon 2: Bloggers make people buy, it’s true
I wish I had thought of this prior to the ReaderCon, but anyway, better late than never.
I hope, in the interest of learning more about the impact of word of mouth and book bloggers on book sales, you (visitor to my website) take a minute to answer this quick survey:
1. How did you find out about me, Mina V. Esguerra author of chick lit/romance novellas?
(Was it through a blog? Amazon? A bookstore? An article in the newspaper or news site? Your friend? Who was the friend?)
2. Did you buy my book/s?
(Which ones? Ebook or paperback?)
If you haven’t yet, do you plan to buy in the future?
(It’s OK to say no. I’d like to know why though! I hope you share the reason.)
3. Have you told anyone else about my book/s?
(I’d appreciate any other details — which book, why that friend, how did she/he like it.)
Please leave your responses in the comment section below, or email them to minavesguerra@gmail.com. (Should I offer a prize? Maybe I will.)
I’m starting this survey because I was surprised (surprised!) to hear Chachic (of Chachic’s Book Nook) say that she didn’t know if her book blogging had an impact on book sales. I was all, are you kidding?! Of course your blogging has an impact! In my own experience, I know for sure that her blog and others who have reviewed my books have directly contributed to actual sales.
But of course I happen to be publishing those two books too, so I get to see the figures. I see, for example, that on the day or week of Chachic or Tina or dementedchris (to name a few) mentioning my books, I get purchase notifications from Smashwords. Some people who have emailed me to buy the paperback versions actually said that they heard about the book from these bloggers. And when I read a post from someone saying she bought my book because she has “heard so much about it” I assume that she means the blogosphere, and if she means actual word of mouth then I assume that this person got his/her info from the book blogs. (Reviews on Amazon count too, and people like Laura and Vicki Tyley are part of this too, but that is maybe another topic.)
So yes yes, definitely yes — if you’re not a household-name author like me, book blogs count, and are probably responsible for a significant chunk of sales. If you answer the survey, maybe we get to find out just how much.
Chachic
September 15, 2011 at 12:30 pm,
LOL I really didn't know that my reviews had that much impact on the sales of your books! That made me happy. I remember how I found out about you, it was Tina who first recommended Fairy Tale Fail. I purchased a copy on Smashwords, downloaded it to my Kindle and read it in one night. The rest, as they say, is history. 🙂
Lee Mejia
September 15, 2011 at 1:19 pm,
In my case, I found you because I passed by at Summit Books website and saw your book, My Imaginary Ex which synopsis got my attention. Tried to search more about the author; about you, until I was on your Facebook page and learned more about you. Didn't instantly buy MIE, until you had that Smashwords giveaway of FTF during independence day, and immediately took the chance. I read your work,
Monique
September 15, 2011 at 1:28 pm,
(1) I discovered you through Tina's blog. :)<br /><br />(2) I bought the Kindle edition of your Fairy Tale Fail on Amazon. ;)<br /><br /> I already have a free copy of No Strings Attached c/o Tina, and I'd love to buy your other books IF I can find them, haha. <br /><br />(3) Yes, my husband. 😀 No one's been asking me for recommendations for local authors yet, so I have no
Lee Mejia
September 15, 2011 at 1:38 pm,
Oh yeah, is it weird that both my ebook and paperback copies of FTF are sponsored by you, Mina? LOL. 🙂
Tina
September 15, 2011 at 10:42 pm,
1. I found My Imaginary Ex through Bestsellers, when I was looking for chicklit references for my NaNo novel. Haha but I think you know this already. :)<br /><br />2. Well, obvious answer is yes. All. :D<br /><br />3. Yes, everyone who'd listen. Or okay, everyone who would ask me for good local fiction will automatically hear your name from me. 🙂 <br /><br />I only know of a few who bought
Peter S.
September 18, 2011 at 10:50 pm,
Hi, Mina! Were you at the ReaderCon? Too bad I wasn't able to talk to you. I was working the whole time on that day as we had a booth during the MIBF. I was looking for people to discuss chick lit with, as it's the only genre that I haven't read many books on.
Mina
September 19, 2011 at 12:09 am,
@Chachic<br />Thank you for actively "pimping" the books to Holly too!<br /><br />@Lee<br />Oo nga ano! You and that book have this thing going. :)<br /><br />@Monique<br />Thank you for telling your husband. 🙂 Husbands and boyfriends should def read the stuff their significant others check out, haha.<br /><br />@Tina<br />Amazon cross-posting would be <i>very</i> helpful, will
almeldiel
September 21, 2011 at 11:14 am,
1. I heard of you and your books from Chachic, actually. ;)<br /><br />2. I haven't bought or read any of your books yet, but I take Chachic's recommendations seriously, so I do plan to get a copy of one of your books one of these days. Which one's a good title to start with? :)<br /><br />3. I will, once I've read them! ;)<br /><br />I saw you at ReaderCon, by the way, but
Mina
September 21, 2011 at 4:36 pm,
@Meann<br />If you tend to like the same things Chachic does, you could try Fairy Tale Fail first. <br /><br />And I noticed that friends my age and a little older tend to like No Strings Attached. 🙂 <br /><br />Aw you should have said something at ReaderCon! But I didn't stay long enough din to meet everyone, sigh.
almeldiel
September 22, 2011 at 1:30 pm,
@Mina: I'll aim for Fairy Tale Fail, then! 🙂 Hope to meet you some other time. :)<br /><br />-Meann
kaoko
September 27, 2011 at 11:31 pm,
Ooooh, surveys. I like surveys.<br /><br />1. Stumbled upon Imaginary Ex at a local bookstore. Looked interested, brought it home, was hooked, started stalking—oops.<br /><br />2. I have Imaginary Ex, No Strings and FTF in paperback. Hoping to add Frenemies when it's out. Not much of an ebook reader so I'll wait.<br /><br />3. I remember discussing (gushing actually) Imaginary Ex with
Gracie
November 17, 2011 at 11:41 am,
1. I started collecting and reading summit books. I read your novel My Imaginary Ex and I really loved it. Afterwards, I read your blog and then I saw you have other books. <br /><br />2. Yup, both paperback and e-book. I still prefer paperback though. <br /><br /><br />3. I told my friends about your books All 3 of them 🙂 They love it too 🙂
Evert
November 17, 2011 at 12:00 pm,
1. Chachic recommended your books to me. :p I think I read half or the whole of Fairy Tale Fail in her Kindle. :p<br /><br />2. Bought ebooks and My Imaginary Ex in paperback 🙂 <br /><br />3. Recommended to my friend who can't finish reading a book and she finished yours! 😛 Also recommended it to my cousins 🙂
Rose Ann
November 17, 2011 at 5:33 pm,
1.It’s because of my friend, Ann. Last year, I borrowed some chick lit novels to her and one of them is your book, “My Imaginary Ex”. Since then, I started to research about you and your new novels and then I also started collecting summit books specially your novels. <br /><br />2.I already have “My Imaginary Ex” and “No Strings Attached”.<br />I’m planning to buy po yung “Fairy tale Fail” and
Mina
November 17, 2011 at 5:42 pm,
Thanks, Gracie and Evert!<br /><br />Rose Ann – Email me! minavesguerra@gmail.com. 🙂
♥kwisshyness♥
November 29, 2011 at 5:03 pm,
1. I'm a fan of summit books. so i see to it that i get to have a copy whenever a book comes out. I fell inlove with "My Imaginary Ex" and "No strings Attached" :)<br /><br />2. Yes I have two of your books 🙂 <br />Would love to get the other two. Can i ask how to order paperback copies of "Fairy tale fail" and "love your frenemies" ?<br /><br /><br />
Charmie Saligumba
February 21, 2012 at 11:35 pm,
1. I found out about you through your book, No Strings Attached. Your books were displayed at the newly released section of National Book Store. There were like 10-15 NSA books on display so I thought of giving it a try. Liked it? No. Loved it! <br /><br />2. After reading No Strings Attached, I felt the need to find your previous books but I couldn't find a copy and since I don't have a
akonaman
April 2, 2012 at 6:14 pm,
1. I first read about you in a Sunday Inquirer Magazine article.<br /><br />2. I've bought No Strings Attached (it was the only title I found at this particular National Bookstore branch). I'm interested in buying your other books, and of course, the e-books once I've purchased my own spankin' Kindle :-)<br /><br />3. Yes! I've told my best friend about you. We're both
Emerlynne Gil
April 3, 2012 at 4:37 pm,
1. I first read about you through your husband, Mike Co, who is a friend of mine from UP. He posted on facebook your interview with GMA News. I got curious and read it.<br /><br />2. I haven't bought any of your books yet but I think I will in the next couple of days. I like your idea of using mythological figures from Philippine literature. I especially like it that you are planning to write
Geneve
April 9, 2012 at 2:08 pm,
1. How did you find out about me, Mina V. Esguerra author of chick lit/romance novellas?<br />(Was it through a blog? Amazon? A bookstore? An article in the newspaper or news site? Your friend? Who was the friend?)<br />-Bookstore 😀 <br /><br />2. Did you buy my book/s? <br />-Both ebook and paperback :D<br /><br />3. Have you told anyone else about my book/s?<br />-My friend who also loves
paxchy
June 13, 2012 at 7:31 am,
i was a fan of sumMit bo0ks, then my favorite was my imaginary ex as I love the way you wr0te the bo0k. Then, I plan to buy your self publisheD books as I cann0t comprehend ebo0ks and I like the fEel of the paper when I'm flipPing the pages of a bo0k, I lend you bo0ks to my friends wh0m I kn0w wilL enj0y your writing.ü I have this st0ry in my mind for years n0w and I cann0t puT it into