Giveaways: Yay or Nay?The first giveaway I heard of was many years ago, and it was organized by a blogger: she asked for follows on her blog.
I was not a fan of giveaways at all at the time because participating in them seemed like a false liking of something in exchange for a gift.
Giveaways are everywhere on social media these days though, and I’ve been part of many. Giving away copies of Amazon gift cards, books, book swag on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram has been surprisingly helpful in building connections with readers. Many readers see giveaways as a fun way to participate in a sort of public reading life. Giveaway wins are rewards they look forward to, and like to show off.
Some giveaway winners end up leaving reviews and ratings and that’s a bonus. I’ve had giveaway winners show up at book events. They get in touch on social media, say hello, and share my posts. The real benefit of giveaways, the way I see it now, is to build connections, and keep my books in the public eye. It seems to be true that a book needs to be seen multiple times for a reader to click on the buy button. As books grow expensive and book publishing explodes with millions of books being published each other, readers have turned pickier.
Money spent on buying a book they don’t like is understandably a waste. Money spent on buying a book where they have had a connection with the author is considered a good thing—many won’t buy a book by an author whose online or offline persona they don’t like. Not all readers make buying decisions based on author online profiles and giveaways, but I’ve come to realize that a large number do.
I can’t do giveaways on the scale that my publisher can. In trad pub, authors do only a few, chosen with care, because our budgets can only stretch so far.
Right now, I’ve tied up with 9 other authors who write thrillers/ crime/ horror etc and come up with a 100 USD Amazon Gift Card giveaway. In the past, this sort of giveaway has brought me genuine followers with very little investment–all of us authors chip in a little, and one lucky reader is the winner.
If crime/ thrillers/ horror are your jam, here’s your chance to discover newer authors when you follow them.
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What kind of giveaways have you entered? Have you ever won? Have you ever run any giveaways? What sort of giveaways would you recommend?
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I admittedly, am a terrible self promoter, lol. As most writers don’t like to market their own works. It’s been quite a while since I’ve put out any ads. 🙂
Hard same. I do have a few ads running but I never bet big money.
I used to use Goodreads. Then they started charging a lot for the service.
They have a sale in March, which is why I was able to afford a giveaway. They do charge a ton, and only a publisher can really afford the fees.
It’s an expensive way to advertise. I’m sure sometimes it works though. The best form of advertising is of course positive reviews from acknowledged authors.
Yes, that’s definitely one of best ways to promote a book and encourage positive expectations. I always heave a sigh of relief and gratitude whenever an established author or professional reviewer has good things to say about my books!
I have never participated in a give away, on either end. However, random people who buy a book rarely leave a review. I’ve read that 1% of readers do. Well, the ones who get upset about a little detail may leave a negative review. So I think it is OK to have give aways. It doesn’t mean that those readers will write dishonest reviews but they may make more of an effort.
I agree! Apart from the jarring negative reviews, I’m always grateful to see new readers and reviewers pop up on Goodreads, Amazon, or social media to share their comments about my books. The connections and community are the best part of hosting giveaways!
I’ve seen mixed reviews on effectiveness of book giveaways. I’ve not done them before.
Yes, there’s definitely a lot of feedback from both ends of the scale. I’m grateful that they’ve been quite helpful for me, but I do know others who have experienced differently. Like with most things, it can be quite subjective.
99p Kindle deals tempt me!
Same here!
Great question, Damyanti. While book giveaways may work for some, to me they are like giving someone a stick of gum. I’ve not discerned a lasting benefit other than my initial joy of giving and their momentary appreciation.
That’s an interesting metaphor, thanks for sharing! Another thing I find interesting is how the same method can have such different results on an individual basis. I’ve heard feedback from both ends of the scale — I’d say I’m lucky enough to have my experiences be mainly positive, but I see why giveaways can be considered ineffective. It is fun to connect with the audience and witness winners’ excitement, that’s for sure!
Absolutely! Thanks for your many insights, Damyanti.
I have entered a few giveaways and I have won twice. (a hardcover book and an Amazon gift voucher). That being said, I don’t think that giveaways are all that great for book promotion. I have hosted a few giveaways myself when the blog tour organizer offered them, but I found them a lot of work from a blogger’s point of view. Also, picking the winner didn’t feel right to me. ( I used Random Name Picker).
Wow, congrats! Yes, giveaways definitely can be a lot of work and I’ve also doubted how helpful they are towards book promotion in the past. I must say that I’ve been lucky when it comes to the outcomes of hosting giveaways, since the sum of my experiences has been primarily positive and do end up boosting my books. As for picking the winner, I completely agree!
I don’t do too many giveaways for my books or enter many personally. For me, it’s because I don’t want my name out there on so many internet lists. I’m not sure that even matters though! Best of luck with your upcoming one!
Thanks for the kind words and for sharing your perspective, Jacqui! I see what you mean, it could be quite a bother. Honestly, I’m not sure that it matters, either! The world of book promotion and social media is a confusing one. Hoping I manage to crack the code eventually!