So I (momager) googled and reviewed many posts regarding KDP Select and how it worked for others. I learned it hasn’t been around all that long, only since 2011, check out this article for info on it’s beginning: “Amazon introduces $6M Select Program”
For the most part people had given a positive spin on KDP as a whole. Decided to go for it, enrolled in KDP Select and set a 3 day FREE period for TEO. (you are allowed 5 free days every 90 day period you are enrolled) See HERE for the KDP Program.
Was a very easy enroll since TEO was already in Amazon’s system (launched June 25, 2012) TEO had accumulated a few reviews and 14 sales. Most past users of this free day program suggested breaking up the 5 day promotion. I did. 3 days to start and I figured a weekend would be good. It is summer July 27th, no special holidays, school is not back in and it is hot!
When you select the dates to run the free promotion, it always starts at 12:00am. Pacific (or around that time-allow for Amazon to configure).
So TEO free promotion days started at 12am on Friday July 27th. Now I am not really a night person so I did not stay up much past midnight. Woke up at 7:30am and checked TEO reports around 8am. Here is the first screen shot:
Within 7 or 8 hours TEO was #4,782 in Kindle Store & #66 in Kindle Store-ebooks-Fiction-Literary!
At 9:52am it was #25 in Literary! And over 300 downloads!
And on and on it went! Here is a breakdown for the 3 days TEO was free on Amazon in the KDP Program:
- 7/27/12 2:22pm #14 in Literary & #226 in Free Kindle Store
- 7/27/12 10:41pm #10 in Literary & #189 in Free Kindle Store
- 7/28/12 5:44pm #10 in Literary & #160 in Free Kindle Store
- 7/28/12 7:27pm #6 in Literary & #101 in Free Kindle Store
- 7/28/12 11:00pm #2 in Literary & #77 in Free Kindle Store
- 7/29/12 7:34am #1 in Literary & #21 in Free Kindle Store
- 7/29/12 6:14pm #1 in Literary & #15 in Free Kindle Store
It’s close to midnight of the last day so TEO will end the free run shortly. So up to this point I can say the 3 day free ride has been positive for us too! Free- “bought” downloaded copies at this time are a whopping 12, 695!! and TEO is #1 in Literary & #21 in Free Kindle Store.
I promoted a bit but really only a day or two before AND during. (more on these sites in part 2) Facebook and Twitter were a huge help. FACEBOOK did not have many followers BUT my personal FB does! Kristin has a TWITTER account with over 2800 followers so tweeting was fantastic and continues to be a blast. (connecting with other authors and readers is what counts:)
This is part 1 of our KDP Free Promo experience…now comes the real test…how has this helped paid rankings and $$??…check back in 2 to 3 weeks to see the where TEO goes.
What we hoped to accomplish:
- TEO in more readers hands-check
- More reader reviews-check
- See if I could handle a little PR or internet promo-check
- Exposure & rankings-check & rechecking
- $$ and sales-check back!
**What do you think?? Have you tried KDP Free? Will you?
Click HERE to buy “The Enchanted Orchards” on Amazon or learn more about Fern…
“There were summers when we ate nothing but the peaches, our hunger for them incessant. Their sweet taste was tart and sticky and it lingered in our mouths all day. After all this time I should be sick of them, but their saccharine taste is all I crave. You must long for them, too, because they fall around your grave.” ~Fern
