Yes!

My evenings are designated times I reserve for writing chapters and scenes in my fifth novel, Killer Kudzu, a pre-apoclayptic, semi-horror novel where science has gone terribly wrong.  

However, there is a nagging thought in the back of my mind that keeps attacking my most creative evening moments. Eventually it stops the innovative process and now I must satisfy my “Web Marketing Habit.” I reluctantly close the Killer Kudzu word document and go online where the internet lurks. The internet demands time to quench the thirst for “Likes” and “Thumbs Up” on the different social media platforms.

It is an addiction that must be constantly fulfilled or I am afraid I will not generate any significant book sales.

Every day of my life I work the “Rule of Five.” What is the rule of five? It is a technique I learned from marketing guru John Kremer, few years ago, where you do five things a day to market your published novels…365 days a year.

Do you reach your goal every day? No!

For example, I might give out business cards in the checkout line in the local supermarket to people who I might open a conversation with that show an interest in my books. When I am in line at Starbucks, I might give out more cards.

As I go online and work the social media websites, I give out the internet address to my website.

It is work, work, work and I hope to produce book sales.

What is nagging me is my “My Marketing Habit” addiction. It frustrates and causes me to question whether it is a productive routine that produces tangible results?

From looking at my recent book sales results, I see miniscule upward movement. I just received payment of $4.15 from Amazon. I am happy and it bought me a nice beverage (smile), but Is it worth the multiple hours and for me to see very few sales?

On Smashwords, I see people opting to download the free sections of my novels. However, the E-Book sales do not match the free downloads.

I have been interviewed on Blog Talk Radio, on a frequent basis, an internet television show and still I do not see a spike in book sales.

Recently, I visited the Barnes & Nobles’ store in Snellville, Georgia and noticed the bookshelf empty of The Ghost of Atlanta that is a good thing. The Barnes & Nobles’ salesperson said they were ordering more copies.

Another positive is A Brownstone in Brooklyn, which was published twenty years ago, is still selling books while most books published at that time (early 2000s) are out of print or the authors just gave up marketing.

Yet, my “Web Marketing Habit” must be satisfied. I do not feel like I am working hard for my published books when I do not market. I feel edgy, nervous and not productive.

I feel when I am not on Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, authorsden, etc, then I am missing sales opportunities.

As a published author, how can I  judge when my marketing is producing sales or just producing passing interest in the novels?

Am I correct in feeling this habit is not producing significant sales---so just quit?

I am working on changing this habit and sometimes I feel like a junkie, I saw growing up in Brooklyn, experiencing withdrawals.

Any ideas on creating new marketing platforms to produce success and, more importantly, more book sales?

Help! Help! Help!