Advise and wisdom requested to help author get more sales

Without any replies would that mean I should phrase the question better?
I am look currently into getting a service to help get the word out better. Does anyone have experience with an offer, service, or company that would fit with books of this nature?
Thanks either way,
Gridd

Mmm.... for this, I can only recommend John Kremmer's website: Book marketing tips and book promotion ideas from expert John Kremer

You certainly have your work cut out for you. And it's why a lot of writers look for publishers.

Hi Gridd,

You've given yourself a hard task. Generally I would say that to promote a book you either need to commit time (ideally at least 6 months to implement a proper marketing plan) or money. In truth a bit of both.

There are a few things I would look to do as quick hits. The author page needs completing and the books need bringing together into a series. I went onto Amazon and searched the book title you mentioned and there is no connection to the other books in the series.

In truth these are unlikely to bring in many sales but look more professional and help customers out.

Front Covers

I don't know the genre but the covers don't strike me as professional so I would be inclined to redesign the cover. There are a few elements missing and i don't feel that they stand out on the page

Website

I think the authors site needs an overall a newer modern theme and the removal of some of the dates. There is also talk of releasing a second book. Give it a general spruce up

I'm also a big advocate of books having their own websites. Lets go with an example

I would have a site for C.S Lewis, one for 'Chronicles of Narnia' one for The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe, Silver Chair etc etc.

The C S Lewis site would be a site dedicated to the author, probably with a blog and social links and a few other things that are missing.

The book sites would be simple sites with testimonials, videos, opt in forms, links to the book on amazon

Each site in turn needs to promoted through SEO, Social Media and Content Marketing.

You need to be establishing the authors expertise and authority in the genre and start to build up a tribe that comes to a critical mass at the time you launch the next book.

Can you see how this takes time?

Do you know what sales are currently like?

If they are not great I might be tempted to pull two of the books and concentrate all my efforts on the first book.

With a client we created a system where we gave the first book away free and included a chapter of book two in the back of book one.

Also in the book was a link where they could get a free copy of book two by signing up to a mailing list. When we launched book three it was at the 9.99 price tag.

There is a great deal that can be done. Do you have a release date for the next book?

Any questions just ask

Eric

Create your online profile as an author. Research on the people who have written on your subjects and identify what makes your script different from theirs. Once this is done, you can hire a copywriter to write your website's landing page (front page) to promote your book.You would also need help from a webmaster to launch your website.

Plus, I'd really suggest you to go to Youtube or purchase Lynda.com subscription to learn more about marketing. Pretty much all of the basic idea is covered on the internet.

In short, for now, you need to learn:

-- Branding your online profile: you would need the help of graphic designers to get you started
-- Basic knowledge of internet marketing >> once you achieve this, you'll automatically search for the questions coming up in your mind about internet marketing. This will help you gain more information about the next level of marketing online.
-- Intermediate knowledge of SEO writing >> you need to learn as much as possible about this.
-- Basic knowledge of website launching process: difficult as it may sound but it is the simplest one of the two mentioned above.
-- Get your books on Amazon: ask the webmaster or hire an assistant to do this for you

You can search anyone on Warrior Forum to do all this for you.

Greetings all and I thank you for your input. It does help even though the situation is less than Ideal. I have brought up some of the recommendations made above to the author and they are very welcoming, will probably start with a redesign of her site, and make separate sites per book then fix the amazon links per books issues, or not necessarily in that order. Asking for opinions again I would like to setup a few promotions mentioned above as well. Luckily the first book includes book 2's first chapter etc, In your opinions, would a buy one get one be better than Buy the set $x.xx off types or would anything be better to start?
My time limit is mostly due to a full time job and family matters that will get better as time goes hopefully so its not exactly that I don't have any time but I would prefer to put what limited time available in the direction that would make the most difference short or long term. The plan is to dedicate more time to this as the sales increase. Again I thank you very much for all input even if it could be taken the wrong way.
Gridd

If I can add to Steve's question what time frame are working in (ie when do you want this all sorted for) and secondly how much time do you have to dedicate to promoting the author.

Thank you for your responses. The author is my wife's mother but also a friend (not meant to confuse but clarify a little)
Ultimately I would like to help get the story to sell and add additional venues to the story (games, movies etc). I would like to be able to work for her or an incorporation if It could afford my current income, (hence the lack of time) As far as the time frame goes, she is getting older and not as healthy as time goes so anything to get movement on the already published items.
If the physical copies were able to sell out would be a great short time goal in my opinion, but I understand that benefits longer term are better to work for than the short term. And if she had a few less worries the rest of the series may be able to come to fruition as well.
Thanks again.
Gridd

OK so getting a big name blogger to review your book is a sure fire proven winner. However, this is not so easy. Most get sent a lot of books every day - more than they could read in a year. Best strategy is to aim for a mid tier person. Frankly, your sales can improve. Still, you will not get the same level of exposure. Making your book free can help you get reviews. That said, a negative one will undo the effect of many positive ones.