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I'm at my wit's end with book marketing and could use some guidance. I published my memoir three months ago and invested almost $2,000 in various book marketing services, but my sales are abysmal—only 45 copies sold so far.
The book marketing company I hired promised prominent features in their newsletter (which they delivered), guaranteed Amazon reviews (got about 6), and social media promotion (which seemed minimal at best). They also ran Amazon ads that generated thousands of impressions but very few clicks.
I'm starting to wonder if the issue is my book itself. The few reviews I've gotten are positive (averaging 4.2 stars), but perhaps my cover or blurb isn't compelling enough? Or maybe the book marketing services I chose weren't appropriate for a memoir about rural life?
I still have about $500 left in my marketing budget, and I'm not sure whether to:
Try different book marketing services
Invest in a professional cover redesign
Focus on building my own platform instead of paying others
Cut my losses and focus on the next book
Has anyone else struggled with similar disappointments? Did you find a way to turn things around? I'd particularly appreciate hearing from other memoir authors who found book marketing services that worked for their niche.