Monday, January 17, 2011

Getting it Right

Happy Monday!

You may have noticed that the cover of The Hating Game has changed. Yes -- again. Late last week, I had a conversation with my publisher, who told me that while the book was selling well, she still didn't feel it was reaching its target market. One of the biggest worries was that that the sinister-like red and black cover was turning off prospective female buyers who might think it was more crime than rom-com.

So we took the plunge and made the change. And guess what? Sales jumped almost immediately. On the first day after the change, I sold almost four times more copies a day than usual, and the trend is continuing.

Once the initial launch momentum had worn off, The Hating Game usually fell anywhere from around 350 to 600 in the UK rankings, depending on the day. Since the cover change, it's been between 150 to 200. It's still early days, but it's pretty safe to say the new cover is having the desired effect.

That's the great thing about Kindle. If something isn't working, then it's easy to change. Would it have been better to have all this figured out, pre-Kindle publication? Well, yes.

But better late than never!

Reminder: Significant Other Blogfest this Friday!

85 comments:

  1. you know I never thought about it before, but you're right; an e-release pre paperback release means you can play with things like the cover and have a viable way of measuring its impact on sales. Well done your publisher! I'm off to stick that piece of information down in my notebook....

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  2. So glad sales are up! That is awesome.

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  3. Oh my gosh how smart of your publishers to figure out what wasn't working and change it!!! I love the cover, it's gorgeous, fun and flirty!!! I could see several people drawing to it!!!

    Reminds me of Sophie Kinsella's covers, they're always so much fun you can't help but pick it up to find out more about it!!!

    Happy Monday Talli!!!!

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  4. That's wonderful news for a Monday. Congratulations Talli.

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  5. Love the cover, love the fact you have a great publisher!

    Love the fact that I downloaded a free Kindle for my pc and bought a copy of your book!

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  6. Congratulations! That is wonderful news. A jump in sales is always a good thing!

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  7. That is a cute cover! I mean, I liked the old one but this one is more...flirty somehow. I'm currently reading The Hating Game on my Kindle, and loving it! Hope sales continue to rise.

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  8. isn't that something! Well, I've had to confess more than once to judging a book by its cover... :D great work~ <3 And I like the new look!

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  9. It's fun watching the cover change! I think the new one is really pretty--is that the one the book will be printed with as well?

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  10. How amazing this is! We've all been drawn to covers in bookstores or not liked others and passed on books. But changing print books is a major expense. I think you've got a smart, energetic publisher on your side. (which is only fair since you are, too!) Congratulations on the ongoing successful journey of The Hating Game. I'm sooooo happy for you.

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  11. Great new cover!

    Congratulations on the jump in sales. Design is everything. Most people are visual, especially when it comes to books.


    Go, Talli!


    Michael

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  12. That's awesome! Congrats! It's funny how something like that can make all the difference in the world.

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  13. Oh, i love the new cover! Congrats on your sales. That's awesome!

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  14. I love the new cover! I can definitely see it bringing in a different audience. Yay for better sales! Congrats!

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  15. Love the new cover, Talli.
    Hope sales continue to soar for you!

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  16. Talli,
    I noticed this last week & it really caught my attention. I've always been a big fan of purple & think this does look brighter than the burgundy cover. Glad to read that your sales are up. Also, being mentioned in the Times & Daily Mail might be helping too! :)

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  17. Wow, that's amazing. It makes sense, though - people do judge a book (or at least decide to buy it) by its cover.

    I love your new one!

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  18. That's cool the cover change made a difference.

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  19. They say don't judge a book by its cover, but people do! I love the new look and it's great that it's working :o)

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  20. I love the new cover! Just goes to show what a huge difference a book cover makes. I won't even pick up a book off the shelf if I don't like the cover. Unless it's gotten really good word of mouth!

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  21. Love the new cover. Hope the trend continues to go up with sales.

    Mason
    Thoughts in Progress

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  22. Good for you! The cover works nicely!

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  23. Thanks, everyone! I must admit I was a bit reticent to change the cover, but I'm glad we did now. I think the new cover is more commercial and is fitting in with the genre nicely! Just goes to show what a difference changing just one element to make.

    Thank you for all the feedback! Hope everyone had a great weekend.

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  24. It's fascinating how the cover art can influence readers. It's almost like the cover is the very first Synopsis of the story, drawing the reader in.

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  25. This was such an excellent decision! I like both covers, but now that I think about it, I guess the previous one does convey more 'crime chick lit' than 'romantic comedy', which might turn some people off! How clever of your publisher to nail this down, and how brave of you for taking the plunge, Talli! Congratulations on it paying off!

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  26. Wow that's amazing Talli! What a significant improvement. :) And I have to agree...the new hating game cover looks absolutely fantastic.

    ~TRA

    http://xtheredangelx.blogspot.com

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  27. Gosh. It just shows how we do judge a book by it's cover. I'm thrilled that the change has been so successful, though!

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  28. The new cover is awesome! I definitely think it fits. And, that's so great that sales have jumped up because of it. Although, it's a great and fun story, so I don't know why they wouldn't want to buy it.

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  29. I think cover does matter! I'm going to be very picky with mine. Not that I really have a say but I will say nonetheless.

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  30. I'm glad you're ranking is up. I just changed the cover on my sidebar and on my post today.

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  31. I love the new cover! SOOOO glad your book is enjoying such success! You deserve it. :)

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  32. It's a great cover. I liked the other one a lot too . . . but I guess I can see what she means. And obviously, she was right.

    Any word on when it may be available on via B&N for those of us owning Nooks?

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  33. Congrats, Talli!! I'm glad that your sales are up and the books is doing so well. I can't wait to see it on the shelves and buy myself a copy. It sounds amazing!

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  34. So glad your sales are going even stronger now!

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  35. Talli- I am so very glad your sales are good and I love the new cover! just goes to show covers are so important!

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  36. I can't wait for this to come out in paperback, i'm definately going to incude it in my 52 book reviews this year :)

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  37. Wow, I never knew the cover could be changed like that! I'm glad your sales are up though:)

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  38. Oh, I think this new cover is gorgeous! And I'm glad the sale figures are up. :)

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  39. Nice job talli!!
    I've recommended it to everyone I know who reads. I'm still shocked that there's people out there who don't read... and that I know them...

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  40. Pleased your sales have improved.

    Yvonne.

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  41. I love the new cover. Congratulations on the sales and here's to many more.x

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  42. How encouraging to have such a pro-active publisher.

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  43. I'm still waiting for the book to be publish in hardcopy! I ordered it only to receive the Kindle version (which I can't use) and found out that:

    "This title has not yet been released."

    May be once its in book form there will be more orders. Personally I don't see what was wrong with the other cover, but i can see why some candyfloss types may have been discouraged. I like both (although may be because I also enjoy crime fiction)

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  44. Congratulations! :)

    I love the new cover.

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  45. The new cover is better--so glad you got it figured out before your paperback comes out!

    I'll be there friday with bells on!

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  46. That's amazing about your cover. I've liked all of them, but I really like this one a lot.

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  47. I like this new cover. Looks better then the red one, but my fave was the original pink.

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  48. Big Congrats to the increased sales! I liked the old cover but I like the new cover too!

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  49. I like the new cover. That's awesome that it has already had the intended affect!

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  50. I think the cover looks great! I can't wait until it comes out and I finally get to buy it and read it!

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  51. Ditto all the comments. LI do choose books by their cover and yours rocks.

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  52. WOW - I LOVE it! and yes, much more easily changed with e-books - you must be so happy! I can't wait to get my paws on a copy when it's out on old fashioned paper!

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  53. Congrats on the improved sales! It just goes to show that certain things really do affect a reader's likelihood to buy something.

    Jai

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  54. I love the cover so much more now! It reflects what's actually inside in a way the old cover didn't. I'm glad your sales have gone up! That is exciting. I enjoyed the Ebook so much that when the paperback comes out, I'll be getting it for sure!

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  55. That's gorgeous, and I think it will look great on a hard copy as well. How exciting Talli. Congrats!

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  56. I saw this lovely cover in Theresa Milstein's blog - and thought - wow!! I never for once thought your previous book cover was anything but sinister - shows what I know - but this one says - "read me on the beach with a hunky lifeguard nearby and a glass of tequila sunrise!" Ahem.

    Take care
    x

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  57. I love the new cover! Hopefully it will continue to have the desired effect!

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  58. Great decision. It seems to pay well to listen to a good publisher.

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  59. Great decision. This new cover would talk to me.

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  60. I did notice! That's excellent news :)

    I really liked the old cover, but the more I look at it, this one is really growing on me too!

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  61. Purdy new cover. Glad the change is working out.

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  62. I like this one even better. Its FUN to look at. And the retro element works. Best wishes for your continued success!

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  63. That is AMAZING news! Congratulations on your jump!

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  64. If your not able to change and adapt, then you'll miss out on key opportunities. Kudos to you and your publisher for recognizing that fact. :)

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  65. The new cover is lovely. I'm glad it's working for you!

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  66. Glad the new cover is such a hit! I'm not surprised you're selling well - it's a terrific book! :)

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  67. Hands down a better cover :) Yay for the ease of kindle!!

    The Arrival, on Amazon NOW
    www.damselinadirtydress.com

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  68. I like this one too, but thought the other one was just as neat. Funny, I thought it was *pink* and girly [g]
    It's kind of scary that covers are so easily interchangeable on Kindle - coming from one who used to collect different editions of her favourite authors. Don't change 'em up too often, okay? [bg]

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  69. Love the new cover! That is awesome that it had such a great effect on your sales. Cool to learn all this stuff!

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  70. While I must admit that I like the old cover, I like this one, too. And if it's good for sales, then I LOVE it. I'm glad you publisher was so on top of the marketing for your book to be able to notice that. You've got good people on your side!

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  71. well done you - amazing what a cover can do!

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  72. Wow, I had no idea that a cover could influence things to such a great extent. Love this new cover!! I think it matches the tone of the book quite well. Awesome work as usual :)

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  73. I love the new cover! It's amazing the difference the cover can have on book sales. It's something I never really thought about before.

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  74. Hi Talli .. how incredible the change in cover has made .. good for you - but it teaches us all a lesson.

    Perhaps another lesson to publish first in Kindle and then make any necessary adjustments prior to printing ..

    So pleased it's all working out - lots happening .. cheers Hilary

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  75. i totally will 'pick up' a book by its cover. then i'll have a read inside to see if i like it. if the cover doesn't attract me then i won't pick it up. hmmm something for me to reconsider.

    Congrats and continued success!!

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  76. It's incredible what a difference the change appears to have had, and kudos to your publisher for looking at what might have been impacting upon sales and suggesting how they could be improved.

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  78. Love the new cover!! It would definitely get my attention in a bookstore!

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  79. Amazing the differnce a cover can make... love that you can change quickly with ebooks

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  80. oooh, I love the new cover!! That does seem to fit more. Good luck!

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