I'm stumped.
The "Huge Online Party" has not been as popular as I'd anticipated. I'm getting 100+ visitors (vast majority of which are fantasy fans) to the site every day, but for some reason or another, people aren't joining the party. Blogs giving away a single book are getting more participation than this multi-hundred book giveaway. This would seem to indicate that something's wrong with my presentation. The problem is, I don't know where the problem lies. So I'm asking you for help, especially those of you uninterested in the "party." A penny for your thoughts? Feel free to answer anonymously if you want to remain hidden. But I'd really like to hear what you think.
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27 comments:
I read that it needs a Twitter account. I don't have a twitter account and I don't think my Mom would let me get one. That's why.
Aiden makes a good point there. The main thing I'm not sure about is the actual party. It seems really cool but I'm a little confused on how to actually participate. I have found some of the hidden things you mention on the site, but I'm still not completely sure what's going on. If you could explain that I think it would be a huge hit, and I personally would get as much publicity for it as I can via FB and blog.
I agree with the above comments, and I would also add that you may need to be patient. The party is still some time away; those 100 visitors may still be checking their schedules or asking their parents for permission.
Keep advertising, but do not panic yet. The party is an amazingly awesome idea.
My parents also have a problem with me getting a Twitter account. My you could set it up some other way?
I agree with everyone's comments--a Twitter acct is going to be a huge deterrent, a little more detail about how to participate would help, and definitely give it a little time. There are probably people who aren't going to RSVP, but will still pop in to see what's up.
Can't wait for Kestrel's release, btw!
Your link to the party wasn't clear--I kept clicking on the picture. You may want to consider posting it larger, with a clear link. And if you want to drive up traffic, then make sure to include that as a requirement (i.e., for an extra entry into the contest, share it as a blog post, etc.)
Major problems:
I don't have a twitter account and probably won't be able to get one.
I don't have a webcam (do I even need one?).
I eventually found the place where you RSVP, but in the blog post it is unclear what you have to do to join the party. (BTW, what DO you have to do? Where do you have to go?)
I think it's a really great idea, though, and the movie is hilarious. =D I truly would come if I could!
I have the same problem many others have. I'd love to participate, but I can't get a twitter account. It sounds awesome, though.
God Bless,
~Prism~
For me, first of all, I don't have a twitter account, and I don't really care to set up one yet, and I'm not interested in winning new books right now. Haha, I know, that doesn't sound possible, but it is :P
Though unlike many of the others, I do fully understand what I would have to do to join the party. (Did anyone else watch the whole huge video explaining it??)
I would have to say it is the live chat part that would make me not want to do it. It needs a webcam not alot of people have one and the whole twitter accout thing is also a huge road block.
P.S. Great blog.
Barie: I can't see the video because YouTube is blocked on my computer. I think what would be good is if you kept the video but added in a text version of the video. And yeah, the webcam being necessary just eliminated me as a participant. Sorry, I wish I could come, I mean, who doesn't like free books!
Thanks everyone! That helps a ton. And keep the suggestions coming. Here's what I'm going to do (based on your info so far)
1. De-mandatorize twitter. I had no idea that would be such a sticking point.
2. Make it clear that a webcam is not needed, nor will it even be used if you have one. I see other video chats make that clear as well.
3. Offer an incentive for RSVPing, and later on, for helping publicize.
4. Explain everything better
5. Provide a text version of everything in the video.
6. Separate the Amazon.com Explosion from the Party. I think that might be causing some confusion.
7. Make the link to the party page more visible.
8. Be patient. :)
Okay, yeah, the Twitter account was a deterrant. BUT! My mom said that I could possibly make one just for the party, lol.
Oh, and I'd love to get the book, but I'll see if I can get enough money.
PS; I'm going to post a HUGE post all about the party on both of my blogs. One of them is mostly a friend/family following that has no idea about what's going on in here. I'll email people and everything. Maybe you could send out an email that I can forward to other people?? My email is up on my blog.
PPS; This was an AWESOME idea!
Oh, and can I use the poster on the blog post below on my blog post??
I'll try to generate some excitement about the party using my own blog. But I think Twitter's kind of a stumper, as others were saying. The first thing I thought was, 'aw, I'll have to go create a Twitter account, else I probably won't have as much fun.'. I think that it would be really really worth it to look for a free and easy chat room thingy jig, where we could all get on. I've had fun at gatherings with others over events in little chat boxes. Just make it sound easy. People like easy. :)
I'll be thinking. And I'll start praying too, now that I think of it. Why is that so often the last idea that comes to me? I'll begin praying for your book to touch lives- and many, many lives. :D
I'm already bugging my parents and friends about joint ordering. Even if they don't I intend to up baby sitting money for two copies, one for me, one for library.
I'm excited! Just pray on account of me getting to a computer on that day.
Oh- and are there specific party times, or is it a veg out in front of the computer with friends all day or at any time type thing?
~Rachel
P.S. People often offer me a, quote, "Penny for my thoughts" but I never see that penny. *glare*.
Mibbit offers free chatrooms without creating an account--one of the forums I'm on uses it
Sweet, I think that'll help the party a LOT. Quick question though, how do we RSVP the book? I was looking and trying to find it on the blog how to RSVP it.
Thanks,
Seth,
Actually, I just looked and the RSVP button was right on the page, my bad :)
You are handling this masterfully, Dwarf. :)
I, for one, plan on joining the party but just haven't gotten around to officially signing up. I'm sure there are many like me...
-whisper
Your website won't let me RSVP! I've tried and tried multiple times on three different computers and it just keeps telling me I'm typing in the wrong verification code. But the verification code is simple and easy to read, and such codes have never ever bothered me in the past. So, because I can't seem to make it work, I'll let you know here that I want to show up. I would like to know what time the party starts, though... and where everyone is supposed to meet, you know, on the web. Things like that. Yeah, specifics would be really nice. :)
Sounds like a good list of things to do my friend :D
I would join, but, I guess I'm just not that big on parties. . . . {cringes in apology} And although I'm SUPER excited to read your book, and can't wait until it comes out and I can do that! . . . I just don't have the money right now, even with it being marked down 6 bucks on that day. :( But I can almost promise you that as soon as I have money available, I will be buying your book! :)
~ElizabethMarieKauffman~
Hmmm yes puzzling. I also had this problem once. In fact I am in the middle of a small scavenger hunt and well response isn't that great. I love prizes.
The Twitter account can be a problem. I don't have one, but I will make one for this one event. KMS is a big thing, and I really want to be apart of it!! Maybe you could have other people blog, and talk about it....
You could also ask some famous, well known authors, to talk about it.
Sorry again about talking about the hidden secrets on the site. I had no idea what it was I had found!!
I also didn't have a Twitter account... though I just made one yesterday, specifically because of this party. :D
I agree that it would help if you explained things better. Other than that, I don't really have any suggestions... You're doing great so far! (I think the *free books* will draw a lot of people who wouldn't otherwise be interested)
Cheerio,
Evergreena
Thanks again everyone! The changes have been applied.
Jake, yeah, feel free to use anything you want. Thanks for that!
Rachel, thanks for the prayers. I will certainly return the favor. I'm glad you're looking forward to it!
Star-Dreamer, I switched to a different form builder. Sorry for the frustration. Hopefully that works better.
Elizabeth, no problem. I understand. :) I appreciate that you want to read my novel. That makes me happy.
Joraiem, you're perfectly all right. It didn't cause a problem. You were just so fast that you discovered things before you knew what was going on. How can you help it if you're that cool? ;)
Evergreena, thanks for getting a twitter account specifically for the party! Even though twitter isn't required anymore. I'm pretty certain there will be a few perks to having one.
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