it didn't work!

It is sad that I must end 2018 with a blog sharing disappointing, frustrating, maddening experience.

In my research for social media book promotion I found Books Go Social (BGS).  It’s an upstart from Dublin, Ireland that uses email and tweet blasts and facebook to promote author books.  This June they offered three membership packages and I purchased the “middle package” for $123.  BGS guaranteed selling 200 books and offered a full refund if they didn’t meet that goal.

I wanted to promote Dead Reckoning.  BGS has requirements on ebook pricing, book description and book cover.  I received permission from my publisher to lower the price to $2.99.  I submitted my book cover and description and was given a 4 out of 5 rating.  The promotion began and in two months not a single book sold.

I asked for advice.  Their view was that it was difficult to sell book 3 in a series – I should start with book 1 – Murphy’s Troubles.  I still don’t understand why they didn’t offer that advice in the beginning – but they offered to extend my membership at no additional cost to promote Murphy’s Troubles.

I ran into a quagmire with Amazon because I had the original Create Space version and the Henschel Haus version both on their platform.  It took until October to work through that maze. I also purchased a special 1 day promotion in November for $29.

My promotion for Murphy’s Troubles ended on the Winter Solstice.  In that time I sold exactly 2 books.  Can you believe it?
I emailed BGS owner Laurence O’Bryan asking for my refund.  His response was to deny my request because I was beyond the 60 day refund period.  He did offer to extend my promotion and promote the book at the 2019 Dublin Book Conference a $299 value – for FREE.  I took a pass on his offer and asked him to reconsider and refund the full amount.

He did refund the $29 for the one day November promotion but was reluctant to refund my original package price of $123.  He claimed there was a $20 administrative fee and would refund $103.  I took the money.
What can I say about my BGS experience?  It didn’t work.  No one can tell me why. 
​ So, I end 2018 pondering how to promote the Irish Trouble Series in 2019.