Because many of my valued neopatrons are newpub or newpub adjacent, my deep dive indie publishing tips usually get reserved for them. But every so often, I part the veil to give regular readers a glimpse of my patrons-only material. Today’s post originated from a patron request to lay out the pros and cons of rapid release.
The question has come back up as to whether the rapid release book launch schedule favored by outfits like 20 Books to 50K is still viable. Let’s examine some of the pros and cons of rapid release.
Pros:
Increased Visibility:
Rapidly releasing books can keep your name and work constantly in front of readers. Frequent releases can keep you in Amazon’s “new releases” section, improving discoverability.
Momentum Building:
Regular releases can help build and maintain momentum. As readers finish one book, they’re more likely to pick up the next if it’s readily available. This can lead to a steady increase in your reader base.
Improved Sales:
More books can mean more sales. Each new release can revive interest in your backlist, leading to a cumulative increase in overall sales.
Algorithm Favorability:
Amazon’s algorithms tend to favor authors who release books frequently. This can result in better ranking and more visibility in recommendations and search results.
Reader Engagement:
Consistent releases can help keep your readers engaged and eager for more. This can lead to stronger reader loyalty and more word-of-mouth referrals.
Cons:
Quality Concerns:
Rapid release schedules can compromise the quality of your writing. Rushed or omitted editing, weaker plots, and flat character development may occur when trying to meet tight deadlines.
Burnout:
The pressure to constantly write and publish can lead to burnout. Fatigue can affect not only your writing quality but also your health and overall well-being. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
Marketing Challenges:
Promoting each new release adequately can be challenging. Without proper marketing, even frequently released books may not reach their potential audience.
Reader Fatigue:
While some readers enjoy having a steady stream of new books, others may feel overwhelmed and lose interest if they can’t keep up with the pace.
Cost:
Rapid release strategies often require significant investment in marketing. These costs can add up quickly, especially if sales don’t meet expectations. “Drop 5K in AMS ad spend to net $2K in royalties, and make it up in volume” may be tongue in cheek, but it’s grounded in fact. Before you spend money to market your book, know the reach of the platform you’re paying (number of views over the span of your campaign), know your conversion rate, and know your ad budget. Only pull the trigger if the math says you’ll turn a profit.
Tl; dr:
A rapid release publishing strategy can be a powerful tool for newpub authors, offering such benefits as increased visibility, sales, and reader engagement. But it also comes with significant challenges, including the risk of burnout, quality concerns, and financial strain.
Authors should carefully consider their productive capacity, money and time resources, and goals before committing to a demanding schedule.
If you do choose to adopt a rapid release strategy, balancing quality and frequency is the key to maximizing your gains.
I hope you got value out of that rapid release breakdown. A lot of speculation and controversy still swirls around book launch frequency, and the torrent of mixed messages gives many newpub authors analysis paralysis. If I help even one author make an informed decision for his business, I’ve done my job.
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My biggest concern as an artist lies with burnout and quality control.
If speed were my concern, I’d take the longer route of building my skills up so my turnaround would be much quicker on each project. Tho I know not everyone wants to do that when we have a market that demands you hook yourself to an IV drip of only the purest caffeine to make stuff.
At the end of the day, the rapid release is a tool to be used, not the other way around.