The anticlimactic day after...

Not only did the news arrive that the book is now available on Amazon.co.uk, but the promo copies landed too.  Have to say I'm very impressed with the quality of the printing and binding.  There was always that nagging feeling that I'd told everyone about it and when my copies arrived I might wish I hadn't.  I always say a pessimist is rarely disappointed but often pleasantly surprised.  I dared to believe for once and I was not wrong.  Everything is coming together nicely.

There are two things I can't quite get my head around.  The first is that this lovely, glossy little book is my creation, my design, has my name on the front and the only bit I didn't do was print and bind it.  It looks like something you'd buy in a shop.  But it's my work and it really is a strange sensation, somewhere between pleased as punch and bashful.

The other thing is that now everything is falling into place, it's my responsibility to make some success of it.  I'm not used to selling a product.  I'm quite reticent about plugging it everywhere.  I know I've done so much social media coverage that I must have caught everyone I know that's going to look.  Other social media is more fast-flowing with a wider and constantly renewing audience and I have to keep at that.  I'm trying to do what feels right and it's not as easy as it might seem.  I've brought the price down as low as I can whilst still leaving a royalty margin.  It now only generates an 86p royalty per sale, but I figured two 86p's was better than one £1.  Amazon now retail the book for £4.99 with free super-saver delivery available.  I retail it on my website for £4.99 plus P&P (I make no profit from that and only cover costs plus donation margin).

It occurred to me that even after lowering prices, the key focus might be wrong (yes, I'm about to talk about charities again).  While I wholly believe in and support the MS Society and am not about to switch allegiance to a glitzier organisation, I'm wondering how much making the cause a product feature is harming uptake.  There's a widespread ignorance of MS and an even more widespread ignorance of the MS Society.  So there's one public blind spot.  There's also a traditional association between things sold for charity and either second hand or low grade goods.  It doesn't have to be true for it to be a preconception.  Jumble sales and bring-and-buy and clearing out your junk by giving it to charity to sell on - it all adds up in the minds of the people and creates this unconscious rejection in many.  On the other hand, it motivates some, especially those with a knowledge of the nominated charity.  So do I rethink the marketing and reduce the charity angle in favour of emphasising the shiny new product aspect?  It's a tough call and requires a degree of mind reading.

Considering the practical requirements from this point on, I have to say, is quite anticlimactic after good news and parcels of much anticipated goods.  It sort of reminds me of the feeling as a kid when your party was over.  Where's the next high?  It's a bit like starting out from the bottom of the hill again.  Or maybe that's a new hill after making it up the first one.  I can plan and refine and plan some more and do everything I can to get the word out - I definitely do not lack the motivation.  What I can't do is predict the outcome.  I can't let that be an anticlimax too!