Discoredia launched on Monday, and I've already sold more than I did in four years of self publishing. Why? There's a number of reasons. It's a better book now, thanks to the "monster" edit carried out by my publisher. I'm also lucky to have the support of a number of fellow authors, many of whom I now class as good friends, who have helped promote the book.
This leads me nicely on to the key factor (initially) which is getting your work recognised. With thousands upon thousands of books out there it's easy to get lost. You won't sell any books if nobody knows its available. Sure, quality matters, but that element becomes more important as you go on. A well advertised, but crap, book, will sell a few before it's found out, and the negative reviews pile up. A brilliant book that's poorly advertised won't sell despite the quality.
There's a lot of hard work to be done to get your voice heard amongst the thousands on twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, and any other platform you may care to try. You also have to hope that those who do hear your call, and who succumb to those pleas to give a debut author a chance, leave a review. Reviews sell books, plain and simple (once people know the book exists).
It's hard work. Getting published is a starting point, not the end. There's also an elusive balance to find, to advertise but not to simply become a marketeer. I'll give it all my best shot. Wish me luck!