©2022 Michael Raven
After 180 days, I have managed to prove to myself that I am not cut out to be Amazon Associate material. I was unable to generate the meager three sales of eligible items required to become a permanent Associate during this time.
That said, I didn’t attack it with any gusto, as revenue was never the intent for this site (see the almost entire absence of advertising aside from personal promotion or reference links). It would have been nice to have a small revenue stream support the fees needed to maintain sceadugenga, but it was never a short- or long-term goal.
Anyway, the point of this post is to let longtime readers know that the Amazon links I’ve previously posted to generate revenue will not result in funding for this site. You will generate an equal amount by directly purchasing the product directly or going through someone else. I may investigate other avenues for voluntary contributions, but I’m just as likely not going to. If anything, I want to avoid the appearance that this site is a revenue engine for me because, well, that’s contrary to the norm. I’m not much for going along with popular trends.
sceadugenga 
Yeah, there are a few too many ‘send us a couple of quid to prove your support/appreciation/love sites about, so I understand where you are at.
Nice to sell something, but it’s not/probably shouldn’t be the motivating factor.
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I’ve never understood the need to “monetize” your site. I hate ads with a passion. I’m not above taking tips, or getting a “bounty” for sending someone somewhere I am already sending them, but there’s something icky about designing a site around monetization.
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Personaly I’ve never quite got why ads are so effective. OK to inform people about what’s out there, but are we really that shallow that we can’t decide what we actually need?
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I don’t think that they are all that effective. I’ve learned to tune them out almost entirely. I’m the kind of person advertisers hate because I just don’t “see” their ads 90% of the time.
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I know that feeling! You’ve reminded me of when (as an impoverished teenager) I took part in some ‘market research’ for LP advertising. I remember the bloke presenting something (can’t remember what) and asking if it would encourage me to buy an album. I do remember my response being along the lines of ‘No, I’d wait for someone else to buy it, borrow it and tape it’! Happy days!!
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Ahh, mix tapes and outright piracy. I miss the 80s. Thing is — for all the hoopla about piracy back then, I think it was one of the biggest drivers in sales as people picked up the other albums after discovering a band. One lost sale usually equated to several actual sales to complete a catalog. Or… that might have just been me. 🙂
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I hadn’t thought of it that way, but I think that you are probably right – there are certainly a few albums that I bought for that very reason.
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Have you considered creating a Patreon subscription service? I follow a few authors and receive daily/weekly notes on what they’ve written, early access to books and special gifts when I order their next books. If you are planning on publishing another book (which I really hope you are), this might be a way to generate excitement and offer people autographed or notated copies.
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I’ve considered it. I’ve been in the mindset for so long that I don’t do this for money, I’ve had a hard time thinking of something of value to put out there. I’ll think about it some more, but it just feels so weird.
And thanks for the vote of confidence for my book. I’m still in a bit of shock that it’s out there.
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I completely understand and I’m in a similar boat-at least in the same waters.
While it does feel weird for me to think of monetizing my work, it is part of my goal in life to be a published author. For me, it’s more about fear and looking foolish.
I suffer from bouts of self-doubt that almost have me deleting my blog on a semi-regular basis. I want to lean really far in and take the plunge, but I know my work isn’t there yet.
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I’m still overcoming the pretentiousness of declaring myself a writer — it seems like a very poseur thing to be doing and I doubt my wisdom in embracing that label.
I get the self-doubt. I, too, regularly consider shutting everything down until I realize that doing so in the past made me feel worse, not better.
Keep up the good writing — you can be a published writer. It’s hard work to get there, but I think you have the potential (unless you are looking lower down the elite-ness pole than the major publishers, in which case, you just have to find someone who will give you a chance).
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I too struggle with labeling myself a writer, yet it’s the thing I enjoy doing the most. I am definitely planning on self-publishing my short story collection next year and then maybe pitching my YA novel for a bit. I really am intimidated by all that.
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