Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

May 12, 2017May 11, 2017 ~ John W. Howell ~ 45 Comments

Funny Friday

I hope you are ready for the weekend. This has been a good week for me with more words written on the WIP. I did add a tweak on the Amazon Marketing Services promotion. I paused the first and launched a second and can report that I got fewer impressions but more clicks per impression. (For those who wonder Amazon charges by the click and you can set the price per click in advance) I also got a sale (I’m in no hurry to figure this out) on significantly less clicks and impressions. The only thing I changed was the promo blurb. I kept the keywords and number of keywords the same and the price per click the same.

So what conclusion can I draw?

The promo blurb is important
The same keywords and number do not deliver the same number of impressions from promo to promo.
The keywords that did not get any impressions were the same from promo to promo so that means my price per click on those keywords was too low.
I need to keep experimenting with the mix.

Today’s JohnKU talks about experimentation. I hope you all have a good weekend.

To solve a problem,

Many techniques are at hand. . .

Why trial and error?

Friday JohnKu – AKA TGIF

May 5, 2017May 4, 2017 ~ John W. Howell ~ 45 Comments

TGIF

Lovely Friday. Eight hours until the weekend. (or at least weekend eve) How was your week? Mine was pretty tame. I’m still hitting 1000 words a day which is a good thing. Also, I have a beta read which needs daily attention if I’m going to make the deadline.

My editor has begun work on the next book, so that is a good thing. Still shooting for September.

I tweaked my Amazon Marketing Service ad with a different blurb. I only want to change one thing at a time. I kept the keywords constant, so we’ll see how it goes.

This week’s JohnKu talks about what is important to an author. I hope you have a wonderful week.

Some say it’s to write,

Others insist book sales rule . . .

Only the heart knows.

Friday JohnKu – AKA- TGIF

April 28, 2017April 27, 2017 ~ John W. Howell ~ 44 Comments

TGIF

Look at that. We only have the workday ahead, and then it is the weekend (woo woo). This has been a busy week and seemed to fly by quickly. I was very pleased to finally add some new words to my WIP. Between editing and trying to move additional books, it has been a challenge. I have also been doing some catch-up work around the house and think I’m pretty much on top of it. So I’m back to my 1000 words a day requirement, and it does feel good.

Today’s JohnKu talks about doing the things you must do and the things you like to do.

Some we like to do,

Others are like pulling teeth. . .

We need a balance.

I hope you have a great weekend.

Friday JohnKu – AKA -TGIF

April 21, 2017April 20, 2017 ~ John W. Howell ~ 44 Comments

TGIF

Friday is here and with it the promise of a couple of days of diversion from real life. This week has been one of catching up. A number of things that have been in the category of “nice to have finished.” What I mean is they are the items that are not crucial to life but would be great if accomplished. For example including the new cover in the Twitter Gravatar. These are not Earth shattering items but do take time.

The first update on the Amazon Marketing Services is as follows.

After two weeks My GRL has received over 17,000 impressions and 14 clicks resulting in one sale. Not too impressive, so what I will be doing is tweaking some elements and see if I can raise the click rate. I’ll let you know how it comes out.

Today’s JohnKu talks about refining an approach that doesn’t work. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

You try one way first,

Doesn’t work. There’s two options. . .

Keep failing or change.

Friday John Ku – AKA TGIF

April 14, 2017April 13, 2017 ~ John W. Howell ~ 43 Comments

Friday once again. Always glad to see it roll around. No particular reason other than it gives me an opportunity to reflect on the week and see if I’ve done anything worthwhile. Hold on let me think a moment. *crickets*

I’m back. This week was pretty productive. I finished up all the edits within my power on Circumstances of Childhood and sent it off to the editor. That was a biggie this week. I also placed My GRL on an Amazon Marketing Services promotion. I will be interested to see how that goes. This is the first time I have done it seriously. The idea is for Amazon to match your book with searches done by their customers. I managed to come up with over 200 keywords so this effort should be more telling on the program. I’ll keep you posted. Today’s John Ku talks about trying new things. Hope you have a great weekend.

Stay comfortable,

Or try something you’ve never done . . .

You may benefit.

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

April 7, 2017April 6, 2017 ~ John W. Howell ~ 31 Comments

TGIF

Friday is here (almost). I hope your week was full of the kind of activity that you enjoy. It makes the week go so well when you are doing things that get you to smile. My week was pretty much spent with more editing. I have a May 1st deadline and looks like I’m going to have to hump a bit to make it. The beautiful thing about deadlines is they tend to get you into high gear. Of course without deadlines life would be too comfortable and who wants that situation. (Okay maybe we all do.)

Today’s JohnKu is about deadlines, and I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

We set them ourselves,

Then tend to get serious . . .

Only at the end.

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

March 31, 2017March 30, 2017 ~ John W. Howell ~ 36 Comments

Funny Friday TGIF

Here is to another week in the history books and it was a good one. We had a nice rain on Wednesday which all of the plants appreciated. I am looking forward to the visit of an old friend. I guess it has been about three years since we last got together. I’m looking forward to a weekend of catching up and relaxing. Still doing the edits on Circumstances of Childhood and am pretty pleased how it is coming out. The beta readers did a swell job on finding the weak points so all in all, I’m grateful to them. This book has me quite nervous as it stretches a few boundaries in style and point of view. I suppose I will just have to tough it through and hope the reader will enjoy it. I think another reason I’m a little nervous since I enjoyed writing this book and just hope it is not too self-indulgent. Time will tell.

This week’s JohnKu is about friendship. I hope you all have a beautiful weekend.

A number of years,

Not always in the same town. . .

Yet soul connected.

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

March 24, 2017March 23, 2017 ~ John W. Howell ~ 39 Comments

TGIF

Another Friday and only about one workday to the weekend. It looks like we are going to make it. (maybe I shouldn’t say that too loud). This has been a busy week. More editing work on the next book and a beta read has pretty much occupied my week. Hard to put my finger on anything definitive that I could rack up as an accomplishment. I guess continuing to make progress is an accomplishment. I guess we should all feel that as long as we are moving forward, we are making a dent in our to do list. Today’s JohnKu talks about accomplishment.

Goals set. We are told,

Each day we should finish one . . .

Well, how about a smile?

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

March 17, 2017March 16, 2017 ~ John W. Howell ~ 63 Comments

TGIF Another week has flown by. Well, at least it seems that way. I am sitting on the lower patio writing this post and I have to say the weather is perfect. Beautiful sky and temperature in the 70’s. The pups are having their sun bath and all is right with the world. I decided to post a picture of them relaxing instead of the usual Friday TGIF meme. Speaking of Friday this week’s JohnKu is all about enjoying the time we have been given. I hope you have a great weekend.

Sunny day today,

Nary a cloud in the sky. . .

What is not to love.

Friday – AKA TGIF

March 3, 2017March 2, 2017 ~ John W. Howell ~ 47 Comments

TGIF

Maybe it’s me but this week seemed to crawl by. I can’t put my finger on the reason, it just felt like a long week. Well, be that as it may, it is almost over for the work part. I was glad to get My GRL launched and am so grateful for all the support this week.

Now have to turn my attention to whipping Circumstances of Childhood into shape. I heard from my beta readers, and there are a few refinements that are needed. I can’t imagine publishing a book without giving it to folks to read. They always spot some anomalies that never occur to the writer. I am gratified no one said it sucked, so I have the courage to continue forward.

I hope your week was well spent and that you have a glorious weekend. This week’s JohnKu talks a little about how we need each other. I hope you enjoy it.

You are always there,

Supporting and cheering on. . .

I appreciate.