As anyone familiar with this blog is aware, I’m in the middle of a campaign on Kindle Scout to, hopefully, get a publishing contract for my new novel.

One of my on-line book reviewers suggested that I start a Thunderclap campaign to help get the word out about my Kindle Scout campaign.

I looked into it and thought it would be a great idea. But then, as I started moving forward with both campaigns at once, it became obvious that the people I’m contacting began to see both as one and the same. Hmmm. What to do?

During the first 5 days of my Kindle Scout campaign, I pushed the promotional button hard, trying to get people to nominate me on my Kindle Scout page. It worked. I got a swell of early support that put the novel on the “Hot and Trending” track.

I was getting very little traction with my Thunderclap campaign, which meant I had some decisions to make: should I continue promoting my Kindle Scout page OR should I stop promoting my Kindle Scout page and, for a while, exclusively promote my Thunderclap campaign which would, if successful, eventually directly promote my Kindle Scout campaign? Yes, kind of confusing. I know why my supporters were confused as well.

So here’s what I have done. I’ve stopped promoting my Kindle Scout page UNTIL I get enough people joined on my Thunderclap campaign that is scheduled to send the promotional blast on April 28 IF I get at least 100 people.

Is there a danger in stop promoting directly my Kindle Scout campaign? Yes. Might there be great rewards if I can get the Thunderclap to work? YES!

I’ve been pushing my Thunderclap HARD the last couple of days and my amazing friends and acquaintances are really coming through. I’m currently (as I write) at 83% of my goal, and the Thunderclap potential social reach is up to 79,614!  (Update: just hit 99%)

If I’m right, by pausing to focus on Thunderclap, I’m going to have a far bigger reach in the end. Plus, the blast will come out about 2 weeks before my Kindle Scout campaign finishes, hopefully perfect timing to help the novel to finish well.

As with any sort of promotional strategy, I could be completely wrong. But the broader point is this: one has to make the best possible decisions one can make given all the information one has. Once the decision is made and proper effort is put into it, the results are no longer up to you. So sit back and smile, regardless of what happens.

Here’s my Thunderclap campaign page: THUNDERCLAP CAMPAIGN

Here’s my Kindle Scout campaign where you can nominate my new novel: KINDLE SCOUT CAMPAIGN