free marketing
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indie author
marketing strategy
Why free isn't easy: 1,127 downloads & lessons learnt
Insights from giving away 1,127 free novel downloads. Discover why free products still need marketing and attention isn't free.
Nigel Jay Cooper
Founder of Ghostart Platform. Helping professionals develop authentic LinkedIn presence for career growth and brand awareness.
28 December 2025
Linkedin ProfileConnect with me on LinkedIn | Ghostart Platform
Not bad for a book that's been out since 2016, so I'm pretty chuffed.
But here's your semi-regular reminder that giving stuff away for free isn't actually easy.
The mechanics are simple but getting attention is harder.
I found the same when we were looking for alpha/beta testers for Ghostart back in September. Free doesn't mean people will show up.
Price isn't always the barrier you think it is.
Need is. Attention is.
Free still requires a decision. Free still takes up space in someone's day, their Kindle, their mental bandwidth.
It's a small vote of attention.
And attention is never free.