- Use Smarturls - the ability to redirect your links at any time will save you from the crazies
- Know your genre - are serials common in your genre? Six episodes released every two weeks is common in sexytimes romance. Another common pattern is three longer episodes every 2-4 weeks. SF doesn't have many serials - so all bets are off there. For Season One of Debt Collector, I released 9 episodes every two weeks. For Season Two, it's 9 eps once a week - why? Because I want to get to the end sooner! Mainly because SF readers wait for the box set. In romance, readers are more enthusiastic about reading ep-by-ep.
- Set a schedule
- Use-preorders
- Cliffhangers are okay - if you don't want to use them, good on you. But they're part of the form, so don't think you're cheating if you do.
- Covers still sell - Unique covers are cool, but using the same image with different titling can save on cost. I would pay for a professional cover either way.
- Novels still sell better - for most genres. Romance seems to be the one exception to that rule.
- Serials are difficult to advertise - Bookbub won't take them, and many other ad places have a minimum size (less so now, though).
- Set your first episode free - one of the great advantages of a serial is having this 24/7 ad of your series on the free list.
- Don't be afraid to release Ep1 and Ep2 at the same time - with the first one free! This can be a great way to get the serial started.
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