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Stranded: Starship of the Ancients - Launching a Sci-Fi Bestseller into Orbit

Author: A.K. DuBoff


Book Title: Stranded: Starship of the Ancients


Genre: Science Fiction / Space Opera


Objective: Execute a full scale promotional campaign for a major new sci-fi release, boosting visibility, reader engagement, and organic sales across Kindle and KU platforms.



The Challenge


Stranded was the launch title in a brand-new space opera series from a well known author in the sci-fi world. While the author had an existing fanbase, this book marked a shift in tone and pacing leaning more into survival mystery and character isolation than previous works.


Progress Wings was hired to:


  • Design and run a multi-phase marketing campaign

  • Reconnect the author with her lapsed reader base

  • Introduce the book to new readers on KU and Amazon

  • Generate verified reviews and post-launch momentum organically


Strategy & Execution


PHASE 1:


Pre-Launch Engineering


1. Brand Positioning & Messaging We positioned Stranded as a cinematic space survival adventure for fans of The Martian meets Stargate emphasizing atmosphere, mystery, and intelligent pacing.


2. Metadata & Blurb Optimization

  • Revised subtitle for SEO relevance: “A Space Opera Survival Adventure”

  • Crafted keyword-rich blurb with curiosity triggers

  • Guided backend metadata for Amazon algorithm compatibility


3. Visual Asset Development

  • Created 6 carousel style promotional creatives for social

  • Produced a 30-second teaser video with a cinematic shipwreck and cryptic alien tech visuals

  • Designed 3 quote based social tiles for early influencer seeding


PHASE 2:


Launch & Visibility Push


1. Platform Launch Coordination

  • Scheduled newsletter drops across various sci-fi reader communities

  • Partnered with ad networks and genre newsletters (like SFF Bonanza)

  • Created social momentum via a 5-day countdown + launch-day blast


2. Influencer Activation Campaign

  • Created the “Lost Among the Stars” post prompt for sci-fi Bookstagram and X

  • Used branded visuals and a hashtag to track engagement

  • Ran a small prize based giveaway to encourage reposts


3. A+ Content Integration

  • Developed visually enhanced Amazon product page content (character art, series lore)

  • Added a “From the Publisher” section with short author Q&A and ship schematics


PHASE 3:


Post-Launch Momentum


1. Verified Review Strategy

  • Followed up with soft ARC reviewers to ensure timely verified reviews

  • Encouraged a balance of short and long-form reviews highlighting different story aspects: pacing, character isolation, ship design, AI mystery


2. KU Funnel + Retargeting

  • Launched a KU-specific campaign using Meta and Amazon ads targeting readers of To Sleep in a Sea of Stars and Skyward

  • Retargeted email opens and ad clickers with “why readers are loving Stranded” creative


3. Ecosystem Expansion

  • Featured the book alongside similar sci-fi survival titles in curated reading lists

  • Leveraged the author’s backlist for “read more like this” linking (via BookFunnel and newsletter swaps)


Campaign Results




Key Insights


  • Focus = Fandom: By prioritizing loyal sci-fi readers over generic ad targeting, the campaign delivered better review quality and lower bounce rates.

  • Pre-Launch Optimization Matters: Strategic tweaks to subtitle, description, and imagery improved both CTR and Amazon ranking stability.

  • Controlled ARC Seeding = Review Credibility: Instead of dumping hundreds of free copies, we focused on 1000 well-placed early readers with trusted posting history.


Client Feedback


“You didn’t just launch a book you made it a presence. The campaign was targeted, stylish, and aligned with the tone of the novel. Our reader engagement metrics were the highest we’ve seen in recent memory.”


Summary


Progress Wings helped position Stranded: Starship of the Ancients not just as a sci-fi release, but as the start of a new fan journey. Through layered strategy, clean visuals, and meaningful community interaction, we turned a quiet series debut into a high-visibility launch event.


4. Soft ARC Outreach

  • Sent early copies to a selective group of sci-fi book reviewers

  • Prioritized readers who posted full text, character driven reviews on Amazon and Goodreads

 
 
 

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