tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594341074652821017.post6920708097709215311..comments2023-08-14T10:44:59.007-04:00Comments on Novel Spaces: The Free Book BandwagonKeVin K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14792797517571690942noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594341074652821017.post-15563679996339589212012-01-26T13:17:47.251-05:002012-01-26T13:17:47.251-05:00Thanks for your feedback, everyone. I might try th...Thanks for your feedback, everyone. I might try the Amazon KDP Select for one of my older ebooks. Thanks, Chicki for sharing. It looks like it just might be worth it!!Marissa Monteilhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10544935456151144743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594341074652821017.post-44132740002427411892012-01-25T16:58:39.623-05:002012-01-25T16:58:39.623-05:00I decided to give Amazon KDP Select a try this mon...I decided to give Amazon KDP Select a try this month and signed up my first novel. In one day I had 10,000+ free downloads, which means my book was now in the hands of 10,000 new readers!<br /><br />The best part was once the free day ended, the paid buys started rolling in. Since Jan. 7th, the book has had 1,200 buys and 295 borrows (for which Amazon will also pay me.)<br /><br />I wouldn't offer a new release for free, nor would I offer my one and only book for free if I were a new author. But, for me, the KDP Select program has been a terrific boost in sales for a book that released 18 months ago!Chicki Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01866110558880351017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594341074652821017.post-18569058985601043192012-01-20T20:49:41.699-05:002012-01-20T20:49:41.699-05:00One size does not fit all. From observing other au...One size does not fit all. From observing other authors it can work, not only on the book that is free for a limited time. But they report spill over to other books, very healthy numbers. Also consider that making lists on Amazon, even free, will push your book into the "readers that like X also bought this..." suggestions that Amazon routinely gives us when we return to the page to browse. It's called "discoverability", and it's gold. Worth more than contests, ads, blog tours, etc.<br /><br />As a reader I got hooked on a trilogy after reading the first book the author gave away for free. Bought the boxed set. Had to know what happened! Must have worked with more than just me, too. This author started routinely making 4 figures each month, and he was unpubbed before.<br /><br />I'll report on my free venture when I post in a few weeks!Lynn Emeryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10428256353142864469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594341074652821017.post-17459082791614423492012-01-20T10:29:43.261-05:002012-01-20T10:29:43.261-05:00There is one author who did this with several of h...There is one author who did this with several of his books with the expectation of getting a following..aka name recognition. I don't know how it's working out yet. However, I can see a first book in a series offered free or at reduced cost roping enough readers in to purchase the sequel at full price.Jewel Amethysthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14813773386476356666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594341074652821017.post-91292173473643672022012-01-20T09:45:25.736-05:002012-01-20T09:45:25.736-05:00I just don't know about this. I do download bo...I just don't know about this. I do download books that are free on kindle to my kindle, but so far I've read very very few of them, and almost all of those were older SF/fantasy books I wanted to read. I think I'm kind of unlikely to read others that I've gotten free as part of these kinds of giveaways, not because I don't want to but because I don't have the time. I've hit saturation point on free books as far as having them on my kindle, and I imagine others will at some point to. If we don't have time to read the free books, because there are so many, then we are unlikely to buy more of that author's work.Charles Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594341074652821017.post-48641440055219984542012-01-20T07:42:21.382-05:002012-01-20T07:42:21.382-05:00Some authors give away free short stories online -...Some authors give away free short stories online -- short stories that relate to events in their novels or feature characters from their novels -- as a marketing tool. The idea is to intrigue new readers, capture their interest, and to a lesser extent reward those already loyal. I think this is an excellent tactic.<br /><br />Low prices make sense if you can count on volume -- or if you don't care about money. The fellow who sold a million ebooks on Amazon was a millionaire several times over who wrote one draft then paid others an estimated $7000 per title to edit, format, and package the novel. He had to sell 20,000 copies to break even. $7000 is chump change to him, but a lot more than I'm willing to invest.<br /><br />Given realistic sales expectations and a clear-eyed look at what you've put into creating a novel, I think cover prices in the $2.99 - $4.99 range are not only reasonable but smart.KeVin K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/14792797517571690942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594341074652821017.post-51345575947784763122012-01-20T05:02:12.039-05:002012-01-20T05:02:12.039-05:00I do struggle with this. I think that sales wouldn...I do struggle with this. I think that sales wouldn't really be significantly increased unless you sell very, very many at a greatly reduced price, or free. the people who get the book cheaply probably won't then tell thousands of others about it and convince them to buy it at the regular price. I think it starts to work when you have a list of books to sell, ie give 1 away in the hopes that the reader will like it enough to buy the next one at full price. Next year, my 3rd novel will be published and maybe we'll do it then. but I do remain skeptical. I already give away so many to charity or random people, and there is already so little money made in this game, though, that I really am at a loss. I'm lucky that I can trust my publisher to be sensible about it all.Sue Guineyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13556228394020314560noreply@blogger.com