What Causes a Book to Sell?

Subject: What Causes a Book to Sell? Sun Dec 18, 2011 11:15 am

Does anyone know?

Why do you buy a book?

Just curious--as usual.

At the risk of appearing discouaging to writers, I think this is a tough time for them.

There are books everywhere for free.

Why should they choose our books?

Subject: Re: What Causes a Book to Sell? Sun Dec 18, 2011 1:07 pm

It seems to me that it might be a good idea to look into the demographics of those who take the most advantage of the free books, and at the same time, see which free books are being downloaded the most.

We discussed this over family dinner Thursday night. If the readers who are trying the free downloads like what they read, they will most likely, in the long run, be willing to pay for those author's books down the line, but won't continue to download free books by authors they don't enjoy reading.

I think it will eventually work itself out. We still have a better chance of getting read and building an audience through ebooks than we had with POD publishers a few years ago.

Ann

Subject: Re: What Causes a Book to Sell? Sun Dec 18, 2011 1:40 pm

12/18/2011

Alice..

I think it's based on one's interest, the cover may draw
a person's interest ? I've noticed on Smash Boards if it's Free,
they download , I've also noticed there are so many artists
out their just like writers the competition is " STIFF !"

Cheers..Joe

Subject: Re: What Causes a Book to Sell? Sun Dec 18, 2011 2:36 pm

But at least it's competitive, Joe.

Before he ebook options shifted things, I often wondered why I was bothering to even try, the chances were so slim for even getting the work out there for people to choose - or not. No guarantees. We still have to be determined, and do our very best work, and hope it's good enough, but isn't that better than not having a decent chance?

Ann

Subject: Re: What Causes a Book to Sell? Sun Dec 18, 2011 3:11 pm

I wondered if one offered all that they have written free for one year and then put up one story for .99 cents if someone would buy it.

I notice that free is what gets your words downloaded. The reading of those words is up in the air.

I have never made any big money as an author and I wonder if the free thing is not the way for me to go with everything that I write. Why worry my self about a few dollars? I am considering offering all my stories free. I am considering writing one story a month and offering it for free as well.

Do not get me wrong. I think that my stories have worth and value. That is why I think I will give them all away for free.

My David is against this. He is so proud of me just to have my words out of this house and into the wilderland of cyberspace. He wants people to appreciate me and my words and all the animals that took part in these stories. I tell him that no one cares. I am just one small voice in a large wilderness of people who hope someone reads their words.

Still, he has hope.

Tomorrow is a new day.

Love,
Betty

Subject: Re: What Causes a Book to Sell? Sun Dec 18, 2011 3:17 pm

My publisher, Booktrope, lets people read their books for free on their website. They believe that if you allow people to read an author's books (especially new authors) you'll build a paying audience. So far, it seems to be working. Every year they've done it their sales have gone up.

I think, if done right, the free model as a hook can work.

Subject: Re: What Causes a Book to Sell? Mon Dec 19, 2011 8:04 am

Zizban!

Where did you find your new name? lol!

Subject: Re: What Causes a Book to Sell? Mon Dec 19, 2011 8:06 am

It's from a book, Deryni Rising, by Katherine Kerr.

Subject: Re: What Causes a Book to Sell? Mon Dec 19, 2011 10:07 am

I have a new one --if I change my avatar too--only geniuses will know me.

Subject: Re: What Causes a Book to Sell? Mon Dec 19, 2011 10:39 am

I'm a genius! Forever Friends is free on Kindle today and tomorrow. Downloads so far:

262 on amazon.com
39 on amazon.co.uk
4 on amazon.de

A total of 305.

Rankings:

.co.uk:
#411 Free in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Free in Kindle Store)
#1 in Kindle Store > Books > Fiction > Anthologies

.com:
#518 Free in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Free in Kindle Store)
#2 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Fiction > Genre Fiction > Anthologies
#3 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Fiction > Poetry

http://www.amazon.com/Forever-Friends-ebook/dp/B004FGLO5A/

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Forever-Friends-ebook/dp/B004FGLO5A/

Subject: Re: What Causes a Book to Sell? Mon Dec 19, 2011 10:45 am

Shelagh,

Very good!

Subject: Re: What Causes a Book to Sell? Mon Dec 19, 2011 3:21 pm

Betty Fasig wrote:: My David is against this. He is so proud of me just to have my words out of this house and into the wilderland of cyberspace. He wants people to appreciate me and my words and all the animals that took part in these stories. I tell him that no one cares. I am just one small voice in a large wilderness of people who hope someone reads their words.

Still, he has hope.

Tell your David that one of your stories is presently sitting on over 400 Kindle machines. The total number of downloads for Forever Friends is 442. There are still over eight hours to go before the first day of free downloads comes to a close. The book will be free all day tomorrow. By midnight (PST) Tuesday, thousands of readers will have access to one of your stories.

Put your shorts onto Kindle so that readers of your story in Forever Friends can see your name (you are listed on the contents page as well as inside the book). Make the most of this opportunity!

Subject: Re: What Causes a Book to Sell? Tue Dec 20, 2011 2:14 am

563 downloads so far. The book is still #2 in anthologies on .com and #1 in anthologies on .co.uk and #1 in anthologies on .de -- we'll see what today brings!

Subject: Re: What Causes a Book to Sell? Tue Dec 20, 2011 1:46 pm

Dear Shelagh,
Thank you for the encouragements. Today, I got 15 of the Tales of Wooffer's Woods published on Kindle. Tomorrow, the rest will be. Then, I will have no excuses not to write new stuff! Embarassed

I am glad your work is doing well. You have worked so hard.
Love,
Betty

Subject: Re: What Causes a Book to Sell? Tue Dec 20, 2011 3:21 pm

Well done, Betty! You can enroll one or two and make them free on any five days of your choosing in the next 90 days. Don't worry about the books being on sale elsewhere -- you are not going to make any money out of the lending library anyway so if Amazon refuse to pay it isn't as though they are refusing to pay any actual money! However, you can use the program to get as many of your stories read as possible.

Subject: Re: What Causes a Book to Sell? Tue Dec 20, 2011 3:28 pm

Downloads slowed down today considerably. The total downloads are:

amazon.com: 544
amazon.co.uk: 70
amazon.de: 6
amazon.fr: 2

Total downloads: 622

Thee are still over eight more hours to go before the free offer ends. We should reach 650-700 downloads.

Subject: Re: What Causes a Book to Sell? Tue Dec 20, 2011 3:55 pm

Dear Shelagh,
Not one thing of this process is easy for me. I need instructions! cyclops

I imagine that you can flip stories and books on any internet site like pancakes. not me. I suffer!
Love,
Betty

Subject: Re: What Causes a Book to Sell? Wed Dec 21, 2011 3:59 am

This might help: log on to your KDP account. You will see a list of your stories. To the immediate left is a box: Click the box next to the story you enrolled into KDP Select and scroll down to the bottom of your list. You will see a button, Actions. Click on the button and scroll down and click on "Manage Promotions" then choose the start and end dates for your promotion.

If you decide to change this later, repeat the process and edit the promotion.