Ebooks: Is free the new paid?
As we all know, the publishing world is in major upheaval. With ebook prices dropping even for big authors, and so many ebooks available for free, are we witnessing the end of the paid model? And what might replace it?
I can see four distinct models emerging from all the chaos.
BUSINESS AS USUAL
I call this the ostrich model. Pretend nothing has changed, and keep selling the books for $20 each. Sadly, I doubt many will buy them, unless they’re pretty unique – eg in academia – or by a hugely popular author.
GO BIG
I don’t mean to print your books on A3 paper, but to have a hundred ebooks, each sold at $0.99. This is a great strategy, and one we’ll see more in the future, but it may come at a high price. As authors strive to churn out ebook after ebook, how can a high standard be maintained?
GIVE IT AWAY
As I explain on my A-Z guide: How both my books reached #1 on Amazon, this strategy can be used to build a fan base. Many authors give away the first book in their series, to entice readers to buy the rest. It’s best used once enough books in the series have been written, or by new authors keen to build their brand. This can be done in innovative ways, like Matt Mason did with “Pirate’s Dilemma”, which he distributed via BitTorrent. In his words, getting your book in front of 160 million users is usually a good thing. He even predicts that in the next five years, we’ll see all kinds of publishers using P2P networks to distribute their publications.
It has also been used in extremely creative ways by authors like Ksenia Anske, author of the Siren Suicides. Readers are encouraged to pay through a virtual tip jar, if they enjoyed the book. In a fascinating recent blog post titled I give my books away for free: here are my sales numbers, she announced that she has made $4,000 in little over six months that way. Her books were downloaded 1,600 times within the last 6 weeks. She also used her newly found fame as an author to raise money through Kickstarter, raising an extra $3,000.
SUBSCRIBE
Ksenia also flirts with a subscription model, one that I suspect will gain more prominence. In her words, this would work “like, for $9 a month if you subscribe, you get all of my books as I produce them”.
Along with authors, new services offering subscription models have now appeared. Recently launched Inkbot offers a subscription model along its free one. Free members gain unlimited reading of Royalty-Free works and Unlimited Access members pay $4.95 per month and gain unlimited reading of all works. I wonder whether Wattpad or Writersky will follow suit at some point.
These are the new pricing strategies I see being shaped. Am I missing any?
The Power of Six: Science Fiction Short Stories: www.amazon.com/dp/B00K57JTAA/
Pearseus, Year 18: The Schism (Book 1): www.amazon.com/dp/B00FXOJQA8/
Pearseus, Rise of the Prince (Book 2): http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FYRKLPI
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19 Responses
Congratulations on the Spotlight honor, Nicholas! Enjoy your time. Thank you, Stefan, for hosting!
Very welcome!
Hi, guys!
I’ve downloaded both Power of Six and Pearseus to read and review for RRBC and it’s been a pleasure reading this interview with the author.
Congrats both to Nicholas and Stefan. 🙂
Liz Gavin
Congratulations Nicholas on being in the Spotlight! How nice.
Nicholas you are so right. The book industry is changing and ebooks are driving it. I never would ever have bought an ebook. I like to curl up with a good book in my bed. That’s heaven to me. But since I’ve been in RRBC I’ve been forced to do the unthinkable– Buy A Kindle. I never thought I would do that but how else will I be able to keep up? Anyway enjoy your tour. I’m enjoying your articles. (Just downloaded Pearseus and I hope this comment goes thru).
Congratulations on your SPOTLIGHT, Nicholas!! Great blog post!
And thank you, Stefan, for hosting and supporting him!! 🙂
My pleasure, Marlena! It is always exciting discovering good writers.
Well done Nicholas, I hope this week as Spotlight Author is a great success!
A very informative blog Stefan, thanks!
Thanks for your feedback, John. I am always happy to share my writing, editing and publishing experiences in the hope it may help someone.
Congrats Nicholas, for being this weeks SPOTLIGHT author and on the great blog post! Stefan, thanks for hosting! 🙂
Great post. I’m one confused Indie author, lol. Advice is everywhere on the net and I do keep reading it, but so many articles contradict each other. Ugh. My head always hurts. 🙂 But it’s always great to read an article from someone who has done it. Congratulations on being in the spotlight and I hope you have heaps of No 1 hits. 🙂
Thanks for your feedback, Dale.
Please check out my blog for articles on writing, editing and publishing, which reflect what I went through. Hopefully, some of them might help you.
Stefan
Thank you all so much for your kind comments – and for buying my books, plus a special thank you to Stefan (I’m a big fan!) for his kind hosting of my guest post! 🙂
Hi Nicholas,
It has been a pleasure! Happy to exchange experiences on writing, editing and publishing.
Stefan
Good post, Nicholas. As authors we have to be creative and think outside the box in order to stand out. Great site, Stefan. Lots of interesting information. I will return.
Hi Michelle,
Thank you for your feedback, appreciated.
Thank you for hosting Nicholas on his Spotlight Author Blog Tour.
My pleasure, Kathryn.
Nicholas, Congrats on your SPOTLIGHT! How’s that seat feeling–pretty good, eh? Stefan, thank you so much for hosting Nicholas. We greatly appreciate your support. :)))