tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5711076752515383013.post2818064283523087098..comments2023-10-29T01:06:52.133-07:00Comments on Art Edwards - Laying Down the Law: How Much Would you Pay for a Self-Published Ebook?Art Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08595801214227949028noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5711076752515383013.post-52435495392995390412010-03-03T08:27:10.451-08:002010-03-03T08:27:10.451-08:00Really depends upon the book. I read mostly histor...Really depends upon the book. I read mostly history and historical fiction these days, so if it was about a subject that I was particularly interested in, I'd be willing to pay a higher price. <br /><br />What means a lot to me in deciding whether to buy a self-published book is whether the author's provided an excerpt. If I like what I see, I'll be willing to take a chance and buy the book. If I've no opportunity to preview the book, I'm not likely to buy it unless it's really cheap or if it's a topic in which I'm deeply interested.Susan Higginbothamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13517907583894026599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5711076752515383013.post-31255016769602006582010-03-02T06:53:46.617-08:002010-03-02T06:53:46.617-08:00Sam, many feel the same way.
Lee, I like the Yugo...Sam, many feel the same way.<br /><br />Lee, I like the Yugo metaphor, but a Yugo can never be a Mercedes. <br /><br />I can't approach a self-published work--or a minor league baseball game--without concerns about quality. Is it going to live up to my expectations of what a good book is? If people know your work is self-published, they know they're paying for minor league baseball--or worse. Trying to convince them otherwise seems foolhardy to me. <br /><br />If you like baseball, you can enjoy a minor league game for what it is. And maybe you'll see a player or two that will eventually get to the Bigs.Art Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08595801214227949028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5711076752515383013.post-60712571637978954482010-03-02T04:19:58.228-08:002010-03-02T04:19:58.228-08:00At that price, I'm assuming it's a margina...At that price, I'm assuming it's a marginal book, at best. You want a Mercedes, you pay Mercedes prices. You want a Yugo, you pay Yugo prices. You get what you pay for. At $4.99 I assume the book is a Yugo.Lee C.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5711076752515383013.post-86466625509174369312010-03-02T02:19:00.918-08:002010-03-02T02:19:00.918-08:00regardless of how good a book it is, that a book i...regardless of how good a book it is, that a book is self-pubbed means I'll probably never buy it. I know that seems... snobbish... perhaps, but... that's how I feel..Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5711076752515383013.post-331874853367606522010-03-01T09:31:05.154-08:002010-03-01T09:31:05.154-08:00I agree, Celia. If someone is intrigued by a title...I agree, Celia. If someone is intrigued by a title of mine, I don't want price to be a barrier.<br /><br />Levi, thanks for the heads-up. <br /><br />And I have the same concerns. I'm doing my best to embrace it.Art Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08595801214227949028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5711076752515383013.post-9965743750302218862010-03-01T08:53:55.149-08:002010-03-01T08:53:55.149-08:00Art, this isn't so much about ebook pricing (f...Art, this isn't so much about ebook pricing (frankly, I think that the very existence of ebooks (which we cannot avoid) will lead to people demanding free fiction, just like music), but you certainly don't have to shanghai your sister into buying your book. Amazon has a free Kindle application that will run on your PC and let you see if your book looks right.<br /><br />LeviLevi Montgomeryhttp://www.levimontgomery.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5711076752515383013.post-44266945120741294252010-03-01T08:38:53.652-08:002010-03-01T08:38:53.652-08:00The thing about pricing e-books by for indy-author...The thing about pricing e-books by for indy-authors is that we want to tempt readers/buyers into taking a chance on an author they haven't heard of. (I think of the e-book price as a loss-leader, just to build my fan-base!) If you run across a book which sounds intriguing, the thinking is you will be much more likely to take a chance on it if you are not out very much for the purchase price. If you are laying out $15 for an e-book, and north of $25 for a hardback print version, I think most readers would insist on %100 reading satisfaction. For $5? Eh - take a chance!Celia Hayeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16261103494038415027noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5711076752515383013.post-6465563061742381582010-03-01T08:37:44.800-08:002010-03-01T08:37:44.800-08:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Celia Hayeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16261103494038415027noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5711076752515383013.post-85355738598926807822010-03-01T08:35:13.653-08:002010-03-01T08:35:13.653-08:00I agree, Mark. Depends.
$4.99 seems a nice entice...I agree, Mark. Depends.<br /><br />$4.99 seems a nice enticement for readers, whether they know you're self-pubbed or not.Art Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08595801214227949028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5711076752515383013.post-12770988438780136362010-03-01T08:32:05.745-08:002010-03-01T08:32:05.745-08:00I guess it depends on your strategy. Are you going...I guess it depends on your strategy. Are you going for margin or volume? For volume, to reach as many people as possible, go low, $1.99 - $3.99 but if you want profits, pick one of the higher prices. I think as long as you're under $10 you're below a psychological threshold. Not sure where the next one would be: $4.99?Markhttp://www.thecigarmaker.netnoreply@blogger.com