Whenever authors want to talk about pricing issues, extremes seem to pop up! Some people think you need to be at 99cents to move books. Or free! If all you want is to make a list or get a best seller tag on your name...I guess.
But this discussion isn't just about extremes. Price points matter in selling items. Many epubs have adjusted their pricing as competition grew and self pub added some pressure.
Sterling New Year is about 28k and priced at 3.99. This book did very well (for me, it's all relative)....
The next book was more like 35k (readers say they like longer books and this one had more to it) but it crossed a price level with the publisher and is 4.99. For a novella, that seems to be too much.
What did I learn? My novellas will be under 30k for this publisher going forward to maximize sales.
Pricing can be this sensitive for readers. They only have so much money and when you can buy full length novels for $4.99...believe me, I understand! Readers have tons of choices but one budget.
Some self pub authors do discount too aggressively. Full length novels for 99 cents or 2.99 permanently? That is devaluing the work. Now, a flash sale or book 4 in the series is out and you do a sale on book 1 for a week...sure.
Before self pub was a big thing, epubs could easily keep an eye on each others pricing levels relative to word count. They didn't stay lock step, that's for sure. Some are much higher than other epubs and now they're feeling that as readers and authors comment. But with so many self pubs wanting to see sales/ success--they are more willing to try anything for results.
For the record, I'm not against free reads. If you put up a short story or two for free, people can try it--that's not bad. But don't make every book free...
Plenty of well known musicians have videos up for free on youtube.com...so you can basically enjoy the song FREE. If you go to itunes to download it into your ipod/iphone etc...it's not free. So there is some good precedence for a free sample.
Or even doing a free code to giveaway for a book at a conference that's good for a few weeks but it's not free for EVERYONE all the time. Specials and sales are enticing.
The pricing strategy continues to evolve and the smart move is to pay attention to sales/reviews and what's changed (like my price point example above). ALSO avoid extremes. Holding your price high because of history or because you're worth more (when the market is at another point) only hurts you.
Going cheap might look like it's working but are you more likely to buy a book that is 4.99 on sale for 2.99? Or a book that is always 2.99? People like sales! If you're always cheap or free, then they'll expect it.
Bottom line:
1-If you're with publishing houses....know the price levels and how they relate to the word count. It can hurt you to jump up $1 because of a few thousand words (That's from personal experience!).
2-If you're self pub, price fairly and put books on sale for a limited time rather than price cheaply. Have a reason for the sale as well. A new release in that series is fine. But don't do constant sales or or it'll be expected...
Writing is hard work and we need to earn a living at it...but ignoring the current market and going too high or too low isn't in your best interest.
Showing posts with label self pub. Show all posts
Showing posts with label self pub. Show all posts
Monday, August 25, 2014
Sunday, August 24, 2014
Writing and keeping the readers happy!
My degree is in business (accounting was my day job for 15 years until I was able to afford following my dream of writing full time).
Business is a part of the writing life a lot of authors don't like. They want to write! Some enjoy promotion, some don't. Some love to analyze trends and numbers, others don't. We all love to meet readers who like our books but bad reviews sting. We're people but all business is made up of people.
I want to stay in business! I want to keep on writing and sometimes that means dealing with the less fun aspects.
Businesses change. Trends shift. Markets and tastes are hard to track at times. Epubs come and go. Business shifts with things like self publishing and how Amazon ranks books.
E publishing freed a lot of authors from the NY system and provided options. NY is slowly changing and learning what readers what, how they want it, and what is workable in the new marketplace. They have a huge structure that needs to be reorganized.
Still, people are creatures of habit. We get used to a routine and we like it. Sometimes epubs do this as well. It's good to be King of your realm and have it your way.
Here's another way to look at it. Henry Ford once said "they can have any color car as long as it's black."
At that time, Ford at the only reliable/ affordable car for the general population. So if you wanted one...you came to his company and bought what he had stock in or you waited for one.
Power Advantage = Ford.
Is that how it is today?? I drive a Chevy. My sister, a Toyota and the color choices are endless.
Great businessmen (and women) are GREAT because they see the new needs. The NEW opportunities. Ford could play the power game for a while but the competition would catch up. They'd offer more things to get customers to come to them. There will always be competition, problems, and new challenges.
When I was in accounting, I worked with A LOT of salesmen. As a company, we knew who our competitors were (domestic and foreign). You had to fight for business at times--China would undercut pricing etc...
In publishing, we don't want to think about competition. Readers want lots of books! We're all good. All warm fuzzies, hugs, and happy thoughts around. The competition here is very different.
Guess what? It's NOT! Competing salesmen are nice to each other. They don't take it personally if you get a sale and they don't. They just work harder to get it the next time. It's not personal, it's business. They don't go into denial that it's competition but they can be friends too. And if they're both getting screwed by foreign competition, they may even share some data to get that business back in domestic hands.
Friends/ Allies/ Enemies/ Competitors...those are some blurred lines!
Don't fool yourself--we do compete in some ways. Some readers have a limited budget so they may want your book but other authors rank above you. This is a good place to be. We're always trying to improve our writing. Move up to that next level. Strive for excellence...keep writing!
But there are other competing factors. Pricing and location are key and authors with publishers don't control either of those. Publishers need to to do their homework. To understand they (and we authors who self pub some of our work) CAN'T control the consumer. We can suggest/ encourage them to buy in one place over another...but do you want Coca Cola to tell you they'll only be at Costco, not Sam's Club too? Or the other way around? You're the consumer...you want it where you want it or you might buy an alternative. Whether you're Coke, Pepsi, or Dr. Pepper...we all want to be in stock on the shelves everywhere we can (EXCEPT pirate sites--but that's another topic).
The customer (the reader) is always right. You want it at Amazon...buy it there. IF a publisher wants to entice readers to their site instead...they need to make it worth the effort. Bonus content free? Buy 10 get 1 ebook free (I know many readers who prefer All Romance Ebooks because of this deal and their rebate offers). Epubs can do incentive programs--some do and I don't know that it actually works. Not enough benefit? Or is it just that the readers value the convenience to buy all books in once place more than the individual epub incentives?
As an authors, I want my readers to be happy! That's the smartest business plan any pub (NY or small) can have. The hardest part is finding the info on what's changing and how I need to adjust to be positioned right to keep the readers happy. While I'm busy writing things can change. The market can shift quickly...so READERS, please tell your favorite authors what you want. Publishers don't always listen to us either...so if you have favorite publishers...tell them too :D Facebook and website with contact info give you the access! Comment and share your opinion! Vote with your reviews if nothing else.
Business is a part of the writing life a lot of authors don't like. They want to write! Some enjoy promotion, some don't. Some love to analyze trends and numbers, others don't. We all love to meet readers who like our books but bad reviews sting. We're people but all business is made up of people.
I want to stay in business! I want to keep on writing and sometimes that means dealing with the less fun aspects.
Businesses change. Trends shift. Markets and tastes are hard to track at times. Epubs come and go. Business shifts with things like self publishing and how Amazon ranks books.
E publishing freed a lot of authors from the NY system and provided options. NY is slowly changing and learning what readers what, how they want it, and what is workable in the new marketplace. They have a huge structure that needs to be reorganized.
Still, people are creatures of habit. We get used to a routine and we like it. Sometimes epubs do this as well. It's good to be King of your realm and have it your way.
Here's another way to look at it. Henry Ford once said "they can have any color car as long as it's black."
At that time, Ford at the only reliable/ affordable car for the general population. So if you wanted one...you came to his company and bought what he had stock in or you waited for one.
Power Advantage = Ford.
Is that how it is today?? I drive a Chevy. My sister, a Toyota and the color choices are endless.
Great businessmen (and women) are GREAT because they see the new needs. The NEW opportunities. Ford could play the power game for a while but the competition would catch up. They'd offer more things to get customers to come to them. There will always be competition, problems, and new challenges.
When I was in accounting, I worked with A LOT of salesmen. As a company, we knew who our competitors were (domestic and foreign). You had to fight for business at times--China would undercut pricing etc...
In publishing, we don't want to think about competition. Readers want lots of books! We're all good. All warm fuzzies, hugs, and happy thoughts around. The competition here is very different.
Guess what? It's NOT! Competing salesmen are nice to each other. They don't take it personally if you get a sale and they don't. They just work harder to get it the next time. It's not personal, it's business. They don't go into denial that it's competition but they can be friends too. And if they're both getting screwed by foreign competition, they may even share some data to get that business back in domestic hands.
Friends/ Allies/ Enemies/ Competitors...those are some blurred lines!
Don't fool yourself--we do compete in some ways. Some readers have a limited budget so they may want your book but other authors rank above you. This is a good place to be. We're always trying to improve our writing. Move up to that next level. Strive for excellence...keep writing!
But there are other competing factors. Pricing and location are key and authors with publishers don't control either of those. Publishers need to to do their homework. To understand they (and we authors who self pub some of our work) CAN'T control the consumer. We can suggest/ encourage them to buy in one place over another...but do you want Coca Cola to tell you they'll only be at Costco, not Sam's Club too? Or the other way around? You're the consumer...you want it where you want it or you might buy an alternative. Whether you're Coke, Pepsi, or Dr. Pepper...we all want to be in stock on the shelves everywhere we can (EXCEPT pirate sites--but that's another topic).
The customer (the reader) is always right. You want it at Amazon...buy it there. IF a publisher wants to entice readers to their site instead...they need to make it worth the effort. Bonus content free? Buy 10 get 1 ebook free (I know many readers who prefer All Romance Ebooks because of this deal and their rebate offers). Epubs can do incentive programs--some do and I don't know that it actually works. Not enough benefit? Or is it just that the readers value the convenience to buy all books in once place more than the individual epub incentives?
As an authors, I want my readers to be happy! That's the smartest business plan any pub (NY or small) can have. The hardest part is finding the info on what's changing and how I need to adjust to be positioned right to keep the readers happy. While I'm busy writing things can change. The market can shift quickly...so READERS, please tell your favorite authors what you want. Publishers don't always listen to us either...so if you have favorite publishers...tell them too :D Facebook and website with contact info give you the access! Comment and share your opinion! Vote with your reviews if nothing else.
Monday, July 7, 2014
Screw the yellow brick road! You've already got the ruby slippers! The empowerment of Self Pub :)
So Self Pub is a big thing...some of it is poorly edited and some covers are hideous! Some are meh...
But more and more established authors are dabbling in self pub. I think it's smart and have dabbled myself.
Plenty of us were in the game when you had to go down the yellow brick road (being rejected and tested along the way). I first pubbed in 2007 and self pub was crazy! We all had to be approved by the wizard (publishers) and follow their rules. But now that we know the power is in us...we can try out those ruby slippers (doesn't mean we don't like the wizard or want to spend time in Oz).
Why did I self pub? Knowledge is power...better to learn now than wait until I need to know.
Maybe a publisher closes?
Maybe you have a chance to get back list titles that aren't selling great returned to you?
Maybe you have a quirky project that you're not sure will fit anywhere?
Your main publishing efforts may still be through a publisher but being hybrid and doing self pub as well isn't a crime!
For me it was pure curiosity. Just like Dorothy wants to the see the man behind the curtain, we deserve to know the truth about what it takes to get an ebook released.
The truth is...it's not that damn hard!
LOL...really. There's no magic. There are no flying monkeys after you (except maybe some nasty reviewers)! We only think it's hard because pubs have been doing it for us.
Keys to self pub? You need a good cover artist, editor, and proofer! Beta readers help as well...Think of them as your scarecrow, your tin man and your lion. They each have a role to play...
Tell your team to be totally honest! If something confuses them, bugs them, or feels off...you want to hear it! Since you're paying your team (maybe rewarding beta readers somehow)...tell them you want it all. Good and bad. That's what you're paying for! Quality matters...
You can format the file! You have the power! Format and convert it to the right types and load it...not rocket science. Amazon, Nook, Smashwords etc...they all have instructions. With reasonable computer skills, you don't need to pay anyone to do this unless you really want to.
Seriously...once edits/proofing and final checks are done (take your time doing this, please. Spell check. check for double spaces and double periods etc...)...once that is done...it goes really fast!
Formatting/Converting takes about half an hour max. Your first time, yeah...you'll be paranoid and checking things a lot. Once you know what you're looking for and where to click...half an hour if you're goofing off :)
Once I have the file formatted...I can load it to Amazon, Nook and All Romance ebooks in under an hour. That's assuming the websites are sluggish. First time, you'll obsess about every button you hit. Once you get the hang, it's so easy...
It doesn't take that long to go live!!!!!!! 12 hours at Amazon. All Romance Ebooks, it is instant! Nook...I've had publishers say B&N are behind and it's taken weeks. With my self pubs (granted only two) it's been under 12 hours. Maybe I was just lucky or had good timing? Take that for what it's worth...but face it, Amazon is the biggest seller for most of us.
Promotion is all on you...this impact varies but promotion is usually on the author anyway. Epubs have some loyal readers and their blogs/social media/ newsletters make it easier for readers to find you. BUT that's all free promo you can do with other authors and by yourself. You won't know how your self pub will sell until you try.
Bonuses:
Cover CONTROL!
Pricing CONTROL!
Release date CONTROL!
Extra bonus: More $$$$$ for you per book sold...
With a little brains, courage and heart...you can self pub quality stuff and, like Dorothy, you don't need the wizard to get your where you want to go! You might still want him along...but you've got the ruby slippers!
PS: I LOVE the cover control :) You can plan them, invest and get them done early. You can get what you want! Like on this cover. Geek in the Woods. I write MM, MF and menage under the same pen name. So having 2 men on a MM cover is critical (IMO). Publishers have routinely ignored my request and given me solo men...confusing my readers and costing us both sales.
Monday, April 14, 2014
New Release: Geek in the Woods! (M/M Bear Shifter/ Geek Erotic Romance)
I'm so excited about my latest release! Self pubbing isn't as hard as I thought, luckily I've been around the biz long enough to know great cover artists, editors and proofers! But getting all the pieces lined up and coordinated is a bit more work :) I've learned a lot and tried something new!
BUT you just want to know about the book...
Shifters are Sexy...scientists can be too, but can they coexist?
Gorgeous cover by Valerie Tibbs!
Blurb: Major
construction disrupts more than Ray Hooker’s life; it rattles his small town
with a secret.
As
sexy genius Eric Ridgeway continues building his state-of-the-art think tank,
the town’s shifter population is terrified their identities will be uncovered
by the group of incoming scientists. When fear drives vandals to slow
construction, Ray helps Eric defend his property. Their relationship heats up
and, in order to protect Eric, Ray reveals that he’s a bear shifter.
Now,
not only is his secret out of the bag, but Ray needs to decide if loving Eric
is worth the risk of discovery by other scientists. None of that will matter if
their newfound attraction can’t outlast fear, lies and distrust!
All
Romance Ebooks: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-geekinthewoods-1478588-145.html
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