Making the first in a series free is, I would wager, almost universal at this point. The market's overwhelming use of the strategy speaks for itself.
I wouldn't say that's true at all. If it was, I wouldn't have bothered to ask.CaseyHollingshead said:Making the first in a series free is, I would wager, almost universal at this point.
It is most definitely not universal.CaseyHollingshead said:Making the first in a series free is, I would wager, almost universal at this point. The market's overwhelming use of the strategy speaks for itself.
Let's get a bit more specific, then. For a lot of top sellers, no, this isn't true. Name recognition is the selling point -- nevermind that top sellers usually have a lot of physical product to move. There is also the matter of genre -- I think fantasy/sci-fi are most suited for the strategy. But if you are a mid-lister of any sort you have a lot of freedom to test out your pricing. SBJones asked the right questions. Are you content with how your books are selling right now? Do you believe there is a strong or growing readership there? If not, consider a loss leader. I glanced at the "free" lists of a number of genres and found columns and columns of "Book One". If you're an unknown author, what better way to attract potential buyers? Hugh Howey frequents this forum and WOOL is perma-free as far as I can tell, maybe he'll say a word about his experiences. Digital products are hard to beat when it comes to producing a loss leader; there's just nothing genuinely "lost", but there is something to be gained. Perhaps "almost universal" was a stretch, but it is one of the most frequently cited "strategies" I've personally seen, both in discussion and practice.Jnassise said:I wouldn't say that's true at all. If it was, I wouldn't have bothered to ask.
Just checked, and the lowest price you can set through Pubit is $0.99. Free is not available.Caddy said:I know I can make a book free on kobo and also think I can on ARe/Omni, but what about B&N? Can someone tell me, and if not, how cheap can I make it on B&N?
.Just checked, and the lowest price you can set through Pubit is $0.99. Free is not available
I don't know about ARe, but my book Bad Vibrations is free on Kobo and iTunes, but not B&N, and Amazon still price-matched it.Caddy said:.
Good to know. Well, that'll teach those NOOK owners who not buying my book more often...
Does Amazon usually match kobo free? If so, can it stay free forever that way as long as it stays free on kobo and ARe or does Amazon not like that?
Thank you. That answers my question about if you can be free on I-tunes and my question about Amazon matching.I don't know about ARe, but my book Bad Vibrations is free on Kobo and iTunes, but not B&N, and Amazon still price-matched it.