I remember reading some similar suggestions on Konrath's blog. I think it's a terrific idea. Admittedly, I don't think I've ever bought a book because I saw it advertised in the back of a trad pub mass market paperback, but if I could click right through to the book page to read the blurb and reviews, it might make a big difference.
Would you want to advertise your book in the back of other people's books?
I've mentioned a few times before that I'm developing book formatting software that will allow you to output your books as doc, epub, mobi, pdf and html. It will also manage your back catalog links so that you can create vendor specific versions of your books. Here's the link if you haven't seen it: http://bit.ly/1h17BZp.
But what I've also mentioned is that I'm really releasing a suite of software that is designed to make self-publishing easier. There will be themes that automatically make your databases into a website. Here is work-in-progress version: http://bit.ly/1awD4v1. And you will be able to add buy buttons to your website to automatically turn your website into a webstore.
All of that is progressing well. But I'm a few days away from having to make a decision on another feature. And the feature was actually inspired by something I witness back in 2011 on this forum.
There were a whole different cast of characters on the forum back then than there are now. I can't remember if it was Christopher Smith or someone else, but without being asked, that author included another forum member's book in the back of his very popular book and the 2nd book began to take off. I never forgot that. So now that I'm putting together this software, I'm considering adding the ability for authors to sell space at the back of their books. That, of course, means that authors will be allowed to purchase advertisement space in the back of other people's books.
I would make the whole process incredibly simply. If you wanted to sell space, you would just check a check box and then fill in info like how may copies you project that your book will sell (or be given away) and why. You would write a little something about who you would consider including and why and then that's it. Those who would like to purchase the space could then submit the Sneak Peek that they would like to advertise by checking of check box and how much they would bid for the space.
The original author could just accept an offer, or the author could select a few people would be allowed to bid on the space. And when a winner is determined, the original author would accept the bid and payment and click a button to include the winning bid within their book. And the first author would always have full control of what ends up in their book.
I know that not everyone would be interested in this. But the fact is that the best possible reader to advertise to is a reader who has already purchased a book in a similar genre.
So, would you all want the opportunity to advertise your books in the back of other author's books? And would you all want the opportunity to make extra money selling ad space in the back of your book?
Keep in mind that this would allow you a whole new way of making money on your books. Because, if you want, you might choose to give away your book for free and make your money selling the advertisement while still promoting yourself.
But what I've also mentioned is that I'm really releasing a suite of software that is designed to make self-publishing easier. There will be themes that automatically make your databases into a website. Here is work-in-progress version: http://bit.ly/1awD4v1. And you will be able to add buy buttons to your website to automatically turn your website into a webstore.
All of that is progressing well. But I'm a few days away from having to make a decision on another feature. And the feature was actually inspired by something I witness back in 2011 on this forum.
There were a whole different cast of characters on the forum back then than there are now. I can't remember if it was Christopher Smith or someone else, but without being asked, that author included another forum member's book in the back of his very popular book and the 2nd book began to take off. I never forgot that. So now that I'm putting together this software, I'm considering adding the ability for authors to sell space at the back of their books. That, of course, means that authors will be allowed to purchase advertisement space in the back of other people's books.
I would make the whole process incredibly simply. If you wanted to sell space, you would just check a check box and then fill in info like how may copies you project that your book will sell (or be given away) and why. You would write a little something about who you would consider including and why and then that's it. Those who would like to purchase the space could then submit the Sneak Peek that they would like to advertise by checking of check box and how much they would bid for the space.
The original author could just accept an offer, or the author could select a few people would be allowed to bid on the space. And when a winner is determined, the original author would accept the bid and payment and click a button to include the winning bid within their book. And the first author would always have full control of what ends up in their book.
I know that not everyone would be interested in this. But the fact is that the best possible reader to advertise to is a reader who has already purchased a book in a similar genre.
So, would you all want the opportunity to advertise your books in the back of other author's books? And would you all want the opportunity to make extra money selling ad space in the back of your book?
Keep in mind that this would allow you a whole new way of making money on your books. Because, if you want, you might choose to give away your book for free and make your money selling the advertisement while still promoting yourself.
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Thanks! But so you know, it wouldn't just be a little Google Ad sized ad. It would include the book cover, genre, description, excerpt and a link to the book like in the image below.Becca Mills said:I remember reading some similar suggestions on Konrath's blog. I think it's a terrific idea. Admittedly, I don't think I've ever bought a book because I saw it advertised in the back of a trad pub mass market paperback, but if I could click right through to the book page to read the blurb and reviews, it might make a big difference.
Would there be anyone else interested in advertising in other people's books, or selling advertisement in other's books?
Try bumping this thread tomorrow, Alex. KB is busier earlier in the day.Alex Anders said:Would there be anyone else interested in advertising in other people's books, or selling advertisement in other's books?
I like the concept, but as an author, if I was considering advertising another book in the back of one of mine, I would have to have the ability to choose the book myself. I would want to be sure that the book was one I was happy promoting, as a reader would see it as my endorsement. If they clicked through and found a badly edited book, or one that wasn't consistent with my themes to an extent, then I think that would reflect badly on me.
I tried this for a while (not selling the space) and it just didn't do anything so I dropped the concept.
This. My genres are full of stuff I don't want to perpetuate.Rinelle Grey said:I like the concept, but as an author, if I was considering advertising another book in the back of one of mine, I would have to have the ability to choose the book myself. I would want to be sure that the book was one I was happy promoting, as a reader would see it as my endorsement. If they clicked through and found a badly edited book, or one that wasn't consistent with my themes to an extent, then I think that would reflect badly on me.
In the way I would design it, you could choose the book if you wanted to. What I'm picturing are 3 options:Rinelle Grey said:I like the concept, but as an author, if I was considering advertising another book in the back of one of mine, I would have to have the ability to choose the book myself. I would want to be sure that the book was one I was happy promoting, as a reader would see it as my endorsement. If they clicked through and found a badly edited book, or one that wasn't consistent with my themes to an extent, then I think that would reflect badly on me.
1) Your basic ebay option where anyone can bid. This would, of course, result in earning more from your auction.
2) A silent auction where everybody submits their description, cover and excerpt along with their bid, and you get to choose which offer you would like to accept.
3) You make the bidders pre-qualify for submission. So, the submitters submit their material to you. You then select which of the authors will be allowed to bid on the auction and then you have to take who ever wins out of that group. You could, of course, cancel the auction at any time. But to be fair, those would be the rules.
In theory, would one of those options work for you?
Both 2 and 3 sound acceptable, but I like the idea of 2 a lot more because. My only concern is that it would be more annoying for authors trying to buy the space because the criteria would be so nebulous.Alex Anders said:In the way I would design it, you could choose the book if you wanted to. What I'm picturing are 3 options:
1) Your basic ebay option where anyone can bid. This would, of course, result in earning more from your auction.
2) A silent auction where everybody submits their description, cover and excerpt along with their bid, and you get to choose which offer you would like to accept.
3) You make the bidders pre-qualify for submission. So, the submitters submit their material to you. You then select which of the authors will be allowed to bid on the auction and then you have to take who ever wins out of that group. You could, of course, cancel the auction at any time. But to be fair, those would be the rules.
In theory, would one of those options work for you?
How long would you be paying the advertisement space for? One year? Would this be specified in the agreement/contract?
I agree. But at the same time, it wouldn't require any additional steps on the part of the submitter. In the case of #3, they would enter their bid and max bid when they submit their stuff for pre-qualification. So in theory it shouldn't be any more nebulous than either other option.EmilieHardie said:Both 2 and 3 sound acceptable, but I like the idea of 2 a lot more because. My only concern is that it would be more annoying for authors trying to buy the space because the criteria would be so nebulous.
And speaking for myself, if that little bit of pre-qualification is all that's required to get my book in the back of a best seller in my genre, then I wouldn't have a problem doing it.
That would be up to the person selling the space. I would put in a field where the seller can explain exactly what the bidders will be bidding for. So, in my mind, the seller could be limiting it to 2 months or including for 2 years.Gennita Low said:How long would you be paying the advertisement space for? One year? Would this be specified in the agreement/contract?
Edit: Oh, and everything would be set up to be a one-time payment.
In my back matter, I list several authors and novels that I personally enjoyed within my genre, novels that I felt stood out from the pack for one reason or another. I didn't get paid to do it; I just didn't have much else to put there and thought I'd support some indie authors who had given me inspiration.
They don't know I did it, or if they do, they haven't said anything. No readers have said anything about it, although one said that my book got her hooked on the genre, that she began reading others - so she may well have started in on the list I provided.
But an ad? I don't know. I'd definitely have to personally support the author and his/her work. I might be interested in placing an ad in the back of another author's book; though I think I could do it with a quid pro quo arrangement.
They don't know I did it, or if they do, they haven't said anything. No readers have said anything about it, although one said that my book got her hooked on the genre, that she began reading others - so she may well have started in on the list I provided.
But an ad? I don't know. I'd definitely have to personally support the author and his/her work. I might be interested in placing an ad in the back of another author's book; though I think I could do it with a quid pro quo arrangement.
Heck, yeah! What a great way to pay it forward, er, backward. Seek out other indies struggling to make it, who's work is similar to your own, and plug them in the back of your best-selling work. Especiall if they really are similar. Woukd sure make it easy for readers to find more if the same stuff they already like.
Heck, I'd be happy to exchange "if you liked this, try that" with other children's writers, put it after the "other books by Becca Price page. No money need change hands, just an exchange of favors.
Ok. But would you be interested in purchasing ad space in a children's book that is selling a lot of copies?beccaprice said:Heck, I'd be happy to exchange "if you liked this, try that" with other children's writers, put it after the "other books by Becca Price page. No money need change hands, just an exchange of favors.
I think it would really depend on the type of book I was advertising in or having advertised in mine.Alex Anders said:Would there be anyone else interested in advertising in other people's books, or selling advertisement in other's books?
I'm getting the sense that more of you would be interested in buying ads than selling ads. So I'm kicking around the idea of limiting those who could sell an ad in their book to just those who have my book formatting software, but opening up the possibility to buy ads to anyone. What I would do in this case would be to allow the seller to choose whether or not every author in the world would be able to see their availability or just authors who also have my software.
I would imagine that the only authors who would truly want to sell space in their book would be authors who already sell a lot of books. And authors who sell a lot of books would be the same authors interested in my software. And since authors who sell fewer book are the ones who are most looking for advertising opportunities, this new setup would seem to make sense.
I would imagine that the only authors who would truly want to sell space in their book would be authors who already sell a lot of books. And authors who sell a lot of books would be the same authors interested in my software. And since authors who sell fewer book are the ones who are most looking for advertising opportunities, this new setup would seem to make sense.
I don't think I would like to see an ad for someone else's book in a book that I bought. The only excerpts I'd want to see would be for that author's next book....not someone I don't know.
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