002: The Most Expensive Part of Your Book Isn’t The Price
I run into writers who think the reason their book isn’t selling is the price. The first question, when a new release isn’t working, revolves around discounting. “Should I make this ebook 99 cents?” or “Should I give this away for free to generate interest?” These are both solid strategies when used the right way, but they’re not magical. I’ve got a reader full of free ebooks I’ve picked up over the last decade, and many more deals I got for 99 cents. I read very few of these free and low-cost books, and rarely do the ones read incite a desire to go find more work by the author. At best, the author or publisher has made 35 cents out of my curiosity. At worst, I’m one of the masses some indie authors derisively call “freebie seekers” and deride as a plague on their business. Here’s the thing to keep in mind: the actual cost to readers isn’t the