The Price of Pricing Out Success
So, I finished the conclusion and all the first draft edits. Overall, the book is 78 pages long in WORD and boasts 40,000 characters for you online reader types. Thus, it is twice as long as my last book. This raises a serious dilemma for an independent publisher: what sticker price do I put on it?
As a former purchaser of dead tree-produced books, I am suspicious of any book priced under $5. Even an eBook. Yes, I gobble up the free out-of-copyright classics, but I need a solid rec from a good friend (or somebody on Goodreads) before I spend $3 on an Indie book. Hence, I priced my last eBook at $5.99. Just high enough to look respectable, but not about to break the piggy bank.
This book is twice as long, has taken three times as long to write, and, I've heard, just may be a bit more commercially viable than en esoteric foreign language guidebook. Also, as an Indie publisher, I face the real possibility that Amazon or Google will cut my asking price without my consent (as they did with my first eBook). The increased file size will eat away at my royalty (curse these edelivery costs).
Thus, the little devil on my right shoulder whispers that $6.99 and $7.99 is not so far-fetched. However, on the other hand, I want my writing to reach as many people as possible. I also think my first eBook did so well because it was modestly priced.
As a reference point, Junot Diaz's most recent eBook price tag is $12.99. Call me arrogant, but I think my book will be at least 50% as enjoyable for soccer-lovers. Also, some recent soccer eBooks have launched at prices between $6.99 and $9.99. Thus, I'm leaning towards staying at the $5.99 price tag.
As a former purchaser of dead tree-produced books, I am suspicious of any book priced under $5. Even an eBook. Yes, I gobble up the free out-of-copyright classics, but I need a solid rec from a good friend (or somebody on Goodreads) before I spend $3 on an Indie book. Hence, I priced my last eBook at $5.99. Just high enough to look respectable, but not about to break the piggy bank.
This book is twice as long, has taken three times as long to write, and, I've heard, just may be a bit more commercially viable than en esoteric foreign language guidebook. Also, as an Indie publisher, I face the real possibility that Amazon or Google will cut my asking price without my consent (as they did with my first eBook). The increased file size will eat away at my royalty (curse these edelivery costs).
Thus, the little devil on my right shoulder whispers that $6.99 and $7.99 is not so far-fetched. However, on the other hand, I want my writing to reach as many people as possible. I also think my first eBook did so well because it was modestly priced.
As a reference point, Junot Diaz's most recent eBook price tag is $12.99. Call me arrogant, but I think my book will be at least 50% as enjoyable for soccer-lovers. Also, some recent soccer eBooks have launched at prices between $6.99 and $9.99. Thus, I'm leaning towards staying at the $5.99 price tag.
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Webbie,It's kinda confusing. I choose the asking price, but they can discount it. I picked $5.99, and one day it showed up as discounted. My suspicion is that I put the book on Google Books, they discounted me immediately, Amazon's bots found out, and then matched the Google price.
For my next book, I'm thinking of avoiding Google Books for a time and seeing how it plays out. I've gotten zero sales there anyway.
To their credit, Barnes & Noble and Apple have not engaged in these shenanigans. Nor has Goodreads.
$6.99 is a definite option. I can think of some similar books on the market with that price, and I believe I can match the quality.
Hey, Elliot. I think that $9.99 is a fair asking price for a book that is twice the size of the last one and more in line with mainstream soccer interests. As much as I loved your last book, I think this topic will strike a chord with more people. I've paid more in eBook form and definitely in old dead tree form for less. I don't think $9.99 is too much, but this is just my simple opinion. I feel that this price also satisfies that concern about the price being a determinant of the potential quality of a work. Good luck!!
Dago and Webbie,I really and truly appreciate y'all's support. I definitely think that readers with whom I've engaged, trust, and like are willing to maybe shell out $10 for my next book. The Kickstarter campaign blew me away.
Here's the conundrum: my last book's $5.99 price brought in a ton of new "never read futfanatico" folks into the fold. Same with the $1 "Best Of" eBooks.
I'm going to try and strike the right balance, and thanks for the positive thoughts!
$6.99 is still decent.