THE Group for Authors! discussion

Hello,
Has anyone enrolled with 'Search Inside the Book' programme with Amazon? Was it worthwhile, did you notice an increase in sales? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks,
Heath

What is this program?

The search inside features are very important to me as a reader. I want to open the book and look inside, to get a sample of the story and writing style to see if it meets my reading style.

If the book does not have a look inside feature, I move on to another one. No look inside feature, no sale...

Thank you, I wasn't sure what that meant. Yes, I agree it is important as a reader.

How do you get your books in this program?

Google search

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/help/custo...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/help/custo...

Hi there,
Just to clarify,Search Inside the Book us different to Look Inside where you can only see the first few pages.Search Inside is where a reader can search the whole book for certain words to see if it's something they're interested in.It supposedly gives you a greater reach to potential readers.However you need an ISBN no to proceed.

okay, thank you. I am a very new author and have no idea what I need to be doing.

Hi Samantha,
I have explored all avenues with plenty of pitfalls and frustration. I don't for one minute profess to be an expert but feel free to ask me any questions!
Regards,
Heath

I'll take any suggestions. I'm bobbing for air right now! :)

Hah, I know that feeling well! Are you with KDP select on Amazon? If so have you tried utilising your free promotion days? It's a great way of getting your work out there and possible reviews as well.

Yes, the first book sold over 2,000 in the first 3 free days. I haven't put the second one for free yet. It's only been out, not quite 2 weeks. I have a new web-site as well. What's a decent number to sell in a day?(paid)

That sounds pretty decent to me, you don't need any advice from me! Well done :)

I did mention the 2,000 were free? I have only sold about 30 of the first one paid. And 18 of the second one paid.

Well that is still good in my eyes, I only had 1,000 downloads of my free promotion. The trouble is everyone wants something for free but are reluctant to pay!

Yes, I am seeing that. My second book is only $2.99 and is selling, but slowly.

Yes mine is $2:99 as well, it seems to be the right price. Mine is selling slowly as well, I think that luck plays a part in it as well.

I have Search Inside available, and think its only right to do so. If you can leaf through a real book in a bookstore, a customer should be able to virtually leaf through your book on Search Inside.

Just to comment about prices and promotions, I am learning fast that as much as we like to think we are moving forward with technology, the literary industry is NOT. I am stunned at how many people are reluctant to use ereaders, and those that have them are so paranoid about purchasing online so they opt for free books to save a credit card charge on a site like Amazon. Nothing wrong with being careful, but really, Visa gift cards are perfect to use online for sites like Amazon, and buying a book for 99 cents or even three bucks is nothing. Unless someone rummages through a used bookstore, they won't find the deals like they can online.

But like I mentioned, since releasing my own book, the first things my friends ask is, "Can I get a paper copy?" It seems even if they have ereaders, they still prefer a real book.

Hi Holly,
Did you notice an increase in sales afterwards? I am leaning towards getting an ISBN no anyway.
Regards,
Heath

I thought this was the default? Or is this one of the features of Digital Rights Management?

If you do have an ISBN (CreateSpace applies them for free, unless you spend $10 for your own imprint), Amazon.com eventually enables the "Search Inside the Book" feature automatically. It takes a month or two, though. It doesn't happen right away.

I am not positive about this, but I am pretty sure that Search Inside the Book works for print books, not e-books. If you see it attached to an e-book, it's actually accessing a print PDF.

I have Search Inside on the Kindle versions of both of my books which also have ISBNs. I used KDP Select for my first book including the free promotion days lots of downloads (over 3,000) and number one in the Thriller category in the US for a day, then back to reality with a few sales per day. Of course I earned nothing from the free days.

For my second book I decided against KDP and free. both my books are now 99c (US Pricing) and trickle sales. Whether Search Inside helps or not is impossible to tell, but if one reader buys because of it then it can't hurt.