Goodreads Authors/Readers discussion

Hi All,
I'm new to publishing my writings. Does anyone have any insights/comments about making the first book in a series or a prequel a free download on Amazon ?

Not there yet, but my fantasy series (5 books ?) will begin with John & Andy – Book 1 – An Ancient Arrival. Planning on e-publishing on Amazon in March, with a bit of luck.

I'm reluctant to make Book 1 a free download, but it is long (>150K words) so it would not be a stretch to pull a few chapters from the beginning and use them in an introductory novella.

Any thoughts ?

Cheers - Nick

Yes free works. Making book 1 in my series free earns me a full time income.

So far, I haven't offered book 1 of my series free generally, but I do use it as a reader magnet to gain email signups. I've toyed with making it free generally, but wouldn't that have a negative impact on signups? Why would readers give me their email address if they can already get the book free?

Because they want to follow you and learn of upcoming books. If the only reason they signed up was to get a freebie, they may unsubscribe or simply not buy anything of yours and just wait for the next freebie. The idea is to get fans that love your stuff. If you have the first book free it should get you new readers who don’t want to take a risk until they know they like your stuff, then go on to buy the rest of your books. Some of them will sign up. It there is no point in having thousands of people on your list if only a few will actually buy your books. This is what I have heard anyway.

Jane wrote: "Because they want to follow you and learn of upcoming books. If the only reason they signed up was to get a freebie, they may unsubscribe or simply not buy anything of yours and just wait for the n..."

It is true that some people just download the free book and move on. Lists have to be cleaned from time to time to remove the deadweight. I'm still mulling this over, just wondering if anyone had any actual experience with it or a different approach to suggest. The problem with making the ebook free on Amazon is there is no organic way for readers to get from there to the email list (without cluttering up the back matter, anyway).

I have my poetry reader magnet offered for free on Amazon as well as using it for my subscriber list.

On Amazon, it is usually in the top 10 in these categories:

Best Sellers Rank: #20,213 Free in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
#4 in Poetry About Nature
#5 in Contemporary Poetry
#6 in 45-Minute Humor & Entertainment Short Reads

It is hard to tell if a purchase comes from a reader downloading it, but it is free exposure. If someone is really interested in your work and you have provided links, then those readers will sign up and stick with you.

I purge my email list monthly.

Some interesting comments on the same subject below on a different site.

Making the first book in a series or a prequel a free... https://www.kboards.com/threads/makin...

Leon wrote: "I have my poetry reader magnet offered for free on Amazon as well as using it for my subscriber list.

On Amazon, it is usually in the top 10 in these categories:

Best Sellers Rank: #20,213 Free i..."

What criteria do you use to purge your lists? I won’t send emails more than monthly except for releases, so couldn’t work out who wasn’t interacting for a few months.

With Mailchimp, I filter out subscribers that haven't opened my last 10 newsletters.
I debated about the frequency my newsletter. I went with weekly, to give readers links to free book promos, my blog and SM highlights, and writing updates. So 10 emails is a good indicator for inactivity.

I would think that your situation would be more difficult to gauge. I wrote a post about my purge if you want to read it:

https://linesbyleon.com/2021/05/06/th...

In thinking more about this, I think it probably makes sense to do it both via Amazon and as a reader magnet, but the magnet probably needs more than just the book. I currently offer both a book and a short story tie-in, and I've seen some authors include things like downloadable/printable bookmarks. A bundle like that would offer more value in exchange for the email address.

Both can't hurt, right?

Value. That's the key to maintaining a reader. If they like what you have offered, and it is compelling enough to leave them wanting more, then the hope is that they will buy one of your books.

That's one reason I decided to put a magnet on Amazon. They are already there, so fingers crossed.

With the newsletter option, I try to offer entertaining content that will bridge that gap between books.

Many will download the freebie, then either unsubscribe or not open any other emails. I figure that many use a junk email for downloading stuff and forget to unsub.

Thankfully, I only get 1-2 unsubscribes each week, but gain 10+.

My one and only novel was published on Aug. 9, 2011 and remained commercially available until Dec. 31, 2016 when the publisher declared bankruptcy and went out of business (perhaps from signing too many authors like myself).

Although I chose not to make any format avaliable to the public for free, I did participate in two Goodreads Giveaways - one for 10 copies of the paperback format and the other for 5 copies. Participation was limited to just one month for each.

During the 5 years/4 months of commercial availability, a total of 1,029 units were sold (485 paperback, 480 e-book, 36 audio book on CD, and 28 audio downloads). I received a total of $2,358.34 in royalties.

Whether the few sales were influenced by the giveaways or the publisher's marketing and distribution efforts, I do not know. I believe each author must decide for themself whether or not to provide free copies of their work. It is their product to make available to the public as they see fit. I wish you success!

Jim wrote: "My one and only novel was published on Aug. 9, 2011 and remained commercially available until Dec. 31, 2016 when the publisher declared bankruptcy and went out of business (perhaps from signing too..."

Hi Jim,
Thanks very much for the info. It's a big plus for me that comments on this site often come from published authors.

I had a quick look at your book's Amazon page and wondered if you had considered re-publishing it as an e-book, to offer readers an alternative way of buying/reading it.

All the best,

Nick

Leon wrote: "Both can't hurt, right?

Value. That's the key to maintaining a reader. If they like what you have offered, and it is compelling enough to leave them wanting more, then the hope is that they will b..."

Not to get off topic, but I had a mailchimp newsletter with 200 "subscribers" from different marketing sites. After sending the 2nd newsletter (3 months after the 1st), I lost 7 subscribers and mailchimp sent me a stern warning that I'd lost too many subscribers, with a list of possible reasons. None of those reasons were valid at all! I simply lost 7 of 200 subscribers at once. I got mad and deleted account and gave up on newsletters. I still don't understand it.

Gail wrote: "LI lost 7 subscribers and mailchimp sent me a stern warning that I'd lost too many subscribers ..."

That's the first I've heard about MC being concerned about subscriber lists. It seems strange that they would send an email like that.

I just use the free account which allows up to 2000 subscribers.

Weird.

Gail wrote: "Leon wrote: "Both can't hurt, right?

Value. That's the key to maintaining a reader. If they like what you have offered, and it is compelling enough to leave them wanting more, then the hope is tha..."

That's odd. Are you sure it was a "stern warning" instead of what they hoped might be a helpful email with suggestions for improvement?

One thing about newsletters is, you really have to be consistent with them and offer things of value to subscribers. I jumpstarted my newsletter 2 years ago and have been using swaps and group promos through StoryOrigin and have built up a subscriber base of nearly 700. That's not huge, but it's 6 times what I had before, and my engagement levels have been pretty good. Less than a third are not engaged at all. I do send reengagement emails on occasion, then clean the list of anyone who doesn't respond. So it takes work to make it work. I don't suppose everyone would find it worth their time and effort, but for those who can do it, I think it has value.

Nick wrote: "Jim wrote: "My one and only novel was published on Aug. 9, 2011 and remained commercially available until Dec. 31, 2016 when the publisher declared bankruptcy and went out of business (perhaps from..."

Nick,

Writing a novel was just one item in a bucket list I created upon retiring in 2001. It was a story that had been fermenting inside my brain for years. Even though it was not a commercial success, the thought that 1,029 people read it is satisfying in itself.

I appreciate your suggestion; however, I have no desire to pursue further publication. There are just too many other things to do, places to visit, and people to meet, and so little time.

I noticed that Amazon is advertising 3 used paperback copies for sale at $5.99 each, if anyone is interested.

Tilly wrote: "Yes free works. Making book 1 in my series free earns me a full time income."

You've got to give more details. Free does not equal income. Do you mean to say this is a gateway approach to hook readers into the other books in your series?

Christine wrote: "Free does not equal income...."

Yes it does. I know the percentage of people who grab book 1 for free who will go on to buy books 2, 3, 4 etc. That “free” download has a monetary value - being the net income I earn from series sell through. Knowing that number helps with advertising as you know how much you can spend to advertise a freebie and still have a positive return.

Gail wrote: "I simply lost 7 of 200 subscribers at once. I got mad and deleted account and gave up on newsletters..."

I suspect it wasn’t the number but the overall percentage, as 7 out of 200 is 3.5% of your total list unsubscribing which might have triggered an automatic warning.

I don’t know what you mean that you got the subscribers from “marketing sites” but if they were cold leads, you need to engage them and warm them up. Did you have an automation sequence? How often do you email your list? What unique content are you providing? Growing a list is like a grain hopper - you need lots of subscribers going in constantly at the top to sift through and produce true fans at the bottom.

A newsletter list is your number 1 marketing tool. It’s an asset you own and control and it’s a direct conversation with readers.

Tilly wrote: "Gail wrote: "I simply lost 7 of 200 subscribers at once. I got mad and deleted account and gave up on newsletters..."

I suspect it wasn’t the number but the overall percentage, as 7 out of 200 is ..."

Thank you very much, Tilly! MC did mention % and it was a warning, which I wasn't happy. I also understand the value in having a newsletter. I appreciate your input!

Dale wrote: "...and my engagement levels have been pretty good. Less than a third are not engaged at all..."

I think 1/3 is the average for subscriber engagement. I was at about 36% opens before I purged 50 of my subscribers (3 elected to stay by opening the email and not unsubscribing). The next newsletter hit 50%, then I gained quite a few through a BookFunnel promo, and my last open rate was 40%.

Dale, I'm on StoryOrigin too, so I'll check you out for a swap.

Jim wrote: "Nick wrote: "Jim wrote: "My one and only novel was published on Aug. 9, 2011 and remained commercially available until Dec. 31, 2016 when the publisher declared bankruptcy and went out of business ..."

Hi Jim,
I am in a roughly similar position with my mother's autobiography, which I only have in printed form.

I've been wondering about scanning it in and turning it into a pdf then e-publishing it that way. It is quite a short book. I suppose it comes down to whether any of your family or friends would have a few days to spare to help put your book out in digital form.

All the best Nick

Nick wrote: "Hi All,
I'm new to publishing my writings. Does anyone have any insights/comments about making the first book in a series or a prequel a free download on Amazon ?

Not there yet, but my fantasy ser..."

You can make it free for just 5 days through amazon KDP

Leon wrote: "I think 1/3 is the average for subscriber engagement. I was at about 36% opens before I..."

Yes, I think you're right about that. I'll look for your swap request!

If I understand Amazon's latest policy, you cannot list your book as free except for a limited promotion as a KDP author. The lowest price that you can assign for your book depends upon its length and/or illustrations. However, the lowest price that Amazon will now allow is 0.99. There is a new promotion with Amazon that allows you to link all of your books when you publish. This would assist you in what I believe you hope to do.

MC wrote: "If I understand Amazon's latest policy, you cannot list your book as free except for a limited promotion as a KDP author. The lowest price that you can assign for your book depends upon its length ..."

If your book is free on another platform, they will match the price if you send them the links to those other listings. But for a KDP author, this won't be an option.

Thank you Leon for explaining this--I wonder if it's better to have a perma-free or to run occasional promos on KDP/kindle select.

P.L. wrote: "Thank you Leon for explaining this--I wonder if it's better to have a perma-free or to run occasional promos on KDP/kindle select."

I'll let you know, P.L. I've done the Kindle Select freebie, once gave away 200 books in a day, few reviews from it. I'm going to perma-free the first in a series next month to see if that helps my new series.

Just to mention that KDP and Kindle Select are not the same thing. Kindle select is where you publish exclusively with Amazon via KDP for the privilege of being on Kindle Unlimited and using their Countdown deals. You can still publish with KDP and elsewhere which allows you to price match to the other retail service who will allow you to put your book free.

Jane wrote: "Just to mention that KDP and Kindle Select are not the same thing. Kindle select is where you publish exclusively with Amazon via KDP for the privilege of being on Kindle Unlimited and using their ..."

Jane, help! Is Kindle Select, Kindle Unlimited? I thought they were one in the same? I want to make sure I use the right term going forward.

KDP=Kindle Direct Publishing. This is when you publish on Amazon but you are not *exclusively* publishing on Amazon.

Being select within kindle (Kindle Select; exclusive to Amazon) allows you (higher royalties and) to place your book in the Kindle Unlimited program. But you can not then publish elsewhere. So you lose the other sales, from say kobo, but you get higher royalties (conditions apply).

That's why I added the slash-Kindle Select following KDP above. :)

I'm in Kindle Select and my books are in KU. If I want permafree, I'll need to leave Kindle Select (but still be in the kindle store) and then put the ebook at 'free' on another platform, like kobo. Then ask Amazon to match the price (free).

Simpler for me at the moment to stay in Kindle Select and run the five day free promos every 90 days.

I don’t think being in kindle select allows you higher royalties, apart from when you run the countdown deals at 0.99 where you still get 70%. At all other prices the royalties are the same whether in select or not.

Gail wrote: "Jane wrote: "Just to mention that KDP and Kindle Select are not the same thing. Kindle select is where you publish exclusively with Amazon via KDP for the privilege of being on Kindle Unlimited and..."

Hi Gail, so simple answer yes, kindle select is what you are in if you are the author which puts your book in kindle unlimited which is the reader subscription programme.

P.L. wrote: "Thank you Leon for explaining this--I wonder if it's better to have a perma-free or to run occasional promos on KDP/kindle select."

There are pros and cons to being exclusive to Amazon. I haven't made the jump to go wide yet. It might be a good strategy to take advantage of Kindle Select for a while (a year?) and then take your book to the other platforms once you have a following.

Leon wrote: " ...once you have a following..."

Thank you for the morning chuckle, Leon.

Also thank you to Jane for correcting my misperception about royalties. :)