Kindle vs Nook
There’s not much question the Kindle dominates the ebook world. As such, it wasn’t that tough of a decision to try KDP Select when I released The Greatest Show on Dirt in February. The program requires a 90-day exclusive commitment to the Kindle, after which an author can make their book available elsewhere. In exchange for the exclusivity, KDP Select offers up to five free promo days and inclusion in the Kindle lending program for Amazon Prime members (which allows them to borrow one free book each month).
Frankly, the free promo days haven’t done much for me. I’ve given away a lot of free downloads, but the Holy Grail of seeing the free promo spin into a jackpot once the book reverts to paid status hasn’t happened. I’ve heard from enough other authors that have ridden the wave to believe it exists, but in mid-April my two-day free trial saw 5,115 copies of The Greatest Show on Dirt downloaded. Once it went back to full price, the bounce was almost nonexistent.
The Kindle lending program has been slightly more successful, with eight borrows so far this month. The payout there depends on how many books were borrowed overall for the month, but average payouts in recent months have ranged from $1.50 to $2 or higher. Not a great deal, but it can add up.
My 90 days ends next week. Now it’s time to decide whether to re-up or branch out. Specifically I’m considering using Barnes & Noble’s PubIt program to make the book available for the Nook. I figure anyone with an Apple tablet of any kind can read Kindle books without any trouble. My question is, what’s the market like for the Nook? I’ve heard conflicting stories from other authors. Some report negligible sales on the Nook, while others feel there is less competition for ebook dollars there, with so many other indie authors tied up in exclusive KDP Select commitments.
Help me sift through all this. Do you use a Kindle, a Nook, or another ereader? If so, which one, and how reliant are you on it? If a book you want to read isn’t available for your device, do you buy the old-fashioned paper version or just skip it?
Frankly, the free promo days haven’t done much for me. I’ve given away a lot of free downloads, but the Holy Grail of seeing the free promo spin into a jackpot once the book reverts to paid status hasn’t happened. I’ve heard from enough other authors that have ridden the wave to believe it exists, but in mid-April my two-day free trial saw 5,115 copies of The Greatest Show on Dirt downloaded. Once it went back to full price, the bounce was almost nonexistent.
The Kindle lending program has been slightly more successful, with eight borrows so far this month. The payout there depends on how many books were borrowed overall for the month, but average payouts in recent months have ranged from $1.50 to $2 or higher. Not a great deal, but it can add up.
My 90 days ends next week. Now it’s time to decide whether to re-up or branch out. Specifically I’m considering using Barnes & Noble’s PubIt program to make the book available for the Nook. I figure anyone with an Apple tablet of any kind can read Kindle books without any trouble. My question is, what’s the market like for the Nook? I’ve heard conflicting stories from other authors. Some report negligible sales on the Nook, while others feel there is less competition for ebook dollars there, with so many other indie authors tied up in exclusive KDP Select commitments.
Help me sift through all this. Do you use a Kindle, a Nook, or another ereader? If so, which one, and how reliant are you on it? If a book you want to read isn’t available for your device, do you buy the old-fashioned paper version or just skip it?
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Jamie,Thanks for the perspective. I've been scanning a couple of author blogs and reading through comments from others on KDP Select. Seems that other authors are seeing the bounce of the FREE promo disappear as well lately. When it first rolled out late last year and into the early months of this year it wasn't unheard of for people to see a spike of literally thousands of units sold in the days after their free promo ended.
Now the market is glutted with free ebooks that people seem never likely to read. And if they have 500 freebies on their Kindle, maybe they will never pay for another ebook again. Granted, perhaps this was never my customer base in the first place. But there might have been a few of them willing to cough up a couple bucks that now won't bother.
Today I'm leaning back toward diversifying. And I actually tried an experiment with my ebook price by bumping it UP a dollar to see if it has any impact. There are so many variables it's hard to rule on a cause and effect, but I almost wonder sometimes if people pass over something that is priced too low figuring it can't be any good. This new technology has presented options authors never had before, but at the same time there aren't any simple answers on what works best, so maybe it's time for some trial and error.
Appreciate you buying the book as well as the feedback on my little quandary here. Thanks!
James,I haven't jumped into the e-world yet, but I do know a decent amount of people who have. I would agree that to diversify is best. I would say 2/3 of the people I know you some sort of apple version. hope that helps.
Mike,Thanks. It looks like I'll be spending my weekend converting the book for at least the Nook if not other platforms. Time to see what happens. Appreciate the input.
I've been a conflicted reader about this, too; trying to support products that need it and avoid platforms that aren't treating readers and authors very well. I've been unsuccessful in both.
I'm reading almost exclusively on a hacked nook. I have apps to read kindle ebooks, kobo, B&N, Google, etc. I think the only thing unavailable to me is Apple - but the truth is I haven't even tried that route. My preference is to get material through IndieBound (which Google will stop supporting early next year). The second option for me is B&N, as I'm trying to bolster a viable alternative to Amazon. I'm only purchasing kindle content when it's available on no other platform (as I did with your book!)
I don't expect my moral/economic quandary to become that of anyone else, though. My situation might only be relevant to you (or other authors) as an indication that readers are as conflicted as authors, may be uncomfortable being locked into a single platform, and want to be able to choose.
Long way of saying: I think you should diversify.
Amazon has reached that tipping point where it can strong-arm readers, authors, and publishers. That position may have made their platform the only place where you can make a profit on your work, but it could also be that, in a couple of years, their business model makes it the only place to publish. At that point your pay will be something along the lines of an etsy crafter reaping a little cash to support a knitting hobby. (Check me out: Prognosticating!)
Sorry. I didn't expect to get all soap-boxy on you. Good luck on a difficult decision.