KDP Select for Dummies...

[Jenna]

I didn't see a discussion here that addresses the basics of KDP Select. I've read everything on the KDP site, but I just don't get it.

Can one of you Select vets boil it down, tell me if it's a good deal? I like the idea of free Kindle days, and I want to enroll October Snow.

[Joyce]

KDP Select offers two key advantages (1) the ability to offer your your e-book FREE for a total of 5-days within a 90-day period. You can choose to offer the freebies one day at a time, or for two days in a row; or all five at the same time. The advantage is that free downloads can broaden access to your book, increase reviews, etc. (2) access to the library program through Amazon PRIME - for which authors are reimbursed.

The disadvantage is: your book must be exclusively listed with Kindle. You cannot distribute your e-book with anyone else, e.g., Nook or Apple. ONLY Kindle. You are obligated to distribute exclusively on Kindle for 90 days only. You can continue if you choose.

[Jenna]

Thanks, Joyce. (Nice to meet you.)

I've read comments from authors who say it isn't worth it to enroll - that they got nothing out of it. What was your experience with it?

[Joyce]

I participated actively in KDP Select for my first mystery novel. I did two days of free and had 17,000 books downloaded. With these free books came 1-star reviews from people who really weren't interested in the book to begin with (and bragged about not reading the book but giving it one-star because they couldn't get into it.)

Part of the theory--assuming you promote actively--is that sales will increase after you give the book away because of the increased visibility. That happened a little for me, but not as much as others have reported. But many authors are convinced that a free books program is a good way to increase sales. Others say that too many books are free now and that this type of program has lost its allure.

As for the library loaning program, very few of my books were ever borrowed.

Whether you do KDP Select or distribute through the two dozen or so outlets available for e-books, I believe that the key is to PROMOTE. I've sold more books through advertising through BookBub, for example, than I ever did through KDP Select.

[M Todd]

I have done really well in the past with KDP Select, but that was before Amazon changed their algorithm. Now it takes a couple hundred downloads free to give your book one tick into a recommendation queue. As someone who jumped onto KDP select right when it came out, and watched its effectiveness decline over the last year and a half, I'm phasing my books out.

[Rinelle]

I posted about this recently on my blog, listing the pros and cons and my experience (and had some great advice given in the comments too).

Ultimately, it's a decision every author has to make for themselves, but luckily one that isn't permanent. You can give it a try (or not), then change your mind later.

[Jenna]

Thanks, guys. Rinelle, I'll look up your blog.

[Drako]

Personally, I don't find it to be very worthwhile. It didn't really get me any reviews despite making several hundred downloads each time i put it up for free. I only put my very first book and my second in it. The last two I didn't bother.

Everyone's experience seems to be different but personally, I didn't find it to be worth staying in. I think when you're just starting it's a good idea but as you put out multiple books not so much.

[Craig]

I did not go the Select route with my first book because a) I got the 70% royalty everywhere but India and Brazil, and didn't expect sales in those countries anyways; and b) I was concerned that giving away the book for free would result in lots of downloads but by people who wouldn't even read it, just wanted the freebie or who read it but normally would not have and thus might result in poor reviews like Joyce above experienced.

Countering the above my sales at Smashwords is about 25% of what I've gotten at Amazon. For whatever reason I've had no sales at B&N but still I would not trade the Smashwords sales for the Select program.

I think the Select program works if a book is part of a trilogy where you give the first book free to get them hooked on the story. But I personally don't think it's worth it those of us who write stand alone novels.