Do Ebook Discounts Devalue Content?

[David]

Over at Bookbub they ask the question: 'Do Ebook Discounts Devalue Content?'

The answer they come up with is: no.

http://unbound.bookbub.com/post/89676...

[David]

I've so far given away almost 3500 books (only the one title) and the more free books that get downloaded the more sales of my full priced books increase. Having said that, the full price is still not excessive. Sales of anything is surely to do with exposure and if a discounted book gives that exposure it is as good as spending money on advertising, better even, because the potential reader of your other books has a sample of your writing.

So, marketed correctly, I agree: It still needs to be a book people will want to read, however.

[David]

David wrote: "I've so far given away almost 3500 books (only the one title) and the more free books that get downloaded the more sales of my full priced books increase. Having said that, the full price is still ..."

Yes. I believe in the power of free too.

And low prices.

After all, we are - in effect - asking readers to venture into the unknown, and it is probably wise to make it as painless as possible for them.

[Tim]

A company whose entire business is predicated on discounted books says discounts are a good thing? Well there's a shocker!

[David]

Tim wrote: "A company whose entire business is predicated on discounted books says discounts are a good thing? Well there's a shocker!"

Shouldn't you have put a spoiler alert in that?

[David]

Tim wrote: "A company whose entire business is predicated on discounted books says discounts are a good thing? Well there's a shocker!"

It isn't a surprise that they would make such a statement, but free books have worked for me. I still can't afford bookbub, though, and as the free listing sites are working so far, I'm not likely to try.

[David]

Free is a good way of letting people find out if you have something worth paying for in future.

[M.A.]

Of course not. All the major publishing houses hold sales now and again. The only negative side to Indie authors holding a sale is when a reader doesn't like the book they picked up as a bargain and leave a review saying "Well what should I have expected, it was cheap after all."

There's no pleasing some folks. :-)

[Jim]

What gets me is Amazon slashed the prices of my books without any warning at all. Never told me. I genuinely haven't got a clue when they did it.
So Friday night I discovered this and instead of getting an early night like I'd promised myself I spread the news a bit on the Amazon 'MOA' forum, here and on Facebook.

Sold 1 book.

OK they've not slashed them to 'dirt cheap' but still, you'd have thought if they were looking at doing it as some sort of promotion, as opposed to a random act of poorly targeted altruism, they might have warned me so I could promote it a bit.