Pricing

[Jenn]

Dale wrote: "Hmmmm....I bet you convince a few people! But talk about pricing, I paid $8 for an eBook that was one of the worst books I read this year. I will never pay that much for an Ebook again. But it had ..."

Ohhhh, I feel your pain.

[Cambria]

Dale wrote: "Hmmmm....I bet you convince a few people! But talk about pricing, I paid $8 for an eBook that was one of the worst books I read this year. I will never pay that much for an Ebook again. But it had ..."

oh no Dale!! So sorry you had a bad reading experience. that is always awful. :(

[Sarah]

So I totally missed this thread too...geez, I've been busy since this summer! I thought it was getting worse but at least I'm still TRYING to play catch-up!

Way back in September, Splitter wrote: "Another idea I am toying with is finding another author and figuring out a way to combine books/series for a pricing discount to the consumer. I've seen it done before (buy this book from that author, get this one free from that other author).

That is more easily done through a publisher, however. Of course, it takes virtually nothing to set up a publishing company so....I dunno.

What I see, in a basic sense, is a potential to partner with others. My own personal feeling, and I have nothing to back this up, is that such things will be a "next wave" for indie authors. It's out of the box thinking, but so are a lot of the things going on right now.

Splitter "

I'm publishing Romantic Suspense under my own name, individually, but for my SciFi series, I'm creating a company called Phoenician Books and while my "flagship" will be my 3-5 book series, The Phoenician Series, I definitely had in mind that I would somehow combine efforts with other SF/F authors (even though I hate and loathe fantasy genre, I know good fantasy when I see it and recognize, as a businessperson, how well it sells). I'll be creating a new site for "Phoenician Books" the publisher, separate and apart from the aforementioned blog for my series.

The reason I wanted to combine forces was definitely the power that traditional publishers have and we Indie Authors do not. I don't really want to get into the editing business or cover design or doing all of the marketing -- and all 3 of those services are allegedly provided by traditional publishers in return for their 85% of the royalties -- but I did want to use the "strength in numbers" to do things like getting books onto Fictionwise.com (requires a minimum of 10 separate titles with 10 separate ISBNs to create a publisher account and does not yet accept individual books from individual / indie authors -- unless that's changed since June, 2011??)

There are other advantages to being an Indie Publisher instead of Indie Author (e.g., Amazon won't allow authors to set up pre-orders, only publishers) but I'm hoping to just make an alliance, not a company or a service. In other words, I don't want to do it for anyone else as it's hard enough doing it for myself! At the very least, I want to share/brainstorm selling and promotion ideas.

I've run my own business before (5 years doing web development and internet consulting 1994-1999 when we were first developing the web, let alone devleoping for the web) I went through the whole pricing philosophy back then and still hear n00bs to design and consulting business having the same discussions we had 20 years ago. I'm not going to jump in on this discussion at that level, Splitter, because I can hear from your questions that you're looking for some one exact right answer. There isn't one but you need to learn that yourself by doing not by listening to someone preach at you. That's another reason I dont' want to run a publishing business to "do it for others" but just want to use the front.

I'm not sure how I'll set it up since No. Carolina is really, really bad about this sort of business stuff (and gee, they wonder why they have trouble attracting business to this state?) I can't even obtain/install an Amazon widget because No. Carolina insists on taking a cut of any affiliate sales I might conduct and Amazon refuses to report such fractional pennies to them. Can you believe it? I don't even want the affiliate fees, just the freakin widget but no. No. Carolina has banned Amazon from its residents computers. Kind of like censorship.

So I'll have to incorporate the business somewhere else and I haven't had time or money to hire an attorney to do all of this for me. Point is, if you want in on Phoenician Books, there are ways to use a publisher account to solve a LOT of problems, esp. on Amazon. Pricing is just one of them.

Okay, I lied, I'll make one remark regarding pricing. If you want to be as smart as possible about price, you do not want to set your price and leave it. Ever. It should never ever be the same price "forever." Having periodic, "limited time" sales (or giveaways) boosts sales in the short term so long as your "regular price" is (a) also known (so the discount is known at the time of purchase) and (b) high enough to show it is a product of value because yes, going below the $2.99 bottom of the 70% royalty range is devaluing your work. A $1.99 book, forex, should either be 99c or free because $1.99 says "Hi, I'm worthless." At least to the masses of customers crusing books by price--and many many sort by price not by genre or best seller or author though those 3 filters (not in that order) are definitely the top 3 methods of sorting book searches.

Splitter and/or anyone else interested if you have a science fiction and/or fantasy book and you might like to "joint-market" under the Phoenician Books publisher name, private message me at phoenicianbooks@gmail.com with the following (copy/paste please) in the subject line: AUTHOR FOR SALE

:-) Not really but it'll stand out that way, won't it? Also, I'm thinking of limiting it to science fiction and fantasy but excluding the whole "urban fantasy" and definitely not getting into the whole "paranormal" or "horror" kinds of books. I don't want to try to be all things to all people. Instead, I want to get a group of authors together who can support each other with "like kind" fan bases and at least to start, staying focused on very specific fan types will be more successful than trying to blanket the field. That's a looooong proven marketing FACT (not theory). So think Baen Books or Tor Books but not St. Martin's Press (Baen's parent) or MacMillan (Tor's parent). Small house imprint, not large publishing conglomerate.

The company won't be set up or taking books until next spring (2012) at the earliest and it might be summer 2012 before I can manage it. All depends on whether or not I can get my first book out on time and generating income fast enough. Right now, I haven't got time to think, let alone set up a new business or deal with co-workers/colleagues. The first interested parties I receive will receive priority consideration and I'll probably cut it off at around 10-15 authors since more than that is going to be a nightmare to manage (heck, more than 3 will be a challenge to manage!)

-sry

[Jenn]

Sarah, The Webbiegrrl Writer wrote: "So I totally missed this thread too...geez, I've been busy since this summer! I thought it was getting worse but at least I'm still TRYING to play catch-up!

Way back in September, Splitter wrote: ..."

Wow! That's a TON of info and insight! Thanks for sharing!

[Sarah]

Yeah, it's more than just info and insight it is, indeed a ton--and a half!! Been sitting on this for a few months, too...been weighing me down, it has ;)

[Jenn]

Sarah, The Webbiegrrl Writer wrote: "Yeah, it's more than just info and insight it is, indeed a ton--and a half!! Been sitting on this for a few months, too...been weighing me down, it has ;)"

Girl you've got alot going on!

[C.S. Splitter]

Hey Sarah,

That's very interesting. I will get with you off line. My books are modern day Action/Adventure and so do not fall into the categories you are looking to ally with, but I believe in the business model you propose.

A few people here have heard about what I am working on that is somewhat along the same lines (no money for me, just a service). I would not mind sharing my ideas because I think we are not the only ones thinking about this stuff. I would love to see affiliations like you suggest succeed for many reasons...not the least of which is the quality control issue for indie authors both real and perceived.

I'll send you my thoughts after my book(s) are published tomorrow and my week slows down. Take them for what they're worth.

Splitter

[Jenn]

C.S. Splitter wrote: "Hey Sarah,

That's very interesting. I will get with you off line. My books are modern day Action/Adventure and so do not fall into the categories you are looking to ally with, but I believe in t..."

Id listen Yoffa, splitter is wicked smart!

[Sarah]

C.S. Splitter wrote: "Hey Sarah,

That's very interesting. I will get with you off line. My books are modern day Action/Adventure and so do not fall into the categories you are looking to ally with, but I believe in the...
I'll send you my thoughts after my book(s) are published tomorrow and my week slows down. Take them for what they're worth."

Tomorrow? You've got an exact date (and on a Monday) for a release? I thought you said you were self-publishing, like with Smashwords and KDP? It can go a day or two either way (early/late) with both of those sites. Or that's been my experience.

If you're interested in talking about non-SF/F books, please do contact me "offline" as it were but use the webbiegrrlwriter at gmail instead of phoenicianbooks, okay? I know, I'm amazingly picky but it's how I organize my life.

Jenn, I do indeed have a LOT going on (which is why I'm not more active here) and I am actually pretty wicked-pissa-smart myself <<< Bostongrrl ;-)

[Jenn]

Sarah, The Webbiegrrl Writer wrote: "C.S. Splitter wrote: "Hey Sarah,

That's very interesting. I will get with you off line. My books are modern day Action/Adventure and so do not fall into the categories you are looking to ally wi..."

Yay for Beantown!!!!

[Sarah]

Jenn aka Texas Long Hair wrote: "Id listen Yoffa, splitter is wicked smart!"

been meaning to ask you, jenn, what is up with the yoffa business all of a sudden? don't i rate a first-name basis anymore? :-\

[Jenn]

Sarah, The Webbiegrrl Writer wrote: "Jenn aka Texas Long Hair wrote: "Id listen Yoffa, splitter is wicked smart!"

been meaning to ask you, jenn, what is up with the yoffa business all of a sudden? don't i rate a first-name basis anym..."

Nah, it's not like that.
I don't want people confused as to which sarah and I like Yoffa.
It's sounds hardcore like Hoffa.
Do you not like it?

[Sarah]

Jenn aka Texas Long Hair wrote: "Sarah, The Webbiegrrl Writer wrote: "Jenn aka Texas Long Hair wrote: "Id listen Yoffa, splitter is wicked smart!"

been meaning to ask you, jenn, what is up with the yoffa business all of a sudden?..."

Nah, it's not like that.
I don't want people confused as to which sarah and I like Yoffa.
It's sounds hardcore like Hoffa.
Do you not like it?

Not particularly, sorry to say. In Israel (in Hebrew) "Yoffa" is a first name and I spent four years being truly annoyed whenever I tried to give someone my last name and they'd spend 5 minutes arguing with me that clearly "the stupid American" didn't understand what they wanted. I did. THEY didn't understand that's my last name, not my first name.

As a result of those 4 years, it's kind of a hot spot for me. Sorry.

[Sarah]

I will say one good thing about your remark, though, Jenn. Here in the US, whenever I spell my name what I used to say was "Like Jimmy Hoffa with a Y" but no one knows who Hoffa was anymore so they look at me like, "what??? and now I just spell it and shut up.

[Jenn]

Sarah, The Webbiegrrl Writer wrote: "Jenn aka Texas Long Hair wrote: "Sarah, The Webbiegrrl Writer wrote: "Jenn aka Texas Long Hair wrote: "Id listen Yoffa, splitter is wicked smart!"

been meaning to ask you, jenn, what is up with th..."

Ok, Sarah it is!!!

[C.S. Splitter]

You should see how people butcher "Splitter." Geesh.

Splitter

[Jenn]

C.S. Splitter wrote: "You should see how people butcher "Splitter." Geesh.

Splitter"

Seriously?

[C.S. Splitter]

After the fifth time someone calls you Spitter, you start to wonder if they are messin' with you.

Splitter

[Barbara]

That's why I have a pen-name... my family name is unspellable and unpronouncable even in Italian! ;-)

[Sarah]

Jenn aka Texas Long Hair wrote: "Ok, Sarah it is!!!"

Thanks Jenn, and yes, Splitter, I can see how it would be a problem :-) Barb, that's kind of why I have Webbiegrrl but most cannot spell Webbiegrrl either (haha) then again, I usually get called "Webbie" which I didn't like at first and still dont' love but don't mind as much as "Yoffa" oddly enough.

I guess the only thing I mind more than any of that is "Sara" hahahahahaha (lotsa h's - pick one and put it back!)

[Sarah]

Barbara wrote: "That's why I have a pen-name... my family name is unspellable and unpronouncable even in Italian! ;-)"

Wait a sec, isn't your last name "Tarn" ?? What's so hard about that? Or is that the pen name?

[Barbara]

Sarah, The Webbiegrrl Writer wrote: "Barbara wrote: "That's why I have a pen-name... my family name is unspellable and unpronouncable even in Italian! ;-)"

Wait a sec, isn't your last name "Tarn" ?? What's so hard about that? Or is t..."

It's a pen name. My real family name starts with G. - hence the G. in the pen name! ;-) But Barbara (a.k.a. Barb) is my real first name! :-D

[C.S. Splitter]

Sarah, The Webbiegrrl Writer wrote: "C.S. Splitter wrote: "Hey Sarah,

That's very interesting. I will get with you off line. My books are modern day Action/Adventure and so do not fall into the categories you are looking to ally wi..."

The "secret" to publishing on time on Smashwords is just doing it early. Usually, no one knows it is there until they are told. Of course, the last two times I tried this, someone bought a single copy before the actual release. Oops!

In the US, Amazon really does not take 24 hours. They take about five. Of course, I ALWAYS make a mistake that makes it necessary to submit the book again...like not listing myself as the author.

I just list them earlier in the day and they are there by the next morning. I was a BIT late with The Willing because I wanted it available at midnight and it wasn't available until the morning.

Splitter

[Sarah]

C.S. Splitter wrote: "The "secret" to publishing on time on Smashwords is just doing it early. [...]"

Okay, so you're not actually scheduling the release for a specific time. I've done what you're describing last spring when I released my "test run" book, Coming Home (Dicky's Story). I just went ahead and started "advertising" its release date of March 21, 2011 back in November of 2010 and kept on advertising that and by around March 15th, I had it uploaded and ready to go everywhere. The hard part was making a big to-do on the 21st to make the "launch" actually be an event.

But then, I wasn't yet on Goodreads nor did I know about this group (grin)

-sry

[Vered]

I am seriously laughing at all the misspelled / mispronounced name comments! Vered is also a Hebrew name and anywhere outside of Israel, I'm often called 'Vera', 'Violet' (I despise both names now - sorry if anyone here is called them) or just plain 'Huh?'.

Sarah - interesting idea. I'll message you separately.

[Sarah]

Vered, got your eml thanx :) I should've known you'd been to (or are you from?) Israel just from the name because you're right, I've never heard it outside Israel. No one thinks of real Israeli names when they want a name for someone from "over there"; instead they think Ashkenazi Eastern European American Jewish names that Americans imported with them. Pity. Actual Israeli names (taken from Hebrew, Arabic, Morrocan and others languages from whence Sephardic Hebrew springs) are so interesting and exotic sounding.

Anyway, Goodreads sent me gmail about this comment and I got your Gmail at Phoenician books. Yay. Will eml back after coffee

-sry

[Vered]

Thanks Sarah - I saw an email from you in my inbox, but whatever server my email account is lodged in obviously requires a bit of caffeine as well, because it is so SLOW. So I'll have to get back later to that! My family is Jewish, although I converted to Bahai Faith in my 20's (but according to my Rabbi, I'm still and always will be... Jewish!). Maiden name is Cohen (yeah, how Jewish can I get, right?!) My parents were visiting Israel while expecting me, hence the name which is Hebrew for 'rose'. I did spend 2.5 years in Haifa with my husband, volunteering, before we moved to Kenya. I loved Israel - an amazing place with layers on layers of history and, as a friend once commented to me, the most hotly contested piece of real estate in the world! Anyway, will email back whenever my email server decides to wake up...