Goodreads Authors/Readers discussion
Author Resource Round Table
>
Does anyone know how to get Amazon to offer a book for free?
date
newest »
newest »
Amazon has a price-match policy. If you publish the story anywhere else (like, say, Smashwords) and you post there for free, Amazon's price-matching bot will spot it and automatically price that same story on their site for free as well.That said, if you are in KDP select to get the five free days, you have to cancel KDP select, wait until the initial 90 day term is up, then you can publish it elsewhere. You can't publish that story anywhere else if you signed the story up for KDP Select.
Nick wrote: "Amazon has a price-match policy. If you publish the story anywhere else (like, say, Smashwords) and you post there for free, Amazon's price-matching bot will spot it and automatically price that s..."I was also told that after emailing Amazon to ask them. However I have some guides I wrote for UK Veterans - they are free on Smashwords but Amazon is still charging for them and its been over two months. Needless to say I am not advertising the ones on Amazon only Smashwords which is a shame - but I live in hope lol
I don't think Amazon UK bother price-matching against free things any more.Three of my books went free on Amazon US months ago but the ones on the UK site haven't. I have used there 'seen this cheaper anywhere else' option several times for all the other places they are free.
Amazon UK seems to be well behind its US counterpart -can't understand why as they're all part of the same company
Amazon UK actually has far less competition.Barnes and Noble is still something of a rival for them in the US.
ahhh that would explain it - perhaps we should start up a rival company lol
Amazon.com price-matches with Sony, Kobo, Apple and B&N - not Smashwords.See if Amazon.uk price-matches with Kobo/Fnac and or Apple - that is, if you're not KDP Select and have the story on Smashwords and through premiumm distribution to Kobo, Baker&Taylor (new thingy, I think it's tied to a British book chain, so they might want to match that price too) and Apple...
You can promote your book free for 5 days on Amazon. I haven't done this myself yet as I'm saving that opportunity for when my second novel is out. I am also looking into publishing an e-book using one of the conversion programs around, so I can offer it free -I'll see how I get on and post again.
What Helen's describing is the KDP Select program. You sign up for 90 days at a time. During that period, your ebook must NOT be available in any format on any other site (Nook Store, Smashwords, Goodreads, your website . . .). You get to pick 5 days out of the 90 days when your book will be free. You can set things up so that your book is automatically re-enrolled after 90 days, or you can let the term expire unless you re-up.Helen wrote: "You can promote your book free for 5 days on Amazon. I haven't done this myself yet as I'm saving that opportunity for when my second novel is out. I am also looking into publishing an e-book using..."
Karen wrote: "During that period, your ebook must NOT be available in any format on any other site (Nook Store, Smashwords, Goodreads, your website . . .).""your e-book" and "any format" might need some clarification. Someone might think a POD version would also be exclusive. I think you meant "your e-book" in "any other venue".
I have published a short story as a teaser for my book. I want it to remain free but as I'm sure you know after the 5 day promotion I can't. Does anyone here know how to get Amazon to let me offer the book for free on a permanent basis. Is that even possible.
George Cook
Author of The Dead War Series
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006YEKJXO