There has been a lot of banter (again) about the concept of "free" kindle offerings. So, the first thing that I need to say up front is that I owe a partial debt of my success to the KDP program. I was fortunate to dip my toe in a couple of years ago (November of 2011 to be exact) when it was just getting started. I'd heard some folks coming away with mixed reviews of their success. Since I had three books out in my ZOMBLOG series, I decided to give that one a go and put the first book in the series out there.
To be honest, I'd heard some stories of folks giving away 600-700 in a weekend. So, with no announcement or fanfare, I put ZOMBLOG up for a Saturday/Sunday run after enrolling it in the KDP program. My hope was for around 500. I didn't say anything and we did not bang on the Facebook pages with a bunch of announcements...until the numbers started coming in.
It did 10,000. (Yep that is with four zeros.)
To say that I was blown away by the numbers that weekend would be putting it mildly. From there, the second and third books in the series started to pick up steam...in SALES. A few weeks later, we did the same with the first of the DEAD books, Dead: The Ugly Beginning. I was more than a little disappointed in the just over 5,000 since I have always believed that the DEAD series is where I wanted to hang my hat. It is funny how my original ZOMBLOG goal of 500 was obliterated, yet, because I wanted my DEAD series to be in the forefront, is was unhappy with its performance that weekend.
I think that a lot of people believed the KDP program would be the "Golden Ticket" for their writing ambitions. For some, it was/is a very useful tool. But here is where it gets down to brass tacks. I don't want anybody to take offense to this next part, but I think it must be said. If you have a good product--well written, clean editing (it doesn't even have to be perfect, but I think we can all agree there are some offerings out there that bring down the Indie name), and MORE important...other books available or on the way...then you can build a base of readers.
I have heard people say all sorts of things about how "they won't GIVE their product away for free" or some variation on that theme. That is fine. Don't. But EVERY successful business out there does it. It is a form of advertising. It gets your name in front of people. I love reading a review that says something about how they found this book for free and now they are hooked on the series...and then I see a review on other books in that series by the same person. Mission accomplished.
THAT was the purpose of the KDP program. Am I claiming that my stuff is better than anybody else? Nope. There are people who HATE my stuff. That is also part of the business (and a topic for another time perhaps). But you can build a following. The KDP program is very much a part of the reason that I now write full time for a living. The other part, or at least so I like to believe, is because my stuff is good.
I have taken most of my titles out of that program as my audience has built. I don't need my book to be borrowed and I am now looking to see my titles available through other vendors like Kobo and such. But here is a funny stroke of irony...back when a lot of people were trying to get book one of their various series available for free on Amazon permanently, I jumped on that bandwagon...but too late. However, we had made the first book of the DEAD series free on Smashwords...and forgot about it.
Recently, I decided that my first books in my two series, Dead: The Ugly Beginning and Zomblog should be 99 cents permanently. And every so often I would put them out as bargain books on e Reader News Today (a great tool for sales BTW). The first DEAD book took off and 300 went out before mid-month...and then it stopped. I didn't know why...until I looked at my Amazon sales page in a full view that showed I had given away over 1,000 to price matching. It is now free...permanently. I watched the numbers and I am seeing about 1 in 7 on the sales ratio for the subsequent book, almost the same as when I had it at 99 cents! I was going to change it back on Smashwords and try to get Amazon to put it back at 99 cents...but for now, it seems to be working fine...and FREE!!!
I think that a lot of people believed the KDP program would be the "Golden Ticket" for their writing ambitions. For some, it was/is a very useful tool. But here is where it gets down to brass tacks. I don't want anybody to take offense to this next part, but I think it must be said. If you have a good product--well written, clean editing (it doesn't even have to be perfect, but I think we can all agree there are some offerings out there that bring down the Indie name), and MORE important...other books available or on the way...then you can build a base of readers.
I have heard people say all sorts of things about how "they won't GIVE their product away for free" or some variation on that theme. That is fine. Don't. But EVERY successful business out there does it. It is a form of advertising. It gets your name in front of people. I love reading a review that says something about how they found this book for free and now they are hooked on the series...and then I see a review on other books in that series by the same person. Mission accomplished.
THAT was the purpose of the KDP program. Am I claiming that my stuff is better than anybody else? Nope. There are people who HATE my stuff. That is also part of the business (and a topic for another time perhaps). But you can build a following. The KDP program is very much a part of the reason that I now write full time for a living. The other part, or at least so I like to believe, is because my stuff is good.
I have taken most of my titles out of that program as my audience has built. I don't need my book to be borrowed and I am now looking to see my titles available through other vendors like Kobo and such. But here is a funny stroke of irony...back when a lot of people were trying to get book one of their various series available for free on Amazon permanently, I jumped on that bandwagon...but too late. However, we had made the first book of the DEAD series free on Smashwords...and forgot about it.
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| Book 2 of the DEAD series |
I totally agree with you, Todd. Putting that first book out there for free as sort of a sample is an excellent way to get your product out there for readers to discover. It's especially effective when you have more books in the series already published.
ReplyDeleteGranted, I have a selfish interest in free books being available. I read a lot and those freebies help keep me somewhat financially solvent. That said, it's also true that when I come across a free book that I really enjoyed, I go back to Amazon and look to see if there are more books by that author, especially ones that are in the same series.
In fact, I believe I came across your books through a freebie of Zomblog. I've read all of that series (Well, except the short one about Snoe. I don't have a lot of disposable money so I like to go with bigger books when possible.) and moved on to your Dead series from there.
Incidentally, I also agree that the Dead series is the better of the two, although I do like the Zomblog one as well. Keep up the good work! Zombie books are kind of my mind candy but I really love when I come across a book that's actually well written.
I think I was fortunate to get into the KDP program when I did, because there is a bit of a glut now. Lots of those free titles go unread. I don't ever expect to become Stephen King rich, but I have carved out my little niche and I believe that those freebies are better than any magazine ad you can purchase. And I have an offer for you Debra, since you have been such an avid reader of mine, I always look for a few beta readers when the project is done. Betas read through and point out any glaring errors I may have missed. How would you like to Beta Dead: Reborn in a couple of weeks (before it comes out in September?) I am a believer that my readers are often more astute than I am and usually know my characters better. It can be embarrassing when you kill somebody off and they re-spawn in a scene a few pages later.
DeleteA female author you and I both know (I think) is doing an experiment that shows the Select program is still pretty powerful. She wrote and released a 5k word short story using a male pseudonym, did a free KDP run with 0 publicity, and it is selling fairly well. She isn't doing ANYTHING to promote it aside from that original KDP run, and it is selling.
ReplyDeleteMore proof in the pudding...but will (s)he be doing a follow up and building an audience around that name?
DeleteI was introduced to you via a Freebie so I love them all!
ReplyDeleteAnd you are one of my walking talking billboards...I rely on your word of mouth as much as anything else. I was/am lucky you found my stuff
DeleteA co-worker introduced me to your books and I think I paid for them all, lol. That's not a problem though, I don't mind paying for a good book. Zomblog was one of my favorites but I am behind! I haven't had a chance to get started on Snoe's War yet.
ReplyDeleteI'm about to do some experimenting with KDP Select myself here soon. I released my first book back at the beginning of June and I'm going to leave it perma-free. The next book in the series I'm looking to release in early October and see how well KDP Select will work for me. I'll try not to hold my breath.
Make sure to let me know titles...email me with the links and let's do an interview that can go up when the second book hits.
DeleteAnd thanks for the compliments on my stuff. I am actually looking forward to wrapping the Zomblog series once and for all this October. But I JUST finished Dead: Reborn and am in the clean up phase now...getting it ready for September 30th.
I read every free Zombie book I run across, well. . . I at least START to read every free zombie book. I've run across some great ones (Zomblog comes to mind) and some dreck. But as a reader, I KNOW letting your books go for free occasionally really does pay off, and all the Amazon charges on my debit card bear that fact out. I would possibly have found and started buying your series even if I hadn't gotten hooked on a free download of Zomblog, but then again, I might have not. And I am a huge fan of all your titles and May/December Publishing in general. I am so glad to see that the rest of the Zomblog books are coming soon. I'll be cheerfully BUYING. Best wishes and Godspeed on writing!
ReplyDeleteRenee
Thanks Renee. And I am fortunate to have you as a reader. I do believe that if you have a solid piece of work, you can bring readers back. To me, THAT is what the KDP program was designed for. It is a marketing tool, not a magic wand. I am thankful to be on your "good" list!
Delete:-)
When I got my 1st e-reader in December of last year I came across Zomblog for free. I read it and fell in love. It was the 2nd zombie book I'd ever read (1st I liked) and it got me hooked on zombies. :) I ended up buying all the Zomblog books, all the DEAD books, and I've also read the Ghoul Ava books.
ReplyDeleteOut of all the zombie books I've read since Zomblog...your DEAD series is still my favorite and I recommend them to everyone. I even got my boyfriend and my parents to buy and read them.
If it hadn't been for that free novel I would never have realized my love for the walking dead.
Happy to help! And thanks for jumping in with both feet. I am partial to my DEAD series, and look forward to each release with the same bundle of nerves.
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