It is amazing to me, how divisive eReaders have become - I just don't see the controversy. If publishers are dissatisfied with their margins for books sold in the eReader market, the simplest solution is to find a way to sell higher volumes. Profits for eReader content increase far faster per unit than equivalent print units. It costs nothing to produce units #2 through #1,000,000 electronically. Even at a theoretical dollar per unit cost of print media, that's $1,000,000 of lost profit in manufacturing and shipping.
Don't be underhanded in how you sell your products or your consumers have the power to react in a manner detrimental to your business. Deal with the modern realities of social media and electronic distribution or lose your bottom line. It really is that simple.
Don't be underhanded in how you sell your products or your consumers have the power to react in a manner detrimental to your business. Deal with the modern realities of social media and electronic distribution or lose your bottom line. It really is that simple.
"I speak from pained experience as an author when I say that we have absolutely no say on when our books are released, in what format and at what price."
Where I disagree with the author's comments from his blog entry posted above, is that he does have a choice, he just lacks the strength to enforce it. Employ pressure on your publisher to treat customers with the respect they deserve. Disseminate your work on all platforms at once, let the reader decide how they want to consume it; you work has value, people will pay for it, we readers want to read. We will pay dealers for the crack we desire. It is your work, you are in control, publishers don't exist without YOU.
Last night, I was amazed at the new trends I was seeing. No less than three authors were now self publishing through their own websites, selling books for $9.95 in pdf format directly from author to consumer. That is liberating. You are being paid directly, earning the vast majority of the cover price as income and your profits will scale with the quality and consistency of your work. Now that is empowerment. Publishers, take note.
Direct purchase from authors:
- The Simple Guide to a Minimalist Life
- Zen To Done
- The Essential Motivation Handbook
- Zen Habits Handbook for Life
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