OLD POST ALERT! This is an older post and although you might find some useful tips, any technical or publishing information is likely to be out of date. Please click on Start Here on the menu bar above to find links to my most useful articles, videos and podcast. Thanks and happy writing! – Joanna Penn
There's a lot of talk about the 99 cent ebook at the moment, so I thought I would just throw in my own 99 cents worth. Pentecost is currently 99 cents on the US Kindle store, although it started out at $2.99. It's rank as I write this is shown above.
Here are the reasons I am leaving it at 99 cents.These are all my own reasons and may not be applicable to you, so I am not saying everyone should do this, merely why I am.
- 99 cents is an impulse buy for anyone. My husband and I are Kindle converts and spend a lot of time reading. He isn't an author and doesn't keep up with the industry like I do so watching his behavior is fascinating. He buys a lot of 99 cent ebooks after downloading samples. He has tried a whole stack of indie authors based on 99 cent books and has told other people about them. It is a low risk buy and if someone enjoys the sample, they don't even need to think about clicking when the price is under $1. I want those readers to try me as well.
- Number of books sold is more important than income for me right now. I have a well paid day job so I am not writing for income just yet. I hope to in the future but right now, I want readers and fans. I want people signing up for Prophecy (which they do every day) and I want to build a large number of people who want to read more of my books. I am writing a series so I want to build fans now who I can sell to in the future. Hocking and others have made the first book in the series cheap (or some have made it free) and then upped the price on the subsequent books to $2.99. I may well follow suit with others in the series but for now, 99 cents is a great price for the first one.
- The example of John Locke. Locke is rocking the Amazon charts with his 99 cent ebooks and this article is what convinced me to follow his example. He writes good thrillers with the brilliant Donovan Creed character. For 99 cents they are great value and you just buy all of them if you like what he writes. 6 books for the price of half a mainstream published book – fantastic! I've spent an afternoon in the hammock with Donovan Creed and it was very enjoyable! The quote below is from the interview with him.
- JA Konrath and the impact of staying in the Amazon bestseller rank. Konrath writes the best blog for ebook authors, definitely subscribe and be inspired! He changes prices all the time and experiments with things but this got my attention “when I lowered the price of The List from $2.99 to 99 cents, I started selling 20x as many copies” (from the same Locke article). When I first launched Pentecost, I made the Amazon rankings in launch week based on my platform and my marketing activities but then I dropped out of the charts. Of course, I freaked out because I cannot sustain the effort it takes to maintain those rankings on my own. So after reading a lot of Konrath, I dropped my price to 99 cents and I haven't left the charts since. I have been in Religious Fiction for 10 weeks now and have started ranking in Action/Adventure (which I believe in my true home!) I have definitely seen the evidence that lowering the price affected my ranking. Perhaps I should change the price back to $2.99 and see if it has an impact but for all the other reasons listed, I'm leaving it as is for now.
- Fast-paced action-adventure thrillers won't change your life. Pentecost will entertain you for a few hours but it won't give you actionable tips for your business and won't inspire you to give everything to charity or work for world peace. It is fiction and is there to take you out of your world for a time. I pay far more money for non-fiction books that will help me in a tangible manner than I will for fiction which I read once and then (often) forget. It's not that I don't value fiction writing, but the price you pay for entertainment has to be representative vs the price you pay for actionable content. I sell my e-courses for $39.99 and up to $297, and my workshops are also more expensive. I am definitely happy charging more when I believe you get more benefit, but with a thriller I am competing with free TV or a movie so want to price it attractively.
What do you think about the 99 cent ebook? What price do you sell for? Do you buy 99 cent ebooks?
Joseph Gregory says
Two years ago when I realized that an e-book was the format for me to start with, I knew I was going to sell it for a dollar. I think it’s great really. For me it’s about our freedoms. Our freedom of speech. Our freedom to write and print whatever we so choose. Moreover , is our right to say, “I don’t care if you (editors, publishers) think my book is worthy or not, I am going to publish it.
Dee for D.I. Telbat says
Thank you, Joanna, for bringing up this pricing issue. You and the comments have touched on some points that we’ve not considered. This is such an important thing to decide as we are also about to publish our own religious fiction adventure eBook. With so much competition out there, and being new, it seems that .99 is probably the only way for us to go. Thanks for helping us with this decision.
We enjoy your blog. Good luck with your books!
Annabel Candy, Get In the Hot Spot says
So interested to read this and it all makes sense to me. I ended up buying the print version even though I have an iPad print now represents real quality and a treat for me plus I know I don’t have to fight with my family for the iPad so I can read your book!
I’m definitely going to try some of the 99c books you mention here and follow your advice if I ever publish fiction:)
Janet Hartman says
I hesitated when Pentecost was $2.99, but snapped it up at .99. I haven’t finished reading it yet, but I’m enjoying it so far. My book is unfinished, but having followed Konrath’s blog for over a year I would have no problem with .99 pricing. It’s the free books I’ve downloaded to my Kindle that often disappoint so I rarely download those any more.
Nathan Wrann says
I have two thoughts on this topic:
1) I plan on publishing short stories, short story collections, novellas, novels and novel+screenplay collections. If I price novels at .99 then what do I price a short story at?
2) if I sold a book to a publisher and they threw it in the dollar bin at Walmart with the harlequin crap i’d be pissed. Why would I treat my own books like that. I’m not a discount publisher.
I suggest that anyone considering this read Dean Wesley Smith’s recent blog series at http://www.Deanwesleysmith.com.
Joanna Penn says
I’m going to keep posting sporadic figures here as it helps track whether pricing makes a difference. I have kept the 99c price point and sales have continued since Feb at the same rate – between 250-300 per week.
Rankings today:
Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #1,059 Paid in Kindle Store
#10 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Fiction > Religious Fiction
#12 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Religious & Inspirational
#39 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Fiction > Action & Adventure
and in Amazon.co.uk store
Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #890 Paid in Kindle Store
#2 in Books > Fiction > Religious & Inspirational > Christian
#3 in Kindle Store > Books > Fiction > Religious Fiction
#3 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Spiritual Literature & Fiction
Joanna Penn says
Another update as I have just done my sales figures.
As at 17 July 2011, I have sold 7058 copies of Pentecost.
6881 of those are Kindle ebooks – that’s 98%.
I am seriously considering not doing a print book next time – or at least leaving that until a lot later. It just doesn’t make sense for the outlay.
In rankings, Pentecost on Amazon.com:
Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #1,036 Paid in Kindle Store
#8 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Religious & Inspirational
#8 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Fiction > Religious Fiction
#29 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Fiction > Action & Adventure
On Amazon.co.uk:
Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #550 Paid in Kindle Store
#2 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Spiritual Literature & Fiction
#3 in Kindle Store > Books > Fiction > Religious Fiction
#7 in Books > Fiction > Religious & Inspirational
CrystalCip says
Here are my thoughts *as a reader* – I spend, on average, $75-150 a month on books. Yes, books. I love them, can’t get enough and I have an ereader which means other than books for my classroom or reference, I buy ebooks. I specifically look for inexpensive books from authors I am unfamiliar with, free, .99, 2.99 etc. I will rarely pay more than that from someone that I haven’t read. BUT if I read it and like it I will usually (within 24 hrs of finishing the cheap book) buy the entire series. I have nearly 600 books reviewed on goodreads and read 3-6 books a week.
Yes, I spend a lot of money on books BUT I also want value for my money. I want to get as many books out of that $20-40 a week I spend because I read so damn much.
Now, being a wannabe author, I really appreciate the price point break down on ebook sales through Amazon as this is something that appeals to me as an author. I see it from both sides (though I don’t have anything published yet except for free on Scribd). I’ll be reading the other blog posts with much enthusiasm.
Thanks!
Adrienne Kleinschmidt says
First of all ..good for you! Reading is indeed wonderful. A whole new world at our fingertips.
Your comment is exactly why I sell my ebooks for as little as I can. I don’t know if
you know this..but they pretty much tell the author what the least amount is they can charge for their ebooks, depending, of course, on the amount of pages.We can charge more as the authors, but not less. My books are never over 2.00..and when they let me.. I charge 1.00. I have 26 books. : 0 Childrens and adult books.. (Not that kind) : )
I always charge the very least I can for my ebooks and the printed copies.Sadly..the printed copies are kind of expensive from *createspace*. As the author we can print copies for a bit cheaper. I offer my books on my website now. http://saveourbutterflies.com/
As a teacher, I would love you to look at my website. It was originated for my book, Bella The Butterfly. While researching for this book..like I always do.. I discovered a very disturbing fact! The Monarch Butterflies are nearly extinct!Yep, by, 90%!!!
Why? Upon further research …I found this. Monsanto and the government made a deal with the farmers to produce a poison to kill the Milkweed Plants so there would be more room for the production of corn.. Why? For more Ethanol for gas products!!
Why? Well, we all know that answer..money.
I think.. if we the people, (sound familiar?), were given the choice or vote, between more gas or the survival of The Monarch Butterflies, uh…we would choose…BUTTERFLY!!! Yet, we did not get the vote or choice..so wrong!
I would like my children grand children and great, great, great grandchildren to know the beauty of these magical beings! Wouldn’t you? I know your answer! : ) YES!
I decided right then and there to be a part of this endeavor and partnered with Live Monarch.com to help save the Butterflies.. I am offering free Milkweed Seeds from them with the sale of my book. Please be a part of one of the most important endeavors of survival in our generation! Help us save our Butterflies! I was hoping you might make it a class…no school project..for the Spring of 2015.. I will help in any I can..
Anything you need… let me know. adrnklnsch@aim.com
Good Luck to us all, in this very important project.
p.s. Milkweed Plants come in a variety fo neon pink, yellow and orange flowers.. Lovely.. And…. guess what ..they come up every year.. Then your neighbors will have them too.
Thanks for your time, and good luck!
Adrienne : )
http://saveourbutterflies.com/
Karin says
I think .99c is a good price for self-published e-books because readers can be skeptical about independent offerings.
I’ve seen some comment about whether the fans of .99c authors will “convert” to a more expensive print copy if that author is picked up by a “real” publisher, but I don’t think that is an issue. Even if they don’t, if an author has sold 50,000 ebooks at .99c on a 35% royalty rate they’re still probably making the same (or more) as they would with an advance. The idea is to attract an audience and if impulse buys help do that, then well and good.
A. R. Silverberry says
Joanna,
Nice post! I just launched the kindle version of my novel, Wyndano’s Cloak, and priced it at .99 for all the reasons you state above. I’ll have to see if I’ll keep it there, but the most important thing right now is for people to find out about it. I see the .99 book as practically a give away, or risk free to readers. I also think greater sales in the beginning is important for authors who don’t have name recognition to help them sell books. But with the hundredth-monkey syndrome (you know, the hundredth monkey that shows a new behavior on one island, triggers that new behavior on ANOTHER island), I’m hoping that currents start percolating in cyberspace, and people start to take notice!
Best,
Peter,
Writing as A. R. Silverberry
Award-Winning Author of Wyndano’s Cloak
Libby says
I fear the 99 cent book. All of your arguments make sense, but I feel like if an author doesn’t value their work, why should I? I may be alone on that one. I have purchased one or two, but usually because I found a review of the book or the author before I saw the price.
Katie Ganshert says
Loved reading your thoughts and wisdom here, Joanna! I can’t e-publish anything at the moment, because of a contract, but I’m definitely thinking down the road, I’d like to give this a try. I always wonder about why some authors choose .99 when it seems acceptable to price at 2.99.
Austin Briggs says
I understand Joanna’s reasons, and I respect them. I also understand John Locke’s decision to stick with 0.99, at least for a while. It has worked beautifully for both of them.
I’m now selling at 0.99 as part of my first 2-months launch plan. I’m going to increase my price to 2.99 or 3.99 very soon.
Why?
I’m taking a long-term view that good books will be written by folks who can write full time, and have enough money to hire the best editors.
I can do neither at 0.99 per book. In the end, I’m betraying my own readers by not offering them the best I can. It’s amazing how demanding the target audience is – they want more books right now. But I work a 14-hour day job just to support my family… I write, exhausted, after midnight. Permanent burnout is name of the game at 0.99, at least for me.
Am I shooting myself in the foot? 🙂 Maybe… time will tell.
My book’s out there, and it’s starting to pick up some sales and reviews. I also seem to have sensed my target market. I feel confident, at least now, to hold my ground 🙂
Cobb says
I agree with the guy on here who in 2 year’s time all authors will be giving their work away for FREE just to compete with each other. This is true. I don’t see it happening any other way.
The Amanda Hocking and John Locke days are over. They got there 1st with the 99 cents when it wass new. Now it has almost become the standard for ebooks. Another guy on here said authors will drop their prices to 75 cents or even 25 just to see a couple more sales.
When writers who sell at 99 cents post like this on their blogs they seem to get so caught up in the number of sales! 105 copies sold in 5 months has earned that writer a grand total of $50 give or take. The author would make SoOO much more $ by working at McDonald’s. Okay?
As for CrystalCLIP, no point in telling how much $ you spend on books here since self published writers don’t see any of that alleged $75-$100 you’re bragging about. You don’t want to spend $2 on an untested author? Why not? You spend $10 on the untested author at the bookstore.
You say most of your ebooks are free, .99 cents or $2? But you spend $75-$100 at the bookstore? Slap in the face to ANY self published author if this is true. I say “if” because I don’t believe you.
You sound like a moocher to me, way too cheap too spend that kind of $ in a bookstore, talking about you want ‘value’ for your money on Kindle.
*$75 to $100 at the bookstore
*$200-$300 on e-reading device
*$5-$6 on Starbucks coffee to drink while reading ebook.
*Free-99cents ebook. And that damn Ebook better be worth my 99 cents! I want these writers to sweat for their 35 cent royalties or they better!
Dan Dejonge says
Your are right on target. I don’t know where this is going. How did most of the information on the web become free. Ask the Newspapers what happen? Would a author be crazy enough to
to publish “War and Peace” size novel for .99 cents. Yep, but not me.
When people say Value for .99 cents. what they are saying is how much self absorption can I get for .99 cents. Fact is I’m not going to give them much.
It cost me $1.48 for coffee at the local cafe which is an ok value but only if you sit at the round table with the boys, talking about the blizzard of 38 or how many coons they trap with peanut butter with a 5 gallon bucket. O by the way, you have to tip the waitress .25 cents.