Quote:
Originally Posted by Sao
I wonder if those people noticed the non-compete clause. If Amazon chooses to enforce it (and why include it if they won't?) many authors could be in for a nasty surprise.
Unless you have an expensive ebook available for sale, I really don't see the advantage. Prime members can only borrow one free ebook a month. Does any indie author really think Amazon Prime members are going to use that to borrow their .99 or 2.99 ebook?I know I'd be borrowing the most expensive ebooks.
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The advantage is that a lot of authors sell...100 times the amount of books on AMazon as they do on other retailers because 1. Amazon promotes it Kindle like crazy and 2. 17,000 books is VERY FEW books--which means anyone in the program has a better chance of being noticed.
Amazon had very good promo features. "people who bought..." They start programs like the lending feature, which they then market--and people buy what they see.
Forums, such as this one, are less and less welcome to allow authors. Many people don't want to try independent authors. (Many do.)
So it's a "carrot" deal. I don't happen to feel it's a great carrot for the long term, but that's why I'm asking.
The fine print is NOT fine print. Amazon is VERY, VERY clear that if they catch authors selling outside the exclusivity, they not only will withhold payment (for sales and lending) the author will owe them (so if we're on Amazon with other books, I would imagine they could stop payments altogether if they felt an author owed them.)
They also have a clause that says all books from that author maybe banned from sale on Amazon.
Look, Amazon holds a LOT, LOT, LOT of cards. There are currently 17k books in the prime lending. That's a pittance. An author getting listed in that program has a great chance of being noticed by a reader looking. Put a first book in the series and get the reader hooked? They may go on to buy the rest.
So I understand WHY Amazon is doing it. I also understand WHY authors will sign up for it. I also understand why it's not that great a deal in the long run. I want my books to be read. I want them widely available. What if Amazon stops paying 70 percent next year? And I've done nothing but have my books available through them? It could be a little late to attract a Nook, Sony, etc audience.
When you hand over the keys to the kingdom, don't be surprised if you find yourself out of power.
I really appreciate the input y'all are posting here. It's a very difficult position to be in because, as I said, Amazon is certainly hinting that those in the program are going to see some promo from Amazon. If people are using the "lending" feature they are going to see those books. And from what I've read on forums, people are using the lending feature. They are browsing it, they are using it.