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Originally Posted by rhadin
Isn't this the most worrisome thing about the Amazon program? How can it be good for authors long-term if Amazon manages to turn readers away from buying?
What I find interesting is that even with book purchasing declining, Amazon sees more "profit" for it in pushing Prime membership than in encouraging book purchases. Although this may bode well for Amazon's business plan, how long will it take for the majority of authors to recognize that Amazon's business plan is not proauthor and take steps to protect themselves?
If down the road the $1.35 looks like the golden egg to authors, then Amazon has decidedly won. First, it will have made authors dependent on it and its largesse (after all, there is nothing that requires Amazon to maintain the size of the pot that results in $1.35 payouts). Second, it will have conditioned authors to be satisfied with its largesse and not turn to other possible avenues.
I also find it interesting that authors who complain about KU still push readers to buy from Amazon. If I were such an author, I think I would be pushing purchases elsewhere.
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I don't think it is good long term--or short term for that matter. The only short term benefit (possible) is that 1. you do get paid and 2. discoverability. It's difficult to get noticed amongst 4 million books. It's somewhat easier in a KU program where there are under a million. But that assumes you are able to target the type of reader who wants to read your genre and that you can somehow maximize revenue and retain that reader. Retention of a reader is very important and involves writing more good books, being memorable, being at a price the reader can afford, etc.
I hear what you are saying but most authors appear to be taking the short road. And protecting oneself is very difficult. We can do things like sell from our own blog, help market books elsewhere and BE elsewhere. But I can tell you it takes a long time to get an audience to notice you on other retailers. Kobo has some helpful programs (First is free in series and they also pull out the best sellers and have lists, etc) but B&N does almost nothing. They had a review program for a while, but didn't keep up with it. Believe me. I query them once a quarter asking about opportunities to participate in their blog, on their forums (which they just got rid of) etc. They have come back for 2 years with, "we are working on programs." Smashwords has sales and other programs. All Romance has ad ops. I just wrote SCRIBD to see if they have an associates program and will be helping sponsor a 3 month giveaway to their service.
But it's a long road. And it may not work. We see lots of companies become quite dominant in their sector. It's fairly typical. That one of the reasons that I mention that Amazon is actually not the friend to the reader. Because when they gain too much control, they aren't likely to be nice about it. That doesn't mean that I don't take advantage of good prices or good service. But I do shop around and even if it's easier for me to buy at Amazon, I am happy to spend my money at other places!!!