Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeB1972
I'd have thought that the main problem with KU is that it's a fixed payout pot arbitrarily set by Amazon, if KU becomes the main way indie titles are read then when Amazon use their standard method of increasing profit (squeezing suppliers) authors are going to have an uphill battle trying to convince people to actually pay for stuff instead of reading for free.
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Yes, this is a problem. I do make less on a book in KU (about 2 dollars per read) versus a sale, which can range from 2 to 3.75 or so. The squeeze is already there unless you only put books in that are 2.99 or less (which is why you won't see entire series there that often).
I too am aware (both as an author and reader) that many books in KU will go free or 99 cents. I just wishlist them and wait. (Note: For anyone waiting for the two books I have in KU to go free--Amazon allows free or countdown. I chose countdown. The short story that is in there may go free, but I may not bother to discount it at all. Short stories just aren't that popular and the Year of the Mountain Lion is not tied to any of my other works. It isn't even in a similar style to my other works!) The author can do more more than one free day, but only one countdown.
These are things I'm learning with the two books I put in KU. I don't find KU all that useful to me as an author as it has not increased visibility and the countdown, while still available and visible, either isn't that enticing or people don't notice it.
It is also of note that advertisers know that KU books will be free or countdown. I have been turned down for two ads during my countdowns--because "free" does better for advertisers than countdown--ie they move more books, which helps them then sell more ads to writers.
I think even the book bargain advertiser sites are having a hard time keeping readers subscribed--they need lots of carrots and free is more enticing than a lowered price.