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K-Thom · 05-12-2010, 06:52 AM

Jeffrey, maybe you should try a different approach (this is at least what I intend to do later this year).

I never saw eBooks as an incentive or marketing tool to sell paperback or hardcover editions. If you want to treat eBooks as an equal alternative, they need to have a price tag.
They will have to eventually as soon as you stop offering your titles in printed form. Donations don't help much, and as you said authors have to eat, too. So, to put it simple: Sell them. Don't give them away.

Of course, there does have to be a different approach to single novels and series.

For single novels I would offer them at first (and later on, from time to time) at a bargain price.
For series, I'd offer the first issue for free and the following for the regular price. This still would allow readers to give your titles a try, lets you offer some eBooks for free but not your whole inventory.

But, to your main question: In your case obviously the free dowloads seemingly hurt paperback sales. If your sales number before offering free eBooks were higher you need to change your approach.

In Germany SciFi besides Star Trek & Star Wars are at rock bottom for a few years. Don't know if it is that different in the US? So any publisher over here offering SciFi other than those two brands for the mass market is surely taking a deep risk.

I don't know about the initial costs of the printed editions, print runs, costs overall. Maye PoD would be a solution. Only print as much as needed or anticipated. You still find digital printers with very reasonable prices. Offer hardcover prints as a limited edition, signed, numbered, with a dedication to each reader buying directly from you.

In general free downloads still help you to attract new readers. A lot of them will download them and never even read them, a lot won't even say thanks, some will write a feedback, some will buy the printed editions.

I just wouldn't offer everything for free. Even Baen doesn't do that. For a good reason. They still want to sell their titles, after all.

05-12-2010, 06:52 AM	#31
K-Thom The one and only Posts: 3,302 Karma: 535819 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Berlin, Germany Device: yup!	Jeffrey, maybe you should try a different approach (this is at least what I intend to do later this year). I never saw eBooks as an incentive or marketing tool to sell paperback or hardcover editions. If you want to treat eBooks as an equal alternative, they need to have a price tag. They will have to eventually as soon as you stop offering your titles in printed form. Donations don't help much, and as you said authors have to eat, too. So, to put it simple: Sell them. Don't give them away. Of course, there does have to be a different approach to single novels and series. For single novels I would offer them at first (and later on, from time to time) at a bargain price. For series, I'd offer the first issue for free and the following for the regular price. This still would allow readers to give your titles a try, lets you offer some eBooks for free but not your whole inventory. But, to your main question: In your case obviously the free dowloads seemingly hurt paperback sales. If your sales number before offering free eBooks were higher you need to change your approach. In Germany SciFi besides Star Trek & Star Wars are at rock bottom for a few years. Don't know if it is that different in the US? So any publisher over here offering SciFi other than those two brands for the mass market is surely taking a deep risk. I don't know about the initial costs of the printed editions, print runs, costs overall. Maye PoD would be a solution. Only print as much as needed or anticipated. You still find digital printers with very reasonable prices. Offer hardcover prints as a limited edition, signed, numbered, with a dedication to each reader buying directly from you. In general free downloads still help you to attract new readers. A lot of them will download them and never even read them, a lot won't even say thanks, some will write a feedback, some will buy the printed editions. I just wouldn't offer everything for free. Even Baen doesn't do that. For a good reason. They still want to sell their titles, after all. Last edited by K-Thom; 05-12-2010 at 06:57 AM.