Kindle only self publishing?

[reader22]

What is thing with some self published authors only publishing on kindle? How does that make financial sense? Yeah Amazon is the biggest game in town but it's not the only game. Is it really good business sense to only have one distribution channel? The thing that really annoys me is when the author helpfully tells potential readers asking for another format that they can use kindle for pc to read books on their computers.

[anamardoll]

Originally Posted by reader22

What is thing with some self published authors only publishing on kindle? How does that make financial sense? Yeah Amazon is the biggest game in town but it's not the only game. Is it really good business sense to only have one distribution channel? The thing that really annoys me is when the author helpfully tells potential readers asking for another format that they can use kindle for pc to read books on their computers.

I'm going to be honest: It bugs me too. I only buy indie authors through B&N now because (a) I've been burned on some indie books that converted from mobi-to-epub in a truly disastrous conversion and (b) I feel that Kindle exclusivity hurts the market. Plus, I buy everything from B&N anyway.

Having said that, to answer your question, some self-published authors go Kindle exclusive because Amazon gives them new tools that they withhold from non-exclusive authors: notably, the ability to promote your book for free 5 days a month (which can rocket you up the "best seller" list) and the ability to participate in the lending program (which can bring in further income).

Frankly, as an author, I'm deeply disappointed that these tools are not available to me for book promotion, but I won't sell exclusively through Amazon even if it does end up being an opportunity cost. Too many of my blog readers can't (or won't) buy through Amazon and I feel I owe them the respectful gesture of making my book available on their readers.

YMMV.

[Lazer]

Originally Posted by reader22

What is thing with some self published authors only publishing on kindle? How does that make financial sense? Yeah Amazon is the biggest game in town but it's not the only game. Is it really good business sense to only have one distribution channel? The thing that really annoys me is when the author helpfully tells potential readers asking for another format that they can use kindle for pc to read books on their computers.

Well... my first book is for sale at B&N, Amazon, and Lulu. Lulu sells one once in a blue moon and I'll sell one on B&N for every 25 I sell on Amazon. In fact I sell way more on Amazon.UK than I do on B&N and Lulu combined. My soon to be published second book will be published in this order: Amazon Kindle, CreatSpace/Amazon POD, B&N, and then maybe Apple–but how many people shop for a book at the Apple store when I suspect they are looking at the Kindle store? But the push will be Amazon. The other two have been almost a waste.

[VydorScope]

While Amazon makes up the bulk of my sales I have plenty that do not own kindles (POD is proving only to sell to my Mom LOL) or etc. I release to Amazon and Smash at the same time and Smash takes a month or so to send it to B&N/Apple/etc. for me.

I can understand the thought "well only going to sell on Amazon anyways, so why bother" but with Smashwords doing most of the work... I say why not?

[ApK]

Originally Posted by VydorScope

I can understand the thought "well only going to sell on Amazon anyways, so why bother" but with Smashwords doing most of the work... I say why not?

True. I sell more at Amazon each month than I do through Smashwords and all it's channels combined in a year, but there was no reason NOT to publish at Smashwords. Plus I got a free ISBN!

Now, I have heard people having to go through excessive style-guide hoops to get their book accepted into SW's Premium Catalog, and if that's the case, then I can see them perhaps not bothering.
For every one of the people on MR concerned about DRM, exclusivity, and format issues, there are a 1000 who just click "Buy now" on their Kindle, and you just can't please everyone.

ApK

[Shack70]

Originally Posted by reader22

What is thing with some self published authors only publishing on kindle? How does that make financial sense? Yeah Amazon is the biggest game in town but it's not the only game. Is it really good business sense to only have one distribution channel? The thing that really annoys me is when the author helpfully tells potential readers asking for another format that they can use kindle for pc to read books on their computers.

From what I've read most authors seem to get a good amount of sales from Amazon compared to elsewhere. Maybe it's as simple as reaching enough people with the least amount of work.

I have some ideas for a story I want to write. I've thought about how I would publish it and to me Amazon looks like the easiest way to do it. I'm not sure if it is possible, but if I publish with Amazon I would publish DRM-Free and then offer instructions on my website for conversion to other formats.

[Lazybones]

I admit, I did think about trying Amazon-only with one of my recent books, to try out the KDP-Select program. Ultimately I decided against it, since my Smashwords-affiliate sales still represent almost half of my total sales (with most of those being from B&N). But for those who get a strong majority of their sales at Amazon it can be a rational decision to focus on them alone.

[VydorScope]

Originally Posted by ApK

Now, I have heard people having to go through excessive style-guide hoops to get their book accepted into SW's Premium Catalog, and if that's the case, then I can see them perhaps not bothering.
ApK

I have heard that too, but IME its extremely simple to get in. My latest book got in with out a single edit. So for me... its fill out their info form, upload a word doc, get a free ISBN and move on. 5-7 mins tops.

[teh603]

Originally Posted by ApK

True. I sell more at Amazon each month than I do through Smashwords and all it's channels combined in a year, but there was no reason NOT to publish at Smashwords. Plus I got a free ISBN!

I'm hoping Smashwords and Amazon get everything linked up; supposedly the delay is on Amazon's end.

[quote[Now, I have heard people having to go through excessive style-guide hoops to get their book accepted into SW's Premium Catalog, and if that's the case, then I can see them perhaps not bothering.
[/QUOTE]Funny, all three of my short pieces have gotten into the Premium Catalog with no edits required at all. Then again, considering I write in notepad and only import to OO when I'm compiling the style sheet, it might just be my simplistic files.

[VydorScope]

Originally Posted by teh603

I'm hoping Smashwords and Amazon get everything linked up; supposedly the delay is on Amazon's end

I have picked "opt out" already from Amazon on the Smashwords because it takes so long to go through the process. I usually sell a bunch on Amazon before it makes it through.

[MCoorlim]

I sell 80% of what I write at Amazon. KDP select is tempting, but in the end I'm hoping that eventually the sales I make elsewhere will more than make up for the small boost I'd get from the 5 free days.

[G J Lau]

I put my latest novella, Requiem for Ahab, in the KDP Select program and am now counting the days until it expires. Like others, I sell most of my copies through Amazon, but while having a handful of free days can be helpful, I think in the long run it is better to promote the book through conventional means and make sure that potential readers have access to the book through every possible medium. So as soon as I can, I will be releasing Requiem through Smashwords. Lesson learned.

[teh603]

Originally Posted by VydorScope

I have picked "opt out" already from Amazon on the Smashwords because it takes so long to go through the process. I usually sell a bunch on Amazon before it makes it through.

Irony is, I still haven't signed up for Amazon and have three already accepted into Smashwords. I'm still a little shy of KDP.

[VydorScope]

oh putting an ebook up through Amazon is pretty easy. Go for it!

[J. Strnad]

teh603, you're really missing out if you aren't on Amazon.

The advantages with KDP Select (Amazon's program for books available nowhere else), are:

1. You can make your book available for free for up to 5 days every 90-day period. Some authors find this to be a useful promotional tool, boosting sales for a couple of weeks after the free period. Others are worried that readers will not buy their book and just wait for a free day.

2. Your book is added to the Kindle Owners' Lending Library. People who are members of Amazon's "Prime" program get free two-day shipping on their purchases, some free MP3 downloads, some free video streaming, and they can borrow one book per month from the KOLL. If your book is borrowed, you get about $2 for it (price varies).

My book was in Select for three months. I gave away about 800 books (one day, Christmas) and didn't see any increased sales or reviews. I "loaned" a bit over 100 books. My Amazon sales went down by about 50%. I gave up maybe 10 sales at B&N, at most.

I'm attributing the downturn in sales to all of the free books that have flooded the market since the Select program began. There's anecdotal evidence that giving away free copies isn't bringing in the sales that it did at first, but it's still working for some people.

I don't know to what extent the "loans" cannibalized sales. Some people probably borrowed instead of buying, but some people probably borrowed who otherwise wouldn't have bought. No way of knowing the ratio.

I'm back with B&N now, and they are consistently about 1% of my sales. The other 99% is Amazon.

I'm not changing anything until July, but I'll re-evaluate then. (For one thing, I'm raising my price but I don't know how much, and I hope to have my 2nd book ready by then.)