My million dollar idea: Autographed ebooks.

HistoryWes · 12-07-2011, 01:50 PM

One of the complaints that I frequently hear about ebooks is that you can't get an autographed one. Of course how many of our paper books are autographed by the author? Anyway, I was thinking about it and came up with this idea. Feel free to use it or modify it.

Print a picture of the cover of the book. This could be playing card size, postcard size, whatever. Then the front or back could be autographed-- the back would be best for personalizing. Then print the download address on the back of the cover picture.

This could be done two ways. You could just print the download url and hope that the person getting the autograph downloads and pays for the book. Or you could charge for the book as you give the autograph, and then include a coupon code along with the url, so that the person with the autograph could get the ebook at no charge.

This is such a simple idea that I'm sure somebody must have thought of it before. The downside is of course, that there is one more expense in printing the picture, but on the plus side, maybe that cover picture would end up being displayed somewhere instead of being hidden away in an ereader.

teh603 · 12-08-2011, 08:47 AM

I think BookieJar.com has some kind of ebook autographing system.

Skip_intro · 12-08-2011, 09:35 AM

Here's an idea to go along with that.

Put the book on a SD card / memory stick.
Perhaps load some extras on the device - samples of other books, an audio message from the author etc. Add as much value as possible.
Attach to your autographed book cover as described above.
If you use a memory stick, cover that in some artwork too.
If you use an SD card, put some artwork in the plastic case, possibly like a miniature of the book itself?
Sell item.

Probably a bit over engineered, but you never know, eh?

nookkatz · 12-08-2011, 11:37 AM

I have an ebook where the author signed the title page and added a nice personal note using a graphics tablet.

Suzanna · 12-08-2011, 12:47 PM

Kindlegraph offers an author autographing system.

JSWolf · 12-08-2011, 01:21 PM

Diane Duane offers her eBooks signed.

Nancy Fulda · 12-12-2011, 10:25 AM

What a fascinating idea.

jaxx6166 · 12-13-2011, 10:47 PM

We had an author do a digital book signing event here on MobileRead not too long ago. It was a nice time.

The author interacted with the forum and did a whole bunch of personalizations

VydorScope · 12-14-2011, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teh603

I think BookieJar.com has some kind of ebook autographing system.

Yep it does. You draw your sig on a tablet and upload it to be used.

JSWolf · 12-14-2011, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VydorScope

Yep it does. You draw your sig on a tablet and upload it to be used.

Better yet, on paper and scan it.

VydorScope · 12-14-2011, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Better yet, on paper and scan it.

If you have a scanner, sure. I have tablet and a pen for it so that makes my way better

John Carroll · 12-15-2011, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Better yet, on paper and scan it.

Actually, the tablet is kinda fun. Plus I can use it in GIMP while making the covers, which gives me more control over some of the effects. Plus, I hate scanners. They never seem to work properly. :P

VydorScope · 12-15-2011, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Carroll

Actually, the tablet is kinda fun. Plus I can use it in GIMP while making the covers, which gives me more control over some of the effects. Plus, I hate scanners. They never seem to work properly. :P

I wish I had a real graphics pen/tablet. What I have is an Android tablet and a pen for it. No where near as sensitive as a Wacom or something.

John Carroll · 12-15-2011, 09:19 PM

I was able to get the Wacom tablet a few months ago off my writing income for a month. It was on sale for $69 at the time though. http://www.amazon.com/Wacom-CTL460-B...001893&sr=8-10

It's really nice. I hope you'll be able to get one soon.

12-07-2011, 01:50 PM	#1
HistoryWes Teacher/Novelist Posts: 632 Karma: 2274466 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Nevada Device: Nook STR, iPad	My million dollar idea: Autographed ebooks. One of the complaints that I frequently hear about ebooks is that you can't get an autographed one. Of course how many of our paper books are autographed by the author? Anyway, I was thinking about it and came up with this idea. Feel free to use it or modify it. Print a picture of the cover of the book. This could be playing card size, postcard size, whatever. Then the front or back could be autographed-- the back would be best for personalizing. Then print the download address on the back of the cover picture. This could be done two ways. You could just print the download url and hope that the person getting the autograph downloads and pays for the book. Or you could charge for the book as you give the autograph, and then include a coupon code along with the url, so that the person with the autograph could get the ebook at no charge. This is such a simple idea that I'm sure somebody must have thought of it before. The downside is of course, that there is one more expense in printing the picture, but on the plus side, maybe that cover picture would end up being displayed somewhere instead of being hidden away in an ereader.

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12-08-2011, 08:47 AM	#2
teh603 Autism Spectrum Disorder Posts: 1,212 Karma: 6244877 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Coastal Texas Device: Android Phone	I think BookieJar.com has some kind of ebook autographing system.

12-08-2011, 09:35 AM	#3
Skip_intro Culture Eccentric Posts: 71 Karma: 10000 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: South of Heaven, East of Eden Device: Sony PRS-T1 Red	Here's an idea to go along with that. Put the book on a SD card / memory stick. Perhaps load some extras on the device - samples of other books, an audio message from the author etc. Add as much value as possible. Attach to your autographed book cover as described above. If you use a memory stick, cover that in some artwork too. If you use an SD card, put some artwork in the plastic case, possibly like a miniature of the book itself? Sell item. Probably a bit over engineered, but you never know, eh?

12-08-2011, 11:37 AM	#4
nookkatz Tuxedo Cats! Posts: 210 Karma: 1033575 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: Nooks and iThings	I have an ebook where the author signed the title page and added a nice personal note using a graphics tablet.

12-08-2011, 12:47 PM	#5
Suzanna Living in the past Posts: 432 Karma: 6011289 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Toronto Device: Kobo Aura HD, Kobo Arc	Kindlegraph offers an author autographing system.

12-08-2011, 01:21 PM	#6
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 80,700 Karma: 150249619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Diane Duane offers her eBooks signed.

12-12-2011, 10:25 AM	#7
Nancy Fulda I write stories. Posts: 700 Karma: 16437432 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Northern Germany Device: kindle	What a fascinating idea.

12-13-2011, 10:47 PM	#8
jaxx6166 Wizard Posts: 1,222 Karma: 769316 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Eternal summer Device: 350, iPad, PW	We had an author do a digital book signing event here on MobileRead not too long ago. It was a nice time. The author interacted with the forum and did a whole bunch of personalizations

12-15-2011, 09:19 PM	#14
John Carroll kookoo Posts: 1,461 Karma: 7772454 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Colorado Springs Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Nook, LG4	I was able to get the Wacom tablet a few months ago off my writing income for a month. It was on sale for $69 at the time though. http://www.amazon.com/Wacom-CTL460-B...001893&sr=8-10 It's really nice. I hope you'll be able to get one soon.