how many downloads? - Page 2

GoblinWriter · 02-04-2011, 12:39 AM

I don't really pay attention to it on Smashwords. I've given away a lot of review copies so that definitely skews things--makes it look pretty good, like 1 in 4, hehe. Somewhere between 1 and 6 and 1 and 8 is probably closer to reality.

What excites me more are the times where someone has come in and bought both my novels and my short story collection in one swoop. That's definitely a warm fuzzy!

old goat · 02-04-2011, 12:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by randyflycaster

The problem with analyzing statistics from Smashwords is that many readers who download samples from Smashwords then buy the book from Amazon, B&N, etc.

Randy

I don't see the problem with statistics from Smashwords you mention, because sales and downloads from their associated retailers, like B&N, Apple, Sony, etc., are included in the sales reports. The reports certainly aren't up-to-date as some retailers take months to report a sale, but there is some data.

dreams · 02-04-2011, 04:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by randyflycaster

The problem with analyzing statistics from Smashwords is that many readers who download samples from Smashwords then buy the book from Amazon, B&N, etc.

Randy

That's true with my family and friends. Between us we have 4 Sonys, 3 Nook Colors, 1 iPad, and 3 Kindles. I buy mostly from Smashwords, but most of the others check samples at Smashwords and purchase at B&N, Sony, or Amazon. When I've asked why, it's mostly because they want to keep their bookshelves at one place. They only purchase at Smashwords if it isn't available at their main purchase site.

HistoryWes · 02-04-2011, 01:08 PM

For my books, I've had about 1 purchase per 10 samples-- so 10%. I have noticed that the lower price the book is, the more people who sample purchase it. My book Princess of Amathar is at about 20%.

NedC · 02-05-2011, 02:16 PM

Damn. I've just hit the 10,000 mark for a free download (OK, it's taken two years). HarryT gives me 100 readers, DavidRM gives me none at all. I'm going to shoot myself.

magicbus84 · 03-08-2011, 07:04 AM

Does anyone have an opinion (or facts) about the validity of smaswords download stats? I'm new to the site and think it's great, but the first short story I published as a test got 0 stats when I priced it at .99 for 24hrs. Then when I made it free for a day it got 80 downloads. And when I set it back to .99 cents it got no downloads (paid or free samples) for days. Are there bots on smashwords continually polling each book / story marked as free and skewing the stats? I suppose there would probably be bots from amazon, google etc that could be gathering info. But it just seems strange that there were 80 people out there wanting a preview of my work when it's free, but when it costs .99 they don't go near the preview.

Or am I looking a the stats wrong?

Something I've considered is content farms watching the site, gathering meaningful text to put somewhere else on the web? I really don't know enough about it but maybe someone here does?

Thanks

HarryT · 03-08-2011, 07:11 AM

There's just lots of people out there wanting "free stuff". Your sales stats from your 99c pricing are a much better indicator of the value that people place on your work than any free download can be, I regret to say.

spaze · 03-08-2011, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by old goat

My free cookbook ebook is hugely popular because it is free, not because it is "one" of the better cookbook ebooks.

Guess what... you just got another addition to your cookbook download statistics. If you would've charged it even one buck I wouldn't think of even reviewing it. Now I downloaded and will try out your Stew and Dumplings recipe

I am working on my first short story and already obtained ISBN for it and have deal with local Finnish distributor to have my ebook on their store and am also looking at Amazon to have my ebook distributed through.... for free.

Yes, for free. I am not planning on getting money for the book as I see it this way. I write for my own pleasure and at the same time want to please as many people as possible. Self-publishing in an ebook fashion involves only your time and effort. No more.

Ofcourse this is my hobby and so is piano but I don't charge my friends for listening to my piano play

Same thing with ebooks.

magicbus84 · 03-08-2011, 08:07 AM

I totally agree with the notion that people really, really like free stuff (I'm half tempted to post "free dog poop in my yard" on Craigslist > Free Stuff to see if
anyone comes and picks it up :-).

And I totally understand that actual sales are a much better measure.

That said, I'm just wondering if anyone knows how all of these download counts are real people (even if they just read the first paragraph), and if Smashwords has anything in place to guard against bots. And if there are bots, any way to know a percentage.

In the grand scheme, I suppose this curiosity doesn't amount to much. And I suppose the stats on free downloads, even if some are fake, might have placebo affect on the ego, if nothing else!

jbcohen · 03-08-2011, 08:44 AM

I would say at least two paragrpahs. I want to see your writting style, do you use far to many breaks in your writting as a lot of authors do? Do you keep the tale focused as a lot of authors fail to do?

02-05-2011, 02:16 PM	#20
NedC Enthusiast Posts: 26 Karma: 644130 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: UK Device: Kindle	Damn. I've just hit the 10,000 mark for a free download (OK, it's taken two years). HarryT gives me 100 readers, DavidRM gives me none at all. I'm going to shoot myself. Last edited by NedC; 02-05-2011 at 02:20 PM.

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02-04-2011, 12:39 AM	#16
GoblinWriter vizsla wrangler Posts: 73 Karma: 120000 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Seattle Device: Kindle 3G	I don't really pay attention to it on Smashwords. I've given away a lot of review copies so that definitely skews things--makes it look pretty good, like 1 in 4, hehe. Somewhere between 1 and 6 and 1 and 8 is probably closer to reality. What excites me more are the times where someone has come in and bought both my novels and my short story collection in one swoop. That's definitely a warm fuzzy!

02-04-2011, 01:08 PM	#19
HistoryWes Teacher/Novelist Posts: 632 Karma: 2274466 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Nevada Device: Nook STR, iPad	For my books, I've had about 1 purchase per 10 samples-- so 10%. I have noticed that the lower price the book is, the more people who sample purchase it. My book Princess of Amathar is at about 20%.

03-08-2011, 07:04 AM	#21
magicbus84 Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: iPad	Does anyone have an opinion (or facts) about the validity of smaswords download stats? I'm new to the site and think it's great, but the first short story I published as a test got 0 stats when I priced it at .99 for 24hrs. Then when I made it free for a day it got 80 downloads. And when I set it back to .99 cents it got no downloads (paid or free samples) for days. Are there bots on smashwords continually polling each book / story marked as free and skewing the stats? I suppose there would probably be bots from amazon, google etc that could be gathering info. But it just seems strange that there were 80 people out there wanting a preview of my work when it's free, but when it costs .99 they don't go near the preview. Or am I looking a the stats wrong? Something I've considered is content farms watching the site, gathering meaningful text to put somewhere else on the web? I really don't know enough about it but maybe someone here does? Thanks

03-08-2011, 07:11 AM	#22
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,555 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	There's just lots of people out there wanting "free stuff". Your sales stats from your 99c pricing are a much better indicator of the value that people place on your work than any free download can be, I regret to say.

03-08-2011, 08:07 AM	#24
magicbus84 Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: iPad	I totally agree with the notion that people really, really like free stuff (I'm half tempted to post "free dog poop in my yard" on Craigslist > Free Stuff to see if anyone comes and picks it up :-). And I totally understand that actual sales are a much better measure. That said, I'm just wondering if anyone knows how all of these download counts are real people (even if they just read the first paragraph), and if Smashwords has anything in place to guard against bots. And if there are bots, any way to know a percentage. In the grand scheme, I suppose this curiosity doesn't amount to much. And I suppose the stats on free downloads, even if some are fake, might have placebo affect on the ego, if nothing else!

03-08-2011, 08:44 AM	#25
jbcohen Wizard Posts: 3,032 Karma: 11196738 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Where am I? Device: Kindle Paperwhite Signature edition and a Samsung S24 Ultra	I would say at least two paragrpahs. I want to see your writting style, do you use far to many breaks in your writting as a lot of authors do? Do you keep the tale focused as a lot of authors fail to do?

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