The New World of Publishing: Pricing 2013

crich70 · 05-23-2013, 10:32 AM

I found the link to this article through VydorScope's posting about Draft 2 Digital and thought it had some interesting suggestions on what price to put on an ebook of a given length.
Book Prices

teh603 · 05-23-2013, 11:03 AM

He's really serious?

I guess he's basing it on the idea that you don't feel like you're getting something quality unless you pay an arm and a leg for it. Having some actual sales-at-price numbers would help for comparison.

VydorScope · 05-23-2013, 11:13 AM

So my first book is perma free, my others are 2.99... I have been considering testing raising them to 3.99 and see what happens. I have also thought of pushing up my paper backs to 9.99 since no one buys them and it makes the ebook books look like a better deal.

Not sure though...

But pricing my ebooks at 9.99 seems like suicide. I looked through all the "Also bought" on my books and people seem to be buying books sub $5, and more so sub $4.

Dr. Drib · 05-23-2013, 11:32 AM

I think his pricing paradigm is overly structured and rigid.

Hi, ho: But what do I know? I'm only someone who buys ebooks.

But, seriously [insert 'bodda-bing' here]: If I wanted an ebook badly enough, I'd pay a lot of money for it. I think the most I paid for an ebook was about $20 - and well worth it, because I love Jose Saramago. (Whereas, I've paid hundreds of dollars for First Edition hardbacks because I'm a book collector.)

Don

BeccaPrice · 05-23-2013, 11:42 AM

His prices seem high for current expectations. 5 short stories for $4.99 seems high. When I was discussing my collection of fairy stories, I was told probably even $2.99 for 4 or 5 of them was too high. I suppose I can start out at $4.99 and lower the price if that's too high. (ApK, you've read the stories, what do you think they're worth?)

bradhaak · 05-23-2013, 09:00 PM

I think the prices look reasonable for books from publishers. They have higher overhead, production costs, etc.

For self-published books, they are not realistic.

kennyc · 05-24-2013, 07:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeccaPrice

His prices seem high for current expectations. 5 short stories for $4.99 seems high. When I was discussing my collection of fairy stories, I was told probably even $2.99 for 4 or 5 of them was too high. I suppose I can start out at $4.99 and lower the price if that's too high. (ApK, you've read the stories, what do you think they're worth?)

I agree his story pricing seems high, others seem fine for indie full-length books. But some flexibility is always good too...whatever the market will bear, eh?

James_Wilde · 05-24-2013, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

(Whereas, I've paid hundreds of dollars for First Edition hardbacks because I'm a book collector.)

You can have a first edition of any of my ebooks for hundreds of dollars, Doc!

Dr. Drib · 05-24-2013, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James_Wilde

You can have a first edition of any of my ebooks for hundreds of dollars, Doc!

If they do go up in price, I'm going to feel like a fool!

Don

bradhaak · 05-24-2013, 04:32 PM

I think his suggestions make a lot of sense for publishers. They have higher overhead and production costs.

But for self publishing, they are much too high.

kennyc · 05-24-2013, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bradhaak

I think his suggestions make a lot of sense for publishers. They have higher overhead and production costs.

But for self publishing, they are much too high.

I think part of what he's saying (as he has been for years now) is that independent authors self-publishing price themselves too low. I tend to agree with him. If you are just doing it for fun then give your work away. If you are selling it, then set a reasonable price. Do give-aways or promotions to get the word out if you prefer or give one item away as a loss leader, but set your prices reasonably in a fair market.

VydorScope · 05-24-2013, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyc

I think part of what he's saying (as he has been for years now) is that independent authors self-publishing price themselves too low. I tend to agree with him. If you are just doing it for fun then give your work away. If you are selling it, then set a reasonable price. Do give-aways or promotions to get the word out if you prefer or give one item away as a loss leader, but set your prices reasonably in a fair market.

So, looking right now at the market... almost all of the "also boughts" for my novels are 2.99 or 3.99. That means what people are actually buying is in that range. If I price up, I could price out of the market.

I dunno what the answer is yet, but I have been considering moving my full length novels to 3.99 from 2.99 to see if they sell better, and to give myself room for sales.

kennyc · 05-24-2013, 05:40 PM

Yep.....
So much depends on readers/publicity/fans/etc..... there's no 'right' answer for everyone.

BeccaPrice · 05-24-2013, 05:57 PM

I was thinking of following DWS's advice and having my 5-story (maybe 6, depending on my beta reader's reaction to the 6th story) collection be $4.99, and in KDP Select for free for 3 months, then when that 3 months is over, dropping the price to $3.99 or $2.99, and see how it does. By then, I should also have two $0.99 stories out there too.

kennyc · 05-24-2013, 06:02 PM

I've been considering doing a 'pre-release' of the non-fiction book I'm working on. If I do it, it would be approximately 1/3 of the finished book. It is comprised of many independent chapters/topics. I've been juggling both whether to do it and how to price it (and perhaps off an incentive for early purchasers...discount on full version or some such...I don't want it to get complicated though...)

05-23-2013, 10:32 AM	#1
crich70 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,305 Karma: 43993832 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Monroe Wisconsin Device: K3, Kindle Paperwhite, Calibre, and Mobipocket for Pc (netbook)	The New World of Publishing: Pricing 2013 I found the link to this article through VydorScope's posting about Draft 2 Digital and thought it had some interesting suggestions on what price to put on an ebook of a given length. Book Prices

05-23-2013, 11:32 AM	#4
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 44,748 Karma: 55645321 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: Kindle: Oasis 3, Voyage WiFi; Kobo: Libra 2, Aura One	I think his pricing paradigm is overly structured and rigid. Hi, ho: But what do I know? I'm only someone who buys ebooks. But, seriously [insert 'bodda-bing' here]: If I wanted an ebook badly enough, I'd pay a lot of money for it. I think the most I paid for an ebook was about $20 - and well worth it, because I love Jose Saramago. (Whereas, I've paid hundreds of dollars for First Edition hardbacks because I'm a book collector.) Don Last edited by Dr. Drib; 05-23-2013 at 11:35 AM.

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05-23-2013, 11:03 AM	#2
teh603 Autism Spectrum Disorder Posts: 1,212 Karma: 6244877 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Coastal Texas Device: Android Phone	He's really serious? I guess he's basing it on the idea that you don't feel like you're getting something quality unless you pay an arm and a leg for it. Having some actual sales-at-price numbers would help for comparison.

05-23-2013, 11:13 AM	#3
VydorScope Wizard Posts: 3,418 Karma: 35207650 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: iPad	So my first book is perma free, my others are 2.99... I have been considering testing raising them to 3.99 and see what happens. I have also thought of pushing up my paper backs to 9.99 since no one buys them and it makes the ebook books look like a better deal. Not sure though... But pricing my ebooks at 9.99 seems like suicide. I looked through all the "Also bought" on my books and people seem to be buying books sub $5, and more so sub $4.

05-23-2013, 11:42 AM	#5
BeccaPrice Wizard Posts: 2,145 Karma: 11174187 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Sony 350, K3-3G, K4SO, KPW	His prices seem high for current expectations. 5 short stories for $4.99 seems high. When I was discussing my collection of fairy stories, I was told probably even $2.99 for 4 or 5 of them was too high. I suppose I can start out at $4.99 and lower the price if that's too high. (ApK, you've read the stories, what do you think they're worth?)

05-23-2013, 09:00 PM	#6
bradhaak Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 470352 Join Date: Jun 2012 Device: Nook	I think the prices look reasonable for books from publishers. They have higher overhead, production costs, etc. For self-published books, they are not realistic.

05-24-2013, 04:32 PM	#10
bradhaak Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 470352 Join Date: Jun 2012 Device: Nook	I think his suggestions make a lot of sense for publishers. They have higher overhead and production costs. But for self publishing, they are much too high.

05-24-2013, 05:40 PM	#13
kennyc The Dank Side of the Moon Posts: 35,872 Karma: 118716293 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2; Kindle Fire	Yep..... So much depends on readers/publicity/fans/etc..... there's no 'right' answer for everyone.

05-24-2013, 05:57 PM	#14
BeccaPrice Wizard Posts: 2,145 Karma: 11174187 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Sony 350, K3-3G, K4SO, KPW	I was thinking of following DWS's advice and having my 5-story (maybe 6, depending on my beta reader's reaction to the 6th story) collection be $4.99, and in KDP Select for free for 3 months, then when that 3 months is over, dropping the price to $3.99 or $2.99, and see how it does. By then, I should also have two $0.99 stories out there too.

05-24-2013, 06:02 PM	#15
kennyc The Dank Side of the Moon Posts: 35,872 Karma: 118716293 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2; Kindle Fire	I've been considering doing a 'pre-release' of the non-fiction book I'm working on. If I do it, it would be approximately 1/3 of the finished book. It is comprised of many independent chapters/topics. I've been juggling both whether to do it and how to price it (and perhaps off an incentive for early purchasers...discount on full version or some such...I don't want it to get complicated though...)

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