Is Smashwords July Sale A Good Idea?

Steven Lake · 06-28-2012, 11:57 PM

Just wondering if the Smashwords July sales event they're holding here very soon is a good idea. I'm thinking it is, but I just wanted to check with you guys on how much benefit it offers, and if it's worth bothering with.

mr ploppy · 06-29-2012, 05:51 AM

Depends how many sales you get direct from Smashwords rather than where they distribute to. I think I've had 3, so I don't really have anything to lose. Only worry would be if the sale extended to the distribution sites, then Amazon started price-matching.

rhadin · 06-29-2012, 07:03 AM

If the sale is anything like the eBook week sale, then yes, it is worthwhile. This past eBook Week I bought nearly 100 titles that I wouldn't have bought in the absence of the sale.

teh603 · 06-29-2012, 10:20 AM

I cut both of my $2.99 ebooks down to free for the duration of the sale. This is the kind of event I've been looking for to try and generate a bit more attention.

Edward M. Grant · 06-29-2012, 05:25 PM

For readers, certainly. For writers, not so sure.

eskimo49 · 06-29-2012, 06:37 PM

I have recently published a book on Smashwords (and Amazon) and am participitating in the Smashwords sale, think there is a better chance of increasing my sales by using this promotion. Feel there is good and bad points in the way the promotion is run, requires a coupon which probably means that no-one will be able to get the discount just by reaching the book from Smashwords itself, would require to get it from my website - where I have added it.

HistoryWes · 06-29-2012, 06:46 PM

I've been with Smashwords since June 09, and I've participated in the Summer/Winter sales everytime, usually making at least one of my books free. I can't really quantify the effect on overall sales, because its just one of the things I do to try and build my brand (that sounds really pompous

), but it seems to help.

Edward M. Grant · 06-29-2012, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eskimo49

Feel there is good and bad points in the way the promotion is run, requires a coupon which probably means that no-one will be able to get the discount just by reaching the book from Smashwords itself, would require to get it from my website - where I have added it.

If it's anything like previous sales the coupon to use is listed on the book page during the sale and there are only four different ones across the site for the four different discounts. You don't need to give it to people yourself.

The one thing I would say is that if you're going to make your book free, do it by using the 100% discount coupon; if, say, your book is $0.99 and you give a 25% discount it will still become free, but people won't find if when they search for 100% discount books.

Steven Lake · 06-29-2012, 11:56 PM

Well, I went ahead and joined the promotion. Hopefully this will give my book sales a bit of a kick in the pants.

SadieF · 07-01-2012, 02:26 PM

I figure anything that gets my book into the hands of readers is a good thing. Definitely put my book up for it.

Steven Lake · 07-01-2012, 05:25 PM

Wow, I'm glad I jumped in! Since going up this morning my books have been flying off the shelves! Well, digital shelves. The point is, this is day one and the promotion has already generated more sales in a single day than I get in a week!

I'm happy. I'm also definitely going to do this again next year.

VydorScope · 07-03-2012, 06:53 AM

How much did you mark it down?

Spacejock · 07-03-2012, 06:57 AM

I tipped most of my stories & novels into the promo. The plus is that unlike changing the price, it doesn't affect your Amazon listings.

WatchAdam · 07-03-2012, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steven Lake

Wow, I'm glad I jumped in! Since going up this morning my books have been flying off the shelves! Well, digital shelves. The point is, this is day one and the promotion has already generated more sales in a single day than I get in a week!

I'm happy. I'm also definitely going to do this again next year.

Did you promote the fact your book was on sale or did people just find your book on their own?

ficbot · 07-03-2012, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spacejock

I tipped most of my stories & novels into the promo. The plus is that unlike changing the price, it doesn't affect your Amazon listings.

I noticed you have a good bundle deal on your website. I am going to try and read the freebie book 1 this week so I can see if I'll enjoy it.

06-28-2012, 11:57 PM	#1
Steven Lake Sci-Fi Author Posts: 1,157 Karma: 14743509 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Michigan Device: PC (Calibre)	Is Smashwords July Sale A Good Idea? Just wondering if the Smashwords July sales event they're holding here very soon is a good idea. I'm thinking it is, but I just wanted to check with you guys on how much benefit it offers, and if it's worth bothering with.

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06-29-2012, 05:51 AM	#2
mr ploppy Feral Underclass Posts: 3,622 Karma: 26821535 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Yorkshire, tha noz Device: 2nd hand paperback	Depends how many sales you get direct from Smashwords rather than where they distribute to. I think I've had 3, so I don't really have anything to lose. Only worry would be if the sale extended to the distribution sites, then Amazon started price-matching.

06-29-2012, 07:03 AM	#3
rhadin Literacy = Understanding Posts: 4,833 Karma: 59674358 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: The World of Books Device: Nook, Nook Tablet	If the sale is anything like the eBook week sale, then yes, it is worthwhile. This past eBook Week I bought nearly 100 titles that I wouldn't have bought in the absence of the sale.

06-29-2012, 10:20 AM	#4
teh603 Autism Spectrum Disorder Posts: 1,212 Karma: 6244877 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Coastal Texas Device: Android Phone	I cut both of my $2.99 ebooks down to free for the duration of the sale. This is the kind of event I've been looking for to try and generate a bit more attention.

06-29-2012, 05:25 PM	#5
Edward M. Grant Zealot Posts: 129 Karma: 3000000 Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Canada Device: Kindle Keyboard, Asus Transformer	For readers, certainly. For writers, not so sure.

06-29-2012, 06:37 PM	#6
eskimo49 Addict Posts: 263 Karma: 1492476 Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Scotland Device: Kindle	I have recently published a book on Smashwords (and Amazon) and am participitating in the Smashwords sale, think there is a better chance of increasing my sales by using this promotion. Feel there is good and bad points in the way the promotion is run, requires a coupon which probably means that no-one will be able to get the discount just by reaching the book from Smashwords itself, would require to get it from my website - where I have added it.

06-29-2012, 06:46 PM	#7
HistoryWes Teacher/Novelist Posts: 632 Karma: 2274466 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Nevada Device: Nook STR, iPad	I've been with Smashwords since June 09, and I've participated in the Summer/Winter sales everytime, usually making at least one of my books free. I can't really quantify the effect on overall sales, because its just one of the things I do to try and build my brand (that sounds really pompous ), but it seems to help.

06-29-2012, 11:56 PM	#9
Steven Lake Sci-Fi Author Posts: 1,157 Karma: 14743509 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Michigan Device: PC (Calibre)	Well, I went ahead and joined the promotion. Hopefully this will give my book sales a bit of a kick in the pants.

07-01-2012, 02:26 PM	#10
SadieF Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 41676 Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Manchester, UK Device: kindle	I figure anything that gets my book into the hands of readers is a good thing. Definitely put my book up for it.

07-01-2012, 05:25 PM	#11
Steven Lake Sci-Fi Author Posts: 1,157 Karma: 14743509 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Michigan Device: PC (Calibre)	Wow, I'm glad I jumped in! Since going up this morning my books have been flying off the shelves! Well, digital shelves. The point is, this is day one and the promotion has already generated more sales in a single day than I get in a week! I'm happy. I'm also definitely going to do this again next year.

07-03-2012, 06:53 AM	#12
VydorScope Wizard Posts: 3,418 Karma: 35207650 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: iPad	How much did you mark it down?

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07-03-2012, 06:57 AM	#13
Spacejock Hal Spacejock & yWriter Posts: 125 Karma: 1100412 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Perth, Western Australia Device: Kindle	I tipped most of my stories & novels into the promo. The plus is that unlike changing the price, it doesn't affect your Amazon listings.