Kindle Publishing for Blogs opens to everyone

Moejoe · 05-13-2009, 10:12 PM

From Techcrunch:

Quote:

One of the neat little sub-features of Amazon’s Kindle is being able to subscribe to blogs on it. You have to pay for the privilege, but for heavy Kindle users, it makes sense as you can get the content delivered to you wirelessly for your favorite blogs. You know, like TechCrunch.

But the biggest limiting factor of this so far is that only the big blogs have been included in the blog directory. Starting today, anyone can make their blogs available via the new Kindle Publishing for Blogs Beta program.

Link: Kindle Publishing Now Open To All Blogs

anurag · 05-13-2009, 11:16 PM

While this program is going to be helpful in discovery, the implementation with regard to pricing is completely arbitrary.

https://kindlepublishing.amazon.com/...emID=200296470

Quote:

6. Can I set the price for my blog?

No. Amazon will define the price based on what we deem is a fair value for customers.

7. Can I make my blog free?

No, Amazon will define the price based on what we deem is a fair value for customers.

Amazon determines the "fair value" of each blog? Sounds like this program is going to be a lot of fun to follow.

Alexander Turcic · 05-14-2009, 05:00 AM

I wish they'd allow us to offer blogs for free through their platform. ;(

HarryT · 05-14-2009, 05:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alexander Turcic

I wish they'd allow us to offer blogs for free through their platform. ;(

There has to be some cost associated with it to pay for the wireless data transmission. I would imagine that Amazon look at the traffic level of the blog, and base the price on that.

Alexander Turcic · 05-14-2009, 05:05 AM

True, I hadn't thought about the costs for Amazon.

TadW · 05-14-2009, 05:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alexander Turcic

True, I hadn't thought about the costs for Amazon.

Question is, are readers willing to pay?

zelda_pinwheel · 05-14-2009, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alexander Turcic

I wish they'd allow us to offer blogs for free through their platform. ;(

perhaps this is a good time to mention that feedbooks offers (free) rss / blog subscriptions, and i believe they can be accessed wirelessly through the feedbooks download guide (correct me if i'm wrong). also, they've just launched a new api which will allow a blogger to create a book on feedbooks directly from their blog using AtomPub. could be worth looking into...

PhishStyx · 05-14-2009, 09:48 AM

My question would be, do I at least get to subscribe to my own blog for free?

HarryT · 05-14-2009, 10:12 AM

I would imagine the answer is "no", because again it has to be sent to your Kindle via the Sprint 3G wireless connection, and someone has to pay for that - it costs "real money".

Blue Tyson · 05-14-2009, 10:25 AM

Think they'd let blogs on how to find free books through?

anurag · 05-14-2009, 01:33 PM

For Amazon, there is a cost associated with wireless, but isn't the 70% Amazon / 30% blogger distribution unfair?

One could argue that the blogger is getting free money. But if anyone should make the most from the content on a blog, why should it be Amazon?

Looking at a vaguely comparable model, Apple gives 70% of an app's revenue to app developers, and keeps 30%. Difference - Apple doesn't pay for wireless data transfer of the app. However, app downloads are not charged separately on the phone bill, so downloading apps is effectively 'free' with the unlimited-data iPhone plan.

I don't know if a lot of people are going to pay for blogs on the Kindle, but I believe it's a bit of an unfair deal for bloggers. Especially when you consider all the free publicity for the Kindle from all the bloggers who sign up.

DaleDe · 05-14-2009, 02:57 PM

Welcome to the world of publishing. What percentage do you think an author gets for a book? 30% would be good.

Dale

anurag · 05-14-2009, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaleDe

Welcome to the world of publishing. What percentage do you think an author gets for a book? 30% would be good.

Dale

Why should old models of book publishing influence new media? Physical book pricing models don't translate well even to digital versions of the same content. Blogs on ebook readers are even more different, and deserve a completely new approach to pricing.

Alexander Turcic · 05-15-2009, 07:54 AM

Interesting update from Techcrunch:

How The Kindle Now Lets You Steal This Blog

Quote:

Amazon’s new blog publishing program has a major flaw: it lets anyone steal other people’s blogs and charge readers for them... Apparently, it is not just blogs that can be claimed. Uploading books is pretty easy too. Journalist Paul Carr emails us to say that he was able to upload his book, Bringing Nothing To The Party: Confessions Of A New Media Whore, to the Kindle Store ” in less than 24 hrs without even once being asked to prove that a) I was the author b) I had the electronic rights for the US.” Talk about opening the door to book piracy.

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05-14-2009, 05:00 AM	#3
Alexander Turcic Fully Converged Posts: 18,163 Karma: 14021202 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Switzerland Device: Too many to count here.	I wish they'd allow us to offer blogs for free through their platform. ;(

05-14-2009, 05:05 AM	#5
Alexander Turcic Fully Converged Posts: 18,163 Karma: 14021202 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Switzerland Device: Too many to count here.	True, I hadn't thought about the costs for Amazon.

05-14-2009, 09:48 AM	#8
PhishStyx The me that I am Posts: 413 Karma: 1078 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: In my house! Duh! Device: Kindle 1 & DR 1000s	My question would be, do I at least get to subscribe to my own blog for free?

05-14-2009, 10:12 AM	#9
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	I would imagine the answer is "no", because again it has to be sent to your Kindle via the Sprint 3G wireless connection, and someone has to pay for that - it costs "real money".

05-14-2009, 10:25 AM	#10
Blue Tyson Blue Captain Posts: 1,595 Karma: 5000236 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Australia Device: Kindle Keyboard 3G,Huawei Ideos X3,Kobo Mini	Think they'd let blogs on how to find free books through?

05-14-2009, 01:33 PM	#11
anurag Addict Posts: 236 Karma: 4066 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: California Device: Kindle 1 and DX, iPhone	For Amazon, there is a cost associated with wireless, but isn't the 70% Amazon / 30% blogger distribution unfair? One could argue that the blogger is getting free money. But if anyone should make the most from the content on a blog, why should it be Amazon? Looking at a vaguely comparable model, Apple gives 70% of an app's revenue to app developers, and keeps 30%. Difference - Apple doesn't pay for wireless data transfer of the app. However, app downloads are not charged separately on the phone bill, so downloading apps is effectively 'free' with the unlimited-data iPhone plan. I don't know if a lot of people are going to pay for blogs on the Kindle, but I believe it's a bit of an unfair deal for bloggers. Especially when you consider all the free publicity for the Kindle from all the bloggers who sign up.

05-14-2009, 02:57 PM	#12
DaleDe Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,470 Karma: 13095790 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Grass Valley, CA Device: EB 1150, EZ Reader, Literati, iPad 2 & Air 2, iPhone 7	Welcome to the world of publishing. What percentage do you think an author gets for a book? 30% would be good. Dale

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