Good article on free books in NYTimes

Daithi · 01-25-2010, 08:56 AM

The New York Times had a pretty good article covering free ebooks. The article starts out as follows:

Here’s a riddle: How do you make your book a best seller on the Kindle?

Answer: Give copies away.

That’s right. More than half of the “best-selling” e-books on the Kindle, Amazon.com’s e-reader, are available at no charge...

Format C: · 01-25-2010, 01:37 PM

I'd rather read it another way:

The "best seller" list is compiled basing on download, not books being actually read.
Lot of people download it just because is free

=> a book given for free is likely to become a "Top download" a.k.a. "best seller".

But what about books which are read?
Is the list the same?

I bet it's not.

Daithi · 01-25-2010, 01:44 PM

I like the sentiments Format C:, but I think implementation of something like a "read list" might get some people riled up. Just imagine Amazon implementing a service to track the books we read, pass the information back to one of their databases, and then make the information about which books are the most read available to the public.

Lemurion · 01-25-2010, 02:15 PM

One thing I believe Baen has proved quite conclusively, is that giving away book one in a series can help sales of later books.

Teddman · 01-25-2010, 02:33 PM

Also important to note is that this is how Amazon achieves "sales" of Kindle books that are on par with their hard copy book sales.

So the next time you see a PR blurb touting how Kindle book sales are outdoing regular book sales... Now you know.

Daithi · 01-25-2010, 03:25 PM

Another really good article in the New York Times is on James Patterson. The article is pretty long, but well worth the read.

Moejoe · 01-25-2010, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daithi

Another really good article in the New York Times is on James Patterson. The article is pretty long, but well worth the read.

Patterson Inc makes me weep.

Good article though, thanks

CleverClothe · 01-25-2010, 03:34 PM

There is already a thread about this.

Pardoz · 01-25-2010, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Format C:

The "best seller" list is compiled basing on download, not books being actually read.

'Traditional' best seller lists are also compiled on the basis of sales, not reads, and this has traditionally been one of the top ways to manipulate their standings.

Terisa de morgan · 01-25-2010, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Format C:

I'd rather read it another way:

The "best seller" list is compiled basing on download, not books being actually read.
Lot of people download it just because is free

=> a book given for free is likely to become a "Top download" a.k.a. "best seller".

But what about books which are read?
Is the list the same?

I bet it's not.

Sorry, but this doesn't have sense. When the "Best seller" talks about paper books sold, it's the same. You can buy the book for reading, for present, for looking good at the Bookshelf. Best seller list never is a more read list.

01-25-2010, 08:56 AM	#1
Daithi Publishers are evil! Posts: 2,418 Karma: 36205264 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Rhode Island Device: Various Kindles	Good article on free books in NYTimes The New York Times had a pretty good article covering free ebooks. The article starts out as follows: Here’s a riddle: How do you make your book a best seller on the Kindle? Answer: Give copies away. That’s right. More than half of the “best-selling” e-books on the Kindle, Amazon.com’s e-reader, are available at no charge...

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01-25-2010, 01:37 PM	#2
Format C: Guru Posts: 753 Karma: 1496807 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: The Third World Device: iLiad + PRS-505 + Kindle 3	I'd rather read it another way: The "best seller" list is compiled basing on download, not books being actually read. Lot of people download it just because is free => a book given for free is likely to become a "Top download" a.k.a. "best seller". But what about books which are read? Is the list the same? I bet it's not.

01-25-2010, 01:44 PM	#3
Daithi Publishers are evil! Posts: 2,418 Karma: 36205264 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Rhode Island Device: Various Kindles	I like the sentiments Format C:, but I think implementation of something like a "read list" might get some people riled up. Just imagine Amazon implementing a service to track the books we read, pass the information back to one of their databases, and then make the information about which books are the most read available to the public.

01-25-2010, 02:15 PM	#4
Lemurion eReader Posts: 2,750 Karma: 4968470 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: Note 5; PW3; Nook HD+; ChuWi Hi12; iPad	One thing I believe Baen has proved quite conclusively, is that giving away book one in a series can help sales of later books.

01-25-2010, 02:33 PM	#5
Teddman Addict Posts: 242 Karma: 695 Join Date: Jun 2009 Device: Sony PRS-505	Also important to note is that this is how Amazon achieves "sales" of Kindle books that are on par with their hard copy book sales. So the next time you see a PR blurb touting how Kindle book sales are outdoing regular book sales... Now you know.

01-25-2010, 03:25 PM	#6
Daithi Publishers are evil! Posts: 2,418 Karma: 36205264 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Rhode Island Device: Various Kindles	Another really good article in the New York Times is on James Patterson. The article is pretty long, but well worth the read.

01-25-2010, 03:34 PM	#8
CleverClothe Guru Posts: 618 Karma: 493394 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Seattle, WA Device: iRex iLiad, Onyx Boox 60	There is already a thread about this.

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