Through an Amazon programme called KDP select, authors can offer their ebooks for free download for up to 5 days (every 3 months). Friends who are not in the business of being an indie author wonder why I would do this; giving books away for free does seem counterintuitive, that's for sure.
The fact is that the biggest challenge for me and other indie authors is how to get discovered amidst huge competition, and also how to persuade new readers to take a chance on an author they haven't tried before. Offering free ebooks from time to time is one way to raise your profile. Many book recommendation sites will feature your book if it is available for free (without charging for advertising, just so long as they think their readers will be interested of course), and for a few days you are discoverable. The reader has nothing to lose in giving your book a try!
The idea is that new readers will enjoy your book and consider purchasing other ebooks that you have written or invest in a paperback copy. In addition to this the indie author hopes that readers will post reviews on Amazon or other sites such as Goodreads. Reviews are really important to indie authors. We need genuine feedback to help us showcase and sell our books.
I have just finished a free ebook promotion with my book, Captain Sillyvoice and his Pirate Band. This is the third time I have offered one of my books for free and the results have been the best yet. The ebook was downloaded by UK, American, Canadian and Japanese customers. I was particularly delighted by the number of Japanese customers.
It is now a waiting game to see whether readers post reviews, make other purchases or even do both!
If you downloaded a copy of Captain Sillyvoice and his Pirate Band, please do post a review.
The fact is that the biggest challenge for me and other indie authors is how to get discovered amidst huge competition, and also how to persuade new readers to take a chance on an author they haven't tried before. Offering free ebooks from time to time is one way to raise your profile. Many book recommendation sites will feature your book if it is available for free (without charging for advertising, just so long as they think their readers will be interested of course), and for a few days you are discoverable. The reader has nothing to lose in giving your book a try!
The idea is that new readers will enjoy your book and consider purchasing other ebooks that you have written or invest in a paperback copy. In addition to this the indie author hopes that readers will post reviews on Amazon or other sites such as Goodreads. Reviews are really important to indie authors. We need genuine feedback to help us showcase and sell our books.
I have just finished a free ebook promotion with my book, Captain Sillyvoice and his Pirate Band. This is the third time I have offered one of my books for free and the results have been the best yet. The ebook was downloaded by UK, American, Canadian and Japanese customers. I was particularly delighted by the number of Japanese customers.
It is now a waiting game to see whether readers post reviews, make other purchases or even do both!
If you downloaded a copy of Captain Sillyvoice and his Pirate Band, please do post a review.
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