December was an experimental month for me. In November, I published a dystopian short story, THE WAY LIFE WAS FOREVER, at $.99. At the end I included the first chapter of THE HALO CHRONICLES: THE GUARDIAN. Then I dropped THE GUARDIAN from $2.99 to $.99 to participate in a holiday promotion called Book Lovers Buffet.
For the purposes of this analysis, I am going to use my Amazon sales.
December 1-24 results:
THE WAY LIFE WAS FOREVER $.99: 4
THE HALO CHRONICLES: THE GUARDIAN $.99: 66
I decided to make THE WAY LIFE WAS FOREVER free to promote THE GUARDIAN. It went into effect just after Christmas.
December 26-31 results:
THE WAY LIFE WAS FOREVER $.00: 617
THE HALO CHRONICLES: THE GUARDIAN $.99: 53
January 1-4 results:
January 1-4 results:
THE WAY LIFE WAS FOREVER $.00: 767
THE HALO CHRONICLES: THE GUARDIAN $.99: 27
The results are so phenomenal that I am going to keep THE WAY LIFE WAS FOREVER free.
Now my dilemma, the promotion for THE HALO CHRONICLES: THE GUARDIAN ends 1/15/12. Should I keep it at $.99 with much lower royalties or take it back up to $2.99.
What do you think?
17 comments:
Hmm. That's a toughie, but I'm leaning toward $2.99. That's less than a Starbucks latte in exchange for a beautiful story that took years to write, edit, and refine.
Thanks Melissa. On the one hand it's been released for over 6 months and the sale price makes sense, but wto most readers that stumble upon me, I'll be new. If I do go back up to $2.99, it will be interesting to see how the freebie impacts the higher price...
Carey, your idea about the excerpt at the end of the freebie is a great one!
Alicia
Thanks Alicia - it seems to be getting results.
I have both books on my ipad. I think you could raise the price to see if you keep up the momentum, especially if the freebie ties into it. Plus, you can always lower it again:-)
Thanks Linda...I'll be sure to keep everyone updated on what I decide.
And thank you so much for reading!
I'd go back up to the 2.99 price point. I think the momentum with the freebie will continue to carryover sales for Halo Chronicles and you want to maximize your profits. I'll be going back up to 2.99 for Heaven Is For Heroes after the 15th. On Thin Ice is selling at that price and I feel like I'm losing a ton of profit at the .99 cent price for HIFH. Sales are neck and neck for both books.
Thanks P.J. I know you've had some nice momentum with your books. I appreciate you chiming in.
I'm voting with the $2.99 price point for the full length novel after the promo. In fact, I'm doing the same thing myself with my two full length novels.
I think to maintain a distinction between promotional pricing and regular pricing, you have to return to the regular pricing some time...
I'm jumping my price up after the 15th.
Keep your freebie out there as a writing sample, but earn some decent money off of your full size novels.
IMO if readers who got the chapter want The Guardian, they'll buy it just as quickly at $2.99 as $.99. $2.99 is still very cheap - chances are you could go to $3.99 (which is still a bargain) with no sacrifice in sales. I'm raising my price after the Buffet is over, too. Whatever you choose, good luck!
Thanks Pepper and Jennette. It's nice to be reminded that my 87k book has value. The arguments to take it back up are compelling.
Thanks for this post. I'm toying with following in your foot steps- a free short story and a .99 cent sale on my only novel currently selling (STEALING MERCY) to promote the release of my new novel (A GHOST OF A SECOND CHANCE).
Can I ask how long is THE WAY LIFE WAS FOREVER? And did you already have a fan base before self publishing?
Thanks again.
Hi Kristy - Thanks for stopping by!TWLWF is just short of 9k - but the first chapter of The Halo Chronicles: The Guardian is 5k. So together I felt like it was the right length - especially for a free book.
I highly recommend you add the first chapter of your other books (newest first) at the end. It's great promotional strategy. Best of luck!
Carey
Oh - and Kristy - I think the freebie uploads have nothing to do with a fanbase and everything to do with a good cover and free price. :) My fanbase, if any, is miniscule. :)
I'm not big on strategy, but I bought the book for $2.99 and thought it was well worth it! I can't wait for the sequel... there will be a sequel, right?
Thanks Sara! I am madly working on a revision for my agent. After that the sequel, THE KEEPER is next. :)
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