MYSTERY LOVER
Status: Dr. Seuss
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Posts: 9
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« on: January 28, 2012, 10:22:50 AM » |
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I'm curious to know what motivates the download of a Free Kindle book. Is it the fact that it's free, the genre, the cover, the title or what?
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Meka
Status: Lewis Carroll
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Gender: 
Southern CA
Posts: 135
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« Reply #1 on: January 28, 2012, 10:49:47 AM » |
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For me it's a combination of title, blurb/description, and reviews, most important being description. I did not vote because there was no option for description.
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« Last Edit: January 28, 2012, 10:55:04 AM by Meka »
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ETS PRESS
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« Reply #2 on: January 28, 2012, 10:53:16 AM » |
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I've downloaded quite a few free books. It has to interest me though: genre, cover, blurb, and reviews.
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MYSTERY LOVER
Status: Dr. Seuss
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Posts: 9
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« Reply #3 on: January 28, 2012, 11:37:30 AM » |
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Thanks to a reply from Meka, I added DESCRIPTIONS to the Poll.  |
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crebel
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« Reply #4 on: January 28, 2012, 11:42:57 AM » |
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It seems I download one or two free books just about every day. I don't download "just because" it is free, so out of the hundreds of free books available every day now, "very likely" doesn't seem to fit. I have taken a chance on many reads outside of my favorite genres and been pleased, so "only if I like the genre" isn't quite right. "Knowing" an author from here on KB can absolutely influence downloading (or even refusing to download  ) a free book. It still needs a professional looking cover to catch my eye and then I read the blurb to see if it sounds like something I would "buy". So "cover, title and description (now that you added it) grabs me" are all accurate. Multiple reviews that mention poor Kindle formatting will stop me from downloading, I think it's mostly "or what", a combination of factors...maybe the poll should be multiple choice.  |
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A book, I think, is very like a little golden door.
That takes me into places where I've never been before.
It leads me into fairyland or countries strange and far.
And, best of all, the golden door always stands ajar. - Adelaide Love
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intinst
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« Reply #5 on: January 28, 2012, 11:45:51 AM » |
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It seems I download one or two free books just about every day. I don't download "just because" it is free, so out of the hundreds of free books available every day now, "very likely" doesn't seem to fit. I have taken a chance on many reads outside of my favorite genres and been pleased, so "only if I like the genre" isn't quite right. "Knowing" an author from here on KB can absolutely influence downloading (or even refusing to download ) a free book. It still needs a professional looking cover to catch my eye and then I read the blurb to see if it sounds like something I would "buy". So "cover, title and description (now that you added it) grabs me" are all accurate. Multiple reviews that mention poor Kindle formatting will stop me from downloading, I think it's mostly "or what", a combination of factors...maybe the poll should be multiple choice. Pretty much describes my feelings |
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A great many people now reading and writing would be better employed keeping rabbits. Edith Sitwell  Located just outside Little Rock, Arkansas Goal for 2012 = 100 books read, read so far = 59 Now reading = Thuvia, Maid of Mars - Edgar Rice Burroughs |
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DreamWeaver
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« Reply #6 on: January 28, 2012, 12:17:51 PM » |
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I scan the free books every day, and I do get quite a few. First, I look at a book's rating. If it has 4 or 5 stars, then I look at the title, genre, and book cover—in that order. If the book looks interesting, I read the description and decide whether to "purchase" or not. After I've looked at the highly rated books of interest, I take one more pass through the freebies list to find good books that may not have a high rating yet.
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tamaraheiner
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« Reply #7 on: January 28, 2012, 12:33:39 PM » |
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Mostly that it's free! I'll give anything a chance at that price. Nothing to lose, zero investment. And it has happened that I find something I like...
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I'm a mom, a teacher, a wife, and an author. Literature isn't my life, but it's pretty close. http://www.tamarahartheiner.com by Tamara Hart Heiner. Young Adult Suspense. $3.99 |
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Lursa (aka 9MMare)
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« Reply #8 on: January 28, 2012, 12:54:17 PM » |
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Genre, description, my area(s) of interest. Has to at least have a description that indicates quality writing and story; I have loads of books to read and there's no point in loading up my K with stuff I'll never read.
OTOH, non-fiction: I also download alot of free history and science books. Honestly, I may be less discriminating there just because I'd like to at least have something on that particular subject.
Edit: qualified non-fiction books
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history_lover
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« Reply #9 on: January 28, 2012, 02:29:40 PM » |
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For me, it's both genre and cover - but genre more so. Basically, I look in the genres I like and then I look for covers that seem professional. I don't usually bother with covers that look unprofessional unless it gets loads of good reviews.
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Meka
Status: Lewis Carroll
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Gender:
Southern CA
Posts: 135
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« Reply #10 on: January 28, 2012, 02:47:42 PM » |
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Thanks to a reply from Meka, I added DESCRIPTIONS to the Poll. Awesome! Now I can vote |
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Ergodic Mage
Status: Madeleine L'Engle
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Gender: 
Phase Space
Posts: 88
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« Reply #11 on: January 28, 2012, 03:39:21 PM » |
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I'm a cheapskate!
Free books let me try out a book I wouldn't usually.
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Dara England
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« Reply #12 on: January 28, 2012, 08:15:33 PM » |
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For me, it's both genre and cover - but genre more so. Basically, I look in the genres I like and then I look for covers that seem professional. I don't usually bother with covers that look unprofessional unless it gets loads of good reviews.
This. I don't download anything just because it's free. I have a huge TBR pile anyway and wouldn't have time to read all the free books out there. Even the free books that look interesting to me tend to go to the bottom of my list because I've usually got other stuff I'm more excited to read and books I paid for come first. |
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Harry Shannon
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« Reply #13 on: January 29, 2012, 09:49:37 PM » |
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Genre, description and reviews.
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olefish
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« Reply #14 on: January 29, 2012, 10:36:21 PM » |
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title does nothing. These days they all sound the same and don't really say much. However an amusing or witty title does catch my eye. In a list of free books, the catch covers do get my attention. But catching covers could mean ridiculous or out of the ordinary. Especially with the maxim that your cover should look like a typical genre cover, you get a lot of professional looking covers that all look the same. So definitely quirky stands out. However, I never buy book based on the cover alone. I look at the reviews. Again for the most part, they have no real content especially the highly starred ones. Saying you loved a book and you loved characters means nothing to me, if you don't tell me why. The lower starred reviews tend to have more content, if they can get past their idiotic vitriol. Two stars are the best. They tend not to be idiots who wants easy reads, and they tend to have calm and detailed reasons why they hated the book. Often the reason that they cite for hating it is a reason for me to consider the book. IF they complain that the writing is too hard, or flowery. I zoom straight for a sample. I'm piqued. If they complain about fifth-grade writing. I don't care for the book.
If I get past the reviews, I read a sample. if the Book has no reviews, I would look at the sample and form my own opinion of it. I never take a chance on a book without sample.
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Bards and Sages (Julie)
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« Reply #15 on: January 30, 2012, 01:12:57 PM » |
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Generally, when I have downloaded a free book, I was already "sold" on buying it and the fact that it was free was not a factor. I base purchase decisions more on whether or not I have the time to read than the price. If I don't have a lot of free time, giving me a book for free doesn't matter because I don't have time to read it. And because I have limited time to read recreationally, I am VERY picky about what I download and would be more motivated to buy a higher price book with a strong blurb, excerpt, and nice cover that I was confident I would want to finish than to download a free book.
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mscott9985
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« Reply #16 on: January 30, 2012, 05:35:37 PM » |
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I'm very open to downloading free books, but whether I actually read the entire thing depends on how the first few pages go. I've been very happily surprised, though, with a few of my freebies. Usually, if the blurb is well written, the rest of the book seems to be okay. I *love* finding a good freebie. It's like going to a garage sale and walking away with an amazing bargain |
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