gregoryblackman
Status: Jane Austen
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Gender: 
Canada
Posts: 342
Author of Jonathan Rush and the Star Academy
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« Reply #25 on: August 05, 2011, 09:43:10 AM » |
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Glad to hear that you guys have gotten some use from the thread, thought I was going to be talking to the crickets  . Excited to hear about the success the Gift has been having. |
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JJayKamp
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« Reply #26 on: August 05, 2011, 11:25:20 AM » |
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Robert, I see that Kobo isn't listed among your links. I've read that others have had their Kobo prices matched (as well as their Nook price), so maybe that's why the Amazon spiders haven't listed your book for free?
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T.S. Welti
Status: Lewis Carroll
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Gender: 
Southern California
Posts: 193
Don't let fear clog your arteries.
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« Reply #27 on: August 05, 2011, 12:11:21 PM » |
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I just made my short story Bleeding the Blind free on Smashwords. http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/77241Does Amazon catch on to free books on iBooks or Barnes and Noble first? I opted-out of Barnes and Noble because Smashwords format doesn't translate well to Nook. Should I opt in for Amazon to catch wind of the free price? |
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PJJones
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« Reply #28 on: August 05, 2011, 12:13:40 PM » |
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TS, my book has been on Smashwords five days at 0 and it's still .99 on Kindle. From what I've read, it either needs to be on B and N or Itunes for Amazon to catch on.
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T.S. Welti
Status: Lewis Carroll
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Gender:
Southern California
Posts: 193
Don't let fear clog your arteries.
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« Reply #29 on: August 05, 2011, 12:24:06 PM » |
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TS, my book has been on Smashwords five days at 0 and it's still .99 on Kindle. From what I've read, it either needs to be on B and N or Itunes for Amazon to catch on.
It should go free on iTunes within a day or two. I guess I should probably distribute it to B&N as well so it has more of a chance of going free soon. Thanks. |
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BrianKittrell
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« Reply #30 on: August 05, 2011, 12:50:25 PM » |
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RobertY
Status: Lewis Carroll
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Gender:
East TN.
Posts: 224
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« Reply #31 on: August 05, 2011, 03:59:24 PM » |
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Robert, I see that Kobo isn't listed among your links. I've read that others have had their Kobo prices matched (as well as their Nook price), so maybe that's why the Amazon spiders haven't listed your book for free?
When ever I search for Rashnar on Kobo it does not come up. Even when I search my name only 2 of my books come up. I guess Rashnar is one that smashwords has not sent them. Kobo is very back logged. |
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PJJones
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« Reply #33 on: August 05, 2011, 05:11:38 PM » |
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Done, Brian. Liked it, too. This is definitely becoming the 'make it free' thread.
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marshacanham
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« Reply #34 on: August 05, 2011, 11:29:38 PM » |
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I've had three books go the free route...the first caught me totally by surprise, just after I first dipped a toe into the self-pubbing waters, so I had no idea it was a GOOD thing, and I panicked and wrote Amazon a dozen emails until they restored the price. It was never officially marked down to free anywhere for any of the bots to pick it up, but there was a week long promo sale at SW offering it with a coupon...hardly something I would have thought worthy of a price match by the Big A, but match it they did. So they do watch SW.
*snort*
The second book was deliberate, and it took about two weeks after I lowered the price at SW for it to trickle through to Barnes and Noble, Sony, and Apple...and for it to be picked up by Amazon.
This third time, I started back in mid June, lowering it at SW. The price change went through everywhere, but the only Amazon bot that picked it up was Amazon UK, where it's been free for over a month. Finally last Friday, it was picked up on this side of the pond, but only after I had a lot of friends click on the dufus to report a lower price at B &N. They didn't seem to care that it was free at SW this time around, but the B & N notification nudged it over the edge.
I guess the point of all that is, you can't tell what is going to work, SW or B & N.
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CJArcher
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« Reply #35 on: August 05, 2011, 11:39:51 PM » |
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One of my books is free at the moment at Amazon US. I made it free a bit over a week ago at SW. To my surprise it filtered through within 2 days to B&N and iTunes. I'd always thought B&N took forever to make changes. Amazon eventually made it free about 2 days ago and it's gone gangbusters. It's currently #20 free but got as high as #12. So far there's been over 10,000 downloads and I've seen an immediate bump with my other books. I'm hoping that bump will continue as people get around to reading the freebie, liking it and go looking for my other books.
Good luck everyone. For me, the freebie has been great exposure. Now if only I could get the UK to go free too...
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BrianKittrell
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« Reply #36 on: August 06, 2011, 10:54:45 PM » |
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Thanks a bunch, folks. Fingers crossed here.
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JJayKamp
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« Reply #37 on: August 06, 2011, 11:26:38 PM » |
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CJ, I see your free book is also very high on iTunes. Hooray!
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gregoryblackman
Status: Jane Austen
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Gender:
Canada
Posts: 342
Author of Jonathan Rush and the Star Academy
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« Reply #40 on: August 07, 2011, 09:24:09 AM » |
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Thanks everyone for help, and the great conversation. I think we've helped a few people out here.
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AdriannaWhite
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« Reply #41 on: August 07, 2011, 04:06:06 PM » |
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Congrats Tracy, how long did it take you?
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Jason Hook
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« Reply #42 on: August 07, 2011, 04:23:56 PM » |
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2 questions...
I'm on Nook via Pub-it....but it wont allow me to lower my price under .99
How do I make it free?
When Amazon makes a book free, what happens to royalties? Do you get any? Or is it all about exposure?
Thanks!
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CJArcher
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« Reply #43 on: August 07, 2011, 04:34:44 PM » |
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No roytalties, Jason. I'm doing it for the exposure and the flow-on effect to my other books, especially the sequel. I strongly suggest you have other books available and price them at $2.99 or higher to take advantage of the 70% royalty rate. I think going free (if you can get Amazon to match) is better than advertising. There's no up-front cost to you and all the important blogs and sites will list your book without you even asking - Pixel of Ink, Bargain eBooks etc.
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SimonSmithWilson
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« Reply #44 on: August 07, 2011, 04:45:42 PM » |
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I have two quick questions.
Is this the only way to make a book free on amazon?
Also, can you also change a free book to a price at a later date?
I appreciate any help. Thank you.
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Alain Gomez
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« Reply #45 on: August 07, 2011, 05:09:43 PM » |
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I have two quick questions.
Is this the only way to make a book free on amazon?
Also, can you also change a free book to a price at a later date?
I appreciate any help. Thank you.
Sometimes Amazon will pick books randomly to put on sale or for free. But you have to kind of be "in the spotlight" already if you know what I mean  Amazon will always price match. So, yes, you can change it back. Just change the price on Smashwords, let it trickle to the other channels and Amazon will switch. |
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RobertY
Status: Lewis Carroll
Offline
Gender:
East TN.
Posts: 224
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« Reply #47 on: August 08, 2011, 07:36:10 PM » |
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Done!
Oh, and 'Rashnar' just went freeeeeeeee....
Not that many downloads yet as it just did so. But I can not believe how it has shot up in the rankings!
I emailed Amazon yesterday and put every link I could find where 'Rashnar' was free. Then asked them why are they still charging when everyone else was free. They replied last night that they would be making 'Rashnar' free with in 48 hours. It is now freeeeee....
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gregoryblackman
Status: Jane Austen
Offline
Gender:
Canada
Posts: 342
Author of Jonathan Rush and the Star Academy
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« Reply #48 on: August 08, 2011, 08:31:23 PM » |
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This is great to hear, mine just went free within the hour. Went to check if I had just one sale today, and found 79 downloads for the first part of my novel. Needless to say, it put a smile on my face!
I don't know if this thread helped anyone or not, but I would like to thank everyone!
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Alain Gomez
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« Reply #49 on: August 08, 2011, 08:55:20 PM » |
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Done!
Oh, and 'Rashnar' just went freeeeeeeee....
Not that many downloads yet as it just did so. But I can not believe how it has shot up in the rankings!
I emailed Amazon yesterday and put every link I could find where 'Rashnar' was free. Then asked them why are they still charging when everyone else was free. They replied last night that they would be making 'Rashnar' free with in 48 hours. It is now freeeeee....
Yay! They are good about replying to emails. Sometimes things just slip through the cracks in their system. |
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