Re: Free distribution of ebooks -- revenue models?

From: "jon_noring" 
> Everyone,
<snip>
> 
> Variations of this general model have worked for others, notably Cory
> Doctorow, who freely distributes the digital version and derives
> revenue from hardcover sales based on word-of-mouth.

You may be correct about Doctorow's income from print, but in an article a couple of months ago he seemed to be saying that his income was largely from the ads round his online giveaways.

> 
> With regards to revenue models, I see these (which can all be used
> simultaneously):
> 
> 1) The Cory Doctorow approach -- develop a name and following from
>   viral marketing of the free digital edition. Then sell soft and
>   hardcover editions via Amazon, etc. I do see offering a limited
>   (numbered) edition this way once a following is gained -- build
>   a list of those who say they will buy a copy when available.

The evidence is too limited to offer useful advice. You might help by ensuring your experience is well documented. There seems to be a definite niche variation in this.

> 
> 2) Add a PayPal link -- ask the reader to send in some money if they
>   like the book. (I don't expect much this way, but hey...)

If it isn't there they can't show that appreciation ;-). But there is an element of not knowing your own worth. I would tend to say to all on this that people appreciate far more what they are charged for, than what is given free.

> 
> 3) Added banner advertising, if possible -- some clickable banners are
>   variously placed in the ebook, and when clicked on to bring up the
>   target web site in their web browser (the links can be added to
>   ePub and PDF), will earn a few pennies. This may require some
>   development with advertisers -- not exactly sure how it would work
>   in practice.

Banners are not fashionable, I think, but the ads idea is one revenue stream concept that many try. The all too ubiquitous are Google Ads, but there is no choice  of what you let onto your site.  And the traffic needed to make a useful income might well be costly in bandwidth. 
My reservation is that my gloom about the economy, if right, will minimise the value of the ad route.

> 
> I'd like your frank comments on the above and if there any others you
> can think of...
> 
> Thanks!
> 
> Jon Noring

Jon,

Apart from books that are genuinely those you want to distribute free for whatever reason, why are you not charging for books that you would sell in print. About the only area I see strong confirmation of print sales boosted by ebook giveaways is SF. Even then the evidence exists ony for a couple of sites, of which Baen is one.

Unfortunately I have never seen convincing evidence that free has a commercial value. Sampling has always been part of marketing, and the transition of that to the net - particularly for a new medium - is unsurprising.

Some ebook selling is seen as a marketing of services; in other words the income is not expected from the books, but from the incomes that it encourages.

But it is a new field, wide open to experimentation. On that basis, if you are prepared to test out ideas, it is worth starting where you feel comfortable, and adjusting in response to the resuts you get.

HTH

Joseph

Joseph Harris is Smile Poet
Author: Smile Poet's Toilet
Mailing list [email protected]
http://smilepoet.com     [email protected]


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