Friday, October 16, 2015

Free E-Books = Best Idea Ever

Okay, I think something most readers can agree on is that they love getting free books. Be it as gifts or ARC's or, what I'll be talking about, free e-books. I'll be honest, I only discovered these recently. I bought a kindle this year, and before that I really hadn't downloaded e-books. (Even though I did have one of their apps for my computer.)

There are several author's I've found whose books I adore - and the great thing is that first book of theirs? I got it free. And that was perfectly legal! I got the books on Amazon for my kindle. I probably never would have bought the books - even if they'd only been 99 cents - but I have since bought one of the sequels and will be buying the other.

So, by offering the first book free, they have a new fan in me.

Everyone loves free books, right?

But, you know, I think free books are good for authors too, not just readers - especially when they're part of a series. Maybe it's not so helpful to those huge authors whose name everyone know, but if it's a new author - self-published especially - I think this is a great way to hook fans into the story.

Admittedly, I've gotten a couple of free books that I didn't like. But, oddly enough, instead of forcing myself through the book and then writing a rant-style review, I just quietly closed those books. After all, I wasn't out anything by buying it so, while I didn't enjoy the book, I also didn't feel compelled to warn people away from spending their money - because the books are free.

Have you found any new authors by getting a free e-book of theirs? I want to know the good and the bad so, do tell! 

Comments (4)

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I agree, I think making a book of an author free out there, you're giving people a chance to take a look at how you write. It's a great marketing tool so obviously people will flock to it. Let's say you make a book free: 1000 people will get it. Let's say only 10% reads it immediately, and those 10% like what they read, that means you made a fan out of 100 people. When someone likes an author's writing so much, they tend to buy their other books, too, and they will spread the word. That's already a successful marketing right there and you bet you'll be seeing even more sales :D
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1 reply · active 490 weeks ago
Exactly! I'm really surprised more authors, especially indie authors, don't give away one of their books for free. Best idea I'd think would be to make the first book in a series free - then not only do they have the incentive to buy the next book because they like the author, but also because it's continuing a story and, possibly, with characters they've already met.
Giving the first book of a series away free is definitely a great idea! I know sometimes they just do promotions when the next book is out, but they should really always give away the first book to hook us!
1 reply · active 490 weeks ago
*nods* Sometimes authors also randomly make a book of theirs free on Amazon, but if it's the first in a series, you've got so many reasons to keep reading.

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