The publishing world is still rebounding from the effects of the DoJ suit against Apple and five of the then-Big Six publishers, and the effects of the judgement against the parties involved is still resolving itself. One of the current resolutions involves the expiration of key prohibitions against the publishers in how they deal with retailers. Following the Hachette dispute … [Read more...] about Does Agency Pricing Hurt Reading Consumers?
ebook pricing
Amazon Rolls Out Beta of KDP Pricing Support
New information and knowledge have come to light thanks to the efforts of a core group of individuals; author Hugh Howey and his mathematical number cruncher Data Guy have released exhaustive information through the Author Earnings reports designed to help authors make informed decisions concerning their publishing. Rather than fight the Author Earnings efforts and … [Read more...] about Amazon Rolls Out Beta of KDP Pricing Support
US Publishers Earn More through Online Sales than Physical Stores
In a report from two entities that watch the publishing industry in the US, sales figures for 2013 show some surprising trends. These trends, followed by the Book Industry Study Group and the Association of American Publishers in their annual BookStats report, found several interesting changes in certain genres of the book market. Adult non-fiction made the leap above … [Read more...] about US Publishers Earn More through Online Sales than Physical Stores
Smashwords Launches Summer Author Promotion
Just in time for summer travel, Smashwords is offering up an author opportunity that is too good too miss. In exchange for a multi-tiered discount on their titles, authors can be included in Smashwords' Summer/Winter Promotion. Why Summer/Winter? Because it's not summer everywhere that Smashwords' books are bought. By enrolling on the link on Smashwords' homepage, authors … [Read more...] about Smashwords Launches Summer Author Promotion
Coker: Publishers Are Disposable to Amazon
Smashwords' CEO and founder Mark Coker has written an in-depth look at the battle raging between Amazon and one of the Big Five publishers, Hachette Book Group. The battle over contract terms has seen Amazon raise the price of Hachette titles while directly offering consumers a cheaper alternative title, the out-of-stock notices that inform readers they'll have to wait an … [Read more...] about Coker: Publishers Are Disposable to Amazon
Amazon, Hachette Battle Continues as Pre-Order Buttons Are Removed
First publishers hate Amazon, then they want legal action to require them to sell books? That's the sentiment from bestselling author James Patterson, who's bemoaning his lost income now that Amazon has taken down the pre-order buttons on a number of Hachette Book Group's upcoming titles, as well as imposed lengthy shipping delays on titles from the publisher until they come to … [Read more...] about Amazon, Hachette Battle Continues as Pre-Order Buttons Are Removed
eBook Pricing: What’s Wrong with Free?
Once publishers began to truly embrace ebooks as a viable business model for their content, the next great debate became how much to price them. Numerous studies and surveys have been conducted that look for consumer behavior where price is concerned, and a few logical guidelines have come about as a result. One thing that still riles both publishers and authors is the … [Read more...] about eBook Pricing: What’s Wrong with Free?
Digital Library Lending Has a Long Way to Go
It feels like every new step in the right direction also leads to a host of new problems and closures for public libraries where digital lending is concerned. It's been years since the first debates over protecting the interests of authors and publishers, with solutions--albeit often pathetic ones--proposed so long ago that the system should have sorted itself out by now. With … [Read more...] about Digital Library Lending Has a Long Way to Go
Screwpulp’s Launch May Be the Salvation of Book Reviews
Readers and authors alike have been crying foul over book reviews from a variety of sources lately. Between the mysterious disappearing act that happens quite often with reviews posted to Amazon, the widespread news of authors buying favorable reviews from pay-per-star services, and the scandalous situation with author and reviewer bullying, reading consumers have had a hard … [Read more...] about Screwpulp’s Launch May Be the Salvation of Book Reviews
eBook Prices Still a Sensitive Issue for Authors, Publishers
As more and more holiday shoppers scramble to finish up their holiday shopping, publishers and book retailers have taken notice and are offering considerable discounts on their titles. While it might be hard to envision having your mom "unwrap" an ebook for Christmas, more and more consumers are turning to the portability associated with long distance gift giving and turning to … [Read more...] about eBook Prices Still a Sensitive Issue for Authors, Publishers
Smashwords Releases Data from eBook Sales Study
The ebook distribution site Smashwords, spearheaded by founder Mark Coker, is often at the forefront of what is shaping digital publishing. Whether it's making a free platform available to self-published authors or helping writers find industry professionals to work with them, the site is much more than just a portal for purchasing inexpensive digital books. Today, the … [Read more...] about Smashwords Releases Data from eBook Sales Study
Finding the Best eBook, Print Price Point for Optimum Sales
When computer how-to book publisher In Easy Steps, founded in 1991, looked to release digital editions of its titles, there was no shortage of digital developers ready to create interactive, enhanced app books of the company's titles. By working with UK-based YUDU, its series of titles was released to great reviews. "For about a year, we've been working with YUDU," explained … [Read more...] about Finding the Best eBook, Print Price Point for Optimum Sales
How Much Should an eBook Cost?
This morning's panel discussion on the importance of ebook pricing was polite but heated as the different panelists disagreed on the inherent built-in factors that affect ebooks and their price points. To begin with, there was some discussion about how the Department of Justice anti-trust violation investigation into the Big Six publishers can have an impact on the future of … [Read more...] about How Much Should an eBook Cost?
StoryBundle and the Elusive Consumer Dollar
With the rise of more and more ebook publisher/distributors on a daily basis, adventurous entrepreneurs are having to find new ways to make their platforms stand out. And as more in-the-know industry professionals take a seat at the digital publishing table, some have found that they have to take extreme measures to stand out. In an article for paidContent.org, Laura Hazard … [Read more...] about StoryBundle and the Elusive Consumer Dollar