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Post by Hsin-Yi on Jul 1, 2014 21:03:09 GMT -5
Becca - what are your thoughts about the dangers of being on Google Play after Viola's thread on KB about her experience with them dropping her bundle suddenly to free? I was thinking of making the effort to put my books on GP after seeing all the recent threads with promising results but then reading Viola's experience sort of scared me off.
It's frustrating as on the one hand, GP seems to deliver results compared to other channels and I too hate having all eggs in the Amazon basket - but on the other hand, I worry about the lack of control & potential harm to Amazon income, which is still 90%+ and can't be jeopardised...
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Post by Becca Mills on Jul 1, 2014 22:24:15 GMT -5
Wellllll ... I have mixed feelings. Viola obviously made the right decision for her -- going free on Amazon cost her $400 that day, whereas she only made $8 on Google. That's a no-brainer! But in my situation, where I'm moving more books on Google than on Amazon, I'd be tempted to ride out the Google sale and take the hit on Amazon. It sort of depends on how long Google plans to run the sale. Is this a permanently free kind of thing? A one-week thing? Having a one-week freebie on Amazon would be fine. Permanently free -- forget it. I asked on that KB thread if anyone knew how long these Google sales usually last. No one answered. Maybe there's no one who's ridden one out. Dunno. I do think Google is going to end up being a serious competitor for Amazon, particularly outside the U.S. There are just so many people out there with Android devices, and Play comes loaded on there, ready to go. And unlike Apple, Google actually seems to be making a play for competitiveness. I feel a bit like I'm getting in on the ground floor at Google, as people did with Amazon in 2010. I hate to screw that up. Soooo ...  But all this is a moot point, for now, since I don't have a paid book up there! |
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Post by Rinelle Grey on Jul 1, 2014 23:18:50 GMT -5
I'm tentatively thinking, when I come out of select, of putting single books on Google play (first one free anyway), but keeping bundles limited to other channels.
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Post by Becca Mills on Jul 2, 2014 11:52:22 GMT -5
I'm tentatively thinking, when I come out of select, of putting single books on Google play (first one free anyway), but keeping bundles limited to other channels. That seems like a smart way to limit the possible damage. |
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Post by Hsin-Yi on Jul 4, 2014 11:49:07 GMT -5
I like your thinking, Becca!  I'm an Android person myself - never got on the iSheep bandwagon - and agree that Google could be a serious competitor. I'm still thinking of risking my books there. They don't sell anywhere NEAR the level of Viola's so I think they're probably safe for a while - as it does seem as if GP go after the "big fish"  I don't understand why she only earned $8 though... (I wanted to ask that in that thread but am always a bit hesitant to post on KBoards - it always feels a bit intimidating if you're not a big seller - sort of feel like you don't have anything worthwhile to say!  ) - but yeah, I don't understand: if Google still pay you your old royalty during the discount and they give away that many free copies - then shouldn't she have made a significant amount there too? |
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Post by Becca Mills on Jul 5, 2014 20:52:51 GMT -5
I like your thinking, Becca! I'm an Android person myself - never got on the iSheep bandwagon - and agree that Google could be a serious competitor. I'm still thinking of risking my books there. They don't sell anywhere NEAR the level of Viola's so I think they're probably safe for a while - as it does seem as if GP go after the "big fish" I don't understand why she only earned $8 though... (I wanted to ask that in that thread but am always a bit hesitant to post on KBoards - it always feels a bit intimidating if you're not a big seller - sort of feel like you don't have anything worthwhile to say! ) - but yeah, I don't understand: if Google still pay you your old royalty during the discount and they give away that many free copies - then shouldn't she have made a significant amount there too? She must've only moved a few copies. I guess she hadn't yet gained traction on Google at the time of the sale? If she pops in, we can ask her. |
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Post by Becca Mills on Jul 31, 2014 21:40:58 GMT -5
Updated for July:
all Amazons: 6183 (Nov13) + 780 (Dec13) + 663 (Jan14) + 347 (Feb14) + 383 (Mar14) + 262 (Apr14) + 245 (May14) + 200 (Jun14) + 218 (Jul14) = 9281
Google: 974 (Nov-Mar) + 537 (Apr) + 619 (May14) + 672 (Jun14) + 659 (Jul14) = 3461
Smashwords: 173 (Nov-Mar) + 119 (Apr) + 32 (May14) + 28 (Jun14) + 44 (Jul14) = 396
B&N: 150 (Nov-Mar) + 131 (Apr) + 157 (May14) + 85 (Jun14) + 68 (Jul14) = 591
Kobo: 85 (Nov13-Feb14) + 19 (Mar14-Jul14) = 91
Drivethru Fiction: 32 (Nov-Mar) + 1 (Apr) + 4 (May14) + 1 (Jun14) + 5 (Jul14) = 39
iTunes: 24 (Nov-Mar) + 9 (Apr) + 2 (May14) + 4 (Jun14) + 3 (Jul14) = 40
XinXii: 0 (Jul14) = 0
Scribd: 603 (Nov13-Ju14) = 603
Total given away since going permafree: 14502
Total downloaded: 48700 (only 1200 paid)
Google seems to have plateaued, at least for the moment. I'm including Scribd reads for the first time. I uploaded to XinXii last month; no action there so far. Kobo's reporting happened to be up this time when I checked. Amazing. Reviews continue to come in at a much higher rate at Google (35 reviews across 3461 downloads -- 1/99) than at Amazon (118 reviews across about 43450 downloads -- 1/368), and to be more generous. I'm not sure what could account for the difference. Maybe Google makes reviewing easier. Maybe there are fewer decent free books on Google, so more readers feel pleasantly surprised. That said, review rates have picked up substantially at Amazon since Nolander went permafree. Before permafree, I think the review rate was more like 1/405. My guess is that unpromoted-permafree downloaders are more likely actually to read the book than Select-freebie downloaders because they've actually gone looking for free books that interest them, as opposed to grabbing them in large quantities off a promotion email.
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Post by Becca Mills on Sept 1, 2014 18:14:35 GMT -5
Updated for August:
all Amazons: 6183 (Nov13) + 780 (Dec13) + 663 (Jan14) + 347 (Feb14) + 383 (Mar14) + 262 (Apr14) + 245 (May14) + 200 (Jun14) + 218 (Jul14) + 179 (Aug14) = 9460
Google: 974 (Nov-Mar) + 537 (Apr) + 619 (May14) + 672 (Jun14) + 659 (Jul14) + 698 (Aug14) = 4159
Smashwords: 173 (Nov-Mar) + 119 (Apr) + 32 (May14) + 28 (Jun14) + 44 (Jul14) + 25 (Aug14) = 421
B&N: 150 (Nov-Mar) + 131 (Apr) + 157 (May14) + 85 (Jun14) + 68 (Jul14) + 29 (Aug14) = 620
Kobo: 85 (Nov13-Feb14) + 19 (Mar14-Jul14) + 4 (Aug14) = 109
Drivethru Fiction: 32 (Nov-Mar) + 1 (Apr) + 4 (May14) + 1 (Jun14) + 5 (Jul14) + 1 (Aug14) = 44
iTunes: 24 (Nov-Mar) + 9 (Apr) + 2 (May14) + 4 (Jun14) + 3 (Jul14) + 7 (Aug14) = 49
XinXii ($.99): Jul14-Aug14 = 0
Scribd: Nov13-Aug14 = 52
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Post by Becca Mills on Sept 30, 2014 22:45:54 GMT -5
It feels so weird to be updating this again. I swear I *just* did it. This is how you grow old, right? The months just disappear.
all Amazons: 6183 (Nov13) + 780 (Dec13) + 663 (Jan14) + 347 (Feb14) + 383 (Mar14) + 262 (Apr14) + 245 (May14) + 200 (Jun14) + 218 (Jul14) + 179 (Aug14) + 422 (Sep14) = 9882
Google: 974 (Nov-Mar) + 537 (Apr) + 619 (May14) + 672 (Jun14) + 659 (Jul14) + 698 (Aug14) + 529 (Sep14) = 4688
Smashwords: 173 (Nov-Mar) + 119 (Apr) + 32 (May14) + 28 (Jun14) + 44 (Jul14) + 25 (Aug14) + 14 = 435
B&N: 150 (Nov-Mar) + 131 (Apr) + 157 (May14) + 85 (Jun14) + 68 (Jul14) + 29 (Aug14) + 13 (Sep14) = 633
Kobo: 85 (Nov13-Feb14) + 19 (Mar14-Jul14) + 4 (Aug14) + ? (Sep14) = 99
Drivethru Fiction: 32 (Nov-Mar) + 1 (Apr) + 4 (May14) + 1 (Jun14) + 5 (Jul14) + 1 (Aug14) + 3 (Sep14) = 47
iTunes: 24 (Nov-Mar) + 9 (Apr) + 2 (May14) + 4 (Jun14) + 3 (Jul14) + 7 (Aug14) + 2 (Sep14) = 51
XinXii ($.99): Jul14-Sep14 = 0
Scribd (views): Nov13-Sep14 = 54
Not sure what's going on with Kobo -- my all-time total downloads went down this month (by 10). Something seems not to be working properly over there. Google went down for the first time this month. A little bump at Amazon -- someone somewhere pushed/mentioned/reviewed Nolander on the 19th. Without that outside influence, the Amazon downloads would've been lower than last month's.
So, this is what one unpromoted fantasy permafree looks like after 11 months -- fairly consistent decline. Once Solatium is available, I'll need to steadily promote Nolander to keep it more visible to new readers.
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Post by Daniel on Oct 1, 2014 8:42:56 GMT -5
So, this is what one unpromoted fantasy permafree looks like after 11 months -- fairly consistent decline. Once Solatium is available, I'll need to steadily promote Nolander to keep it more visible to new readers. To be fair, that's one isolated permafree. Once Solatium is out there, you should get some ranking synergy between the two titles. I don't know if that will be enough to keep your permafree more visible, but that does seem to happen for some other authors. Not that steady promotion is a bad idea. |
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Post by Becca Mills on Oct 1, 2014 9:53:03 GMT -5
So, this is what one unpromoted fantasy permafree looks like after 11 months -- fairly consistent decline. Once Solatium is available, I'll need to steadily promote Nolander to keep it more visible to new readers. To be fair, that's one isolated permafree. Once Solatium is out there, you should get some ranking synergy between the two titles. I don't know if that will be enough to keep your permafree more visible, but that does seem to happen for some other authors. Not that steady promotion is a bad idea. Good point, Daniel. I hadn't been thinking of it that way, but hopefully you're right! |
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Post by Becca Mills on Nov 3, 2014 15:55:03 GMT -5
Updating just my two biggest platforms for October, as I'm feeling rushed!
all Amazons: 6183 (Nov13) + 780 (Dec13) + 663 (Jan14) + 347 (Feb14) + 383 (Mar14) + 262 (Apr14) + 245 (May14) + 200 (Jun14) + 218 (Jul14) + 179 (Aug14) + 422 (Sep14) + 206 (Oct14) = 10,088
Google: 974 (Nov-Mar) + 537 (Apr) + 619 (May14) + 672 (Jun14) + 659 (Jul14) + 698 (Aug14) + 529 (Sep14) + 1988 (Oct14) = 6676
So, a big spike at Google. The specific breakdown of the lion's share of those downloads:
UK: 832
Australia: 634
U.S.: 448
The other nations are double-digits and lower.
I don't know what accounts for the big spike (close to 4x September's downloads), or why UK downloads are so high, there. Nolander is near the top of the front page of two fantasy subcats on Google Play. It's possible that one of those (general) is new. I'm not sure. I don't think I'd looked for it in that category before.
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Post by Becca Mills on Nov 3, 2014 16:03:54 GMT -5
I'm not about to go through and graph the Google downloads, but just skimming over the transaction report quickly, I can see downloads were definitely increasing as the month went by. It'd be nice if they did a graph like Amazon does, so one could pinpoint when things changed.
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Post by carlos on Nov 3, 2014 22:09:56 GMT -5
"Permafree?" Is that an official status? The concept sort of appeals to me because I'd like to be read, and yet I have almost zero interest in marketing. Of course I'd also like to make a zillion dollars--but I recognize the unlikelihood of such an outcome.
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Post by Becca Mills on Nov 4, 2014 2:23:53 GMT -5
Yes, you can usually make a book permanently free on Amazon by setting it free on other retailers and waiting for Amazon (or pushing Amazon) to match the price. I really like it. It's gotten my first book into far, far more hands than it had a hope of reaching even at $.99. That said, the way I'm using permafree -- on the first in a series when I don't even have the second in the series out, yet -- is highly atypical. I'm pretty sure it's not what anyone else would recommend. Most people suggest waiting until you have three in a series out, so that people who pick up the first book for free and like it get "funneled" into the later books, which have price tags. And hey, if you discover the zillion-dollar secret, drop me a PM, would you? |
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Post by Becca Mills on Dec 1, 2014 1:05:56 GMT -5
Quick update ...
all Amazons: 6183 (Nov13) + 780 (Dec13) + 663 (Jan14) + 347 (Feb14) + 383 (Mar14) + 262 (Apr14) + 245 (May14) + 200 (Jun14) + 218 (Jul14) + 179 (Aug14) + 422 (Sep14) + 206 (Oct14) + 299 (Nov14) = 10,387
Google: 974 (thru Mar14) + 537 (Apr14) + 619 (May14) + 672 (Jun14) + 659 (Jul14) + 698 (Aug14) + 529 (Sep14) + 1988 (Oct14) + 2842 (Nov14) = 9518
More growth on Google this month. The UK accounts for the largest share of those downloads -- about 1500 -- with the U.S. and Australia following. I'm guessing that Google readers are generating a little word-of-mouth action in Australia and the UK, since I'm seeing some small growth in those nations on Amazon. Small. Definitely small.
At this point, Google is close to surpassing Amazon for total permafree downloads. The book has outstanding visibility, there -- probably because it's a relatively small pool.
I just noticed that the end of last month marked two full years of permafree for Nolander on Amazon and one full year on Google. Total giveaways during that period were about 16,800 with no follow-up novel available. Plus an unknown number of readers from a free multi-author collection (The Paranormal 13), which has moved a lot of copies, sticking in the Top 70 free since publication October 12. Quite the experiment, eh? I just published Solatium on Amazon and am about to go stick it up on Google (hopefully ... Google doesn't make it easy), so we'll see what happens. I'm putting it up at full price for the moment but will discount it to $.99 before sending the notice out to my mailing list. Warning my Fb followers to wait for the sale.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 1, 2014 17:18:51 GMT -5
I know this thread has been around for awhile, but I'm really looking forward to going wide with my future works. I thought my first new work would come out in May, but it will be April. If perma-free is still a viable approach in four months, I'll definitely do it with my future works. My first Benton book is now permafree. Sales had stopped, but now the second book has some movement again.
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Post by Becca Mills on Dec 1, 2014 17:47:03 GMT -5
That's great, Jolie. I hope permafree continues to work well for the Benton series. I had reached the same point you had -- sales had stopped on Nolander. At that point, you sort of think, Well, why not? New readers vs. no new readers. Of course, if you have a second (or more) in the series, as you do, it makes even more sense.
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Post by Hsin-Yi on Dec 2, 2014 6:41:41 GMT -5
I know this thread has been around for awhile, but I'm really looking forward to going wide with my future works. I thought my first new work would come out in May, but it will be April. If perma-free is still a viable approach in four months, I'll definitely do it with my future works. My first Benton book is now permafree. Sales had stopped, but now the second book has some movement again. That's really interesting, Jolie! I hope sales of your 2nd book continue to grow! Do you have Book 3 in that series out yet? Becca - now that your 2nd book is out, have you noticed/do you feel that the permafree is helping sales? Permafree has been wonderful for me with this new sweet romance series. It was literally like turning on a tap. Am getting steady sales now on Books 1, 2 & 3 ever since the Xmas novella went permafree. I can't wait to get Book 3 written in my Singapore romantic thriller series - which is currently DEAD - so I can try permafree on that as well! |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 2, 2014 9:25:25 GMT -5
I know this thread has been around for awhile, but I'm really looking forward to going wide with my future works. I thought my first new work would come out in May, but it will be April. If perma-free is still a viable approach in four months, I'll definitely do it with my future works. My first Benton book is now permafree. Sales had stopped, but now the second book has some movement again. That's really interesting, Jolie! I hope sales of your 2nd book continue to grow! Do you have Book 3 in that series out yet? Becca - now that your 2nd book is out, have you noticed/do you feel that the permafree is helping sales? Permafree has been wonderful for me with this new sweet romance series. It was literally like turning on a tap. Am getting steady sales now on Books 1, 2 & 3 ever since the Xmas novella went permafree. I can't wait to get Book 3 written in my Singapore romantic thriller series - which is currently DEAD - so I can try permafree on that as well! Book 3 comes out this month. My erotica writing has been bringing in the money in the meantime. |
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I'm an Android person myself - never got on the iSheep bandwagon - and agree that Google could be a serious competitor. I'm still thinking of risking my books there. They don't sell anywhere NEAR the level of Viola's so I think they're probably safe for a while - as it does seem as if GP go after the "big fish" 
) - but yeah, I don't understand: if Google still pay you your old royalty during the discount and they give away that many free copies - then shouldn't she have made a significant amount there too?
