Insane pricing or no?

[princephoenix]

If the content is good enough, do you think it crazy to charge $0.99 for an erotic short story? I'm talking anywhere from 2000-5000 words. I was mulling over the fact that people pay on average $0.99 for a 3-minute song, $1.29 if its new, on Itunes.

What do you guys think? This is helping me in my decision to publish each story separately (since most of them have nothing to do with each other) or as a compilation.

Thanks!

 

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[joanna]

Well, I wouldn't charge more for something under 5k words. Whether it will find buyers is another thing. I've seen people argue either way, probably marketing to the right audience would make a difference. It would be interesting to hear from someone who actually has more of such work to see what works.

In theory you are right, people pay more for a cup of coffee, on the other hand the savy readers tend to notice the wordcount vs price and compare it to longer titles available for the same price. Personally I would publish individual ones (especially closer to the 5k mark) + a collection. Helps make the collection look like a good deal then. Also you're might want to make one/some of the shorts into a perma-free title that would help sell the collection.

 

[1step]

What do you guys think? This is helping me in my decision to publish each story separately (since most of them have nothing to do with each other) or as a compilation.

Do both, if you are selling on kindle you wont make much from the .99 ones but if you publish 5 for .99 and bundle them all together at 2.99 it could work out well for you. This gives you more listing opportunities for readers to find your work.

 

[COSenior]

I was mulling over the fact that people pay on average $0.99 for a 3-minute song, $1.29 if its new, on Itunes.

You could say the same thing about a price point of 2.99 and a cup of Starbucks. Unfortunately, there's no way to make that argument to the readers without creating resentment. And the readers do notice. I've tried different price-points for different lengths, and much to my dismay, haven't been able to sell anything below 30k words at 2.99, one or two sales (literally) notwithstanding. The only way I can see that we as indies can run against that stream is to band together and price-fix. Which, of course, would be illegal even if it were possible. I've even heard from someone who does well in the industry that erotic shorts don't sell anymore. I've also heard to treat that statement as hogwash. In the end, the only thing that works is testing. But the advice from both of the previous responders is solid, in my opinion. Which is just that.

 

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[Rawr]

Erotica, no. Go for it.

Others, no clue.

Can't really go below .99 so you either do it, or you up it to say 12-15k and try 2.99 (again, erotica, heavy romance)

 

[1step]

I should add that by selling your 5 books at .99 if you choose to use KDP select that gives you 25 days out of 90 that you can offer your book for free. This gives you the opportunity to reach far more potential fans. Create the bundle in addition and it reaches 30/90 days.

(In case someone doesnt understand how kindle works, you can promote your book by offering it for free 5 days out of a 90 day span, so thats how I got to the numbers above. 5 books times 5 days = 25 days free promotion)

 

[santa]

Good points by others here already.
I think 5k would be the minimum to be honest. (but as others have said, we all have different experiences)

Also, at .99 you only make 20%. x6 5k stories = 30k, if someone bought all of them, you make a dollar.
x1 30k story at 2.99 makes you two dollars.
That was my thinking. HOWEVER, starting with short stories, could be a good way to improve one's writing without getting overburdened with longer lengths. Also 6 books = more shelf space vs the one maybe.

Also nothing to stop you taking those 6 stories and bundling them at 2.99. Cheaper for any reader who buys one and wants to read the rest + you make more commision too

 

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[COSenior]

Good points by others here already.
I think 5k would be the minimum to be honest. (but as others have said, we all have different experiences)

Also, at .99 you only make 20%. x6 5k stories = 30k, if someone bought all of them, you make a dollar.
x1 30k story at 2.99 makes you two dollars.
That was my thinking. HOWEVER, starting with short stories, could be a good way to improve one's writing without getting overburdened with longer lengths. Also 6 books = more shelf space vs the one maybe.

Also nothing to stop you taking those 6 stories and bundling them at 2.99. Cheaper for any reader who buys one and wants to read the rest + you make more commision too

Not sure I'm following the math, as I thought the royalty was 35% at Amazon, or maybe we're talking another venue? But that is only a side note. I'm replying to say that I, along with several others who post here regularly, have been guilty of thinking in terms of a single sale. No one's going to make a living that way. So let's say princephoenix finds his audience, they love his books and everyone buys most of them. On Amazon, he makes .35 per sale, or a couple of bucks on six stories. But, he's found his audience; 10,000 people buy those stories and now he's replaced a modest yearly income. And they don't stop selling, a few people buy his backlist as he writes six new stories. His audience grows. He's writing steadily, his stories are growing larger, along with his backlist. Boom! Full-time writer in 2-3 years, or seven months if he's determined. Impossible? Ask HfR.

 

[jimr]

He's writing steadily, his stories are growing larger, along with his backlist. Boom! Full-time writer in 2-3 years, or seven months if he's determined. Impossible? Ask HfR.

Spot on. Add in a little speed work and the rest should, in theory, be history.

 

[princephoenix]

Not sure I'm following the math, as I thought the royalty was 35% at Amazon, or maybe we're talking another venue? But that is only a side note. I'm replying to say that I, along with several others who post here regularly, have been guilty of thinking in terms of a single sale. No one's going to make a living that way. So let's say princephoenix finds his audience, they love his books and everyone buys most of them. On Amazon, he makes .35 per sale, or a couple of bucks on six stories. But, he's found his audience; 10,000 people buy those stories and now he's replaced a modest yearly income. And they don't stop selling, a few people buy his backlist as he writes six new stories. His audience grows. He's writing steadily, his stories are growing larger, along with his backlist. Boom! Full-time writer in 2-3 years, or seven months if he's determined. Impossible? Ask HfR.

Well wow, that's all the motivation I needed for this week! Thanks!!!

 

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[santa]

as I thought the royalty was 35% at Amazon, or maybe we're talking another venue? But that is only a side note. I'm replying to say that I, along with several others who post here regularly, have been guilty of thinking in terms of a single sale. No one's going to make a living that way. So let's say princephoenix finds his audience, they love his books and everyone buys most of them. On Amazon, he makes .35 per sale, or a couple of bucks on six stories.

Ha...my head was all over the place.
Yes, 35% for amazon, which actually makes selling 6 five thousand word stories at .99 about the same as selling one 30k story in terms of commission. Which makes it a much more compelling proposition.

10,000 people buy those stories

Well said. The beauty in your example, you *only* need to have 10 thousand people interested to have found a nice you can make a living from.

writing steadily, his stories are growing larger, along with his backlist

It may take time to find that 10 thousand, but once you've got them, POW!

 

[COSenior]

you *only* need to have 10 thousand people interested to have found a nice you can make a living from

It sounds like a lot, doesn't it? But a well-known author I've been in touch with has sold 50,000 copies of her latest book. And, as you say, once you find them, they're yours as long as you give them what they want.