I saw this article linked to from Twitter: http://blog.mixtusmedia.com/the-future-of-book-publishing-5-lessons-from-the-music-industry/
The 5 lessons those in book publishing are meant to glean from the music industry are:
1) Don't fight technology advances as delivery vehicles
2) Quality over quantity
3) Use social media
4) Don't fear "free"
5) Don't fall back on old ways (what used to work re: book sales)
I am fine with those, except #4 which extolls the virtues of giving away a book to gain new fans. I hate that idea. It took me yearS to write the MS I'm querying. I'm no old hand in the business churning out formulaic genre offerings every quarter. I've only got my one offering, and I can't imagine giving it away.
And anyway, are the bargain hunters really my ideal audience? Or are they an online version of coupon clippers who may not even read the book they downloaded - they just got it b/c it was free.
I do remember reading an article by an author w/several books out who gave one away for free and saw an uptick in her online sales of other books. But, with one book under my belt (finished, revised, and querying) and fresh from all the constant work I do to improve my skill set, it just seems illogical. It's not like a bread sample at the grocery store.
The 5 lessons those in book publishing are meant to glean from the music industry are:
1) Don't fight technology advances as delivery vehicles
2) Quality over quantity
3) Use social media
4) Don't fear "free"
5) Don't fall back on old ways (what used to work re: book sales)
I am fine with those, except #4 which extolls the virtues of giving away a book to gain new fans. I hate that idea. It took me yearS to write the MS I'm querying. I'm no old hand in the business churning out formulaic genre offerings every quarter. I've only got my one offering, and I can't imagine giving it away.
And anyway, are the bargain hunters really my ideal audience? Or are they an online version of coupon clippers who may not even read the book they downloaded - they just got it b/c it was free.
I do remember reading an article by an author w/several books out who gave one away for free and saw an uptick in her online sales of other books. But, with one book under my belt (finished, revised, and querying) and fresh from all the constant work I do to improve my skill set, it just seems illogical. It's not like a bread sample at the grocery store.