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Should I publish an ebook on my site or Amazon?

by Jeffsg605
15 replies
I wrote an ebook in a pretty specific niche. I started a website with a blog a couple months ago and I'm planning on launching the book February 1st. At the rate I'm at, I will have a little over 400 people on my email list by that date. I'd like to sell the book for $14 but offer a half price deal for the first two weeks or so. Here are my options.

1. Publish on a site like Gumroad where I could sell the book straight from my site. I feel like my pricing model would work well here as opposed to option 2...

2. Publish on amazon. Ebooks seem to be cheaper on Amazon so it seems pointless to offer half price at $3 when it only sells for $6.
I've also heard to offer your ebook free for a little while to gather downloads and reviews and then start charging.

Is my email list big enough to sell directly to them or should I just go straight to Amazon?
Thanks!
#amazon #ebook #publish #site
  • Profile picture of the author sterlingmoss
    Well you might sell some books to your email list, but what happens after? Chances are they're a one time customer.

    Amazon will always give you new customers.
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  • Profile picture of the author Ricky Borrows
    Send your ebook to your list for a few days straight.

    I would then strongly consider hosting a webinar and teach people about the value behind the ebook. You can then introduce a call to action which will give people the option to buy you ebook straight off Amazon.

    Dude a list of 400 email subscribers a good start!

    You can also write a blog post about the ebook and send people to Amazon to buy. This is advertising that stays on the internet forever.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jo Li
    Hi,

    and what to do when book is ready, sales page is ready and I don;t have any mailing list? Maybe someone will help?
    Thanks,
    Joel
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  • Profile picture of the author softwareworldit
    I suggest if you have a lot of email of buyer who will buy your ebook feature, you send message them. Email Marketing is better than amazon.
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  • Profile picture of the author Rose Anderson
    You might consider selling it cheaply on Amazon as a way to build your email list. At the end of your book offer something free -- a workbook or a checklist or something that will entice people to sign-up to your list.

    Then when you write a second book you'll have a larger list to sell to.

    Rose
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  • Profile picture of the author unlimitedoptions
    Hi:

    One strategy is to sell to your list at a discount ($3) first for a week to give them the advantage of being "on the inside." Let them know you will be raising the price soon so they should take advantage of the insider deal. Then offer the book on Amazon at full price for $14 for one week then reduce it to your $3 price. You will normally need reviews on Amazon to get much traction selling.

    Second strategy is to give the book away for 7 days. Start with your mailing list again and then offer it free on Amazon for 7 days. After the 14 days of free you should have reviews and start attraction othe potential buyers.

    Good Luck,

    Dan
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  • Profile picture of the author Jeffsg605
    Thanks guys for the advice. It looks like my book needs to be on amazon at some point. Seeing as how this would be my first book and therefore I have no reputation, what do you think about this:

    I'll offer my ebook for free on amazon for a week and let my email list know about it. Then for one week I'll raise the price to a few bucks and send out another couple emails. Then I'll raise it to its normal selling price.
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    • Profile picture of the author Ricky Borrows
      Keep your ebook at a consistent steady price. Even though you have 400 people on your list, 4 might buy from you. You have to keep giving them value and continuously solve problems.
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  • Profile picture of the author ChrisBa
    Originally Posted by Jeffsg605 View Post

    I wrote an ebook in a pretty specific niche. I started a website with a blog a couple months ago and I'm planning on launching the book February 1st. At the rate I'm at, I will have a little over 400 people on my email list by that date. I'd like to sell the book for $14 but offer a half price deal for the first two weeks or so. Here are my options.

    1. Publish on a site like Gumroad where I could sell the book straight from my site. I feel like my pricing model would work well here as opposed to option 2...

    2. Publish on amazon. Ebooks seem to be cheaper on Amazon so it seems pointless to offer half price at $3 when it only sells for $6.
    I've also heard to offer your ebook free for a little while to gather downloads and reviews and then start charging.

    Is my email list big enough to sell directly to them or should I just go straight to Amazon?
    Thanks!
    IMO Amazon is a much better bet, it will give you a much better chance at reaching a larger audience.
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  • Profile picture of the author incomeindaycom
    It would be Good if you already have a tribe. i mean your target audience. they know, like and trust you. then think about amazon.

    If your website has enough organic traffic then why not. make sure you ebook has much value for the community
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  • Profile picture of the author EPoltrack77
    Hopefully your building a list. You need to understand all you are doing with Amazon is leveraging their traffic. There are many ways to get traffic these days.

    It's a good place to start!
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  • Profile picture of the author menjac21
    personnally because you have a list of 40 people you want a biger list go on instagram find big influencer in your niche like 20 to 200k people subscribe to them and ask them for a shoutout then give your book for free for their email then send them value email about your niche create a fan page make a dark post and boost it do the same thing your gonna get a bigger list you can do a solo ad too go on clickonomy its from anik singal really good guy
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  • Profile picture of the author VidasVegas
    The best way to promote your ebook is to find web traffic agencies.
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  • Profile picture of the author writeaway
    I would stick with Amazon Kindle.

    It's easier to get a bestseller going there than you promoting your own site.

    With that said, if you know how to build an author brand quickly in your niche (with the help of a solid list building campaign), you'd probably make more money selling books off your own site.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jeffsg605
    Hmm, I guess I'm leaning towards Amazon. I don't expect this book to be a best seller. Really, I guess I want it to be my "Tripwire" offer, but I don't yet have a feature product.

    Down the road, I'm kind of planning on transcribing it to audio, creating a course, and creating some worksheets/planners that I can sell with the book as a package.

    I think I'm going to put it on Amazon.

    Thanks for all the input guys! You gave me a lot to think about.
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