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Last Post:
Jan 13, 2010 12:14 PM
by: al90444
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How do I give away promotional versions of my eBook?
Posted:
Nov 3, 2009 6:48 PM
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Hi,
How do I give away a promotional copy of a Kindle book? I'd like to be able to generate a gift certificate type thing for the press when I'm promoting my book. I give them print and electronic copies, but I'd like to be able to sent someone a copy of a book via the DTP so it shows up on their kindle. Either by push (i enter an account name) or pull (i generate a gift code and they grab it).
Any ideas?
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1,287
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12/31/69
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Re: How do I give away promotional versions of my eBook?
Posted:
Nov 4, 2009 10:20 AM
in response to: dylan1816
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Dear Publisher,
Currently we don’t have this feature on DTP; however we are working to make this available.
Thank you.
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Posts:
5
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11/27/07
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Re: How do I give away promotional versions of my eBook?
Posted:
Nov 5, 2009 2:22 AM
in response to: dtpadmin
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Is there an ETA for this feature?
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Posts:
4
Registered:
9/2/09
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Re: How do I give away promotional versions of my eBook?
Posted:
Nov 5, 2009 9:48 AM
in response to: dylan1816
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8 of the top 10 bestsellers (as of Nov 5, 2009) are free titles -- all released by large commercial publishers.
Obviously, Amazon will distribute select titles on Kindle for free based on some arrangement with the publisher.
So what's the deal? How do DTP users request consideration for this exclusive and highly coveted publicity program?
JUST TELL US WHO TO SLEEP WITH AND WE'LL DO IT!
- mm
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11/23/07
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Re: How do I give away promotional versions of my eBook?
Posted:
Nov 6, 2009 2:41 AM
in response to: mattmchugh_dot_...
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Well, you might email a photo to jeffbezos@amazon.com, but I don't hold out much hope. There are two avenues for publishing, one for mainstream publishe4rs and the other for us.
When I look at Kindle bestsellers, the top 6 are $9.99 or (Sarah Palin, a special case) $9.
No 7 is a freebie from Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense. Good grief. Oh, okay, that's Harlequin Romances, mainstream enough. They're probably launching a new author, series, or perhaps Inspired brand.
The next four are variously priced.
No. 12 is another freebie, from Samhain Publishing, which I've never heard of but which has a fairly professional looking website with dozens of titles. Again it's probably a launch.
Anyhow, the situation doesn't seem nearly as bad as you say, at least this morning, with only 2 of the top 12 returns being free. And note that Jeff has a motive to play this game, since he too will benefit if the new launches catch on. This is much less likely to apply to independent author/publishers, whose motive for free distribution is more likely vanity than longterm financial gain.
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Re: How do I give away promotional versions of my eBook?
Posted:
Nov 9, 2009 11:13 PM
in response to: cub06h
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"When I look at Kindle bestsellers, the top 6 are $9.99"
What list you lookin' at? Try this one:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/digital-text/ref=pd_dp_ts_kinc_1
Early morning, Tuesday Nov 10, 9 out of 10 are Price=$0. I notice a few for-pay titles in the top 100 that were offered free for a week or two, so there's huge "bump" potential there. If Cousin Jeff really wants a toe-hold in the future of publishing, encouraging sales of "Kindle independent" authors ("Kindependents" ... you heard the term hear first!) seems an innovative way to create a revenue stream from thin air. The 65% cut he takes in the DTP program is lot more pure profit than he's getting from major publishers, whom he's been price-subsidizing since the Kindle's inception.
A free sample is the best promotional tool. It would be nice if the Kindle were a bit more democratic about whom it offers that option to. As for vanity, vanity and money are the only reasons anyone does anything. Be nice to get a little of both sometimes.
-- mm
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Re: How do I give away promotional versions of my eBook?
Posted:
Jan 2, 2010 10:18 AM
in response to: dtpadmin
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I am very interested in this as well.
It's my content, my material, why can't I set up to give it away for free for a week?
All your admin has to do is lift the limitation of the prices we can enter for our book. Easy fix. That should be available within a couple hours, not days or weeks -- certainly not the time between November 4th and January 2nd.
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Re: How do I give away promotional versions of my eBook?
Posted:
Jan 4, 2010 3:43 PM
in response to: jackyfaye
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Because DTP Guy says you can't.
You want to publish on the DTP, you follow the rules here established. If you would prefer to give your book away, you ought to try Smashwords, which provides that option.
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Posts:
90
Registered:
1/10/10
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Re: How do I give away promotional versions of my eBook?
Posted:
Jan 13, 2010 7:37 AM
in response to: cub06h
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I'm guessing here, because, although I've published one Kindle book, I'm still waiting for my Kindle to arrive, so I can't try it. (It does work for "Kindle for PC.") But how about this?
You have the content of your book. Get it into .prc format (with Mobipocket creator) and email the .prc file to those to whom you wish to give free copies. That gets amazon out of the loop and lets you comp free copies to only those on your list.
Will this work?
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Posts:
90
Registered:
1/10/10
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Re: How do I give away promotional versions of my eBook?
Posted:
Jan 13, 2010 12:14 PM
in response to: al90444
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The Kindle arrived today. What I suggested does work. I think that solves the problem.
As a computer software journalist (now retired) I got and still get lots of promotional email plugging things folks want me to review. It is always accompanied by offers of free copies. Build yourself an email list of reviewers and offer to send them copies of your .prc files.
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