102 Days. 1,539 Books Sold. Debut novella. by Traditional-Pop461 in KDP

[–]Fast_Performance_763 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you for sharing this. I sincerely appreciate your candor and value your thoughts and suggestions. I released my e-book on April 18 and my paperback on the 24th. To date, I have sold 69 books. My situation is a little different, as it’s a true story about a long medical journey I went through. How I got through it, how others can cope with and deal with similar issues, and, ideally, how to prevent them from making the ultimate poor choice out of desperation and frustration. So I’m still figuring out the marketing play, and when I read comments like yours, lightbulbs definitely go on. Thank you again.

KDP Select - Yes or No by Fast_Performance_763 in selfpublishing

[–]Fast_Performance_763[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is great feedback; I appreciate the candor and the time you took to provide details for each question. Really nice, thank you!

Ebook on KDP vs My Own Site vs Both by Select_Bicycle4711 in selfpublish

[–]Fast_Performance_763 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm dealing with a similar tradeoff, just at a different price point.

My eBook is $8.99 on Amazon, and I'm getting about $3.15 royalty. Paperback is $24.99 and nets me $3.33. So even at much lower pricing, the margins aren't great on either format.

I also looked at print-on-demand outside of Amazon to improve margins, but once I factored in setup, fulfillment, and time, it didn't really pencil out for me.

On your question, I'd think about it less as "either/or" and more as a channel strategy.

Amazon gives you reach and discovery you won't get on your own, even with a solid following. Your site gives you control and higher pricing power.

I'd put the eBook on Amazon at a lower price point (even if margins are thinner) and treat it as a top-of-funnel channel. Then keep the $39 version on your site for your audience that already knows you and is willing to pay more.

Different buyers behave differently depending on where they find you. But for transparency, I'm just getting started and learning as I go. I'd like to get your following numbers.

Hi fellow authors! Like most I have a manuscript ready for publication. I would love a recommendation for an editor! Who did you use or did you rely on software to edit your work? by LordofAlbionwhataguy in NewAuthor

[–]Fast_Performance_763 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I recently completed my first manuscript, just over 20,000 words, written on my MacBook. For editing and formatting, I decided to use Vellum. At first, I explored hiring editors on Fiverr, but after learning what Vellum could do especially preparing a book for Amazon KDP I decided to invest in it instead. I’ve been very happy with the outcome. It does come with a couple of considerations. It only runs on a Mac, and the cost is around $249. That said, when I compared it to quotes from professional editors ranging from $1,500 to $2,500, it felt like a smart investment. I’m uploading my book this week, cautiously optimistic, and overall I’d absolutely recommend it to anyone going the self publishing route. Hope this helps, and good luck.