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I found this post on a blog that has nothing to do with writing... but if you read it with your writer's mind it has everything to do with it.

I cite the first paragraph:

Why buy the cow if you can get the milk for free

In all relationships, and traditional relationship advice there is a very old expression that goes “Why buy the cow if you can get the milk for free�. Hello people, stop giving away your milk for free, no one will buy you. If there is something out there that we want we tend to place a higher value on it if it costs us something. The same goes for our relationships. Some people are just so anxious to prove their value that they give away everything they have for free in order to show someone else that they are worth it. However, to the person you are proving your point � you have no value. Pay attention here people, to them you have no value. What you have to offer cost them nothing so you have no value.



Isn't that applicable to ebooks too? What is the percentage of freely downloaded ebooks never read, never considered, only occupying a space in the rom of the kindle waiting to be deleted to make space for the next truckload of FREE ebooks...

I bet it is a minimal percentage those who are actually read. Does FREE create your readers' base or only if you have a readers' base FREE has a value?

I have used free books in a limited way with some success. Making the initial book of a series free or discounted once other volumes are for sale is one way to entice readers to sample the series and see if they want to buy later books. I think that "free" generally works best as a limited-time promotion rather than a permanent thing. I'd agree that something that is free or very cheap all of the time is not seen as having the same intrinsic value as something that ordinarily costs more.

Once upon a time, I made a living as a jewelry artist, and sold a lot of my work at art shows and craft festivals. I had a formula that I used to set my prices that was based on material and time invested, but I found that that wasn't always the best approach. If I had a piece that wasn't selling, even though it was getting a lot of attention, I didn't discount it: instead, I would triple the price. It would usually sell quickly after that. The price increase changed the customers' perception of the intrinsic value of the piece, making it more desirable.

The market for e-books has been conditioned to expect free books, to some extent, and I think it is smart to offer a free or cheap "loss leader" under certain circumstances, but I also think that we need to be careful to protect the perceived value of our work.

I agree, J.D.

At best 'free' is a limited in time marketing stunt that might work when a user base is well established. Interesting your anecdote on tripling the price and scoring sales.

I vouch for cheap "loss leader"—say pricing a short promotional period for $0.99 and than going back to full price again. As you said, the market has been un-educated and expects free ebooks, and quality free ebooks even. In a bookstore, I sure do expect shelves with discounted books, I'd be very surprised to see books given for free.

Books given for free are called libraries.

I've said this in the past as a trigger happy one clicker on Amazon, I have been sucked into a highly rated series by having the 2nd book be free with the first book at it's usual price point (lets go with $2.99). I have often times bought all three in a series based on this pricing logic. If I invest the time in two books, I'll probably read the third so I go ahead and get it. I'm a back to back reader if something catches my eye.

But do I gravitate towards free books and put those higher in my TBR pile? No. I do, however, appreciate a limited time discounted (.99 is fair for a week long promo or free for a specific holiday or a weekend). I don't think something should be free for longer than a few days.

One other thing to consider: I beta for an author who is in contract to write a series of motorcycle club books. She has noticed her book(s) jump in sales when a new motorcycle book comes out by other authors. I would have thought the opposite, but when your heard is in a certain mind frame for a genre, it's an easy sell. So keep your eyes out for similarly releasing books and put yours on a slight discount.