Some people feel
they shouldn’t have to pay
for eBooks.
Producing two copies of an eBook
is the same cost
as producing one copy of an eBook.
There are a few issues with this.
There ARE incremental costs.
There are the distribution costs
and the marketing costs.
The books I give away
for free
cost me money.
Also, pricing usually takes into account
a certain number of copies sold.
Producing one copy
might cost me $1,000.
Of course, I can’t charge
that first customer the full $1,000.
I spread it over
an estimated number of customers.
One way I convince readers
to pay $2.99 for a 200 page eBook
is by selling them an ongoing experience.
They aren’t merely buying an eBook.
They’re buying a world.
My newsletter includes updates
on this world.
Future eBooks
reference the first eBooks.
I send out baby announcements,
craft images for holidays
like Mother’s Day.
Software has the same selling challenge.
“I like paying for my software
when I’m buying it
from a company that’s responsive,
fast and focused.
I like being the customer
(as opposed to a social network,
where I’m the product).”
If you’re selling a product
that has low incremental costs,
consider selling more than that product.