Marketing a Short Story e-book

Discussion in 'General Marketing' started by Timby, Nov 29, 2006.

  1. #1
    Hi all, My friend has written 2 short story/short novel which are rather ammusing. First one has 153 (a4) pages, and the second has 114 (a4) pages.

    I am wondering about a few things, as I am very new to the scene, how I would go about marketing a product like this...assuming there is a market.

    Here is my plan:

    Purchase a domain + space
    Do the web design myself
    add some Adsense banners
    Have a sample chapter of each
    Sell each book for around $20 each give or take

    Is this a fair idea? I was also thinking about selling it chapter by chapter, is this a better option than selling as a whole?

    Also, as far as payments would go, is it fairly obvious how to go about doing this with pay pal? Like the user would click the "buy" button, enter their info, and then it lets them download...or how does that kind of thing work?

    I am familiar with building websites and such I just have never sold anything online.

    Thanks in advance guys!
     
    Timby, Nov 29, 2006 IP
  2. DSeguin

    DSeguin Peon

    Messages:
    70
    Likes Received:
    1
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #2
    I'd usually try to stick to one kind of income, either adsense, or selling a product. Will the website simply be about the two books, or is it based on something to do with books and you just plan to sell the short stories from it?

    I recommend not selling it in chapters. Do use PayPal though.
     
    DSeguin, Nov 29, 2006 IP
  3. Timby

    Timby Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    565
    Likes Received:
    6
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    138
    #3
    Ok so scratch the ads. The website will be just selling the books, and if it was successful I had planned to maybe add a discussion forum aswell (possibly using adsense here).

    Thanks for the info mate! Do you know if there is much of a market for short stories in ebook form?
     
    Timby, Nov 30, 2006 IP
  4. John Guanzon

    John Guanzon Peon

    Messages:
    773
    Likes Received:
    33
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #4
    Here is a easy script to help you market your ebook, it is the same script I use to market mine. I really like it.

    http://www.peergoal.com/scripts/paypal-download-manager/?ref=paypaldev.org-PDM



    Example of the script work:
    www.ezbookstop.com
     
    John Guanzon, Nov 30, 2006 IP
  5. Timby

    Timby Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    565
    Likes Received:
    6
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    138
    #5
    Hey thanks for the link, that looks like I want exactly. However I am not all that keen to have to pay for the product, is there a free alternative?
     
    Timby, Nov 30, 2006 IP
  6. John Guanzon

    John Guanzon Peon

    Messages:
    773
    Likes Received:
    33
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #6
    you would really have to scour the web to find someting similiar, also if it's free, you can bet that customer service is non existent and quality is poor. Possibly making the appeal of your item deminish. Ultimatly you get what you pay for.

    Best of luck,

    John Guanzon
     
    John Guanzon, Nov 30, 2006 IP
  7. Timby

    Timby Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    565
    Likes Received:
    6
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    138
    #7
    Turns out my cpanel has something exactly for that so I got lucky! Thanks for your advice though mate it put me on the right track
     
    Timby, Dec 2, 2006 IP
    John Guanzon likes this.
  8. John Guanzon

    John Guanzon Peon

    Messages:
    773
    Likes Received:
    33
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #8
    No Prob! ;)
     
    John Guanzon, Dec 2, 2006 IP