Unlocking the Secrets of Free Book Publishing on Amazon
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Chapter 1: The Journey of Publishing My Free Book
This past weekend, I released my third book via Amazon KDP, and for the first time, it’s completely free.
Why would I choose to publish a book at no cost? There are several motivations behind this decision that I’ll elaborate on later in the piece. This particular book was the most challenging for me to get approved through Amazon KDP for various reasons. The print version is still in the works due to some cover issues, but that’s a different topic.
The essence of this book revolves around online stories I’ve crafted, detailing their earnings and view counts. I’ve mentioned it multiple times already, but just to reiterate, this book is available for FREE. I encourage you to check it out:
15 Stories 180,000 Views: Read and learn how to write high-performing stories
Amazon.com: 15 Stories 180,000 Views: Read and learn how to write high-performing stories eBook : D., Marx : Kindle…
www.amazon.com
How did I manage to set the price to zero?
Amazon typically doesn’t allow authors to list their books for free; the minimum price for an e-book is 99 cents. Yet, if you search Amazon now, you’ll find my book listed at free99.
So, how did I achieve this?
By first uploading my e-book to Barnes & Noble and then requesting Amazon to match that price. I carefully researched this strategy and executed it the day my book was published. Amazon respects lower pricing from its competitors, and I leveraged this to my advantage. Unlike my previous two works, this latest e-book is not enrolled in Kindle Select, allowing me the flexibility to publish it anywhere I choose.
This method, to my knowledge, is one of the few ways to price an e-book at zero on Amazon.
Expanding My Literary Portfolio
One of my primary objectives in releasing this latest book was to broaden my catalog. I hope this move will boost sales of my other works.
After just three days post-launch, I noticed that downloads were consistently in the double digits each day. This indicated that people were genuinely interested in my free book, and I didn’t have to spend a dime on marketing to achieve this.
The book's success even propelled its Best Sellers Rank on Amazon. Check it out:
Remarkably, it achieved the #1 spot in the blogging category after just three days, confirming that the book is meeting its intended purpose.
Adding Value at No Cost
My goal was to provide readers with something valuable for free before they considered purchasing another of my books. Ideally, I hope they enjoy my writing style and feel inclined to explore more of my work. I also hope they might discover links to my newsletter and other projects, which would be an added bonus.
By making this book available for free, I’m allowing readers a chance to engage with my work. As a writer, that’s one of my main aspirations. Some readers may return to see what else I offer, while others may download the book and never read it. I’m perfectly fine with either outcome.
The Worth of Going Free
Creating this free book consumed countless hours of my life and incurred design costs from my business. Yet, it felt invaluable to hit the publish button, fully aware that this book wouldn’t generate any revenue.
My long-term vision is to utilize this free book as a digital asset to attract more readers to my brand as a writer. While I’m uncertain if this strategy will be effective, I believe it’s worth the risk.
Don't miss out—check out the book for yourself! It’s free!
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Chapter 2: Insights on Self-Publishing
This video discusses whether it’s possible to self-publish on Amazon without incurring costs, including an explanation of potential fees involved.
Chapter 3: The Necessity of Publishing on Amazon
In this video, the focus is on the importance of publishing your book on Amazon despite various challenges that may arise.