The Value of Free
By Jerry D. Simmons | May 30th, 2007 | No Comments » (Click to add yours!)
I’ve been told time and time again that offering information for free is tantamount to economic suicide when you’re in the business of websites and books. However, some experts believe that offering part of your writing, whether chapters or in some cases the entire manuscript, for free is good business.
Years ago the highly successful publisher of dining guides, Zagat, began offering the entire contents of every single guide for free on their website. Critics suggested this would be the end of the company, but in fact, their sales soared. They sold more books that year than ever before.
The counter argument to free and supported by an assortment of data is that consumer’s value information by its cost. Information offered for free is not considered worthy or the time it takes to read it, otherwise, why would it be free? The old–perception is reality–theme, if it’s free then it’s probably not very good–you get what you pay for scenario.
Writers who devote years to their work are reluctant to offer anything for free, and that is perfectly understandable. Yet it is wise to give readers a taste of what you have to say. The elevator pitch is fine but consumers want more. Amazon for all their faults realized early in the game that excerpts of books help make sales. If Amazon does it then it must be important and the correct thing to do, right?
Free is fine, within limits, all for free begins to stretch the bounds of what I consider reasonable. Be willing to offer readers a part of your book(s). You don’t have to make it the first chapter, pick a part that will draw them into a story, a scene, make them want to turn the page. It’s all about selling books, what have you got to lose? Marketing is about testing, give free a test.
This blog is unedited, please disregard mistakes in spelling and grammar.
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