Amazon Sales Increase, Profits Decrease
May 7, 2008
As I suspected, Amazon.com announced on Apr. 23 that its profit margin is expected to fall in the second quarter. It also reported that the profit margin dipped in the first quarter, the second quarter in a row.
Sphere: Related ContentBook Review: ‘Aiming at Amazon’ Remains a Valuable Reference
April 13, 2008
If you’re familiar with print-on-demand (POD) publishing, by now you’ve probably heard about Amazon.com’s attempts to force publishers to use its in-house service, BookSurge. If not, my recent post on the subject will bring you up to speed.
Sphere: Related ContentBorders May be for Sale
April 3, 2008
It looks like Borders may be seeking a buyer. National Public Radio reported the story last month. I just found it today. For more information, click this link.
Sphere: Related ContentHoy, Others Respond to Amazon Changes
April 3, 2008
Angela Hoy, a former television reporter who is one of the most successful self-publishers on the Internet, emailed the following response to an earlier post. It appears here with her permission.
This information also appeared on WritersWeekly.com. Check there for the latest information on this controversy.
Hoy is co-owner of Booklocker.com and WritersWeekly.com, the highest-circulation freelance writing ezine in the world with more than 67,000 subscribers. She is also a well-known online author, whose books include How to Write, Publish & $ell E-Books, How to Publish and Promote Online and Buzz Your Zine.
Sphere: Related ContentBe Wary of Create Space
April 3, 2008
I take back most of what I said in an earlier post. Since then, I’ve learned from Angela Hoy that Create Space books are printed by Amazon’s BookSurge. I’ve heard nothing good about BookSurge’s quality control. Maybe that’s why the prices are so cheap.
Sphere: Related ContentAmazon’s New POD Policies Unmasked
April 1, 2008
Amazon.com has changed its policy for print-on-demand (POD) books, and small publishers across the land are understandably upset. One blogger has started a petition. I signed the petition, but then I decided to give the company a chance to explain its official position.
Sphere: Related ContentCreate Space is Better for Short Books
March 13, 2008
After much research, I’ve decided to move the sales of my book to Create Space after all. The unit price per book under the Pro Plan, which costs $50, is cheap enough for books under 48 pages, and the wholesale price is low enough to accommodate volume discounts to anyone who orders through me.
Sphere: Related ContentBorders/Lulu Partnership Needs Fine Tuning
March 13, 2008
After gushing about the new partnership between Borders and Lulu yesterday, I decided to do some further research. At present, the publishing process is still too dependent upon the Lulu system for my taste.
In addition to the problems I mentioned yesterday, Lulu shipping ranges from incredibly slow to exorbitant in cost. The cost also is a little high for short books.
Sphere: Related ContentBorders Challenges Amazon Create Space
March 12, 2008
Just when I had resigned myself to moving my book to Amazon.com’s Create Space for more visibility, Borders announced it’s new partnership with Lulu.com, the company I currently use.
The biggest problems I have with folks at Lulu are 1) their marketplace can’t compete with the big guys in online sales, 2) they charge too much for a single ISBN (International Standard Book Numbers), which is required to sell books through other online retailers, and 3) their order process only works with the most up-to-date web browsers, a fact they don’t state on the site.
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