eBook or Print Book? Short Answer: All Three

Not only eBook AND print, but ALSO audio!

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eBook-PrintBook

A survey of book-buying behavior from Nielsen “Books & Consumers”, listed sales of books from January through September 2014:

  • eBooks accounted for 32 per cent of book unit sales
  • Paperback books made up 43 per cent of book unit sales
  • Hardcover books were 25 per cent of book unit sales

Surveys measured ONLY trade publishers who delivered to bookstores and large online retailers. Numbers of author-publishers (often without an ISBN) are different, but one can see that print books are still relevant.
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eBook Sales by Online Retailer
Amazon continues to be the leader with 57 per cent of readers reporting buying e-books through this retailer in 2014.  Amazon’s closest competitor is Barnes & Noble, where 14 per cent of reader purchased ebooks via the Nook store in 2014, and 6 per cent of readers reported buying e-books through the Apple store.
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Selling both print and digital copies of your books, you have your basis covered for maximizing book sales.
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eBooks vs Print Books – Some Things To Consider
Obviously eBooks are easier and cheaper to publish, whereas there are more costs associated with a print book. With a digital version, you can get your book out quickly and offer it at a lower price, which in turn means they can publish books more frequently.
The growth of e-book sales is increasing in other parts of the world.  This will especially be seen in all developing countries where the use of smartphones is growing, allowing readers easy access to digital books.  So make sure that your e-books are available for sale worldwide and tap into this growing e-book market.

When weighing the decision between e-books vs print books, determine which book version your audience usually purchases.  For example romance and erotic books are usually only read as e-books.  But for all other genres are other reasons why you should have both:

  • You can give out review copies to newspaper/magazine or book blog reviewers
  • To be hosted at local media / TV interviewers who want to see/show a copy of your book
  • To sell your book easier to libraries
  • To participate in a Goodreads Giveaway
  • To sell your book to those who really don’t want an e-Reader or just love paper books
  • If you write non-fiction it is almost a MUST to have it in print
  • You have an ISBN number and can get listed with Bowker at WORLDWIDE bookstores
  • Physical books are just nicer to give on Christmas – unless you put an e-book on a new e-Reader and wrap it
  • To sell more e-books!  Yes – because they seem to cost so much less in comparison to your print book
  • To list your book in more categories / genres on Amazon: per book type you are allowed to choose two categories / genres.  Two print and two digital versions – which increases your book’s visibility and also shows you exactly in which genre you have the most success.

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Why an Audio-Book?
Stephen King just released a new short story as an AUDIO-BOOK exclusive!
And Bob Mayer, successful author of more than 50 books, explains: “Initially, as I learned how to use ACX, (Amazons Audio Book Company) I moved slowly, with only one other title going live that month. Since then, though, as I saw sales accelerate, I began putting multiple titles into production. Just recently, my 27th title went live.”
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There are so Many Benefits of Audio-Books:
Listening let’s you multitask while driving long distance, walking the dog, or laying on the beach. And certainly a wonderful way for blind people to easily enjoy books. Audio-books can be listened to on an iPod or iPhone / SmartPhone or MP3 player, even on most e-readers such as Kindle and Nook.
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Each Book Format has its Advantages:
Readers might prefer physical books when it’s something that they need to reference; or just for the pleasure of holding a book in their hands.  With
e-books you’re buying the license, not the actual books. What if you install the Kindle application on a lot of devices, but the book you buy only allows 4 devices? Often readers prefer e-books with fiction, and print with non-fiction.  While traveling or jogging they might enjoy audio-book.  It might be really smart to offer books in a variety of formats: print, digital and audio.

 

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