Amazon has released some data designed to boost interest in the KDP Select program. Apparently, books enrolled in KDP Select earned – on average – 77% more in terms of paid royalties during August than in the three months before they were part of the program.
In other words, being part of KDP Select aids discoverability… or at least, that’s what Amazon is claiming. The logic would seem to be that KDP Select borrows allow books to gain exposure via word of mouth, and also make it more likely (though by no means guaranteed) that they’ll pick up a few reviews.
That 77% figure is quite impressive, assuming it excludes earnings from borrows (the language used by Amazon in the announcement is a little vague). As ever, it seems that KDP Select really works out well for some authors, although some are still left with little to show for their exclusive deal.
No one seems to be mentioning the fact that the bestselling books that are in Amazon’s select program are not exclusive, like, for example, the Harry Potter books. Those are for sale at Barnes and Nobles Nook store. It seems that there are two sets of rules. Only the indie authors have to give up their rights to sell elsewhere. This way Amazon gets to brag ‘exclusive’ books, while undercutting the other stores with free popular books. And those free bestsellers are getting all the funds in the pot. This whole promotion is about putting everyone else out of business. Has no one else noticed this?
Posted by LJBooker | December 20, 2012, 3:39 pm