Posted on 2014-Feb-07
eBook Markets
Apart from the publicly available data about the lower end of eBook price points capturing reader’s attention, the latest data analysis from the German website, die Self-Publisher-Bibel, suggests that between $0 and $2 is not necessarily the sweetest spot in terms of revenue in several markets that readers chase after.
€9 and Beyond
Based on Luzme’s finding, a price comparison site, the German website Die Self-Publisher-Bibel reports that in the German eBook market €8.99 can command its own popularity. To look closer at the Top 100 titles in the second graph, it is a completely different story. Although the €4.99 spot remains the most popular choice, the higher end of eBook prices are performing on par with €2.99 and outperforming €0.99. What does this mean for authors? The higher their eBook price is set, the more royalty payment they can reap. According to the German website, it is possible to price their eBook higher to make more money than playing safe with a cheaper price tag.
Higher Price Points to Consider
In the U.S. eBook market, while it is a different story for the higher prices to exist in great abundance, the peak around $9 is worth noticing. Regardless of being comparatively low in quantity in the study, $9 does stand out as the highest revenue for authors to make in Comparative Revenue graph. In fact, the higher price range between $10 - $25+ is not altogether flat despite being sold in less units compared to the lower range, $0 - $8.
The Price War is Here to Stay
In the U.K., the data by far provides the most striking favor to the price range between £0 and £5. Based on TechCrunch’s analysis of Luzme’s data and talking to their users, the writer understands different needs of readers who are price-sensitive and those who are willing to pay for their eBook at whatever the price tag is. To compare the difference between the U.S. and U.K. market, where there is direct competition between several eBookstores and subscription providers, there is an ongoing battle between Amazon and emerging players. Apparently, 99p is undoubtedly more appealing than others.
Although the higher price points will not be able to change the reader’s favorite choice overnight, they can become golden tickets for authors to earn significantly higher, albeit selling fewer units. In Germany, if this trend continues, we might see the reverse effect of higher prices for eBook to become a new standard for readers to appreciate and authors to proliferate.
Label: Self-Publishing
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