Price your eBook to Sell Well

by Judy Cullins

A. The big answer is "it depends."

Here's seven tips to help:

1. Determine your audience's need and demand for your book. If your book solves a particular problem for a preferred audience, it will sell well at any price. When you know your 30-60 second "Tell and Sell," you'll be more likely to know a proper price.

Let's say you have a book "Stop Divorce Now." Your tell and sell includes "Helps the nearly divorced audience, both men and women." That audience gives your book a slant, and makes it more valuable. In the "Tell and Sell" you must also include the benefits your book brings its audience. The top benefit of this book is that it stops divorce now.

No matter the number of pages, anywhere from 15-99, this kind of book will bring a healthy price. Maybe $39.95, maybe more.

2. Sell to your "wants it short, easy, and cheap to yield big profits audience. You can charge more than some general information book aimed at a general audience.

The 8 and 1/2 by 11" forty-page book "Write Your eBook or Other Short Book--Fast!" loaded with how to's and which specific steps to do first, along with hundreds of Web and email resources is well worth the list price of $24.95. The author puts it on discount several times a year for only $18.95, but it sells well at $24.95.

If someone wants to write and publish a book, this price tag is small for what it gives and the speed one can finish a short book to start making money within 60 days.

3. Know that eBooks bring as big a price as print books. Don't under price yours. Assign it the highest price you feel your audience can afford. If you don't sell many (remember to sell many you need to promote your books Online and on Web sites) try a lower price. Always start with the highest price.

4. Rethink your title to sell more books. Make it short and compelling, but be sure to make it clear. Three-six words will sell better than a really long title, although there are exceptions.

One eBook "High Traffic=High Web Sales" sells better than "How to Dramatically Increase your Web Traffic and Sales."

5. Know that "how-to" books bring a larger price than a story.

6. Price your personal growth and health books lower than the specific how-to books. Shorter eBooks such as 10-30 pages will easily go for $7.95 to $12.95. Longer ones can go for $15.95. This audience is huge, but your book has far more competition in this group. Think Chicken Soup for the Soul series, selling over 70 million.

7. Promote your eBook Online to catch the Online business people. Reach 1000's, even hundreds of thousands each day you submit a related article. They want all kinds of books. Learn how to sell more books by learning this kind of promotion.

Apply these tips to your print books too. You can make 1/4 to 1/2 your income from book sales if the price is right.