How to Sell Your Book, CD, or DVD on Amazon

February 28, 2005 6:59 AM

How to Sell Your Book, CD, or DVD on Amazon [From Kevin Kelly's Cool Tools: he has a knack for asking the best questions]
posted by iffley (14 comments total)

Wow, this rocks. Great find, thanks!
posted by sninky-chan at 7:05 AM on February 28, 2005

Let me second sninky's comment. Great link. I've got no doubt I'll be forwarding to half-a-dozen people in the next year.
posted by MattD at 7:14 AM on February 28, 2005

If you use someone like iUniverse to self-publish, they do all this for you.
posted by smackfu at 7:26 AM on February 28, 2005

I have to say that I think Kevin's Cool Tools blog is one of the best blogs I visit. It really is 'tbotw.' It's what boingboing used to be before it got all sucky.
posted by crunchland at 7:28 AM on February 28, 2005

Also good info on his book printing page, though I wouldn't go so far as to imply that anybody will do. I have found a lot of shops are either too expensive or their quality/consistency is poor (and I have dealt with some atrocious ones). I even have to put the widely-acclaimed LightningSource in the latter, as all my print jobs with them have had poorly inked interiors.

I'm ready to dabble with color publishing a bit, unfortunately I think I'll have to deal with sending it to China for a rate that doesn't break the bank. Now if I can just find a link with tips for finding a Chinese printing company.
posted by rolypolyman at 7:33 AM on February 28, 2005

help me out here...is this news? It's basically just about how to get your book listed on Amazon. Wow, stop the presses! I can't wait for his next exciting blog on how to register for the New York Times.

Boingboing used to be this good? Wow, that's not saying much for them is it?
posted by j.p. Hung at 7:48 AM on February 28, 2005

I was referring to his cool tools blog, not this specific article. But don't let me stop you ... feel free to continue to be a jaded asshole.
posted by crunchland at 7:56 AM on February 28, 2005

I sold my book on Amazon for a while, and ultimately I found that the cost they took out was high enough to make it not worth it... we were basically losing money... Selling direct on our websites worked a lot better...
posted by glider at 8:27 AM on February 28, 2005

As I said in the piece, it is not news or a secret. It won't change the world. I only wrote it up because many web-savvy folks kept asking me how I put my books on Amazon; details which Amazon itself does not make clear. I welcome links to similar material on the web, and of course corrections and additions.
posted by kk at 8:31 AM on February 28, 2005

BTW, in many places outside the USA, getting an ISBN number is free -- e.g. here in Canada, they're given out by the National Library. This may make the process more cost-effective.
posted by winston at 8:47 AM on February 28, 2005

glider -- though Amazon reams you for 55% I have found that raising the price for Amazon does little to curb the demand. I've become a little surprised at what people are willing to pay there. I can't remember if that's low or high elasticity, but that's what it is. So between the high price on Amazon and the low price on my website it's all doing great.
posted by rolypolyman at 8:54 AM on February 28, 2005

Hey, I sell my main book for $29.99 and I've seen it in used bookstores -- and on Amazon (since we no longer ship them copies) -- for $300. It's nuts what people will pay without bothering to check the source...
posted by glider at 9:48 AM on February 28, 2005

I only wrote it up because many web-savvy folks kept asking me how I put my books on Amazon -kk

I was one - thanks again for sending the copy earlier! I also posted this question in Ask: How to print a book? which may be of interest on how to go about printing a book (plus the link rolypolyman posted). Seems to be conflicting opinions about Print of Demand web services, I've concluded working with a local printer is the best option for me.
posted by stbalbach at 12:43 PM on February 28, 2005

im pretty happy with the book i selfpublished through CafePress.com

ive sold over 200 copies since thanksgiving with very little troubles.
posted by tsarfan at 2:17 PM on February 28, 2005