Poll: Are Free Author Ebooks A Good Or Bad Idea?
As we reported earlier in the week. Oisín McGann has launched a free ebook partly for promotion and partly as an experiment. But is this development a good idea? Does it devalue content or increase the reader/author link? Let us know what you think!
Hi
I think it’s fine to give a book away for free for a very limited time as a promotion; and also to give the first 50% free. If the reader doesn’t like it enough to finish it that’s fair enough. But I am very much against giving all of a book away free all of the time!
I think its a good idea, esp for an author who hasnt found a publisher, its a great way to get read and promote your book. i’d presume the idea is that if readers like it, it will get published in hard copy eventually and as most readers are book lovers, it will probably be bought.
Is it likely though that if it catches on that the net will be flooded with poor quality novels and the appetite for reading them will be reduced. Good on him for striking while the iron is hot. It will increase the reader/author bond, esp because readers who like the ebook will feel like they are `in his corner`… I dont think it will go the way free music downloads has in terms of cds, where bands have to tour to make the income they used to from cds sales…