Free e-reader: There’s an App for that
Free e-reader: "There’s an App for that."
Why Readers Will Use Them and Authors Should Promote Them
“Author lost a sale and the reader lost a book.”
We've all probably seen the advertisements that use the catch phrase “There’s an App for that,” and when talking about ebooks, the same applies, “There’s an App for that too.” With the era of electronic media upon us and the use of devices like Kindle and Nook becoming the standard for ebook reading, many authors and potential readers may not be aware that it is not necessary to own or have a Kindle or Nook to read an ebook.
Although Amazon sells the Kindle, they also offer the free PC application that enables users to read downloaded Kindle ebooks. The Free Kindle software can be downloaded to a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a smartphone, IPhone and other devices. The end result of the download is the Kindle application is on your device along with your library of Kindle version ebooks you've purchased.
Why authors should embrace ebooks: Increased books sales, increased author presence, increased fan base.
In recent years many authors have debated the ebook revolution. Imagine the immense pleasure so many get from reading a book in paperback or hardcover. While many love and will continue to buy and read print books, there is also a rapidly growing percentage of people who have embraced technology and love the electronic book. In 2009 ebooks accounted for 3.2% of industry sales and in 2010 sales had jumped to 8.3%.
From a marketing, fan base and author presence perspective, the ebook is a must do for the independent and self-published authors. The authors who are contracted with traditional publishers and do not concern themselves with self-promotion or marketing issues have already become a part of the ebook statistics. The majority of traditional publishers market their authors' books in ebook format and understand both the prospects of the future and the potential of lost sales if they do not provide an ebook format.
While most marketing departments at the traditional publishing companies promote their authors book in all formats, the independent and self-published authors do not have that luxury and rely on their own marketing resources. More and more people enjoy reading using devices like Kindles, Nooks or personal computers. Just as many people are also budget conscience and make decisions to buy a book based on price and accessibility. Price and accessibility is where the ebook enters the picture. The prices of most ebooks are less than half the price of the printed version. Another consideration for authors is that the actual royalty dollars paid on ebook sales is sometimes higher that the printed book.
With a lower price for an ebook, the next obstacle for many potential readers is the price of buying a Kindle or Nook. And if the reader cannot afford the price of a printed book or the cost of a Kindle or Nook, the end result is a lost sale for the author and a lost book for the reader.
Although there are not any hard statistics on the issue, it can be considered that if authors offered potential readers access through their blogs, websites and other means to Free e-readers for Kindle and Nook, the lost sale and lost reader could be saved. Imagine how many readers and fans visited an author's, Amazon or Barnes and Nobel website, saw a book they wanted, but did not make the purchase because they thought they had to buy the $79 Kindle to read the ebook.
Yes, Amazon wants to sell the Kindle, but they also freely offer the Free e-reader for PCs, and would probably prefer to continue to sell the millions and millions (yes millions) of ebooks that they sell.
How to get the FREE e-readers
There are two links below for Amazon and two links for Barnes and Noble. One link is for the free PC e-reader and the second link is for other applications.
Amazon.com: Kindle for PC - Read Kindle eBooks on your PC
http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&docId=1000493771
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/u/nook-for-pc/379002322/
Free NOOK app for PC, Download eReader app - Barnes & Noble
Editor's Note: Warren Martin's book, Forgotten Soldiers: What Happened to Jacob Walden, will be published this spring.
Free Kindle Ap for PC Computers
Free Kindle Ap for Apple Computers
Free Kindle Ap for Android Tablets and Phones
Free Kindle Ap for Blackberry Phones
Free Kindle Ap for Windows 7 Phone