How to Sell Your Novel Using Short Stories
The cheaper your book, the more people will buy it. However, it can be gruelling to put your full length novel on sale at less than £1 when you know it's worth more than that. It's especially upsetting in the case of Amazon, where selling a book for less than £1.49, drops your royalty percentage from 70 to 35.
So, what can you do to draw in readers who aren't prepared to pay full price for a novel by an unfamiliar indie author?
The answer is short stories. Either write about the characters from your novel, or write independent stories from the same genre. Offer these stories either for free, or at a low price, to attract new readers. This tactic not only has the advantage of drawing in more readers but it also filters readers down to those who are likely to enjoy your book.
If you're going to sell your short stories on Amazon, the lowest a book can cost is 77p (except for promotional days) so I recommend at least 12,000 words - anything less and you'll be at risk of negative reviews due to shortness, even if you clearly mark your book as a short story.
If you're going to sell your stories elsewhere, such as Smashwords or your own website, then you can price them at £0.00. This gives you greater flexibility with length. However, I recommend making your short stories at least 5,000 words long, to give you time to showcase your writing.
Make sure that your short story ends with an "Also by this author" page, featuring either a synopsis or brief sample from your novel.
Your short stories should be stories in their own right, not tasters that make no sense without buying the novel, as these could irritate readers.
The more high quality content you put out there for free or low cost, the bigger readership you will reach, increasing sales of your novel without ever having to lower its price.
+
