The Benefits of Selling & Buying Direct

First, allow me to make a prediction. I really think this will be a new trend among authors. A trend that will be here for the long haul. Over the coming months and years, we will see more and more authors opening their own online stores and selling direct to readers.

Why? Isn't Amazon easier?

Amazon is certainly easier. Publishing a book is easy. Getting a book on your Kindle is easy. Shipping is free and fast. Costs are low. BUT! Easier doesn't necessarily mean better.

If you're a reader who REALLY wants to support your favorite authors, then buying direct and encouraging other readers to do the same is a great way to do so.

Here are a few reasons why, in no particular order ... 

Less Distraction

Amazon is a MACHINE. Don't get me wrong. It's well-oiled. It's convenient. But it's also crowded and busy. They sells millions of books. Quite literally. And the algorithm is king. It decides which books get seen and which books languish in obscurity, and they have thousands of authors paying for ads in an attempt to rise above the din.

So much so, that if you search my name on Amazon, there's a good chance other books and authors will show up before mine. Kudos to those authors for getting after it! But man, can it be distracting!

With my own online store, I don't have to navigate that racket. And neither do you! You came for a K.E. Ganshert book, and this is exactly what you will find. 

Knowledge is Power

Sometimes mystery is a good thing and sometimes, it's not so hot. In the case of building an author career, mystery isn't great. When I send readers to Amazon, I have no idea what they end up buying. For all I know, they snagged a really cute pair of socks. The whole thing is shrouded in mystery. 

Selling direct removes that mystery. I will have insights at my disposal that will enable me to better serve my readers!

Personal Connection

I love to write stories. But I also love to share those stories and connect with the people who read them. Selling direct opens the door for authors and readers to connect on a more personal level. I think that's pretty special.

Goodbye Middle Man

No more middle man calling the shots. No more middle man taking a cut. This might come across as greedy. I hope it doesn't. I'm just a gal trying to make a living. Contrary to popular belief, the vast majority of authors are not rolling in the dough. In fact, if I were to suss out all the hours I put in versus the money I make in a given year ... the results would probably be borderline depressing. Let's just say, I didn't go into this gig for the cash. However, I am an adult with bills to pay and a car that needs gas. Selling direct increases my profit margins, which in turn, bolsters my income so I can continue to do this thing I love.

Sales, Deals, and Birthday Gifts, Oh My!

Here on my store, I have the control to do any or all of these things! I can run a special sale whenever the mood strikes. I can have Black Friday deals! I can have BOGO deals. I can create special discounts. I can send readers a birthday gift via email! The possibilities are endless and the possibilities make me giddy!

So there you have it. My five main why's. 

With all of that said, will I still be selling on Amazon? 

Yes, of course.

But I will be offering perks and benefits here that I won't or can't on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iBooks, Kobo, and Google Play. What perks and benefits, you ask? Sky is the limit. And much of that will depend on what my readers want most - information I now have access to because of direct sales!

So stay tuned and as always ...

THANK YOU for being a reader and THANK YOU for your support!