Writers Tricks of the Trade Volume 5, Issue 5 | Page 33

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J.A. Konrath

“HOW TO COMPETE WITH AMAZON—IN A
NUTSHELL, YOU CAN’T”

A Self-Publishing Icon

J. A. KONRATH
Joe Konrath is really a visionary in self-publishing. He got in early, did his
homework and obviously knew what he was doing. Konrath was and is one of the
best selling self-published authors, so we check his blog frequently. The following
was posted on August 6, 2015 and is well worth reading.
Bookmark his website: jakonrath.blogspot.com
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 06, 2015
Amazon is the Everything Store, and the most customer centric company on the
planet. They innovate. They have the widest selection. They have the lowest prices.
They have unsurpassed customer service. They keep striving to improve.
They're unbeatable.
But that doesn't mean that a savvy startup can't exist in the same publishing sphere
and do very well.
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I've noticed six areas that Amazon doesn't seem to care about. Crumbs they're
leaving on the table. But these crumbs could be worth billions to some smart S-Corp
willing to put in some time and money.
1. Ads. Ads make the Internet, and all media, go round. I've got a business plan that
would make all ebooks free, funded by ads. I've had this plan for years, and it goes
into excruciating detail on how to make it reader-friendly, as well as giving
advertisers unprecedented target opportunities. Eventually I'll do it, but right now
my focus has been on:
2. Libraries. Amazon doesn't seem interested in this market. I am. And slowly but
surely we're figuring out a way to not only get ebooks into libraries, but to do so for
free while authors continue to make money. Eventually, both of these ideas will
encompass:

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3. User aggregated content. Goodreads and Amazon reviews and fan fic are just the
tip of what readers can bring to the party. I see global book clubs. I see a hub where

WRITERS’ TRICKS OF THE TRADE

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SEPT - OCTOBER 2015