I need some basic information in order to finalize the book.
The size of the market. So I am setting up a widget to register how many of my readers are interested in purchasing the book.
1) I would like to know what to charge. Since as of today I have received $280 worth of contributions I estimate I will need to charge $45 for the book to possibly break even. But I would like to know how many people would buy it if it were $30 versus $45.
Thus there is a poll on the right side. Please check the highest price you would realistically pay for it. Price includes shipping and taxes.
2) A number of experts have told me that I need to keep the book to about 650 pages. That would mean that I would omit the Hebrew references and just include the English translation. Do you view that the Hebrew sources are indespensible and must be included with the book?
3) How many people are willing to order before it is published?
The size of the market. So I am setting up a widget to register how many of my readers are interested in purchasing the book.
1) I would like to know what to charge. Since as of today I have received $280 worth of contributions I estimate I will need to charge $45 for the book to possibly break even. But I would like to know how many people would buy it if it were $30 versus $45.
Thus there is a poll on the right side. Please check the highest price you would realistically pay for it. Price includes shipping and taxes.
2) A number of experts have told me that I need to keep the book to about 650 pages. That would mean that I would omit the Hebrew references and just include the English translation. Do you view that the Hebrew sources are indespensible and must be included with the book?
3) How many people are willing to order before it is published?
Do you view that the Hebrew sources as indespensible and must be included with the book?
ReplyDeleteIf they end up being omitted, you should include a bibliography of where the original Hebrew is to be found.
The Hebrew sources could be maintained on the Internet (possibly associated with the blog) for those who need / want them.
ReplyDeleteI would like to know what to charge. Since as of today I have received $280 worth of contributions I estimate I will need to charge $45 for the book to possibly break even. But I would like to know how many people would buy it if it were $30 versus $45.
ReplyDeleteIf you need to charge $45 to possibly break even, what is the purpose of soliciting the maximum dollars the typical potential buyer would spend? Meaning, even if it is less than $45... you will then lose money on the printing (etc.) costs? Or you will perhaps then choose not to publish?
Would there be any point in dividing the work into 2 volumes?
ReplyDeleteThe immediate benefit would be that the Hebrew sources could be safely left intact (in my opinion a desirable feature).
The longer range benefit of having 2 volumes, is that the author can continue writing to his hearts content, and does not have to feel constricted in his writing lest he go beyond the 650 page "allowance".
Another benefit of splitting the book into 2 volumes is that it makes it easier carry the book around. This makes for easier reading, especially on public transportation. I'm comparing this to the "Daas Torah" book which I think is quite bulky and heavy.
The drawback is that this slightly increases production costs, as there is another binding to pay for. However this amount is not that substantial, and can actually help sales, as people instinctively will pay more for a 2 volume set then they will pay for 1 fat volume.
f you need to charge $45 to possibly break even, what is the purpose of soliciting the maximum dollars the typical potential buyer would spend? Meaning, even if it is less than $45... you will then lose money on the printing (etc.) costs? Or you will perhaps then choose not to publish?
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I want to know whether price would be the deciding factor whether someone would buy it. Is it a curiousity item that most would not pay $45 for or is it a must have item that $45 will not be an inpediment.
As I have mentioned before there is a wide spread belief that an author has an obligation to provide a quality book at a low price - independent of the financial resources of the author.
I plan on publishing it anyway but I might end up having to publish it by means of computerized on demand publishing which would mean I would not have to lay out significant money for printing but I sure won't make any profit either.
The suggestion that the book be limited to 650 pages - What is it based on? The size will determine the demand? The price people will pay for the book? The printing cost? etc... If it has to do with reader convenience/market demand, then surely the Hebrew references would be considered an addendum that should not be contrained within the 650 page limit for the main text of the book, and can appear after 650 pages of text.
ReplyDeleteIf it's other issues, cost, etc, then perhaps other creative solutions are necessary.
Reader said...
ReplyDeleteThe suggestion that the book be limited to 650 pages - What is it based on?
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I was told that people prefer books that are not larger than this. That if I wanted to publish the Hebrew it should be done as a separate volume. I just wanted a reality check to see whether this is an accurate description of potential buyers for this book.
Obviously it would be cheaper if I left off the Hebrew - but if most people hold that it is essential then I would include it.
Downloadable E-book????
ReplyDeleteNot sure what others like. I like a big, fat book with Hebrew sources.
ReplyDeleteHave you considered lulu.com for on demand, on line publishing? No need to put money up front. I have used them. They make a nice book.
As for buying your book, can you describe it? Is this lamdus, halacha, current issues, essays?
What percentage of your costs would be avoided by publishing the book in pdf format rather than on paper?
ReplyDeleteWould this make the book less costly and increase the number of copies sold?
You'll have two types of readers.
ReplyDeleteThe casual/student reader and the professional who will use the book as a resource.
As for publishing on demand, that is definitely the way to go. Xlibris is a very reputable organization (see anouchi.org. I believe they y have done his IGERET HAMASSORET in Hebrew.
You can do two versions- a hardback and paperback. The paperback would be cheaper.
As for mekoros, you can write those in English, thus keeping costs down and allowing anyone interested to find the source material.
The suggestion that the book be limited to 650 pages - What is it based on?
ReplyDeleteBasic to the publishing industry is that for every 20pgs over 150, you will lose 10% of your readership. So you have to balance length with market.
My suggestion would be to publish in two volumes.
Also you should see if you can get an independent publisher, such as Feldheim or Artscroll to carry the work. Simple reason being that their advertising power will generate a much wider market for the book.
You might want to take a look at:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.publishyoursefer.com/publish/cost.shtml
The pricing isnt so bad
Take a look at:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.publishyoursefer.com/publish/cost.shtml
definitely have a link to the hebrew on your blog. i would presume most of your buyer market is going to be computer savvy. can you put footnotes in the text? (with the sources), or is it too late for that.
ReplyDeleteSix hundred and fifty pages is very hefty, and this is not a James Michener (sp?) novel. If you are losing money on this anyhow, spend a bit more and have an editor look at it. An objective eye can do quite a lot and it doesn't mean you have to listen. Also, the typos that you will inevitably have in a masterpiece of this size will significantly diminish the impact of the book. Psychologically, it makes the author into somewhat of a shlepper, and that takes away from his/her credibility, which is why proof readers have work.
Your editor could also do a basic proof read. Maybe some of the bloggers who feel you should have it proofed would pay toward it. Wish I could, but then you'd have to raise money for me.
b'hatzlacha.
one last question - who is your target market? everyone, professionals, adults, adults and young adults? religous, irreligous? this would come heavily to bear in the price decision. I vote 35
consider publishing it as an ebook with a fee for download OR use www.lightningsource.com
ReplyDeleteNO UPFRONT PRINTING COSTS and Automatic online US sales on amazon, B & Nc... will publish cheaply enough so you won't need US sales etc... in israel probably won't work well...
Are you kidding?!
ReplyDeleteWho is going to actually read a 650 page "E"-Book? Bad idea in my opinion.
I'm pro 2 volumes and I think the price per volume should be in the $30 range. $45 is way too much. At most $35. Over $35 it becomes a luxury/expense and you lose a lot of people.
Rabbi Eidonsohn. 2 things really sell a book.
1. Nice appealing cover.
2. Readability. That means nice print, typesett and layout. Additionally, minimal spelling errors. Spelling errors destroy your credibility. On Amazon.com there are good books that got poor reviews because of being poorly written and having bad spelling.
Please take this to heart. Your book is too important to do a half ways job. This book needs to be a masterpiece.
Also you should see if you can get an independent publisher, such as Feldheim or Artscroll to carry the work. Simple reason being that their advertising power will generate a much wider market for the book.
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Actually Feldheim told me that they would not publish it without a guarantee from some American gadol that they would not be attacked. They said that even if Rav Sternbuch gave a haskoma it is not protection against the Americans. Artscroll is even more conservative.
It is not clear that I can even get it into most seforim stores for the same reason.
However some of them said that as long as I didn't have the word sex in the title they would carry it.
You have to understand the sensitivty of this topic. I was told that one of the Chareidi papers refused to accept advertising for a book that had the word "woman" in the title.
Downloadable E-book????
ReplyDelete=============
E books security code can be cracked and then it will simply be distributed free on the internet.
The problem with on demand publishing is that profit is low or nonexistent for this size book.
ReplyDeleteHowever it is clearly an option since at least the book will be published and I don't have a problem of distribution - at least in America
i would personally pay $40 or so for this book, but then again i am a single male with disposable income who is a big fan of the rabbis works.
ReplyDeletethis work could be monumental, but the nature of it would obviously mean its going to be a hard sell.
in my
opinion the sources dont have to be included in full but there should be references.
hoping it works out, and that there is a way for me to buy it all the way in england!
I recommend that you have several of your trusted blogger friends assist in the proof-reading. Perhaps send a few chapters to each for a thorough review. Ask them to be liberal with their criticisms.
ReplyDeleteyou can break even by keeping extra copies and after the book is banned you can sell them for 5 times the price on amazon
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, I did NOT write the last post, but I wish I did. It is very very funny, and true a ban will rasie the value, and there will be a ban.
ReplyDeleteAs for my two cents, I think the two volume approach is very smart for several reasons. Shorter and cheaper Volume 1 will sell much more than 45$ for 650 pages.
And then the second volume will have more room to include the Hebrew mekoros.
AND you might want to add things later that you have not yet added due to time constraints that you could now do in the second volume, as you could wait a little time before publishing the second one. The first one could be more of the information which is an emergency for people to know.
The more scholarly/lomdushe articles could wait for the second volume.
Just a thought.
it really would not be that hard to get a haskoma from an emerican gadol.....
ReplyDeletetry r shloma miller or r matisyahu salomon
you would have to come to the staes to present urself in person.
35 is the limit I could pay.
Contact JSafe Rabbi M.Dratch ,he may have financial support AND RESOURCES
ReplyDeleteAlso IN AMERICA CONTACT HARAV SHMUEL KAMENETSKY.
Why not footnotes or references similar to R.Prof.Steinberg's Encyclopedia of Jewish Medical Ethicss at the end of each chapter.
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing to me that there is no organization against abuse that would aid in supporting this book.
I believe you would sell more than twice the number of books at a price of $28 than at a price of $45.
ReplyDeleteArtscroll sells most of their books in the $20 range because they know they will make more money (by selling more books) than if they sold them for $45.
Moshe
I concur with Dr. Lipner (not that that means much :)
ReplyDeleteAlso, although they arent "associated" with chareidi circles per se,
But I cannot reiterate enough how important it is for this work to be polished with a clear layout and correct grammar (and spelling)...these "ancillary" details make ALL the difference in people's impressions of a work. And the topic of work is a serious desideratum!
SK
in the frum music business every band buys a book for 300 (at least one) every year to stay current. Judging from the importance of these topics i cant imagine anyone even slightly interested balking at 75.
ReplyDelete