Why You Shouldn't Sell Your eBook for Less Than $3.99

With the fairly recent advent of ebooks, quite a few people are still trying to figure out how best to market and sell them. One common question among independent authors is how much should they charge for electronic copies of their work. I am going to boldly declare that as a writer you should never, ever charge less than $3.99 for your work.

Some protest this idea, saying they are unknown and must charge $0.99 for a novel. What do I say to that argument? There are a growing number of independent musicians out there, but most of them don't charge $0.99 for their album--that's what they charge for one song.

There's an old saying that you get what you pay for. If there are readers who only want to pay $0.99 for a book, they must not be looking to read anything worthwhile. If these readers would understand the work and dedication that goes into writing a good book, they would gladly pay more than $3.99 for one.

Think I'm the only one saying this? Check out Dean Wesley Smith's blog post about independent publishing and his discussion on price. 

There is a principle in marketing called prestige pricing. In prestige pricing, you charge more for a quality or prestigious item, and people will pay the price. Your product must offer a compelling reason for the higher price, but if you are doing your job as a writer that won't be an issue. Instead of peddling your hard work for a penance, sell it at a decent price and forget the people who want something for nothing.