I hope Kindle eBook customers enjoy Kindle Select as much as most Kindle Select authors do. I feel like it’s been a great boost for most of us who have dared go exclusive with their program.
As for myself, I’ve had a total of over 16,000 downloads of my books since January 4, 2012. Of those, a bit less than 10% were “paid,” the rest being “free” downloads. Although that ratio of free to paid seems a bit high, I feel that most of the folks who downloaded my books for free were looking specifically for free books and wouldn’t have been my readers, otherwise. Although free, with that many downloads, my titles became much more visible, which in turn helped get them more “paid” sales.
Don’t get me wrong, I like getting paid for my work, but I also like the idea of having my work out in front of so many readers, as well. If you figure that it takes the average reader twelve hours to read my average novel, and if all 16,000 books downloaded were actually read during that three-month period, on average, 75 people would be reading my books, 24 hours a day, every day.
When I think of this, in my mind I picture a large college classroom with 75 filled seats in which each person is reading one of my books on their Kindle. Then, at the 12-noon shift change, everyone gets up, finished with another one of my novels, and 75 new readers come in to begin reading. Okay, I’m a bit nuts. Still, just the thought of entertaining so many people for 12 hours is really neat!
Finally there is data available on the first three months of the Kindle Select program. On the link below you’ll find some of the numbers as well as endorsements from several authors. I believe this blog article I’ve linked to tries to be objective, but it’s hard to look that way when most everything you read is positive.
Readers and authors alike, check it out: http://www.publishyourownebooks.com/kdp-select-results-after-3-months/
Gordon A Kessler: Author of Thriller, Suspense & Mystery 
Gordon – originally I wasn’t a big fan of the idea of exclusivity required by the KS program. However, I like the fact that it has gotten my books into the hands of readers. They’ve even begun to email me asking when the sequels will be released. Though I’ve not seen the success you have, I applaud the program as a great marketing tool for indie writers. Thanks for paving the way!
D.A. Bale
http://dabalepublishing.blogspot.com
I know what you’re saying, Denise. I put off getting on Kindle Select because of the exclusivity clause. After my December numbers came in for B&N Nook, Apple iBooks, Kobo, Sony, and Diesel, I realized I had made a huge mistake by not getting onboard before the holidays. I feel like the momentum would have carried me higher in the rankings, had I not waited until early January. The good news for me is that my sales are now finally starting to make up for my tardiness thanks to the free promotional days.
It’s unclear to me if Kindle Select will continue to be a great picker-upper for eBook authors, due to market saturation of “free” books. But I think a new eBook author is wise to sign up for the program and use it to get well established on Amazon before they seek broader distribution—say prior to the holidays, 2012.
I like it, Gordon. When I received my first fat check, I admit to dancing a bit around my desk. Not sure if it was the money or having so many pay to read my books. Probably both. I’m reaching a market that I’m convinced I never would without KS. Sales keep climbing and yesterday my Plane Tree in Provence book ranked in the top 21,000 + for paid Kindle ebooks. The other novel is not doing well as all, so I need to start promoting it a bit. Not sure how but will plug along.