Top Ebook Writer

Buying ebooks: if I can’t have it right now, I don’t want it

May 23rd, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed

If you’re selling an ebook, remember why people buy ebooks, rather than print books that they can order online - they buy ebooks because they don’t want to to wait. They need information, and they need it RIGHT NOW.

Most ebook writers and publishers grasp this essential fact, but some don’t, and they annoy (and lose) buyers as a result.

For example, last week I purchased a couple of ebooks for close to $200. That was OK - I needed the information for a project I was working on for a client, and happily paid. Ten minutes later, I was much less happy. The thrust of the email I received was: “Thanks for your order. We’ll send you the download information after two working days.”

Eh?! That’s one online publisher I’ll never deal with again.

Another publisher advertised a book on blogging. I’ll read just about anything on blogging, it’s one of my favorite obsessions. So I breezed through to the ordering page and stared at it in disbelief - no ebook. It was Print On Demand, and the printed book would get to me in four weeks. Did I order? No, I did not. I’ve got no intention of waiting four weeks for anything. I do most of my reading online. Why oh why, would you sell a book about blogging as a print book? Insanity.

How to give your buyers instant gratification - use PayPal or another payment processor

PayPal makes it easy to sell ebooks. You just slap a PayPal button on the page, add the download URL (protected please) to the thank you page, and your buyers can enjoy their purchase within moments after buying.

Remember you’re creating ebooks for your buyers, and your buyers want your ebook NOW.