Well, you can blame its competitors for that.
Apple? Kobo? Barnes and Noble? Where's all the traffic? What are you doing to draw more people in? How can I sell a couple hundred copies of an e-book on Amazon every month and be lucky to sell maybe a dozen (LUCKY, I say) on all the rest combined?
Why have I, in a week, given away almost 4,000 copies of my free e-book 600 Miles, and maybe 30--again, if I'm lucky--on the other big three combined?
Where is your traffic, Apple, Kobo and Barnes and Noble? How am I, as a self-published author struggling for recognition, supposed to be getting any readers on your sites? How am I not supposed to be in love with Amazon at this point?
And, while I'm at it, why does Barnes and Noble, right down to its search engine, seem so outdated and clunky? Why do they not have the equivalent of an "Author Central" page where I can add biographical information, editorial reviews, and "From the Author" entries for my books? Hell, I can't even use HTML for the descriptions.
What is Amazon doing that the others aren't? Why are its competitors not even trying? Why does Barnes and Noble seem like it wants to fail? Why?
Of course, maybe the word "competitor" isn't appropriate, a competitor being someone who actually tries to win.
But everyone continues to point the finger at Amazon--big bad empire, et cetera. Well, as a self-published writer who turned his back on traditional publishing a couple years ago and isn't lucky enough to have a marketing department, a big advertising budget, or my books sitting in brick and mortar stores, if Amazon is an evil empire then I really don't care. They've given me thousands of readers I never would have had. They've sold many times more books for me than Apple and B&N combined. They even have incentive programs I can use like free giveaways if I choose to be in KDP Select. Hell, they even have a superior reading device in the Kindle.
I would love to see some meaningful competition. I would love to see Apple and Barnes and Noble get off their ass and fight, but it just ain't happening, nor do I think it ever will.
In the meantime, some continue to bemoan the inevitable fate of big retailers like Barnes and Noble: there will be no more brick and mortar stores, and Amazon will probably have 95% of the e-book market, its "competitors" sitting out in the cold. Well, what to do. Maybe since the others aren't even trying, Amazon should just stop and wait for them catch up? You know, out of the goodness of its heart.
Ask any self-published author: there is no such thing as fairness or a level playing field. If you want to succeed, TRY. You might still lose, but for the love of God Apple and B&N, get up and fight! As for Kobo, well, you might want to try it too. Or maybe all three of you should combine your powers and unite. You know, like in a comic book, the superheroes joining up to take on Mr. Big Bad Villain after he's already crushed just about everything in his path, though even then, as late in the game as it is, I don't think you stand much of a chance.
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