Welcome to the Australasian Christian Writers Tuesday Book Chat, where we encourage book lovers to answer our bookish question of the week.
Today’s question is:
What makes you click the buy button?
We look forward to hearing your thoughts. Please join in the conversation in a comment on this post or in a comment on the blog post shared in our Australasian Christian Writers Facebook Group.
Let’s chat!
When I first read this question, I thought hmm… this is not a quick and easy question to answer. I have favourite authors I auto-buy on pre-order in either print or ebook. If the ebook is expensive and the print book is a good price, I’ll most likely order the print book.
Price plays a large role in my decision making. If the ebook is more than US5.99 and I know the publisher often puts their ebooks on sale within a year of the release date, I’ll typically hold off on buying the ebook because my to-be-read ebook list is large.
If a friend who knows my reading tastes recommends a book, I’m more likely to buy it. I don’t usually pay attention to reviews. That said, I’ve come across 1 and 2 star reviews at Amazon and Goodreads that have motivated me to buy the book. In those situations, an aspect of the story the reviewer disliked happened to be something I like to read.
If the ebook is free, I’ll only download it if I like the sample. If the ebook is US1.99 or less, I’ll pass if I haven’t heard of the author and the sample doesn’t hook me.
If the ebook is:
- In a genre I read, and
- The book cover doesn’t look amateurish, and
- The book description is well written and intriguing, and
- The book sample hooks me and has good editing, and
- The author has a website plus a professional and personable social media presence (which rules out the book stuffing scammers), and
- The ebook is a good price — then I’ll click the buy button!
What do you think? What makes you click the buy button?
I’m new to eBooks. Until I started researching genre at my publishing coach’s advice I had resisted temptation. My rare visits to a bookshop saw me looking at covers and searching for favourite authors. Then I joined the ACW Facebook group and up popped the New Release post… Click followed click to satisfy my curiosity, and then I found the Kindle for PC option! My budget is tiny, so I have to be careful. I’ve discovered I like a sale but if that first title is enjoyable , I will pay more for the next one. I also purchase if I have seen the author contribute to online discussions. I also occasionally purchase from an author newsletter recommendation.
Hi Chrissy, Yes, the new releases posts are a great resource for finding new books. 🙂 It’s interesting you’ve mentioned seeing authors online as a plus. I’ve always believed the online discussions that provide opportunities to contribute and help others are a win-win for authors. If I only ever see an author online self-promoting and talking about themselves, I’m less inclined to look up their books.
The cover might get me to click to the description. It won’t get me to buy.
The description combined with the look inside is what gets me to consider buying if it’s a new author to me. For authors I love, I always read the description before deciding on a particular book. Even favorite authors sometimes publish something that doesn’t appeal to me.
For a print book, I like to get it at my local Christian bookstore, even if I have to order in and pay more than the online sale price. I want to keep the store healthy.
I won’t normally buy fiction ebooks for more than 1/3 the cost of the print version. I’ll pay extra for print at my local store rather than the full ebook price of a traditional publisher.
If the ebook of one of my favorite authors is on sale for $1.99 USD or less, I’ll probably buy it even if I already have the print version. I like to reread sections of favorites, and I can do that whenever I’m waiting somewhere if I have it in my Kindle Fire.
If it’s $2.99 or less and by an author I’ve grown to know through social media, I might buy it to support them.
Hi Carol, I’m glad you have a local Christian book store nearby that you can support. I’d rather buy print if it’s an affordable option compared to the ebook. Yes, I also buy books to support authors. 🙂
I buy paperback copies of books written by people in my writing group in order to encourage them – otherwise I mainly buy ebooks. I do buy the occasional paperback copy of an author I love, as well as the ebook. It’s got to be an amazing author and really long book before I buy the audiobook.
I’ll preorder ebooks of favourite authors but if they cost more then $6.99 I think twice about it. I have paid up to $12 for an ebook for an author I adore. But I really have to LOVE their work.
For new authors? Ones I find randomly when I’m looking through Book Bub or browsing online? Well the cover has to look professional and fit the genre, the blurb has to be well written and meet my idea for a good story premise and the price has to be low – usually $2.99 or less. That may sound stingy but I will buy and read through a whole series in a couple of weeks if I like the author so a free/cheaper book is a great way to market to me.
There are some exceptions. If a friend has recommended a book or an author I’ll pay more but before I do i’ll download the first chapter. Amateurish writing puts me off more than it does some people, so I’ll always check before I buy.
Hi Susan, I must admit I haven’t really gotten into audio books. I’ve borrowed electronic audio books from the library, but I tend to get distracted or fall asleep unless the story narrator is exceptionally good. Amateurish writing on page 1 will stop me from buying the book. If I read the whole sample (or a few pages if I’m browsing in a store), I’m more likely to buy because the author has hooked me into the story. 🙂