A book club wanted to read her e-book but didn't have Kindles, so they didn't realize that they could read the e-book using free apps.
It makes me wonder how many other authors haven't received a review based upon the same lack of information about e-book reading technology.
I have always personally been of the opinion, if ONE person actually verbalizes a problem, then there could be dozens, if not hundreds out there not verbalizing and just giving up.
Can you as an author or a publisher take that chance??? I didn't think so.
This is a big red promotional flag for everyone who puts out an e-book! Attention authors and publishers putting out e-books - you still must educate the readers on all the ways that your e-book can be accessed!
1. Amazon has free kindle apps that you can use on your pc and other devices. No actual purchase of a Kindle is necessary. Though in the future, if you read e-books frequently, a Kindle is probably a great idea!
Here is the link for Amazon's FREE READING APPS: Amazon FREE Kindle reading apps - get yours now!
Here are the devices you can currently use:
- Kindle Cloud Reader: Read instantly in your browser
- Smartphones: iPhone & iPod touch Android Windows Phone BlackBerry
- Computers: Mac Windows 8 Windows 7, XP & Vista
- Tablets: iPad Android Tablet Windows 8
Here is the link for Barnes & Noble's Nook FREE READING APPS: Free Barnes & Noble Nook Reading Apps
If you want to go totally free, there is also one of the most amazing e-readers out there, Calibre.
The functionality of Calibre is fantastic. It reads a wide variety of electronic formats and allows you to tag and customize your books to your heart's content.
If you have any questions about Calbre there are demos on the website, on YouTube and they have a great technical community.
Every author and every publisher should have a page on their website that explains how to get the apps so the e-books can be read. Take the time to educate your readers. Don't allow any potential fan to be discouraged for even one moment! They could become your lifelong supporter.
Educate, educate, educate! Inform, inform, inform!
Now if only we can get all the libraries up to date with e-readers. It will happen!
Contact your local library, tell them you are an author or publisher and if you are technically savvy, see if you can help them with their e-reader questions!
Good luck and PROMOTE!
Wow, you guys are QUICK to share that info and I couldn't be happier. I've been tweeting that info since 2010! And yet, still, every day it seems, I get another reader (and sometimes AUTHORS!) telling me they can't read eBooks since they don't own a Kindle.
ReplyDeleteIt makes me so sad. There's a whole world of words out there, many in free downloads, classics, promotions, etc., that people just don't know about because of tech or just plain old lack of knowledge.
When 60% of the US Population (and 50% of the world -- according to the June, 2013 Pew Report) has a smartphone, there's no reason for this glaring omission.
You rock, Dylan. Thank you thank you thank you.