Should you make your series starter free?

As a published author, you're always on the lookout for effective strategies to boost the visibility and sales of your books. Have you ever considered offering the first book in your series for free? This approach can significantly enhance read-through rates and sales for the subsequent books in the series. I recently tried this with my own series by making "The Dairy Farmer's Daughter" ebook free, and I'm thrilled to share the positive outcomes with you.

Increased Visibility

Making the first book in your series free can greatly increase its visibility. Readers are more inclined to take a chance on a new author or a new series if there’s no financial risk involved. Imagine the surge of downloads and the number of readers diving into your book! The more people who read it, the better its chances of being recommended through word-of-mouth or online reviews.

Building a Loyal Reader Base

By offering the first book for free, you're giving readers a risk-free entry point into your series. If they enjoy the first book, they’re more likely to continue with the next ones. This helps you build a loyal reader base, eager to invest in your future work. In my experience, readers who downloaded "The Dairy Farmer's Daughter" at no cost often proceeded to purchase the remaining books in the series.

Improved Series Cohesion

When readers start with the first book and continue through the series, they become more engaged with the characters and overarching plot. This deeper immersion can lead to a more cohesive and satisfying reading experience, which is crucial for fostering positive reviews and encouraging further sales.

Algorithm Favorability

E-book platforms like Amazon often have sophisticated algorithms that favor books with high download and read-through rates. By making the first book free, you can enhance these metrics, potentially leading to better placement in search results and recommendation feeds. The increased exposure can benefit your entire series.

Real-World Success Example

To give you a concrete example, after making "The Dairy Farmer's Daughter" free, I saw a marked increase in sales for the rest of the series. The initial surge in downloads for the free book created a ripple effect, driving up sales numbers for subsequent books and expanding my readership far beyond my previous reach. This strategy doesn’t just attract new readers; it also has the potential to rejuvenate interest in your older works.

Team this up with a Bookbub Featured deal or a Stuff Your Kindle promotion and you have a recipe for success. By providing readers with a taste of your writing, you can entice them to invest in the rest of your series and potentially even other works.

This has worked so well that I have now made "The Brothers of Brigadier Station" ebook free too, and I am happy to say the sales on that four book series have also increased.

Offering the first book in your series for free can be a powerful tool to increase read-through rates and boost sales for the rest of the books. It's a strategy worth considering for any author looking to expand their readership and achieve long-term success. Remember, every challenge is an opportunity for growth and transformation. Embrace it and watch your writing journey flourish.