I'm a big fan of Amazon.com. I spend far too much money there but they also give me a fair bit of money too through book sales and affiliate links. I think they've done a fantastic job of selling products online and helping website publishers earn from their content.
They might be the Walmart of Internet retailing, but they're definitely not the Apple of whiz-bang gadgetry.
Their new Kindle book-reading machine is a great idea.
But it looks the offspring of a pocket calculator and a toy etch-a-sketch.
Reviews have been mixed and I'm really not sure if it is going to take off.
That's a shame because it does have a few interesting features for online publishers.
The first is the affiliate cut. Put an affiliate link to Kindle on your website and you can earn $40 per sale. Unfortunately, I don't think you're going to make many sales so you might be better off using that space for something more valuable.
The other feature is the ability to sell subscriptions to blogs. The fees aren't high -- usually 99 cents per month, with the publisher receiving 30 percent of the subscription price -- but that's still more than you're likely to get by charging online.
It's a significant jump, I think. This is the first time that bloggers have an opportunity to actually sell subscriptions instead of relying on advertising.
But like the design of Kindle, it comes with a couple of problems.
There's currently no way to add your own blog to the sales list (although surely that's going to change in the future). And how many people are going to pay even a dollar a month to read something on their Kindle that they can access on their computer for free?
Not many, I think.
But there is an opportunity. You might not be able to offer subscriptions to your blog just yet, but you can collect your best posts together and publish them on Kindle using Amazon's Digital Text platform.
You'd still need to market it. And you'd have to find enough people with a Kindle to market to. But if electronic book-reading does work out, it could be another way to make money from your articles.
Have you purchased a Kindle? I'd love to hear your opinion!
It's Del.icio.us!
Furl It!
February 6, 2008 01:52 AM
Thanks
February 6, 2008 10:58 AM
Wheres my nifty google links that shows the proffesinalism of my website Joel? Wheres my 50 grand I lost in online advertising Joel?
Wheres my money joel?
February 6, 2008 03:44 PM
I would love a Kindle, but they're not selling them in Canada yet. Or maybe not ever.
I read tons of books on my PDA (from ereader.com), but the screen isn't nearly as nice as the Kindle.
February 7, 2008 09:58 PM
I was planning to give it as a gift for my husband last Christmas but it's been out of stock since. I wonder when it will be available.
February 9, 2008 03:54 AM
Hey SEO,
Can't say that I've seen your money. But I will be on the lookout for it. :-)
Joel
February 10, 2008 10:53 AM
I own a Kindle. I ordered it back around the beginning of December and finally received it about three weeks ago, and I'm mostly pleased with it.
It's still backordered, so if you want it anytime soon, you should have placed an order already.
I did have to write Amazon about Kindle Blogs, and they kindly gave me the signup form to have your own blog listed. I figure 30 cents a subscriber is better than nothing!
February 12, 2008 09:08 PM
Oh yes, I've seen that Kindle thing. It's still on the main page, I think. Honestly, I have no idea what it does and my first impression was that it looked like a smaller version of a fax machine. Of course, now that I'm here, I have a better idea of what this Kindle is. I'm curious to know how different the screen is though and why people seem to rave about it. I guess it's worth checking out.
February 13, 2008 07:46 AM
I prefer Ebay :)
February 14, 2008 02:15 AM
Thanks..joel..Be A master..and would you wants to be my teacher..
I add your site on my blogroll...ok..link me back..keep contact!
JoelComm is The Best
February 14, 2008 02:18 AM
of course..i aggre with jimmy..
to Joe : "Be A master, would you wanna be my teacher?...he3x..Joel Is The Best! i add your site to my blogroll...link me back...thx 4 all...
February 19, 2008 01:12 PM
I think everything that Joel teaches is a SUCCESS & that I would not be generating revenue from marketing online had it not been for Mr. Joel Comm.
Thanks kindly,
Shawn
http://www.Drewryonline.net
February 23, 2008 02:04 PM
Hi Joel,
Kindle may not be able to beat reading online,but who knows,it may change the whole market too.
Nice blog,joel.Keep it going.
Thanks,
Kannan Viswagandhi
http://www.truemlmrockstar.com