Controversial Graphicly changes

Lightfoot · 04-11-2012, 10:18 AM

So from the email Micah Baldwin has been sending out to publishers recent changes have been controversial and I am assuming from the language there have been some rage-monsters out there.

Can anyone with experience clarify either

A) to what extent sales might be hit (what I really mean is exposure as you are not psychic) if you don't pay 150 dollars plus the cost of a digital ISBN or

B) to what extent you think sales might increase via the new platform? A staff member told me many people have made the outlay back in sales in 3 months but I am an eternal sceptic when it comes to that sort of claim for blanket success.

charltonsect · 04-11-2012, 07:33 PM

Maybe I misunderstood the changes, but it sounded like a bigger bid for them to get larger indie publishers to pay them to develop an app specifically for their companies instead of one app for all.

It seems like a money grab, but since my books aren't on the app (site/fb only), it doesn't really affect me.

I was considering paying the money to get the books in the app, but now I'm considering other options.

Lightfoot · 04-14-2012, 06:46 AM

"We only retired the Graphicly BRANDED iOS and Android Apps. not the publisher branded NEWSSTAND or COLLECTION (NOOK/Amazon) apps. Books are still being sold on the Graphicly web site and on Facebook.

There are three reasons for this decision:

1) Our driving principle has always been: "Great story deserves to be seen." As a store, we can only promote books that make money. Not necessarily the best stories. A great book could be buried because its unknown to the comic collecting public (which is estimated to number around 300,000). The argument is that people coming to buy a Spiderman, Superman, etc book will see the indie book and buy it is false. Doesn't work at your Local Comic Store. Doesn't work in some random app either.

Being a store makes it impossible for great story to be seen. Only great selling books get seen.

2) By supporting publishers ability to distribute their content to all marketplaces, we are helping publishers get access to more than 1 BILLION devices.

Lets say that Kindle, NOOK and iBooks is installed on just 10% of all devices (its probably closer to 50-75%). That's 100 million installs! Does it matter? Yes. Some publishers are seeing sales in excess of 10-20X in ebook stores than they are seeing in the BRANDED apps. Some much, much more.

3) Books belong in the bookstore. This opens up a whole new world in a whole new way for publishers and creators.

Comic-specific apps only attract comic fans. Book stores attract book fans, who love story and are willing to try new books. In addition, they are used to paying higher per unit prices and testing out more books. eBook sales are skyrocketing, and books purchased per person is also growing. All indications are that comics purchases and purchases per person are flat or declining.

The biggest reason? Because its good for you."

CHWolf · 04-15-2012, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lightfoot

"The biggest reason? Because its good for you."

"So shut up all you stupids."

Lightfoot · 04-22-2012, 06:26 AM

Yeah I thought that was pretty hilarious too.

04-11-2012, 10:18 AM	#1
Lightfoot Black Ship Books Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Old York Posts: 198	Controversial Graphicly changes So from the email Micah Baldwin has been sending out to publishers recent changes have been controversial and I am assuming from the language there have been some rage-monsters out there. Can anyone with experience clarify either A) to what extent sales might be hit (what I really mean is exposure as you are not psychic) if you don't pay 150 dollars plus the cost of a digital ISBN or B) to what extent you think sales might increase via the new platform? A staff member told me many people have made the outlay back in sales in 3 months but I am an eternal sceptic when it comes to that sort of claim for blanket success.

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04-11-2012, 07:33 PM	#2
charltonsect Heartless Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 1	Maybe I misunderstood the changes, but it sounded like a bigger bid for them to get larger indie publishers to pay them to develop an app specifically for their companies instead of one app for all. It seems like a money grab, but since my books aren't on the app (site/fb only), it doesn't really affect me. I was considering paying the money to get the books in the app, but now I'm considering other options.

04-14-2012, 06:46 AM	#3
Lightfoot Black Ship Books Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Old York Posts: 198	"We only retired the Graphicly BRANDED iOS and Android Apps. not the publisher branded NEWSSTAND or COLLECTION (NOOK/Amazon) apps. Books are still being sold on the Graphicly web site and on Facebook. There are three reasons for this decision: 1) Our driving principle has always been: "Great story deserves to be seen." As a store, we can only promote books that make money. Not necessarily the best stories. A great book could be buried because its unknown to the comic collecting public (which is estimated to number around 300,000). The argument is that people coming to buy a Spiderman, Superman, etc book will see the indie book and buy it is false. Doesn't work at your Local Comic Store. Doesn't work in some random app either. Being a store makes it impossible for great story to be seen. Only great selling books get seen. 2) By supporting publishers ability to distribute their content to all marketplaces, we are helping publishers get access to more than 1 BILLION devices. Lets say that Kindle, NOOK and iBooks is installed on just 10% of all devices (its probably closer to 50-75%). That's 100 million installs! Does it matter? Yes. Some publishers are seeing sales in excess of 10-20X in ebook stores than they are seeing in the BRANDED apps. Some much, much more. 3) Books belong in the bookstore. This opens up a whole new world in a whole new way for publishers and creators. Comic-specific apps only attract comic fans. Book stores attract book fans, who love story and are willing to try new books. In addition, they are used to paying higher per unit prices and testing out more books. eBook sales are skyrocketing, and books purchased per person is also growing. All indications are that comics purchases and purchases per person are flat or declining. The biggest reason? Because its good for you."

04-22-2012, 06:26 AM	#5
Lightfoot Black Ship Books Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Old York Posts: 198	Yeah I thought that was pretty hilarious too.