Sales of Ebooks and Reading Devices Soar

It's no secret that sales of ebooks and e-reading devices are rising rapidly. Consider these statistics:

• In April of 2011, Amazon sold 105 Kindle books for every 100 printed books it sold (paperback and hard cover combined).

• Forrester Research predicts that ebook sales will reach $2.8 billion annually by 2015.

• Prices of dedicated ebook reading devices continue to fall, with Amazon's Kindle With Special Offers wi-fi model down to $114 and the 3G version to $164.

• Barnes & Noble's Nook Color is ideal for books with color illustrations and photographs, such as children's books and cookbooks. In May of 2011, B&N introduced the Nook Simple Touch Reader for $139, designed to combine the best features of tablets and dedicated e-ink readers.

• The use of tablet computers is rising fast, led by the huge popularity of Apple's iPad. Nearly 18 million tablets were shipped in 2010, with Apple capturing 83% of the market.

• Tablets are popular ebook reading devices, but according to a study by JPMorgan, 40 percent of iPad owners also own a Kindle.

• The Los Angeles Times reported that 31 percent of iPad owners consume ebooks using the Kindle app rather than Apple’s own iBooks app. Among avid readers who go through 25 books or more a year, 44 percent prefer using the Kindle app on the iPad.

Learn More About Ebook Publishing

As ebook sales continue to soar, authors who aren't publishing in ebook format are missing out on potential revenue. I have written a series of articles to help self-published authors navigate the often confusing path to ebook publishing:

• Sales of Ebooks and Reading Devices Soar 

• 6 Reasons Why You Need to Publish Ebooks

• How to Publish an Ebook for Multiple Platforms

• Quick Start Guide to Marketing Your Kindle eBooks Like a Pro!

Subscribers to the Savvy Book Marketing Newsletter have exclusive access to the archive of newsletter feature articles, including "4 Ways to Prepare Your Ebook Files" and "Ebook Pricing Strategies". If you're not already a subscriber, sign up today and you'll also get a free copy of my Top Book Marketing Tips ebook.

Share Your Thoughts on Ebooks

Do you own an ebook reader? Has it changed your reading habits? Where do you buy your ebooks? How should ebooks be priced? I invite you to answer these four quick questions in my ebook survey. If you'd like your comments to be quoted when I report the survey results, just enter your name and the title of your book at the end of the survey.

Comments

[Thomas Retterbush]

I could see this trend approaching a long time ago. It's only logical. Ebooks are so much more practical. They are cheaper to publish, are instantly accessible, take up virtually no space and are environmentally friendly.

[Dana Lynn Smith]

Thanks for your note Thomas. Ebooks have many advantages, although many people still prefer the feel of a book in their hand. But I do believe the percentage of books sold as ebooks will continue to escalate. Another wonderful thing is that many people are reporting that they are reading more books since they purchased an ebook reading devices.

[Jolie du Pre]

The hundreds and hundreds of print books in my home were bought before the rise of eBooks and before I bought my Kindle. Today, I won't buy another print book. We all love our print books. But this is the the 21st century and a new world for authors. Accept it and grab it, or get left behind. Ebooks will become the dominant choice for readers, and as an author, I'm wise enough to accept it.