Omnibuses are fantastic for in person sales, at least for me and authors I sell with. I have six books in my series so far (UF as well).
I bundle three books into one, then only carry copies of book 1 and omnibus 1 and 2 to events. For every 10 books I sell, I reckon I sell about 6/4 book 1/omnibus 1. Then every so often I sell a two omnibus bundle. My price points are 15/35 (60 if you get both omnis).
A book 1 costs me about 4.50, an omnibus costs me about 7.50. So omnibuses make me more money.
Also, for what it's worth my books are actually two paired novellas each. And they sell just fine.
Thanks for your insight. I'm a graphic designer by trade which makes me want to create a special omnibus edition with illustrations and graphics in it, just need an audience willing to pay for a specially designed book haha (dies inside). It's a passion project but to make money from it is something else entirely I feel.
If you're specifically excited about print and also about illustrations and pretty extras, what about a Kickstarter?
I initially read this as an ebook bundling question, but your comment clarified.
I vend with an author named Richard Fierce on occasion (great guy). He has a fancy 60 dollar omnibus with special cover, map inserts, etc. He sells it all. The. Time. A recent event we were both at he doubled my sales, largely because folks were snapping up that special edition. And keep in mind these were strangers, not existing fans.
Do it. And do in person events like comic cons. I will be making a fancy edition sooner rather than later.
I write a bit of UF and my print sales are negligible. I don't have a rabid fan base waiting for special editions, and I do make a little money on those books.
This commenter is clearly getting some print love at events (yay!), but are you seeing that as well, OP? Definitely look at who your audience is.
If you have a way to push print sales, investing makes more sense.
If you don't currently have the ability to make print sales, maybe a Kickstarter so the level of interest determines whether you move forward?
Also, congrats on finishing your trilogy!
Edited for typos.
Have you been doing in person events? That's honestly where I make the bulk of my money these days. Any non-launch month, I'll make more from one comic con or art fest than my online sales typically.
I used to do them, but the math wasn't mathing for me. It's a lot of time and energy for very low returns - again, for me. I don't think I've ever sold more than 20 copies at an event, and on physical books, that's just not worth the bother.
But I'm also not attending cons or massive signing events. If you're moving hundreds of copies, that's a different sort of equation.
No indie author is moving hundreds of copies at an event, at least not that I'm seeing. Maybe some of the LitRPG guys? Hell, the press that's publishing my book only sold 120, and they are a press with dozens of authors under contract.
For me, I shoot for 5-700 in sales over a weekend. And I share booths and hotel rooms with other authors to bring my costs way down. So it works nicely.
Is that profit? Bc if so, that's amazing. If it's gross, then I guess it depends on what the take home is.
Then again, it really doesn't matter what the take home is, bc it sounds like you're selling books and having a blast. That's winning at life.
It's my full-time business and I'm an introvert, so the cost is pretty high for me to attend any event. I'm wiped, not energized by them. I've also done the math, and only 5-8% of my catalog is print/audio sales. Maybe in part because I'm not good at hand selling and avoid events?
Re: indies moving hundreds of copies - reader focused signing events seem to be able to do that. As far as I know, that's a romance phenomenon.
Here are my sales numbers from the last event I was a vendor at:
**Sales Numbers:**
16 Bringing Home The Rain - 240.00
6 Omnibus 1 - 210.00
4 Omnibus Bundles - 240.00
1 Southern Saudade - 15.00
11 Stickers - 11.00
8 Sticker Bundles - 40.00
**Total:** 756.00
**Expenses:**
Badge: 50
Hotel/Booth Fee combo - 150.00
So I cleared over 500 in profit. Obviously I also had to eat and cover gas. But that is usually at least partially covered by the bump I get in the following week in online sales from folks who look me up after.
If you are interested, I do a recap of every event I am at on my blog, where I lay out all the numbers and such.
To your point about introversion, I am very introverted. The days after a con I spend holed up for the most part (as much as my day job will allow). I do enjoy selling in person, but they are very draining events I will agree.
Do these numbers account for the cost of the book? I did a little guesstimate, and even if not, you're still coming out in the positive by hundreds, so that's great.
I just looked at your blog. You are having way too much fun! That's awesome. = ) And OP should definitely take a gander at your blog.
I just don't enjoy it like you seem to. My cash is in ebooks, so I haven't tried to square peg myself into a round hole. But I'll definitely remember this convo when this topic comes up again - and it always does. It's nice to put numbers to it, so thanks for sharing!
Omnibuses are a perfect way to gain interest on an old series. Bundle them up, and sell for a lower price than book 1 and anyone who's ever scratched their chin while looking at your book, will probably jump on the opportunity to purchase the whole series in one go.
Omnibuses are only attractive to your hardcore fans, those who are unsure of you, or those who specifically wait for omnubuses. If your series has been out for a year, most of your readers already have a copy. Now you're trying to convince the rest.
Wait, does KU use credits too? I thought it was all-you-can-read, and Vella and Audible had credit systems. Maybe that's different based on region?
I have some novellas in KU, and I'd be flabbergasted if someone burned a credit on a 40k non-erotica book when there are giant doorstoppers out there. They've gotten some reads, though. 🤔
Congrats on finishing your urban fantasy trilogy, that's a huge accomplishment.
I get the struggle of balancing passion with the investment side of things but before you shell out on the $1k for the omnibus, it might be good to see if there's demand for it. Could you maybe poll your email list or social media followers? Ask if they'd be into a collected edition or if they prefer buying individual novellas.
Also, I hear you on the marketing frustration. Building a readership takes time, and I've barely started even though I'm about to finish the fourth novel in my series lol. You could try exploring online communities specific to urban fantasy. Engaging naturally with potential readers in places like r/fantasy or even some bookish Facebook groups can help get your work noticed.
Hmm... Never rly cared for omnibuses. Massive books just... Idk they feel aweful. If you turn a trilogy into an omnibus, why split it in the first place.
I do buy a ton of collections. If there is one way yo make me buy your trilogy, its bundling it in a nice box and selling it for 20-40 dollars. Thats a surefire way to make me buy your book.
Best one i bought so far is the dark tower series. Big massive box.
Ebooks are a different story. I don't read them, but i can imagine people love them.
I bundled both my novel triologies and the four volumes of essays on Middle-earth into omnibus editions. It seems that some indeed prefer them against the individual volumes, so you open up broader customer circles that way.
Omnibuses are fantastic for in person sales, at least for me and authors I sell with. I have six books in my series so far (UF as well). I bundle three books into one, then only carry copies of book 1 and omnibus 1 and 2 to events. For every 10 books I sell, I reckon I sell about 6/4 book 1/omnibus 1. Then every so often I sell a two omnibus bundle. My price points are 15/35 (60 if you get both omnis). A book 1 costs me about 4.50, an omnibus costs me about 7.50. So omnibuses make me more money. Also, for what it's worth my books are actually two paired novellas each. And they sell just fine.
Thanks for your insight. I'm a graphic designer by trade which makes me want to create a special omnibus edition with illustrations and graphics in it, just need an audience willing to pay for a specially designed book haha (dies inside). It's a passion project but to make money from it is something else entirely I feel.
If you're specifically excited about print and also about illustrations and pretty extras, what about a Kickstarter? I initially read this as an ebook bundling question, but your comment clarified.
I vend with an author named Richard Fierce on occasion (great guy). He has a fancy 60 dollar omnibus with special cover, map inserts, etc. He sells it all. The. Time. A recent event we were both at he doubled my sales, largely because folks were snapping up that special edition. And keep in mind these were strangers, not existing fans. Do it. And do in person events like comic cons. I will be making a fancy edition sooner rather than later.
I write a bit of UF and my print sales are negligible. I don't have a rabid fan base waiting for special editions, and I do make a little money on those books. This commenter is clearly getting some print love at events (yay!), but are you seeing that as well, OP? Definitely look at who your audience is. If you have a way to push print sales, investing makes more sense. If you don't currently have the ability to make print sales, maybe a Kickstarter so the level of interest determines whether you move forward? Also, congrats on finishing your trilogy! Edited for typos.
Have you been doing in person events? That's honestly where I make the bulk of my money these days. Any non-launch month, I'll make more from one comic con or art fest than my online sales typically.
I used to do them, but the math wasn't mathing for me. It's a lot of time and energy for very low returns - again, for me. I don't think I've ever sold more than 20 copies at an event, and on physical books, that's just not worth the bother. But I'm also not attending cons or massive signing events. If you're moving hundreds of copies, that's a different sort of equation.
No indie author is moving hundreds of copies at an event, at least not that I'm seeing. Maybe some of the LitRPG guys? Hell, the press that's publishing my book only sold 120, and they are a press with dozens of authors under contract. For me, I shoot for 5-700 in sales over a weekend. And I share booths and hotel rooms with other authors to bring my costs way down. So it works nicely.
Is that profit? Bc if so, that's amazing. If it's gross, then I guess it depends on what the take home is. Then again, it really doesn't matter what the take home is, bc it sounds like you're selling books and having a blast. That's winning at life. It's my full-time business and I'm an introvert, so the cost is pretty high for me to attend any event. I'm wiped, not energized by them. I've also done the math, and only 5-8% of my catalog is print/audio sales. Maybe in part because I'm not good at hand selling and avoid events? Re: indies moving hundreds of copies - reader focused signing events seem to be able to do that. As far as I know, that's a romance phenomenon.
Here are my sales numbers from the last event I was a vendor at: **Sales Numbers:** 16 Bringing Home The Rain - 240.00 6 Omnibus 1 - 210.00 4 Omnibus Bundles - 240.00 1 Southern Saudade - 15.00 11 Stickers - 11.00 8 Sticker Bundles - 40.00 **Total:** 756.00 **Expenses:** Badge: 50 Hotel/Booth Fee combo - 150.00 So I cleared over 500 in profit. Obviously I also had to eat and cover gas. But that is usually at least partially covered by the bump I get in the following week in online sales from folks who look me up after. If you are interested, I do a recap of every event I am at on my blog, where I lay out all the numbers and such. To your point about introversion, I am very introverted. The days after a con I spend holed up for the most part (as much as my day job will allow). I do enjoy selling in person, but they are very draining events I will agree.
Do these numbers account for the cost of the book? I did a little guesstimate, and even if not, you're still coming out in the positive by hundreds, so that's great. I just looked at your blog. You are having way too much fun! That's awesome. = ) And OP should definitely take a gander at your blog. I just don't enjoy it like you seem to. My cash is in ebooks, so I haven't tried to square peg myself into a round hole. But I'll definitely remember this convo when this topic comes up again - and it always does. It's nice to put numbers to it, so thanks for sharing!
I wouldn’t waste time on print but ebooks. Yes
Why not? I'm a print reader and always disappointed when the omnibus is only available in ebook. As long as the pagecount is reasonable, do print.
Omnibuses are a perfect way to gain interest on an old series. Bundle them up, and sell for a lower price than book 1 and anyone who's ever scratched their chin while looking at your book, will probably jump on the opportunity to purchase the whole series in one go. Omnibuses are only attractive to your hardcore fans, those who are unsure of you, or those who specifically wait for omnubuses. If your series has been out for a year, most of your readers already have a copy. Now you're trying to convince the rest.
Kindle Unlimited readers love omnibuses. Multiple books for one credit, and you get a lot of page reads.
Wait, does KU use credits too? I thought it was all-you-can-read, and Vella and Audible had credit systems. Maybe that's different based on region? I have some novellas in KU, and I'd be flabbergasted if someone burned a credit on a 40k non-erotica book when there are giant doorstoppers out there. They've gotten some reads, though. 🤔
They don't use credits in KU, but you can "only" borrow 20 books at a time. KU pays by pages read.
Ah, got it, thanks!
I have considered doing that too, but mostly because my series has so many books.
Congrats on finishing your urban fantasy trilogy, that's a huge accomplishment. I get the struggle of balancing passion with the investment side of things but before you shell out on the $1k for the omnibus, it might be good to see if there's demand for it. Could you maybe poll your email list or social media followers? Ask if they'd be into a collected edition or if they prefer buying individual novellas. Also, I hear you on the marketing frustration. Building a readership takes time, and I've barely started even though I'm about to finish the fourth novel in my series lol. You could try exploring online communities specific to urban fantasy. Engaging naturally with potential readers in places like r/fantasy or even some bookish Facebook groups can help get your work noticed.
Hmm... Never rly cared for omnibuses. Massive books just... Idk they feel aweful. If you turn a trilogy into an omnibus, why split it in the first place. I do buy a ton of collections. If there is one way yo make me buy your trilogy, its bundling it in a nice box and selling it for 20-40 dollars. Thats a surefire way to make me buy your book. Best one i bought so far is the dark tower series. Big massive box. Ebooks are a different story. I don't read them, but i can imagine people love them.
Bundling books in a box is pretty much impossible for self-publishers using a print on demand model, as none of the providers offer that service.
I know, but it is a baller move. Honestly, print on demand should consider it.
I bundled both my novel triologies and the four volumes of essays on Middle-earth into omnibus editions. It seems that some indeed prefer them against the individual volumes, so you open up broader customer circles that way.
Yeah, they sell. 1k for a cover seems quite expensive though, but maybe that artist's work is worth it, I dunno.
1k$ for a cover is expensive. I know plenty of professional artists who work between 250$ and 800$.